Carroll County, located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia on the North Carolina border, offers a fascinating variety of topography and geography. About one-fifth of the County is in the Virginia Piedmont region. The remaining four-fifths lie within the Appalachian Mountains. The County
Seat is the town of Hillsville, which 
is the largest town in the county.
Carroll County includes 478 square miles (475 square miles in land; 3 square miles in water). The estimated population in 2015 was 29,724. The population density was 62 people per square mile. The County is administered by an elected Board of Supervisors.
Portions of Carroll County lie within the Blue Ridge Parkway, Jefferson National Forest, and Mount Rogers National Recreation Area. Access to and through the County is provided by several highways:
- Interstate Highway 77
- Interstate Highway 74 (future)
- S. Route 52
- S. Route 58
- S. Route 221
- State Route 94
- State Route 100
- State Route 148
Hillsville is the only Incorporated Town in the County. Other unincorporated communities include
- Austinville
- Cana
- Dugspur
- Fancy Gap
- Lambsburg
- Laurel Fork
- Byllesby
- Buck
- Poplar Camp
- Early
- Ocala
- Cap
- Monarat
- Long Shoals
- Ordway
- Freemont
- Star
- Pipers Gap
- Snake Creek
- Drenn
- Woodlawn
- Sylvatus
Mountain roads, Interstate highways, and other rural roads can be very dangerous, especially if a driver is intoxicated or distracted. Some of the worst auto accidents occur in rural areas. If you are injured in an auto accident through no fault of your own, Bettina and the legal team of Altizer Law, P.C., are here to represent your interests. Our staff will surround you with compassionate care, and we will begin working immediately to obtain justice and appropriate financial compensation for your hurts or harms. We hope you never need us, but if you do, we will fight for you with aggressive determination until you receive the maximum possible settlement to pay your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
History
Carroll County was created from part of Grayson County in 1842. It was named in honor of Charles Carroll, who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The county borders were later enlarged when land was taken from Patrick County.
No one knows when Native Americans first began to live in this area. However, relics found at the Martin Site in Wythe County have been dated to about 10,000 B.C. These early residents hunted big game (many species are now extinct). They made and used a unique style of spear points, called Clovis Point. They were likely the ancestors of the Native Americans the early European settlers encountered.
European settlers first arrived in Carroll County in the middle of the 18th century. These early settlers were mainly of Scotch-Irish origin, and they were accustomed to life at high mountain altitudes. These early settlers arrived and settled slowly at least in part because the soil was not conducive to agricultural pursuits. Lead mining was among the earliest economic activities in the region. As the population grew, English and Germans, as well as French Huguenots also became part of the community and eventually intermingled with the Scotch-Irish settlers.
Economy
The industries employing the largest number of Carroll County residents are (according to the 2010 Virginia Employment Commission Report) are:
- Government (primarily state and local)
- Manufacturing
- Retail Trade
- Health Care and Social Assistance
- Accommodation and Food Services
It should be noted that the data reported did not include those employed in
- Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing and Hunting
- Mining, Quarrying and Oil and Gas Extraction
- Utilities
- Management of Companies and Enterprises
Carroll County’s largest employers are:
- Carroll County School Board
- SW Virginia Training Center
- Parkdale Mills Inc. – production of cotton knitting, weaving, military, hosiery, and home furnishing yarns.
- Unicon, Inc. is a leading provider of IT consulting, services, and support for education technology that works with clients to find solutions to meet business challenges.
- County of Carroll
- Mohawk Esv, Inc. — operates as a subsidiary of Mohawk Carpet, LLC
- Aerial Machine and Tool Corp. — While many US sewing operations have been negatively affected by low cost off-shore alternatives, AERIAL flourishes by focusing on products where quality is the overriding concern—namely products that protect lives. Our customers know that we simply do not cut corners on quality. This is reassuring when lives are in the balance.
