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78-478: The Hardware River is formed by the confluence of its short north and south forks in southern Albemarle County and flows generally southeastwardly into southwestern Fluvanna County , where it joins the James River about 7 miles (11 km) southeast of Scottsville . 37°44′21″N 78°24′10″W  /  37.73917°N 78.40278°W  / 37.73917; -78.40278 This article related to

156-554: A temperate broadleaf and mixed forest . Pines predominate on the southwestern faces of some of the southernmost hillsides, where an occasional prickly pear cactus may also grow naturally. In contrast, some of the northeastern aspects are most likely to have small but dense stands of moisture loving hemlocks and mosses in abundance. Other commonly found plants include oak, hickory , chestnut , maple , tulip poplar , mountain laurel , milkweed , daisies , and many species of ferns . The once predominant American chestnut tree

234-525: A 70 ft (21 m) cascade . The distance from the trailhead to the base of the falls is 0.7 mi (1.1 km), although the trail continues beyond that point, crossing the creek and connecting with the Rose River fire road. Various fauna can be viewed along the trail, including occasional sightings of black bears and timber rattlesnakes . While the trail is relatively short, parts of it are steep and may prove challenging to some visitors. There

312-453: A broad range of opportunities for public enjoyment, recreation, inspiration, and stewardship. The park encompasses parts of eight counties. On the west side of Skyline Drive they are, from northeast to southwest, Warren , Page , Rockingham , and Augusta counties. On the east side of Skyline Drive they are Rappahannock , Madison , Greene , and Albemarle counties. The park stretches for 105 miles (169 km) along Skyline Drive from near

390-448: A concessionaire in 1937. Carson also donated significant land; a mountain in the park is now named in his honor and signs acknowledge his contributions. The last grandmother resident was Annie Lee Bradley Shenk. NPS employees had watched and cared for her since 1950; she died in 1979 at age 92. Most others left quietly. 85-year-old Hezekiah Lam explained, "I ain't so crazy about leavin' these hills but I never believed in bein' ag'in (against)

468-594: A cover sequence of metamorphosed Neoproterozoic (570–550 million years old) sedimentary and volcanic rocks of the Swift Run and Catoctin formations . Columns of Catoctin Formation metamorphosed basalt can be seen at Compton Peak. Clastic rocks of the Chilhowee Group are of early Cambrian age (542–520 million years old). Quaternary surficial deposits are common and cover much of

546-553: A descendant's organization known as the Children of Shenandoah, which resulted in the removal of questionable interpretive displays. Hikes and tours that explained the social history of the displaced mountain people began. The park is best known for Skyline Drive, a 105-mile (169 km) road that runs the length of the park along the ridge of the mountains. 101 miles (163 km) of the Appalachian Trail are also in

624-547: A graduate or professional degree, compared with 10% nationwide. The median income for a household in the county was $ 63,001, and the median income for a family was $ 98,934. Males had a median income of $ 55,530 versus $ 52,211 for females. The per capita income for the county was $ 36,718. About 3.8% of families and 10.4% of the population were below the poverty line , including 8.0% of those under age 18 and 2.4% of those age 65 or over. 35% of people working in Albemarle live in

702-413: A maximum of 521,000 acres (814.1 sq mi; 2,108.4 km ) to form Shenandoah National Park, and also authorized creation of Great Smoky Mountains National Park . However, the legislation also required that no federal funds would be used to acquire the land. Thus, Virginia needed to raise private funds, and could also authorize state funds and use its eminent domain (condemnation) power to acquire

780-574: A popular comic strip Li'l Abner and his fictional community, Dogpatch . In 1933, Sherman and journalist Thomas Henry published Hollow Folk drawing pitying eyes to local conditions and "hillbillies." As in many rural areas of the time, most remote homesteads in the Shenandoah lacked electricity and often running water, as well as access to schools and health facilities during many months. However, Hoover had hired experienced rural teacher Christine Vest to teach near his summer home (and who believed

858-478: A report about the conditions in which they lived. Although later discredited, the report depicted the local population as very poor and inbred and was soon used to support forcible evictions and burning of former cabins so residents would not sneak back. University of Chicago sociologists Fay-Cooper Cole and Mandel Sherman described how the small valley communities or hollows had existed "without contact with law or government" for centuries, which some analogized to

