University of Virginia's College at Wise

The college was first conceived by local residents who petitioned the University of Virginia to establish a college in Wise. The decline of the Appalachian coal mining industry in the 1950s had led to a need for a higher education institution. As support for a college grew, the Commonwealth of Virginia appropriated $5,000 to open, staff, and operate the college as a two-year junior college on a trial basis for a year; and if successful, another $5,000 would be available for a second year. In the winter of 1954, the local community matched the commonwealth's funds and collected over $6,000 to furnish the classrooms and use for supplies. Wise County donated over 16-acre (6.5 ha) of property, the former Wise County Poor Farm, that included one sandstone building, Crockett Hall, which was used as an academic building.The campus was surrounded by land that was a former coal mining site