- Lowes’ Home Centers
- Barker Microfarads – manufacturer of AC and electrolytic capacitors
- Vanguard Furniture Company – producer of high-end upholstery
- Cockersham’s Fuel Center
- Turman Sawmill – Eastern White Pine cabin logs and tongue and groove kumber
- McDonald’s
- L.B., Inc. – Highway and street paving contractor.
- Rogers Community Mental Health Ret Services Board – community services for persons with mental health, intellectual and developmental disabilities and substance abuse.
- Virginia Produce Co LLC – farm management, packaging, and logistic services to partners throughout the East Coast
- Heritage Hall – nursing home and rehabilitation services
- Johnson Management Service – freight shipping and trucking service
- Food Lion
- Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores Inc.
Among the top 50 employers in Carroll County, several are medical or extended care facilities:
- Rogers Community Mental Health Ret Svc Bd
- Heritage Hall
- Blue Ridge Home Health Care
- Mountain Valley Hospice
- Tri-Area Health Clinic
- Southwest Virginia Home Health Care
- Access Home Health and Rehabilitation
- Inpatient Consultants of North Carolina
Medical and nursing facilities and service providers are typically staffed with caring and competent professionals. These caregivers are typically competent and committed to their patients. Occasionally, however, mistakes are made in hiring and in treatment. These mistakes often result in harm to those in their care. If you, or a loved one, have been harmed by medical malpractice or by nursing home abuse or neglect, call the compassionate and skilled legal team of Altizer Law, P.C. Bettina is knowledgeable of the medical and other issues related to such harm and experienced in obtaining justice and appropriate compensation for you or your loved one. That compensation typically is calculated upon the nature of the injury, and by the cost to the injured person for medical costs, pain and suffering, or wrongful death, loss of wages, and other hurts and harms.
What to See an Do in Carroll County
The County’s increasingly diverse economy, its history, and the opportunities to enjoy the discoveries and activities in the outdoors make Carroll County a wonderful place to learn and play. Whether your interest is in the piedmont area or in the mountains, you will find abundant opportunities and great natural beauty.
- Agricultural Tourism offers opportunities to explore and learn about Christmas tree farms, produce farming, fruit tree orchards, and wineries. You can even sample both apple cider and mead.
- Learn about local history and enjoy shopping in Historic Downtown Hillsville. Visit the local mercantile stores, visit the historic Carroll County Courthouse, and spend some time in the new labyrinth at the picnic shelter.
- Visit Fancy Gap, enjoying the scenery along the way, and visit the shops there. Or visit the Devil’s Den Nature Preserve to see unique species of animals and birds, as well as flora and fauna.
- Equestrians can enjoy a half-day ride at Crooked Creek Equine/Recreation Trail, or pick up the trail for a week-long wagon trail that sets out from Dugspur.
- Kanawha Valley Arena offers a range of events, including horse shows, bull rides, and truck pulls.
- Enjoy canoeing, kayaking, tubing or fishing on the New River, which is one of the oldest rivers on
the planet. - Spend some time at the Carroll County visitor center and watch local artisans working their crafts. You will be amazed by the number of local artisans and the variety of their creations.
- Visit Peaceful Heart Alpacas Farm and store.
- Enjoy birding and wildlife trails.
You might want to plan to take in the Pumpkin Festival, in October, or the Carroll County Agricultural Fair in August, or the Outlaw Muddersports Mud Bog in August.
Carroll County offers something amazing for everyone.
If you are injured through no fault of your own, Call Altizer Law, P.C.
Our attorney, Bettina Altizer is ready to help you obtain justice if you, or a loved one, are injured due to the wrongdoing or negligence of others. Your injury might result from dangerous and poorly maintained premises, from use of a dangerous or defective product, from an auto accident or other traffic injury, or due to medical malpractice or nursing home abuse or neglect. When you call us, you will be surrounded by the compassionate care we are known for, and our legal team will fight for you aggressively and tenaciously until you receive justice.