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936-699: A river in Virginia is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Albemarle County, Virginia Albemarle County is a county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia . Its county seat is Charlottesville , which is an independent city and enclave entirely surrounded by the county. Albemarle County is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of

1014-619: A time." ACPS provides 25 school facilities which include Community Lab School , a charter school that is located in the City of Charlottesville , Albemarle High School, Western Albemarle High School, and Monticello High School. The School Board and the Superintendent, Matthew Haas, work closely together in operating the Albemarle County Public School System . Many private schools in Albemarle serve

1092-583: A vacation fishing camp near the headwaters of the Rapidan River (and would ultimately donate it to the park as he left office; it remains as Rapidan Camp ). The commonwealth of Virginia slowly acquired the land through eminent domain , eventually giving it to the U.S. federal government to establish the national park. Carson's brother suggested that Virginia's legislature authorize condemnation by counties (followed by arbitration for individual parcels) rather than condemn each parcel. Some families accepted

1170-477: Is 6a with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of -7.1 °F (-21.7 °C). The climate of the park and its flora and fauna are typical for mountainous regions of the eastern Mid-Atlantic woodland, while a large portion of common species are also typical of ecosystems at lower altitudes. A. W. Kuchler 's potential natural vegetation type for the park is Appalachian oak ( 104 ) within an eastern hardwood forest vegetation form ( 25 ), also known as

1248-808: Is a national park of the United States that encompasses part of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia . The park is long and narrow, with the Shenandoah River and its broad valley to the west, and the rolling hills of the Virginia Piedmont to the east. Skyline Drive is the main park road, generally traversing along the ridgeline of the mountains. Almost 40% of the park's land—79,579 acres (124 sq mi; 322 km )—has been designated as wilderness areas and

1326-605: Is a result of differential erosion during the Cenozoic , although some post-Paleozoic tectonic activity occurred in the region. Legislation to create a national park in the Appalachian mountains was first introduced by freshman Virginia congressman Henry D. Flood in 1901, but despite the support of President Theodore Roosevelt , failed to pass. The first national park was Yellowstone, in Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. It

1404-621: Is available at Darden Towe Park. The James River acts as a natural border between Albemarle and Buckingham Counties. Albemarle's western border with Augusta and Rockingham Counties is located within the Shenandoah National Park . Albemarle County borders 8 other counties, more than any other county in Virginia. The largest self-reported ancestry groups in Albemarle County are English 16.3%, German 16.0%, Irish 12.7%, "American" 11.4% and Italian 5.2%. As of

1482-497: Is governed by an elected six-member Board of Supervisors. Management of the county is vested in a Board-appointed County Executive . There are also several elected Constitutional Officers: The nonpartisan School Board is also elected. Its members are: Albemarle County has two branches of law enforcement, the Albemarle County Police Department , which handles criminal matters and is directed by

1560-531: Is no view from the brink of the falls, and slippery rocks make it inadvisable to leave the trail. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Shenandoah National Park has a humid continental climate with warm summers and no dry season ( Dfb ). According to the United States Department of Agriculture , the plant hardiness zone at Big Meadows Visitor Center (3514 ft / 1071 m)

1638-555: Is protected as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System . The highest peak is Hawksbill Mountain at 4,051 feet (1,235 m). As stated in the foundation document: Shenandoah National Park preserves and protects nationally significant natural and cultural resources, scenic beauty, and congressionally designated wilderness within Virginia’s northern Blue Ridge Mountains, and provides

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1716-540: Is represented by Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia State Senate; Democrats Katrina Callsen and Amy Laufer represent the county in the Virginia House of Delegates. Republican Bob Good represents most of the county in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrat Abigail Spanberger represents a small sliver in the most Northwest portion of Albemarle County. For much of the second half of

1794-411: The 2020 census , the population was 112,395. Albemarle County was created in 1744 from the western portion of Goochland County , though portions of Albemarle were later carved out to create other counties. Albemarle County was named in honor of Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle . Its most famous inhabitant was Thomas Jefferson , who built his estate home, Monticello , in the county. At

