County & Location
One of the Last Great Places on Earth
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Southwest Virginia has been called “one of the last great places on earth,” and Russell County is its epicenter. In recent years, our local and state leaders strategized to transform our location into a prime spot for economic growth. In 2004, we deployed a world-class, telecommunications network that drew two of the world’s largest, high-tech companies – Northrop Grumman and CGI – into our borders. We proved we could deliver the workforce, the tools and the infrastructure needed to help any company not only to succeed but to thrive. Couple all this with our area’s lower cost of living, its breathtaking landscapes, and premier outdoor recreation, and you truly do have “one of the last great places on earth.”
Location
Situated in the Appalachian Highlands of the American South, Russell County is located in the southwestern corner of Virginia – between the state’s coal-producing counties and the dynamic Tri-Cities region, which includes the twin cities of Bristol VA/TN and Kingsport and Johnson City, both in Northeast Tennessee.
Our central position in the East – halfway between Maine and Florida, adjacent to Washington, D.C. and within a day’s drive of New York City – makes us a premier spot from which to conduct national and global business.
Notably, about 40 percent of the U.S. population is reachable from Russell County within a single day’s drive and more than half of the nation’s population resides within a 750-mile radius.
In Virginia, we’re just 60 minutes from Tri-Cities Regional Airport (Blountville, Tenn.); 150 miles from Roanoke and 290 miles from Richmond, the state capital. U.S. highways 19 and 58 in Russell County provide easy access to Interstates 81 and 77.
Chamber of Commerce
The Russell County Chamber of Commerce provides a wide array of programming and networking opportunities for its members and the community. The Chamber of Commerce also works directly with local government agencies to promote the County’s growth and prosperity.
www.russellcountyva.org
Cost-Effective, Slower Pace
You’ll seldom see snarled traffic or experience long commutes in Russell County. Our rural location offers a slower pace and lower cost of living – as well as access to some of the most pristine, undisturbed natural environments in the American Southeast.
Lower Cost of Living
- Our cost of living (87.6 index) is 12.4 percent lower than the U.S. average.
- Median home cost is $140,000 – approximately 47 percent lower than the median price of new homes sold in the United States.
- We also have one of the lowest median property tax rates in the nation, with only 22 percent of U.S. counties having a lower rate than Russell County. The average annual property tax paid by Russell County residents is only 1.25 percent of their yearly income.
Moderate Climate, Nature’s Playground
Your employees will love that Russell County lies between the Jefferson National Forest (Virginia) and the Cherokee National Forest (Tennessee), providing 250,000 acres of unspoiled woodlands for outdoor recreation – including numerous access points to the famed Appalachian Trail. Our four distinct seasons with moderate climate make recreation possible year-round in Southwest Virginia. Come and enjoy.
- Average summer temperature: 74 degrees Fahrenheit
- Average winter temperature: 35 degrees Fahrenheit
- Annual rainfall: 43 inches
- Average annual snowfall: 21 inches