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The County’s current
Comprehensive Plan encourages development in and around the villages of Rappahannock County. While that has been the stated goal of the county, little has been done to actively encourage such village development.
Indeed, with the recent growth of commercial development along Route 211, it appears the opposite may be happening: a flight of businesses from the villages and the Town to the highway strip, which is the defining characteristic of urban sprawl.
It is time for the county’s leaders and its citizens to consider ways to make our villages more vital places for both residential and commercial purposes.
The historic villages of Rappahannock County are among its unique assets. The villages retain a quaint, nostalgic character that appeals to both visitors and local citizens.
They are anchored by many historic buildings worthy of preservation—if an economic use for them can be found, either as residences or business places. As a 1999 report of the National Trust for Historic Preservation stated: “Historic buildings cannot be saved unless they have users. They will not have users unless the areas in which they are located have an economic pulse.”
How strong is the economic pulse in our villages? In some cases, it appears to be weak. Flint Hill has empty storefronts and boarded up houses. In and around
97.5%