Saluda History

In June of 1849, a contentious vote was taken in which only white male landowners could participate to move our county seat of justice from Urbanna to Saluda. Saluda is located approximately in the middle of the county and has access to water by way of Oakes Landing Road on Urbanna Creek, the “Middlesex Ridge” road (Route 17) and the main county road (Route 33.) Thomas W. Fauntleroy of Oakenham and John P. Bristow both owned land in Saluda, and they saw the opportunity to enhance the commerce and population of this sleepy village. Mr. Bristow owned the property where the present courthouse was built and he was paid $5 for the property. Mr. Fauntleroy “named the place Saluda, which means healthful, after he visited relatives who lived on the Saluda River in South Carolina.” (Rivers and Roads of Middlesex County, Virginia, Rappahannock Press Inc. Urbanna, VA 1996)

Reference: “Signatures in Time: A Living History of Middlesex County, Virginia”