Ararat, Virginia

{{Short description|Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States}}

{{Infobox settlement

|name = Ararat

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|pushpin_map_caption = Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia

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|map_caption = Location within Patrick county

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|subdivision_name1 = Virginia

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|subdivision_name2 = Patrick

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|leader_name =Mayor: Ronald Inscore

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|timezone = Eastern (EST)

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Ararat is an unincorporated community in Patrick County, Virginia, United States, south of the Blue Ridge Parkway and north of Mount Airy, North Carolina. Ararat is located near the Virginia–North Carolina state line, approximately {{convert|5|miles|spell=in}} north of Mount Airy and about {{convert|25|miles}} west of Stuart. The community's name comes from the Ararat River, which flows through the area.[http://www.freestateofpatrick.com/ararat.htm Ararat Virginia] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070817024829/http://www.freestateofpatrick.com/ararat.htm |date=August 17, 2007 }} The River takes its name from the Jefferson Fry Map of 1751, which calls Pilot Mountain part of the "Mountains of Ararat." The Saura Indian name for nearby Pilot Mountain across the state line in Surry County, North Carolina is "The Pilot" and the mountain reverted to that.[http://www2.vcdh.virginia.edu/lewisandclark/students/projects/adventurers/fryjeff_mapofvirginia.htm Fry-Jefferson Map of Virginia] The large monadnock mountain was thought to resemble a bullfrog and the Native Americans named it "Ratratrat," after the sound the animal makes. Early white settlers thought what they were saying sounded like "Ararat," the mountain which, according to the Bible, was the landing point of Noah's Ark.

Education

Blue Ridge Elementary School is located in the community.

Notable people

Several famous people were born in the community, such as the Reverend Bob Childress;{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20110716145301/http://www.stone-churches.com/ Bob Childress]}} "The Man Who Moved A Mountain," and James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart,{{Cite web |url=http://www.jebstuart.org/ |title=Laurel Hill Tour |access-date=2011-02-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429092348/http://www.jebstuart.org/ |archive-date=2011-04-29 |url-status=dead }} the Major General of Cavalry for Robert E. Lee during the American Civil War. Also, First Lieutenant Levi Barnard, eulogized by the band Old Crow Medicine Show in their song, "Levi".

Historic site

The J.E.B. Stuart Birthplace, the Laurel Hill Farm,Laurel Hill Farm is a preserved private park in the community that is open for self-guided tours daily and holds a Civil War encampment the first full weekend of October each year.

References

Sources

Davids, Richard C., ' ' The Man Who Moved A Mountain ' ', Augsburg Fortress Publishers, 1986, {{ISBN|0-8006-1237-X}}, {{ISBN|978-0-8006-1237-5}}.
Perry, Thomas D., ' 'J. E. B. Stuart's Birthplace: The History of the Laurel Hill Farm ' ', Laurel Hill Publishing, 2008, {{ISBN|1-4382-3934-3}}, {{ISBN|978-1-4382-3934-7}}.
Smith, Karen Cecil., ' 'Orlean Puckett: The Life of a Mountain Midwife, 1844-1939 ' ', Parkway Publishers, 2003,{{ISBN|1-887905-72-3}}, {{ISBN|978-1-887905-72-5}}.
Perry, Thomas D., 'Ararat Virginia: A Guide from Willis Gap to Kibler Valley ' ', Laurel Hill Publishing, 2009, {{ISBN|978-1451518405}} {{ISBN|1451518404}}.

External links

[http://www.usbeacon.com/Virginia/Ararat.html US Becon]
[http://www.patrickchamber.com/profile.cfm?ID=385 The Hollow History Center (Ararat)]

Category:Unincorporated communities in Patrick County, Virginia

Category:Unincorporated communities in Virginia