Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over the territory. The opposite of independence is a dependent territory. Independence does not necessarily mean freedom.

Whether the attainment of independence is different from revolution has long been contested, and has often been debated over the question of violence as a legitimate means to achieving sovereignty. While some revolutions seek and achieve national independence, others aim only to redistribute power — with or without an element of emancipation, such as in democratization — within a state, which as such may remain unaltered. Nation-states have been granted independence without any revolutionary acts. The Russian October Revolution, for example, was not intended to seek national independence (though it merely transformed government for much of the former Russian Empire, it did result in independence for Poland, Finland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia). However, the American Revolutionary War was intended to achieve independence from the beginning.

Independence is a town in Grayson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 947 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Grayson County. Independence is home to a major town celebration on July 4 every year, held in front of the 1908 courthouse. It features bluegrass and old-time music and dance, food, crafts and a wild pony sale. The courthouse is also the location of the Mountain Foliage Festival, held in the autumn and featuring a parade, crafts, arts and music, as well as a race in which contestants use outhouses, the Grand Privy Race.

History

The Brookside Farm and Mill and Grayson County Courthouse are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Independence is located at 36°37′22″N 81°9′6″W / 36.62278°N 81.15167°W / 36.62278; -81.15167 (36.622906, -81.151735).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.1 km²), all land.

Grayson County has a particularly mountainous terrain, specifically in the western half. Grayson county contains 4 of Virginia's 5 highest peaks including Pine Mountain and Whitetop Mountain.

Independence generally refers to the self-government of a nation, country, or state by its residents and population. It may also refer to:

Places

United States