During the years 1748-1750, Doctor Thomas Walker surveyed for himself 6,870 acres of this prime land west of the Blue Ridge. In 1760 Colonel William Byrd and his regiment of men cut the Great Road through what is now Abingdon and on to present-day Kingsport, Tennessee. During that same year, Daniel Boone came and camped in Abingdon. Along with his companion, Nathaniel Gist, he was on his way through the area on a hunting trip. While they camped here, wolves emerged from a cave before them and attacked their dogs. Boone then gave Abingdon its first name, "Wolf Hills." Today, the Cave House Craft Shop sits on the site of the wolves' den. Back to Top Abingdon carried the name of "Wolf Hills" until 1774 when Joseph Black erected a fort in the area, and gave it the name "Black's Fort." After fierce invasions, the fort was enlarged to hold up to 600 men, women, and children. Here, the townspeople remained during the raiding season from early spring to late fall.> In December of 1776, the General Assembly of Virginia established the present-day Washington County. It was the first region in the world named after the great general and Father of our Country. Black's Fort was designated the county seat of Washington County, and remained so until the incorporation of the town of Abingdon in 1778. The town's name was derived from Martha Washington's English home of Abingdon Parrish. This loyalty to the Washington family, especially Martha, was to continue throughout Abingdon's history. Visit www.abingdon.com/tourism to learn more of Abingdon's history! E-Mail Abingdon's Convention and Visitor Bureau Back to Top