Linden, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Linden is an unincorporated community
in Fauquier
and Warren
counties in the U.S. state
of Virginia
. It is less than an hour from Washington, D.C.
and has ready access to Highways I-66, VA-55 and US-50, making trips to Front Royal and Winchester, VA quick and easy for shopping or entertainment.
(the John Marshall Highway) and Interstate Highway 66. At 945 feet (288 m) above sea level, it sits at the top of the Manassas Gap
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
making it a gateway into the Shenandoah Valley
today, as it was for early settlers in the area. The Manassas Gap Railroad
was completed in 1854, it ran through Linden from Mount Jackson to Manassas Junction giving the town of Manassas its name. Today the tracks form a part of the Norfolk Southern rail system. The popular north-south Appalachian Trail
crosses Hwy 55 and under I-66 in Linden at County Rd 638 as it follows its way along the east side of the Blue Ridge.
While the "village" of Linden sets at 945 feet (288 m) above sea level many of the surrounding attractions and activity areas with road access climb above 2100 feet (640.1 m) making for a diverse natural experience.
gneiss
, greenstone
and chloritic schist
. The terrain ranges from rolling to steep landscapes that are dissected by Goose Creek
and its tributaries that feed from runs and springs from the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains
. The rolling uplands contain soils that are loamy to silty and can be shallow to bedrock. On the steeper upland sections the soils are loamy with stones and rock outcrops evident on the surface.
From the mid-18th century to the 1950s, the Linden area was home to 25 Apple Orchards. The Linden Methodist Church was built in 1842 and numerous buildings still exist dating from the 19th century. In November 1954, tragedy struck the Linden church. A fire thought to be the caused by a faulty pipe in the wood burning stove, destroyed the beautiful 62 year old wooden structure. Its towering steeple and bell had long been an iconic landmark in the community. The Front Royal Fire Department courageously fought the blaze for four hours before it was squelched. Several heroic men in the Linden community, including Rev. B. L. Lock entered the burning building to salvage the church's antique pulpit, pews and bible. All were relics from a church building that had previously served the congregation.
The fire revealed several graves beneath the church's stone foundation making it very
difficult to rebuild at the same site. Therefore, the congregation decided to relocate
the Linden church next to the parsonage, on the opposite side of Highway 55. In
December 1955, the ground breaking ceremony for the new Linden church at its
current location took place. When completed, the new church was furnished with the
pulpit and pews that had been rescued from the flames.
. Numerous locations illustrating the daring and tenacity of the band are a short drive from Linden.
, the Battle of Manassas Gap
occurred a half mile from Linden on July 23, 1863.
After retreating across the Potomac River
at Williamsport, Maryland
, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley
. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac
crossed the river east of the Blue Ridge Mountains
and followed Lee into Virginia. On July 23, Meade ordered the III Corps
, under Maj.Gen. William H. French
, to cut off the retreating Confederate
columns at Front Royal, Virginia
, by forcing passage through Manassas Gap. At first light, French began slowly pushing Brig.Gen. James A. Walker
's Confederate brigade (the Stonewall Brigade
, part of Maj.Gen. Richard H. Anderson
's division) back into the gap. About 4:30 p.m., a strong Union
attack drove Walker's men until they were reinforced by Robert E. Rodes
's division and artillery. By dusk, the poorly coordinated Union attacks were abandoned. During the night, Confederate forces withdrew into the Luray Valley. On July 24, the Union army occupied Front Royal, but Lee's army was safely beyond pursuit.
It is home to the Saint Dominics Monastery, Appalachian Trail access points, along with the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
.
A primary Applachian Trail Access in on Tuckers lane off of Route 55 the John Marshall Highway.
Turn onto Tuckers Lane from John Marshall Highway and go under I-66 to the parking area on your right.
are located in Front Royal for students who live on the Warren County side of town. High Schoolers attend Warren County High School.
Students who live in Fauquier County attend primary and Middle Schools in the Marshall area while High School students attend Fauquier High School in Warrenton, VA.
Here is a list of commonly seen local flora
and [fauna]] in and around Linden.
