Located in the southeast section of Rappahannock County, Virginia, along the Thornton River, Sperryville was laid out by Francis Thornton, Jr. in 1817 and established in 1820 when the first deed was recorded. For most of the early 19th centuryConestoga wagons were built by John Kiger. By the 1850, Sperryville boasted two turnpikes: Thornton's Gap and Sperryville & Rappahannock. In the 1860s the Smoot family of Alexandria build a tannery on the Thornton River that closed by 1911. By that time Sperryville had grown to 350 residents with four churches, five general stores, one hotel, six mills, shops, and a masonic hall. The Sperryville Historic District is listed on the Virginia Landmarks Registry and the National Register of Historic Places. Sperryville had 94.43 inches of rain in 2018, a state record.
Attractions
Sperryville is close to many outdoor activities. The town is at the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains and provides access to the panorama entrance of Shenandoah National Park that provides access to Skyline Drive, which is a continuation of the Blue Ridge Parkway of the Great Smoky Mountains. Hiking spots include the popular Old Rag Mountain, White Oak Canyon, and Thornton River Trail, which are all located within the Shenandoah National Park. Near the edge of the park is an apple orchard as well. The Copper Fox Distillery, a distiller of American whiskey, is based in Sperryville. Central Coffee Roasters, a small batch artisan coffee roaster, is located 1/2 mile west towards the Shenandoah National Park. , located on main street, features paintings, sculptures and photography by local and regional artists. In 2018, Happy Camper Equipment Co., situated at one entrance to historic Main Street, painted a mural reading "Welcome to Sperryville" on a side of the building that has become a point of pride in the community and local attraction. restaurant, owned by John and Diane MacPherson, was inspired by their travels to London, Slovenia, Switzerland, France and Italy. The reference to three blacksmiths comes from the book Beyond the Rim: From Slavery to Redemption in the Rappahannock by James D. Russell. The author describes a long-ago Sperryville, bustling enough to employ a trio of blacksmiths. Sperryville is the setting for parts of the 8thJack Reacher novel, The Enemy, by Lee Child.
