Sperryville is a census-designated place

Census-designated place

A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...

 (CDP) in Rappahannock County

Rappahannock County, Virginia

As of the census of 2010, there were 7,373 people, 2,788 households, and 2,004 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 3,303 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...

, Virginia

Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

. The population as of the 2010 Census

United States Census, 2010

The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...

 was 342.

History

Located in the southeast section of Rappahannock County, Virginia, along the Thornton River, Sperryville was laid out by Francis Thornton, Jr. in 1817. For most of the early 19th century Conestoga wagons were built by John Kiger. By the 1850, Sperryville boasted two turnpikes: Thornton's Gap and Sperryville & Rappahannock. In the 1860s the Smoot family of Alexandria build a tannery on the Thornton River that closed by 1911. By that time Sperryville had grown to 350 residents with four churches, five general stores, one hotel, six mills, shops, and a masonic hall. The Historic District of Sperryville is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Registry and the National Register of Historic Places.

Attractions

Sperryville is close to many outdoor activities. The town is at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and provides access to the panorama entrance of Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Shenandoah National Park encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the U.S. state of Virginia. This national park is long and narrow, with the broad Shenandoah River and valley on the west side, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont on the east...

 that provides access to Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive

Skyline Drive is a 105-mile road that runs the entire length of the National Park Service's Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, generally along the ridge of the mountains. The scenic drive is particularly popular in the fall when the leaves are changing colors...

, which is a continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway

Blue Ridge Parkway

The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and All-American Road in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly along the famous Blue Ridge, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains...

 of the Great Smokey Mountains. Hiking spots include the popular Old Rag Mountain

Old Rag Mountain

Old Rag Mountain is a popular hiking destination with a summit elevation of , located in the Blue Ridge Mountains of the Shenandoah National Park in Virginia's Madison County, near Sperryville....

, White Oak Canyon, and Thornton River Trail, which are all located within the Shenandoah National Park.

Getting the Local Experience

Rappahannock, Virginia is known for agriculture, fine dining, and beautiful landscapes. Sperryville is no exception. In town there are many local farmers and producers that offer a variety products.

Further Reading

• Hanson, Raus (1969). From Virginia Place Names. Verona, Virginia: McClure Press. ISBN
• Arnold, Scott (2007). A Guidebook to Virginia's Historical Markers. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press. ISBN 9780813925721.
• Hite, Mary (1950). My Rappahannock (Virginia) Story Book. Richmond, Virginia: The Dietz Press Incorpotated. ISBN
• Lynch, Kathryn (2007). Images of America: Rappahannock County. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 0738543845.
• McCarthy, Eugene (1984). The View from Rappahannock. McLean, Virginia: EPM Publications, Inc.. ISBN 0914440799.

External Links

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• The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.  The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.