Mouth of Wilson, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Mouth of Wilson is an unincorporated community
, in Grayson County
in the U.S. state
of Virginia
, just north of the North Carolina
state line. The community lies in the Appalachian Mountains
on the western banks of the New River, where the Big Wilson Creek empties its waters. The main road through the area is U.S. Route 58
; other major roads include Virginia Route 16 and Virginia Route 93 (County Line Road).
in 1749. The creek was henceforth known as the Wilson Creek. The first European settler in the region was Robert Parsons, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
who was awarded a grant of 1600 acres (6.5 km²) from the North Carolina line to Wilson Creek. One of Parsons' nine sons, Johnny Parsons, built the first mill on the creek. The mill was built to grind corn, with a sawmill as an extension. Johnny Parsons served one term as the overseer of the South Fork and New River Turnpike in the Virginia General Assembly
. Another mill was constructed in 1884 by Colonel Fields J. McMillan. The community built a power dam in 1930, introducing electricity to Mouth of Wilson.
Grayson Highlands State Park
is located approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) west of Mouth of Wilson. The park includes camping, horse trails, a visitors center and views of Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the tallest mountains in Virginia. The park hosts an annual Fall Festival, celebrating mountain traditions such as bluegrass music
, horses, and blacksmithing.
, a Baptist
-affiliated secondary school, is located in Mouth of Wilson. Oak Hill was built in 1878. Rev. W.A. Hash became principal in 1923 and oversaw the accreditation of the school and construction of dormitories, a water system, and electric lines. In recent history, the school has earned seven national basketball championships since 1993, becoming widely recognized for its athletic programs. Most students are boarders, causing the population of Mouth of Wilson to increase substantially during the school year.
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
, in Grayson County
Grayson County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 17,917 people, 7,259 households, and 5,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 40 people per square mile . There were 9,123 housing units at an average density of 21 per square mile...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
, just north of the North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
state line. The community lies in the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
on the western banks of the New River, where the Big Wilson Creek empties its waters. The main road through the area is U.S. Route 58
U.S. Route 58
U.S. Route 58 is an east–west U.S. Highway that runs for from U.S. Route 25E just northwest of Harrogate, Tennessee to U.S. Route 60 in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Until 1996, when the Cumberland Gap Tunnel opened, US 58 ran only inside the commonwealth of Virginia...
; other major roads include Virginia Route 16 and Virginia Route 93 (County Line Road).
History
The name Mouth of Wilson originates from a young surveyor named Wilson, who died and was buried in a creek while surveying the line between Virginia and North CarolinaNorth Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
in 1749. The creek was henceforth known as the Wilson Creek. The first European settler in the region was Robert Parsons, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
who was awarded a grant of 1600 acres (6.5 km²) from the North Carolina line to Wilson Creek. One of Parsons' nine sons, Johnny Parsons, built the first mill on the creek. The mill was built to grind corn, with a sawmill as an extension. Johnny Parsons served one term as the overseer of the South Fork and New River Turnpike in the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. Another mill was constructed in 1884 by Colonel Fields J. McMillan. The community built a power dam in 1930, introducing electricity to Mouth of Wilson.
Grayson Highlands State Park
Grayson Highlands State Park
Grayson Highlands State Park is located in Virginia, United States, adjacent to Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. The park lies within Jefferson National Forest. The park was established in 1965 and contains a total of 4,822 acres...
is located approximately 12 miles (19.3 km) west of Mouth of Wilson. The park includes camping, horse trails, a visitors center and views of Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, the tallest mountains in Virginia. The park hosts an annual Fall Festival, celebrating mountain traditions such as bluegrass music
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
, horses, and blacksmithing.
Oak Hill Academy
Oak Hill AcademyOak Hill Academy (Virginia)
Oak Hill Academy is a co-educational, private Baptist-affiliated secondary school in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, United States. Oak Hill's enrollment of approximately 150 students is 98% boarders, serving grades 8–12...
, a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
-affiliated secondary school, is located in Mouth of Wilson. Oak Hill was built in 1878. Rev. W.A. Hash became principal in 1923 and oversaw the accreditation of the school and construction of dormitories, a water system, and electric lines. In recent history, the school has earned seven national basketball championships since 1993, becoming widely recognized for its athletic programs. Most students are boarders, causing the population of Mouth of Wilson to increase substantially during the school year.