[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 155 (2009), Part 8]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 10630]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




    HONORING THE TOWN OF CULPEPER, VIRGINIA ON ITS 250TH ANNIVERSARY

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. ERIC CANTOR

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, April 23, 2009

  Mr. CANTOR. Madam Speaker, I am proud to recognize the Town of 
Culpeper as it celebrates its 250th anniversary this Friday, April 
24th, 2009.
  The Town of Culpeper is located at the eastern base of the Blue Ridge 
Mountains in the Piedmont River Valley. It has a legendary history that 
dates clear back to the American Revolution when a group of local 
residents organized themselves as the Culpeper Minute Men Battalion in 
1775 and were called upon to fight in the Revolution and throughout 
campaigns in the 19th and 20th Centuries. Both Confederate and Union 
troops occupied the Town during the Civil War. In fact, during the 
winter of 1863 and 1864, more than 100,000 Union troops occupied the 
town as its strategic railroad location made it an important supply 
station for both Confederate and Union troops. The town witnessed more 
than 100 battles during the war and many homes were used for military 
housing and hospitals.-
  After the Civil War, the Town of Culpeper grew to become a thriving 
regional marketing hub. Even today the town continues to evolve. With a 
population of approximately 15,000, it has rebuilt itself to become a 
Virginia Main Street Community with a lively historic downtown. It was 
even named once as one of ``America's Top 10 Small Towns.'' While 
Culpeper was originally built as an agricultural economy, today it is 
an important crossroad for business.
  Culpeper residents will celebrate and honor the town's heritage and 
250 years of history with events and activities throughout the year, 
including a historic costume ball, picnics and parades.
  Madam Speaker, please join me in congratulating the citizens of 
Culpeper as they celebrate the town's anniversary and wishing them the 
best for their continued growth and success.

                          ____________________