Buckmarsh Magisterial District (Buckmarsh-Blue Ridge)

Area & Communities: The Buckmarsh District covers the northern part of Clarke County, including two voting precincts: Buckmarsh (based around the southern Berryville area) and Blue Ridge (which serves the Bluemont/Mount Weather area along the Blue Ridge Mountains). This district stretches from just south of the Town of Berryville out to the Loudoun County line at Snickers Gap, where the Appalachian Trail crosses – meaning it includes Bluemont, an unincorporated village on the mountain. The name “Buckmarsh” refers to an area near Berryville; Buck Marsh Run is a stream south of town, and during the Civil War a skirmish known as the “Buck Marsh Fight” occurred here on August 13, 1864 (as Confederate and Union forces clashed during the Valley Campaigns). The Blue Ridge precinct is sparsely populated, consisting of mountain terrain and a few small communities – often fewer than 100 total votes are cast in the Blue Ridge precinct in an election, making it one of the smallest precincts in the county. By contrast, Buckmarsh precinct (which votes at Berryville’s John Enders Fire Hall) covers more populous rural neighborhoods just outside Berryville. The district overall is largely rural, full of orchards, pastures, and portions of the Clarke County easement lands that protect open space.

Representation: David S. Weiss is the long-time Board of Supervisors member for Buckmarsh District, currently serving as the Board’s Chair. Mr. Weiss has been a Supervisor for many years and is known for his leadership on agricultural and land-use issues. (In the most recent election, he ran unopposed, reflecting the community’s support.) On the School Board side, the Buckmarsh District’s seat is vacant as of early 2024 – a recent resignation created an opening that the School Board filled by appointing conservative-leaning Michael "Mike" Sipe. A special election will be held for the position on November 4, 2025. Constituents of Buckmarsh District are also represented by the county-wide officials listed under Clarke County, as well as by Del. Oates (HD-31), Sen. French (SD-1), etc., but at the local level Mr. Weiss is their primary voice in county decisions.

Politics & Voting: Buckmarsh District leans conservative, much like Clarke County at large. In local elections for Supervisor, David Weiss (a Republican) has typically won with little opposition. The district’s precincts vote strongly Republican in statewide and national races. For example, in the 2021 governor’s race, the combined Buckmarsh-Blue Ridge area gave Glenn Youngkin a solid majority (Blue Ridge precinct went roughly 74% Republican in that race). In the recent 2024 Presidential election, the Buckmarsh District voted 66.7% for Donald Trump with Kamal Harris carrying 31.2%. Because of the small electorate, voter turnout fluctuations in Blue Ridge Precinct can swing the district’s totals a bit, but overall Buckmarsh Magisterial District reliably supports Republican candidates by significant margins. On local issues, residents here are often concerned with rural preservation, volunteer fire/EMS services (Blue Ridge Volunteer Fire and Rescue - Company 8) on Retreat Road serves this area), and managing growth coming west from Loudoun. The presence of the Appalachian Trail and the Mount Weather FEMA facility on the eastern edge also means federal land and security issues occasionally intersect with local governance (e.g., road access, emergency preparedness).

Unique Facts: The Buckmarsh District contains some interesting landmarks. Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center, a high-security federal installation, sits on the Clarke/Loudoun line at the top of the Blue Ridge (within the Blue Ridge precinct). During major national emergencies, Mount Weather is a relocation site for government officials – a curious claim to fame for a quiet rural district. Down the slope in Bluemont, there are popular pick-your-own orchards and wineries that draw tourists up Route 7. One of Clarke’s oldest churches, Old Chapel (est. 1790), lies in this district along Lord Fairfax Highway – it’s the burying place of Nellie Custis (George Washington’s step-granddaughter). The Shenandoah River’s headwaters area also brush the Buckmarsh District. And for a bit of folksy flair: locals will tell you that wildlife is abundant – it’s not uncommon to see black bears wandering near the Appalachian Trail in the Blue Ridge precinct, or bald eagles fishing in the Shenandoah. The blend of mountain wilderness and pastoral valley in Buckmarsh District captures the essence of Clarke County’s natural beauty.