Just as the Great Road carried 18th century pioneers into the American frontier, Interstate 81 serves as a major Appalachian corridor today. But in that timespan, the southwest Virginia community of Abingdon has made a name for itself as more than just a stopping point for travelers. Cradled by the Blue Ridge Mountains, the town of 8,000 is well-regarded for its thriving arts district, which includes the Barter Theatre, the Arts Depot and the William King Museum of Art. There’s no shortage of outdoor recreational opportunities in the picturesque community either, with the western terminus of the 34-mile Creeper Trail right by downtown, and an abundance of parks and playgrounds sprinkled across town, which has something of an affinity for Martha Washington. The community was possibly named after the ancestral home of the first First Lady’s family, Abingdon-on-Thames, and served as the location of the all-girls Martha Washington College. Although the institution has since shut its doors, the building has become the Martha Washington Inn & Spa, which treats guests and locals alike.
Abingdon is home to many well-preserved historic buildings from the 18th and 19th centuries.
Steven Reeves, a resident artist at the Arts Depot is part of Abingdon's artistic community.
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Historic and modern homes in Abingdon, with low inventory
Abingdon’s median home price of $285,000 is about $125,000 below the national median. “The housing market is strong. The number of buyers exceeds the number of homes, but it doesn’t have the shortage that Bristol has,” says Misty Clarke, Realtor with KW Bristol. Homes stay on the market for an average of 52 days.
Close to downtown, buyers will find American Craftsman bungalows, Colonial Revivals and the occasional Victorian from the early 1900s. For the most part, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes are Abingdon’s most popular design, though New Traditional builds are popping up on the city’s outskirts. Prices tend to fall between $100,000 and $400,000, though spacious homes can reach around $800,000.
A quaint cottage sits on a quite road off of Abingdon's Main Street.
Throughout Abingdon, mid-centry Ranch homes line the hilly streets.
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Shopping and eating on Main Street and at the Abingdon Farmers Market
Anchored by Main Street, Abingdon’s downtown is rife with local restaurants and shops. While a few eateries serve Italian and Mexican fare, American cuisine and Southern comfort food is Bristol’s specialty. Courthouse Hill on the east side is something of a small shopping district, with art galleries, decor shops and The Tavern, a former inn constructed in 1779 and arguably one of the city’s most famous restaurants, known for its high-end American and German cuisine. For farm-fresh produce and meats and locally made crafts, locals visit the Abingdon Farmers Market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Constructed in 1832, downtown’s Martha Washington Inn and Spa attracts tourists looking for a historical overnight stay and locals looking for a day of pampering at the full-service spa.
Enjoy a stake at The Tavern, located in the oldest building in Abingdon, built in 1779.
Grab a coffee and a classic Southern meal at Abingdon's The Girl and the Raven.
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A beacon of culture in the Appalachian Mountains
The Barter Theatre owes its creation to, surprisingly enough, the Great Depression, when both thespians and farmers were struggling to make ends meet. In 1933, an ingenious actor opened the repertory theater under the condition that if the predominantly agricultural audience could not afford the 35-cent admission, they could barter for tickets with crops and farm goods, hence the establishment’s name. Proclaimed the “State Theatre of Virginia” in 1946, the venue continues to put on musicals and plays, and on special “Barter Days,” patrons can still “barter” for tickets with a donation of canned goods to Feeding Southwest Virginia. For additional entertainment, locals catch the latest blockbuster at the Abingdon Cinemall or admire paintings, sculptures and crafts at the admission-free William King Museum of Art. “The museum preserves the culture of our area and provides tours for children and painting, sculpting and digital art classes,” Clarke says. Locals can also support local artists through shopping at the Arts Depot, a cultural center with three galleries and seven resident artists often found working in their studios.
The Virginia Highlands Festival has celebrated the culture of Appalachia for more than 75 years through musical performances, traditional Appalachian suppers, tours of historic buildings and additional programming. Festivities take place generally around the last week of July. Abingdon also serves as the location of the Washington County Fair, where visitors can expect to see rodeos, livestock shows, concerts and a lot of vendors.
Barter Theater, opened in 1933 in Abingdon, is considered the state theater of Virginia
Enjoy the art exhibits at Abingdon's William King Museum of Art.
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Traveling around Appalachia
Interstate 81 passes through the neighborhood, running parallel to the Appalachian Mountains. Roanoke is 135 miles northeast, while Bristol is a 16-mile drive to the southwest. Kingsport and Johnson City, two communities within Tennessee’s Tri-Cities region, are both about 40 miles away.
The Mountain Lynx bus carries passengers around the city on fixed and flexible routes between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The general aviation Virginia Highlands Airport is less than a few miles down I-81. For commercial flights to Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas; Atlanta Georgia; and three other destinations, Tri-Cities Regional Airport sits 33 miles southwest of Abingdon.
Johnston Memorial Hospital on the eastern edge of town is within a 6-mile drive of most homes. The hospital is a major employer of residents, alongside the Food City regional supermarket chain, which is headquartered in Abingdon. Other locals commute to Bristol, which is a hotbed of manufacturers such as Bristol Compressors.
World-class health care is located near Abingdon at Johnson Memorial Hospital.
Abingdon residents have quick access to TRI-Cities Airport across the border in Tennessee.
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Exploring local parks or traveling the Creeper and Appalachian Trails
Seventeen parks, playgrounds, recreation centers and sports centers are spread across the city. The Abingdon Little and Senior League Baseball teams play at Latture Field, while skateboarders perform tricks at Rotary Skate Park. Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center offers an indoor pool, gym and a host of group fitness and aquatic fitness classes. Glenrochie Country Club just south of Interstate 81 invites members to play 18 holes of golf, go for a swim or play a match of tennis.
The Virginia Creeper Trail’s western terminus sits just a few steps from downtown Abingdon. This 34-mile trail runs over streams and former railroad trestles through the hills and farms of southwest Virginia. The 2,200-mile Appalachian Trail is accessible from the town of Damascus 14 miles to the southeast. Beech Mountain and other ski resorts lie about 60 miles south close to Boone, North Carolina.
Abingdon is the last stop along the historic Virginia Creeper Trail.
Families enjoy the playgrounds at Abingdon's Harry L. Coomes Recreation Center.
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Washington County Public Schools and a community college
The Washington County Public Schools district earns a B-plus from Niche and includes 15 schools. At Abingdon High, students can dually enroll in courses at Virginia Highlands Community College on the southwest side of the city. In November 2024, Endless Opportunity (EO) unveiled the Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub, which provides early childhood care and workforce training for teachers.
Abingdon High School in Abingdon, VA earned a B grade from Niche.
Higher education is located at the nearby Abingdon at Virginia Highlands Community College.
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Crime and climate in Abingdon
According to FBI crime statistics, violent crimes decreased by 2% between 2023 and 2022, while property crimes increased by 15% over the same period. Overall, violent crime and property crime rates remain below national and state averages; however, Abingdon’s small population means that small, numerical fluctuations in crime from month-to-month can drastically affect rates.
Abingdon experiences four seasons, including humid summers and cool winters with a moderate amount of snow. The community receives an average of 47 inches of rain a year, which makes it one of the rainiest cities in Virginia.
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