Appalachian Trail Interactive Map
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
in Fauquier
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
and Warren
Warren County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 31,584 people, 12,087 households, and 8,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 148 people per square mile . There were 13,299 housing units at an average density of 62 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. It is less than an hour from Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and has ready access to Highways I-66, VA-55 and US-50, making trips to Front Royal and Winchester, VA quick and easy for shopping or entertainment.
Geography
Linden sits astride the Warren and Fauquier county lines, VA 55Virginia State Route 55
Virginia State Route 55 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as John Marshall Highway, the state highway runs from the West Virginia state line, where the highway continues as West Virginia Route 55 , east to U.S. Route 29 in Gainesville...
(the John Marshall Highway) and Interstate Highway 66. At 945 feet (288 m) above sea level, it sits at the top of the Manassas Gap
Manassas Gap
Manassas Gap is a wind gap of the Blue Ridge Mountains on the border of Fauquier County and Warren County in Virginia. At an elevation of 887 feet above sea level, it is the lowest crossing of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the state....
in the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
making it a gateway into the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
today, as it was for early settlers in the area. The Manassas Gap Railroad
Manassas Gap Railroad
The Manassas Gap Railroad was an historic intrastate railroad in the Southern United States which ran from Mount Jackson, Virginia to the Orange and Alexandria Railroad at a junction called "Manassas Junction", which later became the city of Manassas, Virginia...
was completed in 1854, it ran through Linden from Mount Jackson to Manassas Junction giving the town of Manassas its name. Today the tracks form a part of the Norfolk Southern rail system. The popular north-south Appalachian Trail
Appalachian Trail
The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, generally known as the Appalachian Trail or simply the AT, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern United States extending between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine. It is approximately long...
crosses Hwy 55 and under I-66 in Linden at County Rd 638 as it follows its way along the east side of the Blue Ridge.
While the "village" of Linden sets at 945 feet (288 m) above sea level many of the surrounding attractions and activity areas with road access climb above 2100 feet (640.1 m) making for a diverse natural experience.
Geology
The soils in Linden are developed from granite, graniteGranite
Granite is a common and widely occurring type of intrusive, felsic, igneous rock. Granite usually has a medium- to coarse-grained texture. Occasionally some individual crystals are larger than the groundmass, in which case the texture is known as porphyritic. A granitic rock with a porphyritic...
gneiss
Gneiss
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks.-Etymology:...
, greenstone
Greenschist
Greenschist is a general field petrologic term applied to metamorphic or altered mafic volcanic rock. The term greenstone is sometimes used to refer to greenschist but can refer to other rock types too. The green is due to abundant green chlorite, actinolite and epidote minerals that dominate the...
and chloritic schist
Schist
The schists constitute a group of medium-grade metamorphic rocks, chiefly notable for the preponderance of lamellar minerals such as micas, chlorite, talc, hornblende, graphite, and others. Quartz often occurs in drawn-out grains to such an extent that a particular form called quartz schist is...
. The terrain ranges from rolling to steep landscapes that are dissected by Goose Creek
Goose Creek (Potomac River)
Goose Creek is a tributary of the Potomac River in Fauquier and Loudoun counties in northern Virginia. It comprises the principal drainage system for the Loudoun Valley.-Course:...
and its tributaries that feed from runs and springs from the east side of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. The rolling uplands contain soils that are loamy to silty and can be shallow to bedrock. On the steeper upland sections the soils are loamy with stones and rock outcrops evident on the surface.
History
In 1669 the “official” discovery of the Shenandoah Valley was credited to John Lederer and John Catlett at the present day site of Linden. The discovery and mapping of the area helped to open the area for further settlement. A marker at the intersection of VA 55 and VA 638 in Linden help commemorate this event.From the mid-18th century to the 1950s, the Linden area was home to 25 Apple Orchards. The Linden Methodist Church was built in 1842 and numerous buildings still exist dating from the 19th century. In November 1954, tragedy struck the Linden church. A fire thought to be the caused by a faulty pipe in the wood burning stove, destroyed the beautiful 62 year old wooden structure. Its towering steeple and bell had long been an iconic landmark in the community. The Front Royal Fire Department courageously fought the blaze for four hours before it was squelched. Several heroic men in the Linden community, including Rev. B. L. Lock entered the burning building to salvage the church's antique pulpit, pews and bible. All were relics from a church building that had previously served the congregation.
