Twelve O'clock Knob (Roanoke County, Virginia)

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Twelve O'clock Knob

Twelve O'clock Knob Mountain.jpg

Looking southwest at Twelve O'clock Knob
Highest point
Elevation 2,671 ft (814 m) [1]
Coordinates 37°14′54.80″N80°05′04.04″W / 37.2485556°N 80.0844556°W / 37.2485556; -80.0844556 Coordinates: 37°14′54.80″N80°05′04.04″W / 37.2485556°N 80.0844556°W / 37.2485556; -80.0844556 [1]
Geography
Location Roanoke County, Virginia, U.S.
Parent range Appalachian Mountains, Blue Ridge Mountains
Topo map USGS Bent Mountain
Climbing
Easiest route Road

Twelve O'clock Knob is a mountain located in southwestern Roanoke County, Virginia, directly south of Salem, Virginia. According to local lore, slaves in the western Roanoke Valley noted that the Sun was directly over the mountain roughly around noon local time. [2] In 1995 and 1996, the Tour DuPont staged a time trial in the Roanoke Valley, the highlight of which was a ride over the steep, winding Twelve O'clock Knob Road. The north slope of the ridgeline formed by Poor Mountain, Twelve O'clock Knob and adjacent peaks such as Sugarloaf Mountain mark the southwestern boundary of the Roanoke Valley.

Roanoke County, Virginia County in the United States

Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 92,376. Its county seat is Salem.

Virginia State of the United States of America

Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a state in the Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States located between the Atlantic Coast and the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" due to its status as the first English colonial possession established in mainland North America and "Mother of Presidents" because eight U.S. presidents were born there, more than any other state. The geography and climate of the Commonwealth are shaped by the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Chesapeake Bay, which provide habitat for much of its flora and fauna. The capital of the Commonwealth is Richmond; Virginia Beach is the most populous city, and Fairfax County is the most populous political subdivision. The Commonwealth's estimated population as of 2018 is over 8.5 million.

Salem, Virginia Independent city in Virginia, United States

Salem is an independent city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,802. It is the county seat of Roanoke County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Salem with Roanoke County for statistical purposes.

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The Roanoke Valley in southwest Virginia is an area adjacent to and including the Roanoke River between the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east and the Appalachian Plateau to the west. The valley includes much of Roanoke County, as well as the two independent cities of Roanoke and Salem.

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State Route 419 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Electric Road, the state highway runs 10.54 miles (16.96 km) from U.S. Route 220 and US 220 Business in Roanoke north to SR 311 at Hanging Rock. SR 419 is a major north–south highway in the western part of the Roanoke Valley, connecting Roanoke and Salem with Cave Spring in southwestern Roanoke County.

Poor Mountain mountain in United States of America

Poor Mountain is a ridge of high peaks located in Roanoke County, Virginia and Montgomery County, Virginia. At 3,928 feet, Poor Mountain is the tallest mountain in the immediate area.

Fort Lewis Mountain is a mountain which stretches from Ironto in Montgomery County, Virginia to Masons Cove in Roanoke County, Virginia. The rural community of Bradshaw is located in the narrow valley between the south slope of Catawba Mountain and the north slope of Fort Lewis Mountain. The south slope of the mountain faces the western Roanoke Valley and is directly across from Poor Mountain. Fort Lewis Mountain is separated from Brushy Mountain by a narrow gap formed by Masons Creek. Brushy Mountain stretches in the same southwest to northeast direction for several more miles into Botetourt County, Virginia. Another narrow gap separates Fort Lewis Mountain from Little Brushy Mountain, a small 1,926 foot high peak, which is located in Roanoke County just north of Salem, Virginia.

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Kiwanis Field is a ballpark in Salem, Virginia which was opened in 1932. The ballpark has a capacity of 5,000 people and is primarily used for baseball. Kiwanis Field was the home of a Carolina League team currently known as the Salem Red Sox; at the time, they were the Salem Rebels, Salem Pirates, Salem Redbirds, and Salem Buccaneers. The Salem Avalanche played here briefly in 1995 until they moved to the Salem Memorial Baseball Stadium. The stadium has commanding views of the Blue Ridge Mountains, particularly Twelve O'clock Knob. Until the Salem Football Stadium opened in 1985, Kiwanis Field served as the home football field for Salem High School and its predecessor Andrew Lewis High School. The stadium was known as Salem Municipal Field prior to 1995. Kiwanis Field is currently used for high school, American Legion, and Roanoke College baseball games.

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The Roanoke Region is the area of the Commonwealth of Virginia surrounding the city of Roanoke. Its usage may refer to the metropolitan statistical area or the Roanoke Valley, but it sometimes includes areas in the Allegheny Mountains and New River Valley which includes Alleghany county, Montgomery county, Covington, Clifton Forge, Iron Gate, Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford. Rarely, it may include Bedford County and Floyd County.

12 O'clock usually refers the time as shown on a 12-hour clock, either noon - 12 o'clock at daytime - or midnight - 12 o'clock at nighttime.

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Bent Mountain, Virginia Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

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References

  1. 1 2 "Noon 2". NGS data sheet. U.S. National Geodetic Survey . Retrieved 2008-12-30.
  2. Harris, Nelson (2005). Salem and Roanoke County in Vintage Postcards. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Pub. p. 88. ISBN   9780738518381 . Retrieved 7 July 2016.