Founded in 1954 as Clinch Valley College of the University of Virginia through the efforts of local citizens and University of Virginia officials including President Colgate W. Darden, Jr., Samuel H. Crockett, and George Zehmer, the college was located on the former Wise County Poor Farm and began as a two-year co-educational branch of the University of Virginia. In 1970, Clinch Valley Collect awarded its first bachelor’s degrees. In 1999 it became The University of Virginia’s College at Wise. It is a nationally recognized, public liberal arts college.