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Craig County

Discover Roanoke

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Craig County is an outdoor lover’s dream.

“Craig is over 50 percent national forest land,” said Lisa Campbell, chair of the Craig County Tourism Commission. “We have lots of outdoor recreation activities and recreation areas that people can take advantage of.

Whether you’re into hiking, bird-watching, camping, fishing or hunting, there are dozens of opportunities to enjoy yourself in this nature-lover’s mecca. Because many of these resources are all natural, they’re all free.

Recreation areas

You’ve never seen anything like Fenwick Mines Recreation Area. Seriously. Once the location of an iron excavation site, this area has been completely reclaimed by nature.

Take a walk down the 0.8-mile Wetland Trail and you’ll understand. The trail leads visitors through forest areas, wetlands and marshes, all of which are thriving with wildlife. Bring your binoculaurs for a close-up view of the many species of birds who have made the old mines their home. You’ll also see butterflies, dragonflies, frogs, turtles, beavers, ducks and amphibians.

Once you’ve taken in the wetland tour, be sure to walk along the Fenwick Nature Trail as well. The one-mile hike, like the Wetland Trail, was designed to be easily maneuverable for people with disabilities so everyone can enjoy it. The trail will take you along Craig Creek and through dense forest, as if you were in a completely different country from the Wetland Trail.

If your outdoor appetite isn’t sated by Fenwick Mines, there are many other recreation areas to visit, including Craig County and Steel Bridge Recreation Areas, as well as Shawn’s Run Wilderness Area. All are situated within the national forest, so they offer fishing, hunting, wildlife-watching, hiking, picnicking and rustic camping. There’s so much to do and to see as the seasons change, you’ll have to come back for more.

Fenwick Mines Recreation Area is located off I-81; take exit 141 to Virginia 311 North, turn right onto Virginia 615, turn left onto Virginia 611, turn right onto Virginia 685, turn right into recreation area.

Fall Festival

Craig County is celebrating its 25th annual Fall Festival. The festival is held the second Saturday in October and includes a street fair, live entertainment, horse rides, as well as demonstrations and exhibits showcasing Craig County history. Exhibits are available for viewing at the Craig County Museum. Antique car lovers should be sure to stop by for a look at the O. Marshall Reynolds Memorial Car Show.

Fast facts

Population: 5,091 (2000 Census)

Area (in square miles): 331

History: Craig County, formed in 1851 from Roanoke, Botetourt, Giles and Monroe counties, was named for Robert Craig, a member of Congress.

BASICS

Utilities

Craig-Botetourt Electrical Cooperative (serves rural areas): 864-5121

Craig-New Castle Public Service Authority: 864-6368, Virginia 680, New Castle 

Natural gas

AmeriGas: 800-439-0286

Highland Propane Co: 777-7928

Southwestern Virginia Gas Service Corp: 639-1611

Valley Propane: 800-823-4453

Telephone

TDS Telecom (most parts of Craig Co. including New Castle and Paint Bank area): 864-5131

Pembroke Telephone Cooperative (western part of Craig Co.): 626-7111

Cable

Time-Warner Cable: (800) 344-9005

GOVERNMENT

Local officials

County Administrator: Richard Flora: 864-5010

Board of Supervisors: 864-5010

Chairman: Helen Looney (Upper Craig’s Creek District)

Vice Chairman: Larry Burk (Simmonsville District)

Lowell Eakin (Craig City District)

Mildred Harrison (New Castle District)

Sandra Ulrey (Potts Mountain District)

Sheriff: Clifford Davidson: 864-5127

Commonwealth’s Attorney: Thaddeus Cox: 864-5394

Treasurer: Jackie Parsons: 864-5641

Commissioner of the Revenue: Elizabeth Huffman: 864-6241

Clerk of Circuit Court: Peggy Bostic: 864-6141

Government services

General Information: 864-5010

Building Inspections and Permits: 864-5010

Department of Social Services: 864-5117

District Court Clerk: 864-5989

Forest Service: 864-5195

Health Department: 864-5136

Magistrate: 864-5127 

Schools: 864-5191 

Virginia Transportation Department: 864-6321

Virginia Cooperative Extension: 864-5812

Water / Sewer: 864-6368

Zoning: 864-5010

SERVICES

Recycling

A drop-off center for newspaper, scrap metal, aluminum, tin cans and car batteries is at the county landfill. Open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. For more information, call 864-7105.

Child care

Craig County Child Care Center: Salem Avenue and U.S. 311, New Castle, 864-7700

EDUCATION

Public schools

Craig County High School: Route 3, Box 1007, New Castle, 864-5185. Principal: Tracy Poff

McCleary Elementary School: Route 3, Box 1008, New Castle, 864-5173. Principal: Shirley Woodall

School officials

Clerk of School Board: Sonja Switzer: 864-5191

Superintendent: Dr. Katherine Rodgers: 864-5191

School Board, 864-5191

Chairman: Patrick Myers (Craig City District)

Vice chairman: Eric Labiosa (Craig’s Creek District)

Dawna McDowell (Potts Mountain District)

Darlene Stanley (New Castle District)

James Stephens (Simmonsville District)

School calendar 

AUG. 22: First day of school

SEPT. 3: Schools closed, holiday

OCT. 31: Report cards issued

NOV. 1: Schools closed, parent/teacher conferences

NOV. 6: Schools closed

NOV. 21: Students released at 12:30 p.m.

NOV. 22-23: Schools closed, holiday

DEC. 21-JAN. 1: Schools closed, winter break

JAN. 2: Schools reopen

JAN. 11: Exams, students released at 12:30 p.m.

JAN. 14: Exams, students released at 12:30 p.m.

JAN. 15: Schools closed

JAN. 21: Report cards issued

MARCH 6: Schools closed, parent/teacher conferences

MARCH 21-28: Schools closed, spring break

APRIL 9: Report cards issued

MAY 26: Schools closed, holiday

JUNE 5-6: Exams, students released at 12:30

JUNE 7: Graduation

Library

Craig County Library: Virginia 311 and Main Street, New Castle, 864-8978
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