As America celebrates its 250th anniversary, Brunswick County’s story reminds us that the nation was not built in one place or by one people alone. It was shaped in rural communities, along waterways, in forests and farmlands, around campfires and kitchen tables – by generations who worked the land, fed their neighbors, and built traditions that still endure today.
In Brunswick County, that story can be told through two paddles.
One paddle glides across the waters of Lake Gaston, representing recreation, exploration, and the county’s continued investment in its future. Today, places like the new Herman Road Lake Gaston Day Use Park invite visitors and residents alike to experience the natural beauty that has long defined this region. The lake symbolizes movement, connection and opportunity – much like the rivers, roads and railways that once carried Brunswick County’s timber, crops, and commerce into the growing American economy.
The other paddle stirs a cast-iron pot of Brunswick stew – a tradition deeply rooted in the county’s identity and proudly shared across Virginia and beyond. For generations, Brunswick stew has brought people together in moments of fellowship, celebration and community. Long before modern tourism campaigns or branding efforts, Brunswick County’s culinary traditions were already telling a story about hospitality, resilience and pride of place.
Together, these two paddles represent Brunswick County’s unique connection between heritage and progress.
For more than 250 years, Brunswick County has helped shape the character of Virginia through agriculture, forestry, food traditions, transportation, and community. Colonial-era timber and farmland supported early commerce and helped fuel a young nation’s growth. Families passed down recipes, trades, and traditions that still define the county today. While the world around it evolved, Brunswick County maintained the values that continue to strengthen communities across America: hard work, resourcefulness, hospitality and connection to the land.
The VA250 commemoration is not only a time to reflect on the past, but also an opportunity to celebrate the places that continue writing America’s story today. Brunswick County is
doing exactly that: Honoring its heritage while creating new experiences for future generations through outdoor recreation, tourism and community investment.
“Two Paddles. One Brunswick.” captures that journey.
One paddle honors where we came from.
One paddle guides where we are going.
Together, they tell Brunswick County’s American story.
Photo credit: Stew champions: Taste of Brunswick Festival