1872-640: The Blue Ridge Mountains in eight Virginia counties. Although the Skyline Drive right-of-way was purchased from owners without condemnation, the costs of the acreage purchased trebled over initial estimates and the acreage decreased to what Carson called a "fish-bone" shape and others a "shoestring". Although Byrd and Carson convinced Congress to reduce the minimum size of Shenandoah Park to just over 160,000 acres (250.0 sq mi; 647.5 km ) to eliminate some high-priced lands, in 1933 newly elected President Franklin D. Roosevelt decided to also create

1950-614: The Blue Ridge Parkway that Byrd wanted. President Franklin Delano Roosevelt formally opened Shenandoah National Park on July 3, 1936. Eventually, about 40 people (on the "Ickes list") were allowed to live out their lives on land that became the park. One of them was George Freeman Pollock, whose residence Killahevlin was later listed on the National Register, and whose Skyland Resort reopened under

2028-488: The Blue Ridge Parkway to connect to then-under-construction Skyline Drive on the Shenandoah National Park ridgeline, which required additional condemnations. When many families continued to refuse to sell their land in 1932 and 1933, proponents changed tactics. Freeman hired social worker Miriam Sizer to teach at a summer school he had set up near one of his workers' communities and asked her to write

2106-423: The campgrounds are open from April to October–November. There are five major campgrounds: There are several lodges/cabins in the park: Lodges are located at Skyland and Big Meadows . The park's Harry F. Byrd Visitor Center is also located at Big Meadows. Another visitor center is located at Dickey Ridge. Campgrounds are located at Mathews Arm, Big Meadows, Lewis Mountain, and Loft Mountain. Rapidan Camp ,

2184-508: The census of 2010, there were 98,970 people, 38,157 households, and 24,578 families residing in the county. The population density was 137 people per square mile (53 people/km ). There were 42,122 housing units at an average density of 58 units per square mile (22 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 80.6% White , 9.7% Black or African American , 0.3% Native American , 4.7% Asian , 0.1% Pacific Islander , 2.3% from other races , and 2.4% from two or more races. 5.5% of

2262-548: The 1940s and made them available to overnight hikers. Some displaced residents (and their descendants) created the Children of the Shenandoah to lobby for more balanced presentations. In the 1990s, the park hired cultural resource specialists and conducted an archeological inventory of existing structures, the Survey of Rural Mountain Settlement. Eventually, the park's new focus on cultural resources coincided with agitation from

2340-518: The 20th century, Albemarle County was heavily Republican, like most of this part of Virginia. However, the Republican edge narrowed significantly in the 1990s, in part due to the influence of the University of Virginia. In 2004, John Kerry carried it by two points, becoming the first Democrat to win the county since 1948. It swung hard to Barack Obama in 2008, and since then has become one of

2418-482: The 500 miles of trails of the Shenandoah National Park. Streams and rivers in the park are very popular with fly fisherman for native brook trout . Many waterfalls are located within the park boundaries. Below is a list of significant falls. Beginning at mile 50.7 of the Skyline Drive near the Byrd Visitor Center, Dark Hollow Falls Trail leads downhill beside Hogcamp Branch to Dark Hollow Falls,

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2496-561: The Civil War, the majority of Albemarle County's population consisted of enslaved African Americans. According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 726 square miles (1,880 km ), of which 721 square miles (1,870 km ) is land and 5 square miles (13 km ) (0.7%) is water. The Rivanna River 's south fork forms in Albemarle County and was historically important for transportation. The south fork flows in-between Darden Towe Park and Pen Park. Boat ramp access

2574-602: The Government. I signed everythin' they asked me." In the early 1930s, the National Park Service began planning the park facilities and envisioned separate provisions for blacks and whites. At that time, in Jim Crow Virginia, racial segregation was the order of the day. In its transfer of the parkland to the federal government, Virginia initially attempted to ban African Americans entirely from

