Saltville plays a very important role with Virginia Tech...
There's also the The Museum of the Middle Appalachians and a yuge fossil dig that at one time was run by VT but now ETSU.
Salt Capital of the Confederacy...2 major battles including the unfortunate and despicable massacre of black soldiers by Champ Ferguson (who was later executed) - 1st Battle.
It's ancient rift valley of the North Holston River and a treasure trove of geology, archeology and paleontology/paleoecology. One of the largest fault line east of the Mississippi River is the Saltville Fault (it lets slip occasionally).
The Muck Dam collapse was a true tragedy...my dad's family lost several people in the collapse at Palmertown. Many of the remaining family left and moved upriver to Broadford and Watson Gap.
The Olin Matheson Plant was one of the earliest superfund sites in the nation and still active...mercury everywhere even upstream going into Rich Valley. Fishing is highly regulated below Saltville. 'tis the reason I chose my profession (environmental engineering).
Unfortunately now it's the meth capital of Virginia and as Victor Tango wrote better known as Salt Vegas.
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In response to this post by CrystalCoveHokie)
Posted: 11/06/2019 at 5:23PM