GILES COUNTY, VA HISTORY AND LOOKUP

---

Table of Contents

• In-Print County History Books
• Free Public Domain County History Books
• Related Books
• Concise County History
• Comments & Suggestion

---

In-Print County History Books

These titles are currently in print and selected for their relevance to local and county history. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s purchase page.

---

Free County History Books

This section features a curated collection of county history books sourced from public domain archives. Each book provides valuable insights into local history and heritage. Click anywhere on the book listing below, each listing links directly to the book’s public domain resource.

---

Related Books

This section highlights additional county and local history titles that complement the main collection. These books are selected for their relevance, historical value, and research usefulness. Click anywhere on the book listing below, and each listing links directly to the corresponding resource or purchase page.

---

Giles County, Virginia: A Genealogical Overview

Located in Southwest Virginia, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains, Giles County is an area rich in frontier, industrial, and Civil War history. For genealogists, its past is defined by its origins as a frontier county carved from four existing counties, its development around the New River, and its strategic importance during the Civil War due to its railroad and mountain passes.

---

I. County Formation and Evolution

Giles County’s relationship with its parent counties and its proximity to West Virginia is a critical piece of information for researchers tracing family lines in the region.

• Year of Creation: 1806.
• Parent County: It was formed from Montgomery, Monroe (now in West Virginia), and Tazewell counties. A small portion of Wythe County was added shortly after its formation. Researchers seeking records that pre-date 1806 must consult the records of these parent counties.
• Original Territory & Daughter Counties: Giles County’s territory has not been significantly reduced to form new Virginia counties. The most important boundary evolution was its western border, which became the official state line with the formation of West Virginia in 1863. Families that lived in the western part of the county before 1863 may have records in both Giles County, Virginia, and Monroe or Mercer counties in West Virginia.
• Boundary Changes: Aside from minor adjustments, the county’s boundaries have been largely stable since the mid-19th century.
• Bordering Counties:
  • Craig County (east)
  • Montgomery County (southeast)
  • Pulaski County (south)
  • Bland County (southwest)
  • Mercer County, West Virginia (west)
  • Monroe County, West Virginia (north)

---

II. Settlement and Early History

• Early Inhabitants: Before European colonization, the area was a contested territory used for hunting and travel by several Native American groups, most prominently the Shawnee and Cherokee peoples.
• First Pioneers and Settlement: Settlement by German, English, and Scots-Irish pioneers began in the 1740s and 1750s, making it one of the earlier trans-Alleghany settlements. The narrative of Mary Draper Ingles, who was captured by the Shawnee in 1755 and made a daring escape, is a foundational story of the region. The county was named for William Branch Giles, a Virginia politician who served as a U.S. Senator and Governor.
• Civil War Significance: Giles County’s location along the New River and the vital Virginia & Tennessee Railroad made it a strategic target for Union forces. In May 1864, the Battle of Cloyd’s Mountain was fought near the border of Giles and Pulaski counties. The Union victory resulted in the destruction of the New River Bridge at Central (now Radford), temporarily severing a crucial Confederate supply line. The county was also the site of numerous skirmishes and raids as both armies sought to control the railroad and key mountain gaps.

---

III. Genealogical Records and Resources

This section provides the practical information needed to locate ancestral records.

• County Seat: Pearisburg, Virginia. This has been the only county seat since it was established in 1806.
• Record Loss & Preservation: Giles County is a treasure for genealogists as it is one of Virginia’s “unburned” counties. Its records are remarkably complete and were not destroyed during the Civil War. The courthouse holds a nearly complete run of historical records from the county’s formation.
• Location of Records:
  • Giles County Courthouse: Located at 501 Wenonah Ave, Pearisburg, VA 24134. This is the central repository for the county’s historical records from its creation in 1806. This includes a full run of deeds, wills, court orders, and marriage records.
• Vital Records:
  • Birth and Death Records: Statewide registration began in 1853 (continuing until 1896, and resuming in 1912). The Giles County Clerk of Court holds these records, which are largely complete for the registration periods. Recent inquiries may be directed to the Virginia Department of Health, Division of Vital Records in Richmond.
  • Marriage Records: Marriage bonds and licenses are available from 1806 onward and are held at the courthouse in Pearisburg.
• Libraries with Genealogy Collections:
  • Giles County Public Library: The main library, located in Pearisburg, has a local history room with genealogical resources, including published family histories and local sourcebooks.
  • Giles County Historical Society: Located in Pearisburg, this is a key resource, maintaining an archive of family files, photographs, and historical documents.
  • The Library of Virginia: Located in Richmond, this is the primary state archive and an essential resource for any Virginia researcher. It holds a vast collection of materials that supplement county records, including tax lists, land patents, and military records on microfilm.

---

This county history was generated by AI and may be inaccurate or incomplete; please verify important information independently.