2652-595: The Interior Department was increasingly anxious to eliminate segregation from all parks. Pinnacles picnic ground was selected to be the initial integrated site in the Shenandoah, but Virginia Sky-Line Company continued to balk, and distributed maps showing Lewis Mountain as the only site for African Americans. During World War II, concessions closed, and park usage plunged. But once the War ended, in December 1945,

2730-449: The NPS mandated that all concessions in all national parks were to be desegregated. In October 1947 the dining rooms of Lewis Mountain and Panorama were integrated and by early 1950, the mandate was fully accomplished. Particularly after the 1960s, park operations broadened from nature-focused to include social history. The Potomac Appalachian Trail Club had restored some cabins beginning in

2808-571: The appointed police chief , Colonel Sean Reeves. The second branch is the Albemarle County Sheriff's Office , which handles civil service in the county, and they are directed by the elected Sheriff Chan Bryant. Albemarle County Fire Rescue (ACFR) provides essential emergency services to the residents and visitors of Albemarle County including, fire suppression, emergency medical treatment, and transport, technical rescue, water rescue, and hazardous materials mitigation. In addition,

2886-494: The backcountry, campers must use a " Leave No Trace " policy that includes burying excrement and not building campfires. Backcountry campers must also be careful of wildlife such as bears and venomous snakes. Campers must suspend their food from trees while not in use in "bear bags" or park-approved bear canisters to prevent unintentionally feeding the bears, who then become habituated to humans and their food and therefore dangerous. All animals are protected by federal law. Most of

2964-542: The bedrock throughout the park. The park is located along the western part of the Blue Ridge anticlinorium , a regional-scale Paleozoic structure at the eastern margin of the Appalachian fold and thrust belt . Rocks within the park were folded , faulted , distorted, and metamorphosed during the late Paleozoic Alleghanian orogeny (325 to 260 million years ago). The rugged topography of Blue Ridge Mountains

3042-400: The county and students from surrounding areas. These include: Some students attend several private schools in the City of Charlottesville . Jefferson-Madison Regional Library is the regional library system that provides services to the citizens of Albemarle. The city of Charlottesville is enclaved within Albemarle County. Under Virginia law in effect since 1871, all municipalities in

3120-492: The county to ensure proper coverage: The Albemarle County Sheriff's Office (ACSO) and the Albemarle County Police Department (ACPD) provide law enforcement services in the county. The ACSO was created in 1745 when Joseph Thompson was appointed as the first sheriff. Then in 1895, citizens started electing sheriffs for 4-year terms. Lucian Watts was the first elected sheriff. As of 2022

3198-489: The county, while 65% commute in. 19% of those commuting in live in Charlottesville, while the remainder live in the surrounding counties. 26,800 people commute out of Albemarle for work. 48% of which commute to Charlottesville, making up 51% of Charlottesville's in-commuters. In 2022, Albemarle had a 2.7% unemployment rate , compared with a national rate of 3.6%. The top 10 employers as of Q4 2022 were: Albemarle

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3276-415: The department provides a wide array of non-emergency services such as investigations, business inspections, burn permits, child safety seat inspections, smoke detector installations, public education, and emergency management. Services are provided through a combination of career staff, nine volunteer fire and rescue agencies, and regional partners. Fire and rescue stations are placed strategically throughout

3354-429: The existing facilities and add new lodges, cabins, and other amenities, including Big Meadows Lodge . Under their plan, all the sites in the parks, save one, were for "whites only". Their plan included a separate facility for African Americans at Lewis Mountain—a picnic ground, a smaller lodge, cabins and a campground. The site opened in 1939, and it was substantially inferior to the other park facilities. By then, however,

3432-456: The few Democratic bastions in central Virginia, though it is not as overwhelmingly Democratic as Charlottesville. The Albemarle County Public School System operates public education in the county. It provides education to nearly 14,000 students including preschool through high school. The Albemarle County Public School System's mission is to "establish a community of learners and learning, through relationships, relevance and rigor, one student at

3510-545: The field. In 2014, under the leadership of Superintendent Jim Northup, Shenandoah National Park established an Artist-in-Residence Program that is administered by the Shenandoah National Park Trust, the park's philanthropic partner. Photographer Sandy Long was selected as the park's first artist-in-residence. The results of Long's residency were featured in the photography exhibit "Wild Beauty: The Artful Nature of Shenandoah National Park" held at

3588-576: The land to create Shenandoah National Park. Virginia's Democratic gubernatorial candidate (and the late Congressman Flood's nephew), Harry F. Byrd supported the creation of Shenandoah National Park, as did his friend William E. Carson , a businessman who had become Virginia's first chairman of the Commission on Conservation and Development. Development of the western national parks had assisted tourism, which produced jobs, which Byrd and local politicians supported. The land that became Shenandoah park

3666-495: The law took effect, the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance creating the Albemarle County Police Department. That original ordinance provided for a police chief and five full time officers. George W. Bailey was the first chief of police. As of 2022 the chief of police is Sean Reeves. The ACPD currently has 140 sworn officers, 23 civilian employees, and 3 animal control officers. Albemarle

3744-515: The moths would primarily consume the leaves of oak trees. Though the gypsy moths seem to have abated, they continue to affect the forest and have destroyed almost ten percent of the oak groves. Mammals include black bear , coyote , striped skunk , spotted skunk , raccoon , beaver , river otter , opossum , woodchuck , bobcat , two species of foxes , white-tailed deer , and eastern cottontail rabbit . Though unsubstantiated, there have been some reported sightings of cougar in remote areas of

3822-433: The national park selection committee. However, many local families who had lived in the area for generations (especially people over 60 years old) did not want to sell their land, and some refused to sell at any price. Carson promised that if they sold to the commonwealth, they could still live on their homesteads for the rest of their lives. Carson also lobbied the new president, Herbert Hoover , who bought land to establish

3900-653: The new Skyline Drive not be evicted. When evictions kept creating negative publicity in 1935, photographer Arthur Rothstein coordinated with the Hollow Folk authors and then went to document the conditions they claimed. The creation of the park had immediate benefits to some Virginians. During the Great Depression , many young men received training and jobs through the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC). The first CCC camp in Virginia

3978-558: The other hand, CCC crews were assigned to burn and destroy some cabins in the park, to prevent residents from coming back. Also, U.S. Secretary of the Interior Harold Ickes who had jurisdiction over the NPS and partial jurisdiction over the CCC, tried to use his authority to force Byrd to cooperate on other New Deal projects. Shenandoah National Park was finally established on December 26, 1935, and soon construction began on

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4056-508: The other reports exaggerated, as did Episcopal missionary teachers in other Blue Ridge areas). Carson had had ambitions to become governor in 1929 and 1933, but Byrd instead selected George C. Peery of Virginia's southwestern region to succeed easterner Pollard. After winning the election, Peery and Carson's successor would establish Virginia's state park system, although plans to relocate reluctant residents kept changing and basically failed. Carson had hoped to head that new state agency but

4134-507: The park but settled for enforcing its segregation laws in the park's facilities. By the 1930s, there were several concessions operated by private firms within the area that would become the park, some going back to the late 19th century. These early private facilities at Skyland Resort, Panorama Resort , and Swift Run Gap were operated only for whites. By 1937, the Park Service accepted a bid from Virginia Sky-Line Company to take over

4212-473: The park, including brook trout , longnose and eastern blacknose dace , and the bluehead chub . Park rangers organize several programs from spring to fall. These include ranger-led hikes, as well as discussions of the history, flora, and fauna. Shenandoah Live is an online series where listeners may chat live with rangers and learn about some of the park's features. Rangers discuss a wide range of topics while answering questions and talking with experts from

4290-430: The park. Over 200 species of birds make their home in the park for at least part of the year. About thirty live in the park year-round, including the barred owl , Carolina chickadee , red-tailed hawk , and wild turkey . The peregrine falcon was reintroduced into the park in the mid-1990s and by the end of the 20th century there were numerous nesting pairs in the park. Thirty-two species of fish have been documented in

4368-599: The park. In total, there are over 500 miles (800 km) of trails within the park. There is also horseback riding, camping, bicycling , and a number of waterfalls . The Skyline Drive is the first National Park Service road east of the Mississippi River listed as a National Historic Landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also designated as a National Scenic Byway . Shenandoah National Park offers 196,000 acres (306.2 sq mi; 793.2 km ) of backcountry and wilderness camping. While in

