Stevensburg, Virginia

Stevensburg is a small rural unincorporated community located at the intersection of Route 3 and Route 663 in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. Stevensburg is about 6.9 miles east of Culpeper. Stevensburg's ZIP code is 22741. The post office is headquartered in a building approximately 10 by 15 feet, thereby making it one of the smallest post offices in America. Floriculture is a prominent industry, as several large, commercial greenhouses are in operation here.

The Stevensburg Post office, at about 10 by 15 feet, is one of the smallest post offices in America.

History

In about 1742, Salubria,[1] a large brick Georgian manor house, was built about one half mile southeast of the village now known as Stevensburg. Salubria was the birthplace of Admiral Cary Travers Grayson, personal physician to President Woodrow Wilson. In October 2000, Salubria was donated by the Grayson family to the Germanna Foundation for historic preservation.

Stevensburg was originally called York by the Quakers that lived in the area.[2] In 1782, the community was named Stevensburg in honor of General Edward Stevens, a revolutionary war hero from Culpeper.[3] During this time period, travelers often camped in the small ravines in the area, known as "bottoms." One ravine, ½ mile east of the village on the south side of present-day Route 3, gained considerable notoriety for "lewd behavior" (according to the Quakers), and came to be known as "Wicked Bottom."[3]

Hansbrough's Ridge is the site of the Union Encampment of 1863–1864.

During the winter of 1863 through 1864, Hansbrough's Ridge, a ridge about one mile east of the village, hosted the Union Army winter encampment.

Notable people

• Benjamin S. Kelsey – military aviator

African-American history

Stevensburg is home to one of the oldest African American Churches in Virginia, founded in 1847. The Church began with 90 members during a time when Culpeper County had one of the largest slave populations in the state, these individuals, established this place of worship. The church is called St. Stephens Baptist Church and it is still very active today. The church sits on the corner of Route 3 and Route 600 ( York Rd.) Stevensburg Baptist Church sits at the exact opposite end of York Road, about a 1/2 mile east of the historic African American Church.

References

1. "Salubria". Germanna Foundation. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
2. Miner, Zann (15 December 2008). "Culpeper Star Exponent Article on Stevensburg, Salubria, Germanna". Culpeper Star Exponent. Germanna Foundation. Retrieved 16 June 2016.
3. Madden, T. O.; Miller, Ann L. (2005). We Were Always Free: The Maddens of Culpeper County, Virginia : a 200-year Family History. University of Virginia Press. p. 28. ISBN 9780813923710. Retrieved 16 June 2016.