02/24/2026
Happy Birthday, neighbor!
On this day in 1832, the Virginia General Assembly created a new county by carving out portions of Wythe and Washington Counties. The region chosen was already recognized for its valuable farmland, abundant waterways, and position along important early transportation routes such as the Great Road—making it a practical and strategic location for a new county seat.
They named it Smyth County in honor of Alexander Smyth, who had died just two years earlier in 1830. Smyth was an Irish immigrant who built a remarkable career in the young American nation. He served as a general in the War of 1812, represented Virginia in the U.S. House of Representatives, and later served in both the Virginia House of Delegates and the State Senate. Before and after his political service, he practiced law in Southwest Virginia, giving him strong local ties to the region that would eventually bear his name.
The establishment of Smyth County also reflected a broader pattern of growth in Western Virginia during the early 19th century. As settlement increased beyond the Blue Ridge, new administrative centers were needed to bring courts, record-keeping, and local governance closer to rural residents. The creation of the county helped lay foundations for the later development of towns such as Marion, founded in 1832—the same year—and eventually chosen as the county seat.
