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

Saltville

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 18, 2015

1. Saltville Marker

Inscription. Saltville is named for the vast salt deposits that exist under this valley. The commercial salt industry began developing here in the 1780s. During the Civil War, Saltville played a vital role in providing salt for the Confederacy, On 2 Oct. 1864 Confederate forces defeated Federal troops, while on 20 Dec. 1864 Union forces led by Maj Gen George Stoneman damaged the saltworks operation. The Mathieson Alkali Works opened here in 1892 and produced a variety of products using salt and other mineral resources from the area. The General Assembly officially incorporated Saltville as a town in 1896.

Erected 2002 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number KB-6.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Natural Resources • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1780.

Location. 36° 52.648′ N, 81° 46.063′ W. Marker is in Saltville, Virginia, in Smyth County. It is on West Main Street (Virginia Route 91) north of Court Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Saltville VA 24370, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once 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 2 miles of this marker,

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measured as the crow flies: Saltville Veterans Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Mathieson Alkali Works Steam Locomotive No. 11 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Saltville WWI Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away); U.S. General Stoneman's Raid (approx. 0.3 miles away); History of Saltville Valley (approx. 0.8 miles away); Smyth County/Washington County (approx. 0.8 miles away); Saltville Defenses (approx. 0.8 miles away); Battle at Cedar Branch (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Saltville.

More about this marker. This marker replaced a previous marker here with the same title and number which read, “The land, patented by Charles Campbell in 1783, passed to the wife of General Francis Preston. General William Russell began saltmaking here in 1788; Thomas Madison directed the work in 1790. William King greatly enlarged the works. In 1861-64 the Confederate government obtained salt here. In October, 1964, Stoneman destroyed the salt works. The town was incorporated in 1894.”

Also see . . . Wikipedia entry. “Saltville was named for the salt marshes in the area. Prior to European settlement, these marshes attracted local wildlife. Excavations at the SV-2 archaeological site in the area have recovered several well preserved

Photographed by J. J. Prats, October 18, 2015

2. Saltville Marker

skeletons of now extinct species dating back to the last ice age. Indigenous peoples of varying cultures hunted at the marshes. The historic Native American people in the area were the Chisca.” (Submitted on November 29, 2015.)

View of Saltville from the Saltville Overlook on Route 107 image. Click for full size.

Photographed by J. J. Prats

3. View of Saltville from the Saltville Overlook on Route 107

Click on image to zoom in.

Credits. This page was last revised on October 8, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 28, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,448 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on November 28, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. 2, 3. submitted on November 29, 2015, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio.