From the down pillows of the service industry to the sooty life-blood of American production, Washington County businesses run the gamut. Washington County's business scene is a seamless tapestry of historic legacy and modern commerce.

Martha Washington Inn & Spa

First built in 1832, the Martha Washington Inn & Spa has served as a private home, a girls' finishing school, a Civil War hospital and a women's college before its lovingly restored grounds became a hotel in 1935. The inn has 51 rooms and 11 suites, each with a flat screen TV, Wi-Fi and a complimentary glass of Port. Facilities include an art gallery, heated pool, sun deck and the grand ballroom and east parlor. Visitors can wine and dine at the inn's weekend Cabaret Club, the cozy Sisters pub or the eclectic gourmet cafe, Martha's Market. The inn's luxurious spa offers a variety of full-body treatments to indulge guests, including fitness facilities, massage, body wraps, and salon services.

Alpha Natural Resources

Producing more than 90 million tons annually, Alpha Natural Resources is America's largest supplier of metallurgical coal, vital to steel production. Alpha also produces low-sulfur thermal coal for use in power plants. Since purchasing Foundation Coal, Alpha is the third largest U.S. coal producer. Alpha employs more than 6,400 workers in its 60 mines and 15 preparation plants. Alpha's commitment to the Washington County community is clear from its generous donations to such causes as The Health Wagon, the Appalachian Leadership & Education Foundation, William King Museum, and D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education).

K-VA-T Food Stores

Certain familiar neighborhood grocers like Piggly Wiggly, Quality Foods, White Stores, Winn Dixie, BI-LO and Food City are owned and operated by K-VA-T Food Stores. K-VA-T began in 1955 when founder Jack C. Smith opened a Piggly Wiggly in Grundy, Va. With the success of this location, the family business expanded by purchasing other store locations. Today the chain consists of more than 93 stores in Kentucky, Virginia and Tennessee (K, VA, T). The family still owns the business, but shares 15% of the company stock with employees, ensuring their investment in their stores' quality. K-VA-T gives back to Washington County with charities such as Apples for the Students and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

The Highlands Shopping Center

The open-air Highlands Shopping Center has been providing Washington County with a fantastic retail site since 2007. Stores include big names like Books-A-Million, PetSmart, Target, Old Navy, Bed Bath & Beyond and Best Buy. Its geographical location between the population centers of Roanoke, Va. and Knoxville, Tenn. make The Highlands the ideally placed retail server for some 80,000 households, just within a small radius of the stores.

Check out more great businesses in the Abingdon, VA, area.