4446-565: The payments because they needed the money and wanted to escape the subsistence lifestyle. Nearly 90 percent of the inhabitants worked the land for a living: selling timber, charcoal, or crops. They had previously been able to earn money to buy supplies by harvesting the now-rare chestnuts, by working during the apple and peach harvest season (but the drought of 1930 devastated those crops and killed many fruit trees), or by selling handmade textiles and crafts (displaced by factories) and moonshine (illegal after Prohibition started). However, Carson and

4524-440: The permit process arbitrary. Businessman Robert H. Via filed suit against the condemnations in 1934 but did not prevail (and ended up moving to Pennsylvania and never cashed his condemnation check). Carson announced his resignation from his unpaid job effective in December 1934. As one of his final acts, Carson wrote the new NPS director, Arno B. Cammerer , urging that 60 people over 60 years of age whose plots were not visible from

4602-526: The politicians did not seek citizen input early in the process, nor convince residents that they could live better in a tourist economy. Instead, they started with an advertising campaign to raise the funds, and courthouse property evaluations and surveys. Upon Mather's death in 1929, the new NPS director, Horace M. Albright also decided that the federal agency would only accept vacant land, so even elderly residents would be forced to leave. Thus, many families and entire communities were forced to vacate portions of

4680-436: The population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 38,157 households, out of which 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 25.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size

4758-598: The range divides the Shenandoah River drainage basin , part of the Potomac River drainage, on the west side, from the James and Rappahannock River drainage basins on the east side. Some of the rocks exposed in the park date to over one billion years in age, making them among the oldest in Virginia. Bedrock in the park includes Grenville-age granitic basement rocks (1.2–1.0 billion years old) and

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4836-538: The restored presidential fishing retreat Herbert Hoover built on the Rapidan River in 1929, is accessed by a 4.1-mile (6.6 km) round-trip hike on Mill Prong Trail, which begins on the Skyline Drive at Milam Gap (Mile 52.8). The NPS also offers guided van trips that leave from the Byrd Center at Big Meadows. Shenandoah National Park is one of the most dog-friendly in the national park system. The campgrounds all allow dogs, and dogs are allowed on almost all of

4914-523: The sheriff is Chan Bryant, the county's first woman sheriff. The ACPD was created in 1983. Prior to 1983, local county governments could create a police force by a simple vote held by their respective board of supervisors. In February 1983 the Virginia General Assembly restricted the authority of county governments to create police forces without a voter referendum. The law did not go into effect until July 1983: On May 11, 1983, before

4992-482: The southern end where residents could see tourism's benefits at Thomas Jefferson's Monticello since the 1920s, as well as the jobs available in the Shenandoah and new Blue Ridge projects. In 1931 and 1932, residents were allowed to petition the state agency to stay another year to gather crops, etc. However, some refused to cooperate to any extent, others wanted to continue to use resources now protected (including timber or homes and gardens vacated by others), and many found

5070-470: The state incorporated as cities are legally and politically independent of any county. (Population according to the 2020 United States Census ) Many of these unincorporated areas have Charlottesville addresses. 38°02′N 78°34′W  /  38.03°N 78.56°W  / 38.03; -78.56 Shenandoah National Park Shenandoah National Park / ˈ ʃ ɛ n ə n ˌ d oʊ ə / (often / ˈ ʃ æ n ə n ˌ d oʊ ə / )

5148-531: The time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Albemarle County were a Siouan -speaking tribe called the Saponi . In 1744, the Virginia General Assembly created Albemarle County from the western portion of Goochland County . The county was named in honor of Willem Anne van Keppel, 2nd Earl of Albemarle and titular Governor of Virginia at the time. The large county

5226-591: The town of Front Royal in the northeast to near the city of Waynesboro in the southwest. The park headquarters are located in Luray . Shenandoah National Park lies along the Blue Ridge Mountains in north-central Virginia. These mountains form a distinct highland rising to elevations above 4,000 feet (1,200 m). Local topographic relief between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Shenandoah Valley exceeds 3,000 feet (900 m) at some locations. The crest of

