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Smith Mountain Lake & Frankin County History

The History & Construction of Smith Mountain Lake, Virignia

Smith Mountain Lake is western Virginia’s biggest playground and Virginia’s largest lake. The recreational opportunities are outstanding with boating and fishing being the most popular. The lake holds the state record for citation striped bass. Smith Mountain Lake encompasses over 40 miles, holds 20,000 acres of water, and is surrounded by 500 miles of shoreline. Full pond is 795 feet above sea level.

In comparison to other lakes, Smith Mountain is relatively new. Dam construction began in 1960. Like its older sister to the south, Claytor Lake in Pulaski, the lake was formed to dam a river and generate electrical power for Appalachian Power Company. The dam has a capability of producing 605,000 kilowatts.

It took six years and a crew of 200 to move 300,000 cubic yards of mountain forests to make way for the 175,000 cubic feet of concrete used to build the Smith Mountain Dam.

The first project was to build a 1,500 foot cable between the mountains in order to help move material back and forth. The cable hauled an estimated half million tons of building materials used to construct the dam. The dam walls were completed in September 1963 and the Blackwater and Roanoke Rivers began filling Smith Mountain Lake. Capacity was reached on March 7, 1966 and the lake became the recreational capital of Southwest Virginia.

During construction, an excavation was performed by Smithsonian Institute archaeologists. They discovered the Algonquin Indians fished and hunted here many years ago. Today a Visitor Center at the dam, located just off Va. 40 on Rt. 908, is full on hands-on exhibits for children and interesting audio-visuals about how the lake was formed. A scale model of the lake is also on display.

Located on Rt. 122, just minutes from the lake, is the popular historic attraction Booker T. Washington National Monument. Booker T. Washington was a famous African-American educator and statesman. There, a working farm interprets his daily chores with demonstrations. The plantation was reconstructed to represent buildings from the Burroughs tobacco farm. For more information, please visit the Smith Mountain Lake Project Web Site!

Information and History of Rocky Mount & Franklin County, Virginia

Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state - officially, "Commonwealth of Virginia". As of the 2000 census, the population was 47,286. Its county seat is Rocky Mount.

History

The county was formed in 1785 from parts of Bedford County and Henry County. It was named for Benjamin Franklin. This county was home to Confederate General Jubal Anderson Early, and Booker T. Washington, a slave who became one of the main civil rights activists of his era. During Prohibition, local wits named Franklin County the "Moonshine Capital of the World," a name trumpeted today by the local chamber of commerce, although it is still being made commonly in the area [2]. In 2002, a book was written about The Great Moonshine Conspiracy Trial of 1935 in the County.[3] Since the 1980s, much residential development has occurred around Smith Mountain Lake, attracting both commuters to Roanoke, Lynchburg, Martinsville, and Danville and many retirees, and has driven the county's population growth.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 712 square miles (1,843 km²), of which, 692 square miles (1,792 km²) of it is land and 19 square miles (50 km²) of it (2.74%) is water.

Districts

The county is divided into supervisor districts; a few are: Blackwater, Blue Ridge, Boones Mill, Gills Creek, Rocky Mount, Snow Creek, Union Hall, Ferrum, Glade Hill, and Penhook.[citation needed]

Adjacent Counties

  • Bedford County, Virginia - northeast
  • Pittsylvania County, Virginia - southeast
  • Henry County, Virginia - south
  • Patrick County, Virginia - southwest
  • Floyd County, Virginia - west
  • Roanoke County, Virginia - northwest

National protected areas

  • Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
  • Booker T. Washington National Monument

Demographics

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 47,286 people, 18,963 households, and 13,918 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26/km²). There were 22,717 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 88.95% White, 9.35% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.42% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,963 households out of which 29.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 9.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 22.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 27.20% from 45 to 64, and 14.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 97.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,056, and the median income for a family was $45,163. Males had a median income of $29,807 versus $22,215 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,605. About 7.30% of families and 9.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.70% of those under age 18 and 9.80% of those age 65 or over.

Incorporated towns

  • Boones Mill
  • Rocky Mount

Unincorporated communities

  • Ferrum
  • North Shore
  • Penhook
  • Union Hall
  • Westlake Corner
  • Callaway
  • Snow Creek
  • Glade Hill
  • Bent Mountain
  • Hale's Ford

For More information, please visit the Franklin Count Historical Society's Website!


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