N estled in the Appalachian Mountains of Southwest Virginia, the town of Richlands in Tazewell County is a family-friendly community, rich in cultural resources and surrounded by natural beauty.

The Hospital
Clinch Valley Medical Center (CVMC) is a 200- bed facility and the largest acute-care hospital in far South-west Virginia, having served this region since 1938. The hospital's medical staff represents 33 medical specialties.

Clinch Valley Medical Center is a leader in offering the latest medical technology, including PET/CT fusion scanning. CVMC was among the first healthcare facilities in the world to offer image-guided radiation therapy (IG-IMRT) as part of its Cancer Treatment Center. The hospital was the first in the region to use bar-code technology to enhance patient safety, and it is repeatedly ranked as one of the nation's top hospitals for treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

In addition to PET/CT scanning, which fuses two technologies for remarkable clarity, CVMC's advanced diagnostics include MRI, CT, Nuclear Medicine, a two-bed Sleep Studies lab, and an accredited 24-hour Laboratory. The Women's Health Center offers Bone Density Scanning, Mammography, Ultrasound and Stereotactic Breast Biopsy.

The Community
The town of Richlands is located in the western part of Tazewell County, a land of beautiful rolling hills, clear rivers, lush pastures and scenic mountains. The County is part of the Clinch River Basin, named by The Nature Conservancy as one of the 20 "Last Great Places" in the world.

The county is home to Southwest Virginia Community College, which offers over 80 programs of study and hosts many cultural and musical events throughout the year Ð everything from jazz to traditional Appalachian music and classical. The Historic Crab Orchard Museum is a reconstructed pioneer settlement that features many living history events and offers an overview of the region's rich heritage. One of area's the more spectacular natural features is Burke's Garden, a 20,000 acre mountain-top bowl also known as God's Thumbprint.

Recreation
The Four Seasons Country of Tazewell and neighboring counties provides many opportunities for golfers, hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts. Nearby is world-class whitewater rafting on the world's second-oldest river, the New River, and skiers can take to the slopes at nearby Winterplace Resort. Fishermen can choose to cast a lure in numerous native trout streams, quiet lakes or local rivers. Hiking in national forests and mountain biking on country roads are among the many other outdoor activities available. The nearby Jefferson National Forest, for example, features over 400 miles of maintained trails, including 60 miles of the Appalachian Trail.

Tazewell County is also home to six of the eight designated points for the Mountain Heritage Loop, part of the Virginia Birding and Wildlife Trail. Other wildlife in the area include black bear, trophy whitetail deer and wild turkey.