Wise in Wise County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Wise

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 17, 2015

1. Wise Marker

Inscription. The town of Wise was known as Big Glades when a post office was established here in 1850, Before being incorporated as Wise in 1926 it was also called Gladeville and Wise Court House. Since the creation in 1856 of Wise County, named for Henry Alexander Wise, governor of Virginia (1856-1860), the town has served as the county seat. During the Civil War, a skirmish was fought here between Union and Confederate troops on 7 July 1863. After the Civil War the town grew because of the expansion of the railroads and the increased mining of coal in the region. The current county courthouse was completed in 1896.

Erected 2001 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number XB-4.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Political Subdivisions. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1850.

Location. 36° 58.923′ N, 82° 35.159′ W. Marker is in Wise, Virginia, in Wise County. It is on West Main Street (Business U.S. 23) west of Barker Avenue SW. Touch for map. Marker is in this

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post office area: Wise VA 24293, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the original Cherokee Nation,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: E.M. Fulton House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Gladeville in the Civil War (approx. half a mile away); Napoleon Hill (approx. 0.6 miles away); The University of Virginia’s College at Wise (approx. 1.6 miles away); Norton / Coeburn (approx. 3.3 miles away); From U.S.S. Constitution (approx. 4 miles away); Armed Forces Memorial (approx. 4.1 miles away); The Hotel Norton (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Wise.

Another

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 17, 2015

2. Wise Marker

marker is no longer nearby. Wise / The Crooked Road (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

More about this marker. This marker replaced an earlier marker with the same title and number that read, “This town, one of the highest in Virginia, was built on land first owned by Pierre de Tarbeau, a French nobleman. Originally known as Big Glades, it became Gladesville in 1856. A first courthouse, built in 1858, was burned by Union troops. An action was fought here, July 7, 1863, between Confederates and Union raiders. The name was changed to Wise when the town was rechartered in 1928.”

Wise County Courthouse image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 17, 2015

3. Wise County Courthouse

Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. It was originally submitted on November 22, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 981 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 22, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.