Although there is no clear date for the establishment of Stokesville, the name came into use by 1901 with the development of a couple of saw mills and the Dora Coal mine. The town grew when the railway was completed in 1902. Through this connection, and the ability to send products to local and national markets, Stokesville truely took shape, reaching a population of 1,500 by 1905. However, between 1910 and 1913 the same saw mills and tan bark industries that helped to build the town began to leave the area as timber resources began to dwindle. This financial loss for the town resulted in the Chesapeake Western Railway abandoning service to the town in 1930. While the town held on for a few more decades, a flood in 1949 expedited the town's demise resulting in the loss of fifty buildings. Despite this loss, families still continue to live in Stokesville even though there is no longer a thriving business district. Those still living in the area take great pride in the history and culture of this fascinating region.