FLOYD.
Floyd was formed in 1831 from Montgomery, and was named
from John Floyd, governor of Virginia from 1829 to 1834. It is
35 m. long, with a mean width of 15 m. It is watered by Little
River, a branch of New River. The surface is mountainous, and
the soil generally more adapted to grazing than grain. Horses,
oxen, hogs, and sheep, are the principal staples. There were in 1840,
whites 4,123, slaves 321, free colored 9; total, 4,453. Jacksonville,
or Floyd C. H., is a small village 215 m. sw. of Richmond.
The Buffalo Knob, in this county, is a very lofty eminence, from the top of which the
view is sublime. On the north, east, and west, the beholder is amazed at the boundless
succession of mountains rising beyond mountains—while far away to the south, the plain
seems to stretch to an interminable length. On the east, the knob is accessible on
horseback, being two miles in height from the beginning of the ascent to the highest
point; on the west it breaks off precipitately, and presents the shape of the animal
whose name it bears. This mountain is seen 60 or 80 miles, towering above all others.
On the highest point is a space of about 30 acres, which is so elevated that not any trees
grow there; and in the warmest days of summer, the visitor requires thick clothing to
protect him from the cold. The spot is covered with fine grass, strawberry-vines, and
gooseberry and currant-bushes. The fruit upon them is of superior flavor, but it does
not ripen until two or three months later than that upon the lowlands.
