From The Big Stone Gap Post, Big Stone Gap, Wise Co., VA, Wed., 16 Aug 1922, p. 1:
Dickenson is Baby County of Virginia
Last to Be Created it Also Was Latest Territory Settled in StateClintwood, Va., Aug. 10 – Dickenson county is Virginia’s “baby county.” It was the last of the 100 counties to be formed within the present borders of the Old Dominion. It was organized in 1880, being carved out of the counties of Buchanan, Russell and Wise. It enjoys the distinction not only of being the youngest county in the state, but also it was the last county to be settled. . . .
Without doubt, the first permanent settler within the confines of Dickenson county was Richard Colley, who built a little three walled cabin at Sand Lick about 1818. . . .
The next permanent settler was John Mullins, who brought his family from Burke county, N. C., in 1829, and settled at the present town of Clintwood. Most of the other North Carolina immigrants settled near him in the western part of the county. Other early settlers around Clintwood were the Chases, Keels, Vanovers, Phipps and Buchanans. . . .
Phipps Genealogy 