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State Route 83 (Virginia)
Encyclopedia
Virginia State Route 83 (SR 83) is a primary state highway
in the U.S. state of Virginia
. The state highway runs 61.71 miles (99.3 km) from U.S. Route 23 Business (US 23 Business) in Pound
east to the West Virginia
state line in Paynesville
, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 83 (WV 83). SR 83 is the main highway of Dickenson County
, where it connects the county's three towns of Clintwood
, Clinchco
, and Haysi
. The state highway connects those towns with Pound in Wise County
and Grundy
in Buchanan County
, and connects Grundy with McDowell County, West Virginia
.
and exits the town. SR 83 passes through the hamlet of Meade before reaching the Wise–Dickenson county line at Georges Fork Gap, just east of which the highway intersects SR 361, the access road to Red Onion State Prison
. The state highway continues as Dickenson Highway through an intersection with SR 72 (Coeburn Road) to Clintwood, the county seat
of Dickenson County. SR 83 enters the town on Main Street, turns onto Mullins Avenue, then continues on Fremont Avenue, which has a sharp curve as it ascends Baker Ridge and leaves the town. The state highway re-assumes the name Dickenson Highway and descends to and crosses the Cranes Nest River. SR 83 summits Hill Ridge at Bearpen Gap before descending to the hamlet of Fremont, where the highway crosses over CSX
's Kingsport Subdivision
and the McClure River
and intersects SR 63 (Dante Mountain Road).
SR 83 runs concurrently
with SR 63 and parallels the river and railroad to the town of Clinchco. At the north end of the town, the two state highways diverge for separate routes to Haysi. SR 63 ascends onto and follows Big Ridge to the town while SR 83 follows the Kingsport Subdivision and the McClure River to the town. On arriving in the town of Haysi, SR 83 veers east away from the river and railroad and crosses Russell Fork to intersect SR 80 (Helen Henderson Highway). The two highways head north into the center of town on Sandlick Drive, which crosses Russell Prater Creek at its confluence with Russell Fork and meets the northern end of SR 63 (Main Street). SR 83 and SR 80 turn east onto Main Street and follow Russell Prater Creek to the north end of town, where SR 80 heads north as Breaks Park Road. SR 83 continues east as Dickenson Highway along the creek into Buchanan County.
SR 83 follows Russell Prater Creek to the hamlet of Prater
, then follows War Fork to its source at Lovers Gap. The state highway follows Big Lick Branch and Big Prater Creek and passes to the south of Grundy Municipal Airport
on its way to Vansant
. There, SR 83 crosses Levisa Fork and joins US 460
on a four-lane undivided highway through Tookland
and Royal City to the town of Grundy, which the two highways enter on Riverside Drive. In the center of the Buchanan County seat, SR 83 turns east onto Edgewater Drive and passes by the Buchanan County Courthouse
and the Appalachian School of Law
. The state highway exits Grundy on Slate Creek Road, which follows Slate Creek through the hamlet of Stacy
. Near the source of Slate Creek, SR 83 veers north and ascends to the top of State Line Ridge, where the highway reaches its eastern terminus at the West Virginia state line in Paynesville. The road continues as WV 83, which parallels the state line through the West Virginia section of Paynesville
before descending from the ridge to Bradshaw
.
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 61.71 miles (99.3 km) from U.S. Route 23 Business (US 23 Business) in Pound
Pound, Virginia
Pound is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,089 as recorded in the 2000 census.-Geography:Pound is located at ....
east to the West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
state line in Paynesville
Paynesville, Virginia
Paynesville is an unincorporated community in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States.Paynesville is located on the West Virginia state line across from Paynesville, West Virginia; it is served by Virginia State Route 83....
, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 83 (WV 83). SR 83 is the main highway of 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...
, where it connects the county's three towns of 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....
, 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 ....
, and 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 ....
. The state highway connects those towns with Pound in Wise County
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...
and Grundy
Grundy, Virginia
Grundy is a town in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,105 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Buchanan County. The town is noted for its educational institutions and their role in the town's economic rebirth. In the past, the town served as a stopover for Union...
in Buchanan County
Buchanan County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,978 people, 10,464 households, and 7,900 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,887 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile...
, and connects Grundy with McDowell County, West Virginia
McDowell County, West Virginia
McDowell County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The land that became McDowell was originally part of Tazewell County, Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 22,113. Its county seat is Welch. McDowell county is the southern-most county in the state, geographically...
.
