Fort Chiswell
| Fort Chiswell, Virginia | |
|---|---|
| CDP | |
 Location of Fort Chiswell, Virginia |
|
| Coordinates: 36°56′37″N 80°56′25″W / 36.94361°N 80.94028°WCoordinates: 36°56′37″N 80°56′25″W / 36.94361°N 80.94028°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Wythe |
| Area | |
| • Total | 12.1 sq mi (31.4 km2) |
| • Land | 12.1 sq mi (31.4 km2) |
| • Water | 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,054 ft (626 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 939 |
| • Density | 78/sq mi (30/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 24360 |
| Area code(s) | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-29040 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1495556 |
Fort Chiswell is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wythe County, Virginia, United States. The population was 939 at the 2010 census.
Fort Chiswell is located at the junction of Interstate 77 and Interstate 81. Going west from Fort Chiswell, drivers find themselves on a double wrong-way concurrency - one of few in the nation.
The community name comes from a frontier fort built in 1758 as an outpost during the French and Indian War. The fort, which was of strategic importance during the American Revolution as the guardpost over a small deposit of lead used to mold bullets, was situated at the junction of the Great Trading Path and the Richmond Road, near the New River. The fort fell into disrepair in the 18th century as both the county seat and courthouse were moved from Fort Chiswell to the county seat of Wytheville, 12 miles to the west. The remaining foundations of the Fort and its surrounding buildings were completely covered over during the construction of I-77 in Wythe County during the 1970s. There is a pyramid shaped historical marker of sandstone situated approximately 200 yards west-northwest of the fort's original location next to the old chicken house.
The Fort Chiswell Site, The Mansion at Fort Chiswell, and McGavock Family Cemetery are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
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