The fire revealed several graves beneath the church's stone foundation making it very
difficult to rebuild at the same site. Therefore, the congregation decided to relocate
the Linden church next to the parsonage, on the opposite side of Highway 55. In
December 1955, the ground breaking ceremony for the new Linden church at its
current location took place. When completed, the new church was furnished with the
pulpit and pews that had been rescued from the flames.
US Civil War
The relative ease settlers of crossing the Blue Ridge at the gap also allowed Linden to serve as a point of transit for the armies of both the Union and Confederate States during the United States Civil War. Linden was part of "Mosby's Confederacy" and served as rallying and rest points for the Confederate Rangers Mosby's Rangers under Colonel John S. MosbyJohn S. Mosby
John Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
. Numerous locations illustrating the daring and tenacity of the band are a short drive from Linden.
Battle of Manassas Gap
A small battle and postscript to the Confederate Gettysburg campaignGettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
, the Battle of Manassas Gap
Battle of Manassas Gap
The Battle of Manassas Gap, also known as the Battle of Wapping Heights, took place on July 23, 1863, in Warren County, Virginia, at the conclusion of General Robert E. Lee's retreat back to Virginia in the final days of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War...
occurred a half mile from Linden on July 23, 1863.
After retreating across the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
at Williamsport, Maryland
Williamsport, Maryland
Williamsport is a town in Washington County, Maryland, United States. The population was 1,868 at the 2000 census and 2,278 as of July 2008.-Geography: Williamsport is located at ....
, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
withdrew up the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
. George G. Meade's Army of the Potomac
Army of the Potomac
The Army of the Potomac was the major Union Army in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War.-History:The Army of the Potomac was created in 1861, but was then only the size of a corps . Its nucleus was called the Army of Northeastern Virginia, under Brig. Gen...
crossed the river east of the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and followed Lee into Virginia. On July 23, Meade ordered the III Corps
III Corps (ACW)
There were four formations in the Union Army designated as III Corps during the American Civil War.Three were short-lived:*In the Army of Virginia:**Irvin McDowell ;**James B...
, under Maj.Gen. William H. French
William H. French
William Henry French was a career United States Army officer and a Union Army General in the American Civil War. He rose to temporarily command a corps within the Army of the Potomac, but was relieved of active field duty following poor performance during the Mine Run Campaign in late 1863.-Early...
, to cut off the retreating Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
columns at Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal, Virginia
Front Royal is a town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. The population was 13,589 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Warren County.-Geography:Front Royal is roughly west of Washington, D.C....
, by forcing passage through Manassas Gap. At first light, French began slowly pushing Brig.Gen. James A. Walker
James A. Walker
James Alexander Walker was a Virginia lawyer, politician, and Confederate general during the American Civil War, later serving as a United States Congressman for two terms...
's Confederate brigade (the Stonewall Brigade
Stonewall Brigade
The Stonewall Brigade of the Confederate Army during the American Civil War, was a famous combat unit in United States military history. It was trained and first led by General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson, a professor from Virginia Military Institute...
, part of Maj.Gen. Richard H. Anderson
Richard H. Anderson
Richard Heron Anderson was a career U.S. Army officer, fighting with distinction in the Mexican-American War. He also served as a Confederate general during the American Civil War, fighting in the Eastern Theater of the conflict and most notably during the 1864 Battle of Spotsylvania Court House...
's division) back into the gap. About 4:30 p.m., a strong Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
attack drove Walker's men until they were reinforced by Robert E. Rodes
Robert E. Rodes
Robert Emmett Rodes was a railroad civil engineer and a promising young Confederate general in the American Civil War, killed in battle in the Shenandoah Valley.-Education, antebellum career:...
's division and artillery. By dusk, the poorly coordinated Union attacks were abandoned. During the night, Confederate forces withdrew into the Luray Valley. On July 24, the Union army occupied Front Royal, but Lee's army was safely beyond pursuit.