5304-592: The trails including the Appalachian Trail, if kept on leash (6 feet or shorter). Dogs are not allowed on ten trails: Fox Hollow Trail, Stony Man Trail, Limberlost Trail, Post Office Junction to Old Rag Shelter, Old Rag Ridge Trail, Old Rag Saddle Trail, Dark Hollow Falls Trail, Story of the Forest Trail, Bearfence Mountain Trail, Frazier Discovery Trail. These ten trails fall short of a total of 20 miles of

5382-486: The western mold, becoming the first eastern national park. It was also based on donations from wealthy private landowners. Stephen Mather , the first NPS director, saw a need for a national park in the southern states, and solicited proposals in his 1923 year-end report. In May 1926, Congress and President Calvin Coolidge authorized the NPS to acquire a minimum of 250,000 acres (390.6 sq mi; 1,011.7 km ) and

5460-409: Was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.96. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.5% under the age of 18, 12.3% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 27.2% from 45 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38.2 years. For every 100 females there were 92.69 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 89.59 males. 22% of Albemarle residents have

5538-537: Was Byrd's law partner) tried to figure out who owned the land. They found that it consisted of more than 5,000 parcels, some of them inhabited by tenant farmers or squatters (who were ineligible to receive compensation). Some landowners, including wealthy resort owner George Freeman Pollock and Luray Realtor and developer L. Ferdinand Zerkel, had long wanted the park created and had formed the Northern Virginia Park Association to win over

5616-605: Was born in the county at Shadwell , though it was then part of Goochland County . However, his home of Monticello is located in the county. When the American Revolutionary War started in 1775, Jefferson was made colonel of the Albemarle Militia. During the Civil War, the Battle of Rio Hill was a skirmish in which Union cavalry raided a Confederate camp in Albemarle County, Virginia. Until

5694-404: Was effectively brought to extinction by a fungus known as the chestnut blight during the 1930s; though the tree continues to grow in the park, it does not reach maturity and dies back before it can reproduce. Various species of oaks superseded the chestnuts and became the dominant tree species. Gypsy moth infestations beginning in the early 1990s began to erode the dominance of the oak forests as

5772-552: Was established in the George Washington National Forest near Luray , and Governor Pollard quickly filled his initial quota of 5,000 workers. About 1,000 men and boys worked on Skyline Drive, and about 100,000 worked in Virginia during the agency's existence. In Shenandoah Park, CCC crews removed many of the dead chestnut trees whose skeletons marred views in the new park, as well as constructed trails and facilities. Tourism revenues also skyrocketed. On

5850-427: Was not selected because of his growing differences with Byrd, over fees owed his brother and especially over the evictions that began in late 1933 against his advice but pursuant to new federal policies and that garnered much negative publicity. Most of the reluctant families came from the park's central counties ( Madison , Page , and Rappahannock ), not the northern counties nearest Byrd's and Carson's bases, or from

5928-451: Was partitioned in 1761, forming Buckingham and Amherst counties, at which time the county seat was moved from the formerly central Scottsville to a piece of newly central land, christened Charlottesville . In 1777, Albemarle County was divided and Fluvanna County established, finalizing the boundaries of modern Albemarle County. Albemarle County is well known for its association with President and Founding Father Thomas Jefferson , who

6006-501: Was scenic, mountainous, and had also lost about half of its trees to the Chestnut blight (which was incurable and affected trees as they reached maturity). However, it had been held as private property for over a century, so many farms and orchards existed. After Byrd became governor and convinced the legislature to appropriate $ 1 million for land acquisition and other work, Carson and his teams (including surveyors and his brother Kit who

6084-505: Was signed into law in 1872. Yosemite National Park was created in 1890. When Congress created the National Park Service (NPS) in 1916, additional parks had maintained the western pattern ( Crater Lake in 1902, Wind Cave in 1903, Mesa Verde in 1906, then Denali in 1917). Grand Canyon , Zion and Acadia were all created in 1919 during the administration of Virginia-born president Woodrow Wilson . Acadia finally broke

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