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CITY OF NORTON Early settlement occurred in Norton in the late eighteenth century. William Prince settled in the area in 1787, and his name was associated with that location for a century in the reference to it as Princes' Flats. As a rural frontier area, Princes' Flats prospered through development of agriculture and lumber-related industries. The first U. S. Post Office was established in 1883 and named Eolia; but this was changed in 1890 to Norton to honor Mr. Eckstein Norton, President of the Louisville and Nashville Railroad. It was during this boom period that Norton was connected to the industrialized east coast by steel ties of the Norfolk and Western Railroad. In 1889, the Norfolk and Western Railway Company dispatched five men to lay out a town. Freight and passenger trains arrived on the scene in 1891, and Norton found itself heir to prosperity. Expansion of population, commerce and industry followed in the wake of railroad and related mining and industrial development. An urban settlement emerged and began to expand. The Town of Norton was incorporated on February 15, 1894. On April 6, 1954, the Virginia General Assembly granted a City Charter to the Town of Norton, thus creating the first city in far southwestern Virginia and, to this day, the only City in Wise County. Today, the City of Norton remains a focal point of Southwest Virginia. Situated at the crossroads of U.S. 23 & U.S. 58 Alternate, the City continues to be the commercial and professional center for the area. Visitors to Norton can enjoy the rich scenic, recreational, and historic that the area provides. Norton is fortunate to serve as a gateway to the Jefferson National Forrest and its 35,924 acres that lie in Wise County, supporting a multitude of outdoor recreational opportunities: hiking, biking, swimming, canoeing, hunting, fishing, camping, boating, and picnicking. Driving towards Jefferson National Forrest, visitors must take the opportunity to visit the City of Norton’s crown jewel, The Flag Rock Recreational Area. This area provides an unequaled view of the City of Norton from the overlook. The City of Norton is beginning its second century with eagerness and anticipation of the many exciting things to come and sincerely welcomes visitors to come share the opportunities that exist in our region. |
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