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State Route 63 (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 63 (SR 63) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 39.28 miles (63.2 km) from U.S. Route 58 Alternate (US 58 Alternate) in St. Paul
north to SR 80 and SR 83 in Haysi
.
's Clinch Valley District. The highway intersects SR 270 (4th Street) in the center of town. SR 63 parallels the Clinch River
and CSX
's Kingsport Subdivision
, formerly the Clinchfield Railroad
, east to Lick Creek. The highway and railroad turn north to follow Lick Creek out of St. Paul and cross the Wise
–Russell
county line. The state highway heads north as Dante Road to Dante
, where the rail line diverges to pass through the Sandy Ridge Tunnel. SR 63 crosses Sandy Ridge and the Tennessee Valley Divide
at Flint Gap and enters Dickenson County
. SR 63 descends as Dante Mountain Road into the valley of McClure Creek and rejoins the Kingsport Subdivision at Trammel. The state highway heads northwest through the village of Nora
, where McClure Creek merges with Open Fork to become the McClure River
.
SR 63 begins to run concurrently
with SR 83 (Dickenson Highway) at Fremont; SR 83 heads west toward Clintwood
, the county seat
of Dickenson County. The two highways diverge after passing through the town of Clinchco
. SR 83 and the railroad continue to follow the river to Haysi while SR 63 turns onto Big Ridge Road. The state highway ascends and has a curvaceous path atop Big Ridge. SR 63 leaves the ridge to descend to the town of Haysi. The state highway passes over the Kingsport Subdivision at the south end of the railroad's short tunnel and crosses Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River
just north of its confluence with the McClure River. SR 63 turns east and becomes the town's Main Street before the highway reaches its northern terminus in the center of town at its three-way intersection with SR 80 and SR 83, which follow Main Street east and Sandlick Drive south to cross Russell Prater Fork at its confluence with Russell Fork.
!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Wise
|rowspan=2|St. Paul
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|
|
|
|-
|Russell
|colspan=4 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|rowspan=3|Dickenson
|Fremont
|24.33
|
|South end of concurrency with SR 83
|-
|Clinchco
|29.27
|
|North end of concurrency with SR 83
|-
|Haysi
|39.28
|
|Northern terminus
State highway
State highway, state road or state route can refer to one of three related concepts, two of them related to a state or provincial government in a country that is divided into states or provinces :#A...
in the U.S. state of 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...
. The state highway runs 39.28 miles (63.2 km) from U.S. Route 58 Alternate (US 58 Alternate) in St. Paul
St. Paul, Virginia
St. Paul is a town in Russell and Wise counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 1,000 people at the 2000 census.-Geography:St...
north to SR 80 and SR 83 in Haysi
Haysi, Virginia
Haysi is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 186 at the 2000 census. The pronunciation of the final syllable is that of "sigh".-Geography:Haysi is located at ....
.
Route description
SR 63 begins at an intersection with US 58 Alternate (Bull Run Road) in the town of St. Paul. The state highway heads east through town as Wise Street, which passes under Norfolk Southern RailwayNorfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Clinch Valley District. The highway intersects SR 270 (4th Street) in the center of town. SR 63 parallels the Clinch River
Clinch River
The Clinch River rises in Southwest Virginia near Tazewell, Virginia and flows southwest through the Great Appalachian Valley, gathering various tributaries including the Powell River before joining the Tennessee River in East Tennessee.-Course:...
and CSX
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
's Kingsport Subdivision
Kingsport Subdivision
The Kingsport Subdivision is a 133.2-mile railroad line owned and operated by CSX Transportation in the U.S. states of Kentucky, Virginia, and Tennessee...
, formerly the Clinchfield Railroad
Clinchfield Railroad
The Clinchfield Railroad was an operating and holding company for the Carolina, Clinchfield and Ohio Railway . The line ran from the coalfields of Virginia and Elkhorn City, Kentucky, to the textile mills of South Carolina...
