Stonega, VA

Tucked into a quiet mountain hollow along Callahan Creek, Stonega is a tiny historic community in Wise County with fewer than 100 residents. Founded in 1896 just north of Appalachia, it started as a coal company town complete with its own rail line, churches, and company store. The mines and coke ovens have long since closed, leaving behind a peaceful, slow-paced hamlet surrounded by steep, forested ridges.

Driving up the valley road today, you can still see rows of turn-of-the-century company houses in historic clusters like Quality Row, Park Place, and Red Row. Everyday essentials, dining, and healthcare are a quick drive down the mountain in Big Stone Gap, giving Stonega the appeal of quiet, tucked-away living with neighboring town conveniences close at hand.