Burke's Garden, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Burke's Garden or Burke Garden is an upland valley and unincorporated community in Tazewell County, Virginia
, United States
.
(or "cove
") is known for its fertile land and was once the bed of an ancient sea. About 8.5 miles long and 4 miles wide, it resembles a large volcanic crater
in satellite photographs and on topographic maps; however, it was actually formed when underground limestone
caverns collapsed. The valley is the highest in Virginia at around 3,000 feet above sea level and is completely surrounded by Garden Mountain.
peelings while cooking. A year later, when the party returned to the area, they found potatoes growing in the area where the peels had been left. The area was dubbed Burke's Garden as something of a joke, but the name stuck.
The area has remained isolated throughout its history. In the late 19th century, agents for the Vanderbilt family
contacted local farmers about selling land so that the family could build a large estate there. Nobody wanted to sell, and the Vanderbilts instead constructed the Biltmore Estate
near Asheville, North Carolina
. In the 1990s, a small number of Amish
families moved to Burke's Garden but later moved out after being unable to purchase enough land and attract enough other Amish families to form a viable community.
The county's oldest church
, the Central Lutheran church, is located in Burke's Garden. In 1952, the community was terrorized by the "Varmint of Burke's Garden
", a large coyote
which killed many local sheep and caused much damage before being killed.
The area is drained by Wolf Creek (a tributary of the New River) which initially flows out of the geographic bowl in a northeasterly direction.
Tazewell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 44,598 people, 18,277 households and 13,232 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 20,390 housing units at an average density of 39 per square mile...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Geography
The oval, bowl-like valleyValley
In geology, a valley or dale is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. A very deep river valley may be called a canyon or gorge.The terms U-shaped and V-shaped are descriptive terms of geography to characterize the form of valleys...
(or "cove
Cove (Appalachian Mountains)
In the central and southern Appalachian Mountains of Eastern North America, a cove is a small valley between two ridge lines that is closed at one or both ends....
") is known for its fertile land and was once the bed of an ancient sea. About 8.5 miles long and 4 miles wide, it resembles a large volcanic crater
Volcanic crater
A volcanic crater is a circular depression in the ground caused by volcanic activity. It is typically a basin, circular in form within which occurs a vent from which magma erupts as gases, lava, and ejecta. A crater can be of large dimensions, and sometimes of great depth...
in satellite photographs and on topographic maps; however, it was actually formed when underground limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
caverns collapsed. The valley is the highest in Virginia at around 3,000 feet above sea level and is completely surrounded by Garden Mountain.
History
Burke's Garden was first surveyed in 1748 by a team of surveyors working for local landowner James Patton. One of the party, James Burke, is said to have thrown away some potatoPotato
The potato is a starchy, tuberous crop from the perennial Solanum tuberosum of the Solanaceae family . The word potato may refer to the plant itself as well as the edible tuber. In the region of the Andes, there are some other closely related cultivated potato species...
peelings while cooking. A year later, when the party returned to the area, they found potatoes growing in the area where the peels had been left. The area was dubbed Burke's Garden as something of a joke, but the name stuck.
The area has remained isolated throughout its history. In the late 19th century, agents for the Vanderbilt family
Vanderbilt family
The Vanderbilt family is an American family of Dutch origin prominent during the Gilded Age. It started off with the shipping and railroad empires of Cornelius Vanderbilt, and expanded into various other areas of industry and philanthropy...
contacted local farmers about selling land so that the family could build a large estate there. Nobody wanted to sell, and the Vanderbilts instead constructed the Biltmore Estate
Biltmore Estate
Biltmore House is a Châteauesque-styled mansion near Asheville, North Carolina, built by George Washington Vanderbilt II between 1889 and 1895. It is the largest privately-owned home in the United States, at and featuring 250 rooms...
near Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville, North Carolina
Asheville is a city in and the county seat of Buncombe County, North Carolina, United States. It is the largest city in Western North Carolina, and the 11th largest city in North Carolina. The City is home to the United States National Climatic Data Center , which is the world's largest active...
. In the 1990s, a small number of Amish
Amish
The Amish , sometimes referred to as Amish Mennonites, are a group of Christian church fellowships that form a subgroup of the Mennonite churches...
families moved to Burke's Garden but later moved out after being unable to purchase enough land and attract enough other Amish families to form a viable community.
The county's oldest church
Burke's Garden Central Church and Cemetery
Burke's Garden Central Church And Cemetery is a historic church in Burke's Garden, Virginia.It was built in 1827 and added to the National Register in 1979.-References:...
, the Central Lutheran church, is located in Burke's Garden. In 1952, the community was terrorized by the "Varmint of Burke's Garden
Varmint of Burke's Garden
The Varmint of Burke's Garden was the name given to a coyote that terrorized the community of Burke's Garden, Virginia, in 1952. The animal killed over 400 registered sheep and caused damages in excess of $32,000 before being killed....
", a large coyote
Coyote
The coyote , also known as the American jackal or the prairie wolf, is a species of canine found throughout North and Central America, ranging from Panama in the south, north through Mexico, the United States and Canada...
which killed many local sheep and caused much damage before being killed.
The area is drained by Wolf Creek (a tributary of the New River) which initially flows out of the geographic bowl in a northeasterly direction.