Today
The community is mostly a bedroom community with subdivisions known as High Knob, Apple Mountain Lake, and Blue Mountain. It has two gas stations, three stores, and a restaurant, as well as its own post office with zip code 22642It is home to the Saint Dominics Monastery, Appalachian Trail access points, along with the G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area
G. Richard Thompson Wildlife Management Area is a protected area located primarily in Fauquier County, Virginia, with small encroachments into both Warren and Clarke Counties. Its two parcels together total nearly in size, rising in a series of steep stages to the crest of the Blue Ridge...
.
A primary Applachian Trail Access in on Tuckers lane off of Route 55 the John Marshall Highway.
Turn onto Tuckers Lane from John Marshall Highway and go under I-66 to the parking area on your right.
Schools
Schools K–12, operated by the Warren County School Board,are located in Front Royal for students who live on the Warren County side of town. High Schoolers attend Warren County High School.
Students who live in Fauquier County attend primary and Middle Schools in the Marshall area while High School students attend Fauquier High School in Warrenton, VA.
Flora and Fauna
UNDER CONSTRUCTIONHere is a list of commonly seen local flora
Flora
Flora is the plant life occurring in a particular region or time, generally the naturally occurring or indigenous—native plant life. The corresponding term for animals is fauna.-Etymology:...
and [fauna]] in and around Linden.
- Plants
- Reptiles
- Snakes, Venomous
- Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasenAgkistrodon contortrix mokasenAgkistrodon contortrix mokasen is a venomous pitviper subspecies found in the eastern United States.-Description:The Northern copperhead grows to an average length of 61-91 cm , with a maximum of 134.6 cm ....
) - Timber Rattlesnake (Crotalus horridus horridus)
- Northern Copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix mokasen
- Snakes, Non Venomous
- Black Snake (Pantherophis obsoletus)
- Turtles & Tortoises
- Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolinaTerrapene carolina carolinaThe eastern box turtle is a subspecies within a group of hinge-shelled turtles, normally called box turtles. T. c. carolina is native to an eastern part of the United States....
)
- Eastern Box Turtle (Terrapene carolina carolina
- Snakes, Venomous
- Amphibians
- American Toad (Bufo americanus)
- Fish
- Birds
- Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis)
- American Robin (Turdus migratorius)
- Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)
- Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)
- Mamamals
- White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus)
- Black Bear (Ursus Americanus)
- Grey Fox (Urocyon cinereoargenteus)
- Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis)
- Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus)
- Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus)
- Groundhog (Marmota monax)
- Invertebrates
- Crustaceans
- Common Crayfish (Cambarus bartoniiCambarus bartoniiCambarus bartonii is a species of crayfish native to eastern North America, where it is called the common crayfish or Appalachian brook crayfish....
)
- Common Crayfish (Cambarus bartonii
- CnidariaeCnidariaCnidaria is a phylum containing over 9,000 species of animals found exclusively in aquatic and mostly marine environments. Their distinguishing feature is cnidocytes, specialized cells that they use mainly for capturing prey. Their bodies consist of mesoglea, a non-living jelly-like substance,...
- Freshwater Jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbyiCraspedacusta sowerbyiCraspedacusta sowerbyi is a freshwater jellyfish in the phylum Cnidaria. Since it is classified as a hydrozoan, it is one of many jellyfish that are also known as hydromedusae...
)
- Freshwater Jellyfish (Craspedacusta sowerbyi
- Insects
- Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolusLatrodectus variolusLatrodectus variolus, the Northern black widow spider or Northern widow, is a venomous spider species of the Latrodectus genus in the Theridiidae family...
) - Wolf Spiders
- Northern Black Widow (Latrodectus variolus
- Crustaceans
External links
- History of Warren County
- Mosby (John S. MosbyJohn S. MosbyJohn Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
) - Company D of the 43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry (43rd Battalion Virginia Cavalry43rd Battalion Virginia CavalryThe 43rd Battalion, Virginia Cavalry, also known as Mosby's Rangers, Mosby's Raiders or Mosby's Men, was a battalion of partisan cavalry in the Confederate army during the American Civil War...
) - Mosby Heritage Area
- Saint Dominics Monastery
- http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4850633/k.9733/Interactive_Map.htm
Appalachian Trail Interactive Map