Southwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth.
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14 Facts About Southwest Virginia
2.
Counties that have been included in the definition of Southwest Virginia include: Alleghany County, Bedford County, Bland County, Botetourt County, Buchanan County, Carroll County, Craig County, Dickenson County, Floyd County, Franklin County, Giles County, Grayson County, Henry County, Lee County, Montgomery County, Patrick County, Pulaski County, Roanoke County, Rockbridge County, Russell County, Scott County, Smyth County, Tazewell County, Washington County, Wise County, and Wythe County.
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3.
Independent cities in Southwest Virginia include Bristol, Buena Vista, Covington, Galax, Lexington, Martinsville, Norton, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem.
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4.
Culture of Southwest Virginia is more consistent with the wider Appalachian region than with the rest of the state of Virginia.
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5.
Southwest Virginia was among the last parts of the state to be settled by Europeans, in a flow of migrations that consisted mainly of English, German, and Scots-Irish and Irish immigrants.
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6.
Southwest Virginia is the result of parts of Virginia which broke off or revolted, such as Kentucky and West Virginia.
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7.
In 1864, Union General George Stoneman led a devastating raid into Southwest Virginia, destroying the saltworks in Saltville and burning all that he thought useful to the Confederates.
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8.
Appalachian Mountains have the most direct impact upon the geography of Southwest Virginia and are often credited for isolating its residents from the rest of the commonwealth.
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9.
Southwest Virginia falls into the ridge and valley and the Blue Ridge portions of the range.
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10.
Southwest Virginia's predecessor was William C Wampler, a Republican, who had served a nearly equally long term of over eighteen years prior to his political defeat by Boucher.
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11.
Since most of Southwest Virginia has experienced little to no population growth in recent decades, the 9th district has begun to encroach into areas previously in the 5th and 6th districts.
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12.
Democrats and Republicans from Southwest Virginia have a reputation for putting region above party, presenting a united front to ensure that money and resources make it to their end of the state.
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13.
Southwest Virginia is home to several institutions of higher education, the largest of which is Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, in Blacksburg.
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14.
Southwest Virginia Tech is the largest research university in the state as well as the largest employer in Montgomery County.
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