Route description
SR 83 begins at an intersection with US 23 Business (Main Street) in the town of Pound. The state highway heads northeast as Clintwood Highway, a two-lane road that crosses the Pound RiverPound River
Category: Rivers of Virginia Running through Part of Wise County Virginia, and through Dickenson County Virginia, The Pound River is a tributary of the Russell Fork in the U.S. state of Virginia. Via the Russell Fork, the Levisa Fork, the Big Sandy River, and the Ohio River, it is part of the...
and exits the town. SR 83 passes through the hamlet of Meade before reaching the Wise–Dickenson county line at Georges Fork Gap, just east of which the highway intersects SR 361, the access road to Red Onion State Prison
Red Onion State Prison
Red Onion State Prison is a supermax state prison located in unincorporated Wise County, Virginia, near Pound, operated by the Virginia Department of Corrections, it houses about 800 inmates. The prison opened in August, 1998 and is an identical facility to the Wallens Ridge State Prison in Big...
. The state highway continues as Dickenson Highway through an intersection with SR 72 (Coeburn Road) to Clintwood, 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. SR 83 enters the town on Main Street, turns onto Mullins Avenue, then continues on Fremont Avenue, which has a sharp curve as it ascends Baker Ridge and leaves the town. The state highway re-assumes the name Dickenson Highway and descends to and crosses the Cranes Nest River. SR 83 summits Hill Ridge at Bearpen Gap before descending to the hamlet of Fremont, where the highway crosses over 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...
and 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...
and intersects SR 63 (Dante Mountain Road).
SR 83 runs 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 63 and parallels the river and railroad to the town of Clinchco. At the north end of the town, the two state highways diverge for separate routes to Haysi. SR 63 ascends onto and follows Big Ridge to the town while SR 83 follows the Kingsport Subdivision and the McClure River to the town. On arriving in the town of Haysi, SR 83 veers east away from the river and railroad and crosses Russell Fork to intersect SR 80 (Helen Henderson Highway). The two highways head north into the center of town on Sandlick Drive, which crosses Russell Prater Creek at its confluence with Russell Fork and meets the northern end of SR 63 (Main Street). SR 83 and SR 80 turn east onto Main Street and follow Russell Prater Creek to the north end of town, where SR 80 heads north as Breaks Park Road. SR 83 continues east as Dickenson Highway along the creek into Buchanan County.
SR 83 follows Russell Prater Creek to the hamlet of Prater
Prater, Virginia
Prater is an unincorporated community located in Buchanan County, Virginia. It is near the intersection of Virginia State Route 83 and County Route 604 in the western portion of the county. The community is the home of Russell Prater Elementary School....
, then follows War Fork to its source at Lovers Gap. The state highway follows Big Lick Branch and Big Prater Creek and passes to the south of Grundy Municipal Airport
Grundy Municipal Airport
Grundy Municipal Airport is a public-use airport located three nautical miles southwest of the central business district of Grundy, a town in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States. It is publicly owned by the Town of Grundy and is operated by the Grundy Municipal Airport Commission. Grundy...
on its way to Vansant
Vansant, Virginia
Vansant is a census-designated place in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States. The population was 989 at the 2000 census.-Geography:...
. There, SR 83 crosses Levisa Fork and joins US 460
U.S. Route 460 in Virginia
U.S. Route 460 in Virginia runs east–west through the southern part of the state. It has two separate pieces in Virginia, joined by a relatively short section in West Virginia...
on a four-lane undivided highway through Tookland
Tookland, Virginia
Tookland is an unincorporated community in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States. Tookland is located on U.S. Route 460 and Virginia State Route 83 south of Grundy....
and Royal City to the town of Grundy, which the two highways enter on Riverside Drive. In the center of the Buchanan County seat, SR 83 turns east onto Edgewater Drive and passes by the Buchanan County Courthouse
Buchanan County Courthouse (Virginia)
The Buchanan County Courthouse in Grundy, Virginia was built in 1905-06. The Renaissance Revival style building is the only building in the downtown with pretensions to architectural sophistication. Designed by architect Frank Pierce Milburn, the design employs local stone, emphasized with a corner...
and the Appalachian School of Law
Appalachian School of Law
The Appalachian School of Law is a fully accredited private law school on a four building campus in Grundy, Virginia, a small town near the convergence of Virginia, Kentucky, and West Virginia. The school offers a three-year Juris Doctor degree, and enrolls approximately 370 full-time students...
. The state highway exits Grundy on Slate Creek Road, which follows Slate Creek through the hamlet of Stacy
Stacy, Virginia
Stacy is an unincorporated community in Buchanan County, in the U.S. state of Virginia....
. Near the source of Slate Creek, SR 83 veers north and ascends to the top of State Line Ridge, where the highway reaches its eastern terminus at the West Virginia state line in Paynesville. The road continues as WV 83, which parallels the state line through the West Virginia section of Paynesville
Paynesville, West Virginia
Paynesville is an unincorporated community in McDowell County, West Virginia, United States. Paynesville is located along West Virginia Route 83 at the Virginia border. Paynesville has a post office with ZIP code 24873....
before descending from the ridge to Bradshaw
Bradshaw, West Virginia
Bradshaw is the name of several communities in the U.S. state of West Virginia:*Bradshaw, Logan County, West Virginia*Bradshaw, McDowell County, West Virginia...
.