Staunton Virginia
“Big Time Culture…Small Town Cool”
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Town of Staunton VA
Staunton is located in Augusta county in the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The city has a great downtown area that offers performing arts, music scene, festivals, local restaurants, shopping, art galleries, museums, outdoor recreation, farms and vineyards, wine and beer tastings, family fun, and more on historic main street.
Staunton is the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson our 28th President of the United States. Staunton is also the home of the Mary Baldwin University and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind.
History of Staunton VA
Staunton Virginia was first settled in 1732 by John Lewis and his family. John was a wealthy planter and merchant, and was granted by the King of England over 118,000 acres which would become Augusta County. Staunton was originally named Beverley’s Mill Place. In 1747 it was renamed in honor of Lady Rebecca Staunton. Staunton was the center of the Northwest Territory before the American Revolution. Staunton was also the most remote center for grain and tobacco. The city served as the capital of Virginia in 1781. Shortly after, Staunton became a trade, transportation, and industrial center once the railroad arrived in 1854. Factories made carriages, wagons, boots, shoes, clothing, and blankets. During the Civil War, Staunton turned into an important Shenandoah Valley manufacturing center, staging area, and supply depot for the Confederacy. The city changed hands several times throughout the Civil War. On June 6, 1864 Union troops destroyed and looted much of the town and industry and cut off supplies to the Confederate Army.