Presales have begun for a commemorative license plate, featuring the phrase “Revolution to Revolutionary” in honor of the 250th anniversary of Montgomery County.
“From the Revolutionary War to the revolutionary first drone delivery in the United States, the county encapsulates this phrase,” the county announced.
Each plate costs $10 with an additional $10 for personalization and can be purchased at https://montva.com/1/montgomery-co-va-250 or in person at the Montgomery County Treasurer’s Office, 755 Roanoke St., Suite 1B, Christiansburg.
Montgomery County, which was established on December 31, 1776, celebrates its 250th anniversary this year along with the United States.
The Virginia American Revolution 250 Commission (VA250) was established in 2020 to commemorate Virginia’s role in the 250th anniversary of American independence. Montgomery County formed its own 250 local commission to recognize the county’s birthday. Local leaders have also announced several events for later this year with the main celebration being Heritage Day 2026, organized by the Montgomery Museum of Art & History and scheduled for Aug. 15.
County Public Information Officer Jennifer Harris said the event will allow attendees to step into the past with over 40 vendors showcasing crafts, artifacts and more.
“Indulge your taste buds with a variety of delectable treats from food trucks while enjoying the delightful tunes of live music and dance throughout the day,” she said.
She also pointed to a special 250 run/walk to be held before the downtown activities, set for 9 a.m. with start and finish at the Christiansburg Recreation Center. The 2.50K is a loop from the Christiansburg Rec Center along the Huckleberry Trail with a turnaround along the trail at the halfway point. The first 250 registered are guaranteed a finisher’s commemorative Montgomery County, VA 250 shirt. Participants are encouraged to dress in honor of both Montgomery County’s and America’s once-in-a-generation 250th anniversary celebration by showing off patriotic pride with creative looks inspired by American history, heritage and the spirit of the nation.
Montgomery County was made from parts of , which was disbanded and split into Montgomery, and counties. Later, Montgomery lost land to form counties which now border it, including some counties which later formed .
The county is named for , an killed in 1775 while , .
Montgomery County was a revolutionary idea – being one of only three new Virginia counties that year.
Representatives of the dissolved Fincastle County had endorsed the Fincastle Resolutions. The Fincastle Resolutions document was a local effort of a growing political movement associated with the First Continental Congress. William Preston, one of the resolution’s 15 signatories, resided at Historic Smithfield. This home recently commemorated its 250th anniversary and is a prominent county historic landmark listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Initial historic settlement of Montgomery County dates to the 1740s. Straddling the Eastern Continental Divide, sandwiched between the Blue Ridge and Alleghany County mountains with waters of the New, James, and Roanoke Rivers, early settlers were attracted to the area.
Draper’s Meadows, in present day Blacksburg, was attacked by Shawnee Indians during start of the French and Indian War in July 1755.
Another early settlement was at Hans Meadow, which would become Christiansburg. The county seat, Christiansburg was incorporated in 1792 and named in honor of Colonel William Christian. This community was an important stop along the Great Road, which roughly corresponds to present-day U.S. Route 11.
To stay up-to-date on events or to order the special license plate go to: https://montva.com/1/montgomery-co-va-250.