, east to Lick Creek. The highway and railroad turn north to follow Lick Creek out of St. Paul and cross the Wise
Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1856, the county was formed from land taken from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. As of 2010, the population was 41,452, making it the largest...
–Russell
Russell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
county line. The state highway heads north as Dante Road to Dante
Dante, Virginia
Dante is a census-designated place in Russell County, Virginia. The population as of the 2010 Census was 649....
, where the rail line diverges to pass through the Sandy Ridge Tunnel. SR 63 crosses Sandy Ridge and the Tennessee Valley Divide
Tennessee Valley Divide
The Tennessee Valley Divide is the eastern and southern boundary of the drainage basin of the Tennessee River and its tributaries.The Tennessee Valley Divide begins near the northeasternmost source of the Tennessee River, in the vicinity of Bluefield, West Virginia. From there, the divide...
at Flint Gap and enters Dickenson County
Dickenson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,395 people, 6,732 households, and 4,887 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 7,684 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
. SR 63 descends as Dante Mountain Road into the valley of McClure Creek and rejoins the Kingsport Subdivision at Trammel. The state highway heads northwest through the village of Nora
Nora, Virginia
Nora is a small, unincorporated town in Dickenson County in the state of Virginia. In the 2000 US census, its population is listed as 566. Nora is built along one side of the McClure River. Ervinton High School is located in Nora....
, where McClure Creek merges with Open Fork to become the McClure River
McClure River
The McClure River is a tributary of the Russell Fork in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located in Dickenson County in the southwestern part of the state. Via the Russell Fork, the Levisa Fork, the Big Sandy River, and the Ohio River, it is part of the Mississippi River...
.
SR 63 begins to run concurrently
Concurrency (road)
A concurrency, overlap, or coincidence in a road network is an instance of one physical road bearing two or more different highway, motorway, or other route numbers...
with SR 83 (Dickenson Highway) at Fremont; SR 83 heads west toward Clintwood
Clintwood, Virginia
Clintwood is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,549 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Dickenson County....
, the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Dickenson County. The two highways diverge after passing through the town of Clinchco
Clinchco, Virginia
Clinchco is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 424 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clinchco is located at ....
. SR 83 and the railroad continue to follow the river to Haysi while SR 63 turns onto Big Ridge Road. The state highway ascends and has a curvaceous path atop Big Ridge. SR 63 leaves the ridge to descend to the town of Haysi. The state highway passes over the Kingsport Subdivision at the south end of the railroad's short tunnel and crosses Russell Fork of the Big Sandy River
Big Sandy River (Ohio River)
The Big Sandy River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately long, in western West Virginia and northeastern Kentucky in the United States. The river forms part of the boundary between the two states along its entire course...
just north of its confluence with the McClure River. SR 63 turns east and becomes the town's Main Street before the highway reaches its northern terminus in the center of town at its three-way intersection with SR 80 and SR 83, which follow Main Street east and Sandlick Drive south to cross Russell Prater Fork at its confluence with Russell Fork.
Major intersections
{|class=wikitable!County
!Location
!Mile
!Destinations
!Notes
|-
|rowspan=2|Wise
Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1856, the county was formed from land taken from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. As of 2010, the population was 41,452, making it the largest...
|rowspan=2|St. Paul
St. Paul, Virginia
St. Paul is a town in Russell and Wise counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 1,000 people at the 2000 census.-Geography:St...
|0.00
|
|Southern terminus
|-
|
|
|
|-
|Russell
Russell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
|colspan=4 align=center|No major intersections
|-
|rowspan=3|Dickenson
Dickenson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,395 people, 6,732 households, and 4,887 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile . There were 7,684 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile...
|Fremont
|24.33
|
|South end of concurrency with SR 83
|-
|Clinchco
Clinchco, Virginia
Clinchco is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 424 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Clinchco is located at ....
|29.27
|
|North end of concurrency with SR 83
|-
|Haysi
Haysi, Virginia
Haysi is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 186 at the 2000 census. The pronunciation of the final syllable is that of "sigh".-Geography:Haysi is located at ....
|39.28
|
|Northern terminus