According to the census for 2007, the population of Montross is 315.

Montross has won the Outstanding Small Community Award. They have won first place for the fifth time (1995,1996,1998,1999,2001). Montross won second place in 1997 and 2000. The award is issued to small towns that improve their environments, economic development, and stimulate pride in cleanliness and beauty. The award is given by the Keep Virginia Beautiful organization.

Montross is located in Westmoreland County, Virginia. We are located about 45 miles east of Fredericksburg on Virginia State Route 3.

Many towns brag about their explosive growth rate, but Montross derives much of its charm from the fact that in three centuries of serving as Westmoreland's County seat, it hasn't really grown much.

Old-timers still refer to this place as the Village--as indeed they should, since the latest census lists only 314 inhabitants. The local post office delivers mail to upwards of 5,000 people in a territory loosely referred to as "The Greater Montross area".

On December 17, 1849, a petition was recorded by the General Assembly under bill #37, from some of the citizens of Westmoreland Court House to incorporate "the village at the courthouse." This bill was rejected on January 7, 1850.

Another petition was recorded on January 30, 1851 under bill #106. This petition was for the same reason as the petition of 1849. Some of the highlights of this petition were:

1. The Village at Westmoreland Court House to be incorporated by the name of Mont Ross
2. The boundary lines were to be 600 yards from the center of the courthouse building in each direction of the four quadrants to form a square.
3. To control the firing of guns within the village; to establish streets and alleys; to control public exhibitions and "traveling girlie shows".
4. To be able to tax and fine people living in the village.

This bill became an Act and the Village of Westmoreland Court House was incorporated as "The Town of MONT ROSS" on February 17, 1852.

The town was, at various times, referred to as Mont Ross and Montrose.

But the time-honored boundaries of the Village extend from Chandler's Mill Pond on the western edge for approximately 2 1/2 miles to East End, a cross-roads formed by the intersection of Route 3 and Route 645.

In the center of this strip, at the sharp curve in town, lies the historic Westmoreland County Court House.

This is the Westmoreland Court House.

The County was established in 1653, when roads were scarce and rivers were used as "highways", so the first courthouse was located on Currioman Bay.

The present Courthouse dates from 1707, but the structure has undergone extensive rehabilitation and several additions and remodeling during the intervening years.

During much of the 18th century, the area was known simply as "Westmoreland Court House". But in 1752, a Scotch merchant named William Black settled here and called his estate "Mont Ross", after the Scottish seaport from which he sailed. And when the village was finally incorporated in the 1800's it bore the name of "Mont Ross".

George Washington, James Monroe, Robert E. Lee and other historic figures were born near Montross, and the aura of the past lingers here.

This is the Confederate Monument when it sat where the present Montross Museum is now located before the monument was moved to its present location in front of the Court House.

The Court House lawn has the obligatory Confederate monument, flanked by a small memorial to those who served in World Wars I and II and Korea. In 1991, a bronze bust honoring Vietnam veterans was erected on the Court House lawn by the Westmoreland County Ruritan Club. The monument has engravings of the four services and names of the Veterans from Westmoreland County. We have been notified by the Director of the Washington, D.C. Vietnam Memorial that this was the first sculptured monument in the nation to honor Vietnam War Veterans.

Our Vietnam Memorial.

This is Smallwood Motor Company. It was located in the same building that is now Wakefield Furniture Store. The people in the photograph are Mr. and Mrs. Rosser Flynn Smallwood, Sr. Mrs. Smallwood was Thelma Fones Smallwood. Mr. Smallwood was known as Flynn. Mr. Smallwood sold Firestone tires and Ford automobiles along with many other items for your car. Notice at the far right toward the bottom you can see the roof and chiminey of the court house. Mr. and Mrs. Smallwood lived on the second floor of this building. In the shadows to the right of the Smallwoods' are two gasoline pumps. They sold Amoco gasoline.

Above photograph courtesy of Mrs. Melanie Smallwood Brumfield.

Westmoreland politician faces sex charges By Robert King and Jan Ohrmundt A former Westmoreland County supervisor and Colonial Beach mayor was indicted on multiple charges of sexual abuse. David Wayne DiRosario, 55, of Colonial Beach, was indicted by a grand jury for six felonies and one misdemeanor on Oct. 27. The state police arrested DiRosario on Nov. 10 without incident. "The arrest came after direct sealed indictments on Oct. 26. Charges include two felony counts of rape, three felony counts of sexual penetration with an inanimate object, one felony count of forcible sodomy and one misdemeanor count of assault and battery," said Barrick. On Nov. 16, DiRosario was granted $75,000 bond.

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