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Welcome to the web site of the Wythe County Genealogical and Historical Association. Our mission is "preserving history for future generations."
We invite you to visit us often.
When visiting Wytheville, VA be sure to visit
our office at 115 E Main St.
Email: wythecogha@gmail.com
P.O. Box 1601
Wytheville VA 24382
| Wythe County was organized by an Act of the Virginia Assembly on December 1, 1789, and was named for George Wythe, a noted lawyer of Eastern Virginia, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence and the designer of the Virginia Seal. The first county court session was held at the home of James McGavock at Fort Chiswell on May 25 the following year, where the Montgomery County Court had been meeting for several years. On that date the court accepted the offer of Christopher Simmerman who donated ninety acres for the town, and the offer of John Davis who contributed the remaining ten acres with a large spring. When Wythe County was formed the area included part of what is now the eastern part of Smyth County, the western part of what is now Pulaski County, all of Grayson and Carroll counties, and most of what is now Bland County. By 1861 the county limits had been permanently established. Rural Retreat As the railroad town grew, the post office, named Rural Retreat, was moved to the Mt. Airy Depot, causing great confusion. In the aftermath of the destruction of the depot by the Federal troops, the name Rural Retreat was given to the new depot and the town in 1866, to coincide with the name of the post office. Stores, banks, hotels, churches, mills, shops, newspapers and telephones reached the town in due time and Rural Retreat was incorporated on July 24, 1911, and received a new charter in 1954. |