Rockbridge County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the Shenandoah Valley on the state’s western side. It had a population of 22,650 at the 2020 census and covers 601 square miles (1,557 km2), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) is water, centred near 37°49′N 79°27′W.
Lexington is the county seat, though it is a separate independent city rather than part of the county; its postal code is 24450. Rockbridge County itself contains 2 incorporated towns, 2 census-designated places, and roughly 30 smaller unincorporated communities. Two more independent cities, Buena Vista and Lexington, sit as enclaves entirely surrounded by the county but are governed apart from it. The county observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County has 2 incorporated towns (Glasgow and Goshen), 2 census-designated places (East Lexington and Fairfield), and a large number of unincorporated communities scattered through its valleys and along its rivers. In the table, “CDP” marks a census-designated place and “Unincorp.” marks an unincorporated community with no town government.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Glasgow | Town | 1,077 | 24555 |
| Goshen | Town | 219 | 24439 |
| East Lexington | CDP | — | 24450 |
| Fairfield | CDP | — | 24435 |
| Balcony Falls | Unincorp. | — | 24555 |
| Bells Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Brownsburg | Unincorp. | — | 24415 |
| Buffalo Bend | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Buffalo Forge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bustleburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| California | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Cedar Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Collierstown | Unincorp. | — | 24421 |
| Cornwall | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crossroads Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Davis | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Decatur | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Denmark | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Donaldsburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Effinger | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Fancy Hill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Gilmore Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Greenlee | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Irish Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jonestown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kerrs Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Maple Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Marlbrook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| McClung Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mechanicsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Midvale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mountain View | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Murat | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Natural Bridge | Unincorp. | — | 24578 |
| Natural Bridge Station | Unincorp. | — | 24579 |
| Newtown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Oakdale | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Raphine | Unincorp. | — | 24472 |
| Rapps Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Red Mills | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Riverside | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rockbridge Baths | Unincorp. | — | 24473 |
| South River | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Springfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Steeles Tavern | Unincorp. | — | 24476 |
| Stewardsburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sycamore Valley | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Timber Ridge | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Vesuvius | Unincorp. | — | 24483 |
| Wades Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wilson Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Zack | Unincorp. | — | — |
Lexington and Buena Vista are independent cities under Virginia’s city-county system, so they are not part of Rockbridge County’s government even though the county surrounds them on all sides; the U.S. Census Bureau nonetheless groups them together for statistical reporting.
ZIP Codes
- 24450 — Lexington (also serves East Lexington)
- 24555 — Glasgow (also serves Balcony Falls)
- 24439 — Goshen
- 24435 — Fairfield
- 24415 — Brownsburg
- 24421 — Collierstown
- 24472 — Raphine
- 24473 — Rockbridge Baths
- 24476 — Steeles Tavern
- 24478 — Vesuvius
- 24578 — Natural Bridge
- 24579 — Natural Bridge Station
Most of the smaller unincorporated communities in the table have no post office of their own and are served by the nearest listed ZIP code.
Geography
Rockbridge County lies in the Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian ridge-and-valley country to the west, with high forested ridges along both its northwest and southeast edges. The highest point, Rocky Mountain, rises to 4,072 feet. The Maury River and the North and South rivers, which form the James River near Glasgow, drain most of the county.
Rockbridge County borders Augusta County to the north, Nelson County to the northeast, Amherst County to the east, Bedford County and Botetourt County to the south, Alleghany County to the southwest, and Bath County to the west, plus the independent cities of Lexington and Buena Vista, which the county fully surrounds. See Augusta County, Nelson County, Amherst County, Botetourt County, Alleghany County, and Bath County for neighboring profiles.
Demographics
Rockbridge County recorded 22,650 residents at the 2020 census, spread across roughly 601 square miles for a density of about 38 people per square mile. Glasgow and the East Lexington CDP are its largest named places outside the surrounding independent cities. Median household income in the county runs below the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting the county’s rural, agricultural and small-institution economy rather than the more urbanized parts of the state.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry, and tourism anchor the county’s economy, alongside institutions based in the enclosed city of Lexington, including Washington and Lee University and the Virginia Military Institute, which draw commuters and support businesses throughout the surrounding county. Natural Bridge, a limestone gorge landmark in the southern part of the county, has drawn visitors for generations and remains a tourism anchor. Cattle and hay farming continue in the valley bottomlands around Brownsburg, Fairfield, and Raphine.
History
Rockbridge County was formed in October 1777 from parts of Augusta and Botetourt counties. It takes its name from Natural Bridge, the limestone arch landmark in the county’s southern end. The Monacan people lived in the region before European settlement. The county produced Sam Houston, later governor of Tennessee and president of the Republic of Texas; Confederate general Stonewall Jackson, who taught at VMI in Lexington; and Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the mechanical reaper, who was born on a farm near Steeles Tavern.
Getting There
Interstate 81 runs the length of the county on a northeast-southwest axis, crossed by Interstate 64 near Lexington; U.S. Routes 11 and 60 provide additional local access.
- Roanoke, Virginia — 35 miles south
- Staunton, Virginia — 30 miles north
- Charlottesville, Virginia — 60 miles northeast
- Harrisonburg, Virginia — 45 miles north
The nearest commercial airport is Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, about 50 miles south.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Rockbridge County?
It is in the Shenandoah Valley in western Virginia, surrounding the independent cities of Lexington and Buena Vista.
What is the population of Rockbridge County?
22,650 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Rockbridge County?
601 square miles (1,557 km2), of which 598 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Rockbridge County?
Lexington is the county seat, though it is a separate independent city rather than part of the county itself.
How many towns are in Rockbridge County?
Two incorporated towns, Glasgow and Goshen, plus two census-designated places and around thirty unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Rockbridge County?
Main ZIP codes include 24450 (Lexington), 24555 (Glasgow), 24439 (Goshen), 24472 (Raphine), and 24578 (Natural Bridge), among others.
Why is it called Rockbridge County?
It is named for Natural Bridge, the limestone arch landmark in the county’s southern end.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.