This site contains information about local resources for Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee. It covers the counties of Buchanan, Smyth, Tazewell and Washington in Virginia, and Carter, Johnson, Sullivan and Washington in Tennessee. These counties are served by the libraries of the Holston Associated Libraries consortium.

A brief introduction to the counties covered

Bristol Virginia was founded in 1856 as the town of Goodson. Its twin on the Tennessee side was founded as Bristol in 1856 also. In 1890, Goodson officially changed its name to Bristol. Bristol Virginia is an independent city, while Bristol, Tennessee is part of Sullivan County.

Buchanan County Virginia was formed in 1858 from parts of Russell and Tazewell Counties. The county was named for James Buchanan, President of the United States 1857-61. Grundy is the county seat.

Smyth County Virginia was created from parts of Washington and Wythe Counties in 1832. The county was named for General Alexander Smyth, who had represented the area in Congress. The county seat is Marion.

Tazewell County Virginia was founded in 1799 from parts of Russell and Wythe Counties. At the time of formation, the County included all or portions of the current counties of Bland County, VA, Giles County, VA, Buchanan County, VA, Mercer County, WV, McDowell County, WV, Wyoming County, WV and Logan County, WV. The county was named after Henry Tazewell, member of the Virginia House of Burgesses and later a U.S. Senator. Tazewell is the county seat.

Washington County Virginia was formed from Fincastle County in 1776. The county seat, Abingdon was formed in 1778. 

Carter County Tennessee was formed from Washington County. The Tennessee General Assembly organized Carter County from Washington County on April 9, 1796, before Tennessee was officially a state.  On June 1, 1796, President George Washington signed the bill admitting Tennessee to the Union as the sixteenth state.  Carter County was named for Landon Carter.  Elizabethton, the county seat, was named for Elizabeth McLin Carter, wife of Landon Carter.

Johnson County Tennessee was created in 1836 from Carter County and named in honor of Thomas Johnson, a prominent citizen and one of the first magistrates of Johnson County. The county seat is Mountain City. 

Sullivan County Tennessee was formed in 1779 by division from Washington County and named for General John Sullivan, an officer in the Continental Army. Sullivan County's first boundaries included Hawkins County, which was broken off from Sullivan in 1786. Blountville is the county seat.

Washington County Tennessee was created in 1777 by an act of the North Carolina legislature, and was Tennessee's first organized county.  The county was named for George Washington. The county seat is Jonesboro.