Welcome to Nelson County, Virginia

Originally divided from Amherst County in 1807, Nelson County, Virginia has seen good times and bad.  The beautiful mountain and valley setting make for peaceful views throughout the county as well as ample space for recreation and agriculture.  Covering about 470 square miles, this pastoral section of Virginia began along the James River first by the Native American tribe, the Monocans, and then as an early settlement of the English.  Over the years the area continued to be settled by Europeans who had started off in the Shenandoah Valley. 

In 1969 Nelson County was obliterated by the flooding effects of Hurricane Camille.  Since this time of destruction, the area has slowly regained its land and prosperity through development of resorts, the rebound of the apple and wine industries as well as the restoration of museums and tourism sites.  The area made its claim to fame in the 70s when the hit television show “The Waltons” went live, of which the content was based on the writings of Earl Hamner, Jr. and his stories of living in Nelson County during the Depression.

Today the residents of Nelson County, Virginia enjoy this pristine setting in Central Virginia by hiking the Appalachian Trail, fishing in the James River, and the numerous amenities such as skiing, hiking and horseback riding provided by Wintergreen Resort.  While two-thirds of the county is forested, the remainder offers a quaint and quiet place to call home.