The rural mountain village of Saltville bursting with history
Saltville is a small Southwest Virginia town shaped by the Appalachian Mountains and natural salt marshes. “People who want a quieter life on an affordable lot come here to escape the metropolitan areas,” says Cindy Duffy, a Re/Max Cavalier Realtor and local resident of 30 years. “It seems to have a slower pace than the rest of the world.” The town’s mineral-rich springs once drew prehistoric animals, including woolly mammoths, and later supported salt production dating back to the 18th century and the Civil War. “Salt was like gold in those times,” Duffy says. “That’s what caused the boom in this town.” Today, homebuyers are drawn to Saltville for its secluded lifestyle, convenient access to daily essentials along Main Street and abundant outdoor recreation.
Mountains, lakes and fitness centers get people moving year-round
Saltville’s outdoor attractions range from trails and campgrounds in the Appalachian Mountains to recreation facilities. “Even though it’s a small town, it actually has more fun things to do than its bigger counterparts, like Chilhowie and Abingdon,” Duffy says. “If you like outdoor life, you’ll find plenty of it here.” Many parks are available near Main Street, such as the Salt Trail, which spans over 8 miles to Glade Spring. The town has a playground, a nine-hole golf course open to the public and a modern wave pool that simulates the flow of the ocean. For indoor activities, the Lifetime Wellness Center has a gym, pool and group fitness classes. Well Fields Recreation Area, off Palmer Avenue, features a fishing lake surrounded by salt marshes and bike paths. Residents can travel 10 miles out of Saltville to reach additional hiking trails and campsites throughout the Clinch Mountain Wildlife Management Area. “You can take your horses up there or go bicycle riding,” Duffy says. “Laurel Bed Lake is up there, and there’s doggone good trout fishing in those streams.”
Housing predates the Civil War
Duffy describes the architecture in Saltville as “early American.” Homes include ranch-style builds, farmhouses and uniform worker’s cottages from the salt mining days. Most properties sit far off narrow country roads, while those near Main Street are more densely packed. Single- and double-wide trailers used as single-family homes are permitted in some regions of Smyth and Washington counties. Most price tags fall between $120,000 and $475,000, though homes that need renovations start at about $17,000 to $85,000. The CAP Index Crime Score is 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
Events and attractions strengthen the community and draw visitors
Saltville has the largest Labor Day Weekend celebration in Southwest Virginia. It’s a four-day festival with vendors, a parade and fireworks. Rich Valley Fair’s grounds host horse shows and an annual summer carnival, which Duffy describes as “the equivalent of a county fair, but heavy on horses.” The Museum of the Middle Appalachians explores Saltville’s history with displays of locally discovered mammoth fossils and exhibits on salt production. The museum also highlights the town’s role in creating rocket fuels used during testing for the Apollo 13 moon mission.
Supporting independently run stores and restaurants
Main Street and Palmer Avenue house most of Saltville’s commercial development. Churches of different Christian denominations sit alongside brick buildings with small businesses, laundromats and town offices. Apart from Dollar General and Food Country USA, mini markets and gas stations cover everyday needs. Residents head 18 miles to either Abingdon or Marion for big-box stores, such as Walmart, Food Lion and Kroger. Restaurants include Pap’s at East End, a diner with pub fare, a pool table and the occasional live band. Buck’s Drive-In is another local favorite, and Duffy says, “They make the best foot-long slaw dog you’ve ever eaten.”
Students attend Smyth County or Washington County public schools
Two school districts serve Saltville. The western side of town is zoned for Washington County Public Schools, a district with a B-plus rating on Niche. The rest of the area, including the heart of Saltville near Main Street, falls under Smyth County Public Schools. This district scores a C-plus and has a 95% on-time graduation rate. Smyth County schools include Saltville Elementary and Northwood Middle, which score C-plus ratings, and Northwood High, which earns a B.
Navigating the state routes that cut into Saltville
Along Saltville’s country roads, drivers will pass by motorcycles, trailers and tractors. Main Street, a piece of Virginia State Route 19, is the main thoroughfare in town, and State Route 107 leads to Chilhowie and Interstate 81, 8 miles away. The closest flights take off from Tri-Cities Airport, 55 miles southwest in Blountville, Tennessee.
