If you’ve never heard of Emerson Valley, Virginia, you’re not alone. The majority of the world has no idea we exist. We’re a small town nestled in a valley (hence the name) surrounded by mountains on all sides. For the most part, we’re a very isolated community, but that means we’re also very self-sufficient. Just outside of town, farms dot the sprawling landscape, providing us with fresh meat and produce.

Emerson Valley is an independent city, and we’re considered a “county-equivalent” for administrative purposes. You might notice that despite being officially classed as a city (We have a City Hall and City Council), everyone here refers to it exclusively as a town. It’s one of those quirks you often find in rural settlements hidden all over the country.

While we’re very close to Carson Hills, the seat of Harrison County, we aren’t connected to their official county government services. For example, we have our own Sheriff’s Department and magistrate services. We also provide utilities like gas, electric, and water to residents from local facilities. A handful of homes and businesses on the outskirts of town get their utilities from Carson Hills.

Our population can fluctuate quite a bit, but on average, we have about 30,000 residents. There was an influx of new people in town when Jorus Technology Solutions built their new headquarters about a mile away from Emerson Valley. The relationship between the company and our town was made stronger when their former CEO was elected mayor.

The heart of Emerson Valley is Main Street, which cuts a path right through the center of town. There are many shops, restaurants, and pubs to explore—you can get lost in an antique store, pick up locally-sourced food at the market, or have your palm read by a fortune teller. While you’re there, you might get a chance to check out the many fun events and activities that take place all throughout the year.

The people of Emerson Valley are some of the kindest, most welcoming folks you’ll ever meet. Newcomers will be amazed at the way everyone seems to know each other. Even if they don’t, we still make sure to offer a smile and a wave to anyone we see. Community spirit is strong here, and we take pride being the kind of place where you can pop over to the neighbor’s for a cup of tea and leave your doors unlocked at night. It’s still a good idea to lock them, though—just in case.

No matter where you are in Emerson Valley, you’ll be able to look up to the cliffs and see the Rookery, a massive estate that looms over the town like a lone sentinel. You will also notice a thick forest encroaching on our eastern border—that’s the infamous Blackwood Forest. Although a beautiful place to go camping and hiking, people have a tendency to go missing and never return.

Running through Blackwood Forest is Silver Creek River, which despite its confusing name is in fact a river. You can grab your rod to go fishing, take a dip in its cool waters, or brave the rapids in a kayak. Just don’t stray too far down the river or you run the risk of being swept over the edge of Harrison Falls.

For those of you interested in joining our community, some of the coziest homes can be found in Carolina Springs, a gated community on the southeast side of town. There are also plenty of very reasonably-priced houses available throughout Emerson Valley. Unlike the rest of the country, housing costs have decreased a lot in recent years. The sole exception are the mansions near Van Sutton Park on the northwest side of town, where our ritziest residents reside.

Speaking of Van Sutton Park, there’s nowhere better to go if you want to play with your dog, take a pleasant walk through the colorful gardens, or take a paddle boat out on the lake. It’s a good way to enjoy a bit of nature without having to venture into Blackwood Forest. At Christmastime, an enormous fir tree is erected to serve as the centerpiece of our Christmas Festival.

Emerson Valley’s children attend Springwood Elementary School before moving on to Emerson Valley High School. We also have Emerson Valley University, a Division III college that competes against other D3 schools along the eastern seaboard. Our local medical center is St. Benedict’s Hospital, which recently had an overhaul to outfit it with state-of-the-art facilities and equipment.

Our main community organization is the Raven Club, which operates out of the stately Raven Hall. Many social functions like weddings, graduations, banquets, and galas are held at Raven Hall. Religious folks are unfortunately limited to St. Gabriel’s Church and Temple Beth-El. Of course, other religions are welcome in Emerson Valley, but you’ll need to make your own arrangements for places of worship.

Hopefully you have a pretty good idea what our town is like now. If any of it sounds appealing to you, I have to congratulate you—surely you’re made of pretty stern stuff. I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that those who cross the bounds into our town rarely return to the outside world. That’s because everyone who comes here loves it so much! So welcome to Emerson Valley—we’ll be seeing you soon.

-Ashton Rook, Lifestyle, Emerson Valley Gazette