Lexington, Virginia

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Lexington
Nickname : Shrine of the South
South Main Street, Lexington, VA - looking north
South Main Street, Lexington, VA - looking north
Location in Virginia
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington
Lexington
Basic data
Foundation : 1777
State : United States
State : Virginia
Coordinates : 37 ° 47 ′  N , 79 ° 27 ′  W Coordinates: 37 ° 47 ′  N , 79 ° 27 ′  W
Time zone : Eastern ( UTC − 5 / −4 )
Residents : 6,867 (as of: 2000)
Population density : 1,056.5 inhabitants per km 2
Area : 6.5 km 2  (approx. 3 mi 2 ) of
which 6.5 km 2  (approx. 3 mi 2 ) is land
Height : 324 m
Postal code : 24450
Area code : +1 540
FIPS : 51-45512
GNIS ID : 1498506
Website : www.ci.lexington.va.us
Mayor : Mimi Elrod

Lexington (also known as Shrine of the South ) is an Independent city in the US state of Virginia with 6,867 inhabitants (2000 census). The city has an area of ​​6.4 km². Lexington is home to the Virginia Military Institute and Washington and Lee University . The city is the county seat of Rockbridge County .

history

The Lee Chapel in Lexington holds the remains of Robert E. Lee in a larger than life sarcophagus

Lexington was settled in 1777 . Lexington was partially burned down during the American Civil War . Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson , both Southern Generals of the American Civil War, were buried in Lexington. 20 buildings and sites in the city are listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (as of May 18, 2019).

The city has been the location of numerous Hollywood films in the past, including B. for Sommersby , Gods and Generals and War of the Worlds .

Famous people

sons and daughters of the town

  • Clay Blair (1925–1998), American historian and non-fiction author
  • Hilary Hahn (* 1979), musician
  • John Letcher (1813–1884), member of the United States House of Representatives, member of the Virginia House of Representatives and Governor of Virginia
  • Sally Mann (* 1951), photographer
  • Richard Barnes Mason (1797–1850), Army officer and sixth Military Governor of California
  • William L. McLaughlin (1928-2005), radiologist
  • Pat Robertson (* 1930), television preacher and presenter
  • Bill Reid (1926–2009), bluegrass musician and radio host
  • Cy Twombly (1928–2011), painter, photographer and object artist

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. Tompkins, Edmund Pendleton. Rockbridge County, Virginia. An informal history. Richmond, Virginia: Whittet & Shepperson, 1952. p10
  2. Search mask database in the National Register Information System. National Park Service , accessed May 18, 2019.
    Weekly List on the National Register Information System. National Park Service , accessed May 18, 2019.