Bent Mountain, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bent Mountain, Virginia
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 Bent Mountain, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Bent Mountain, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Roanoke |
| Elevation | 2,612 ft (796 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24059
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| Area code(s) | 540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1477109 |
Bent Mountain is a small community in Roanoke County, Virginia, United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it's not an official town or city. Bent Mountain is located about 13.6 miles (21.9 km) southwest of the city of Roanoke. It has its own post office with the ZIP code 24059. This area is known for its beautiful views, as it sits high up at over 2,600 feet (792 meters) above sea level.
Contents
What is Bent Mountain Like?
Bent Mountain is located on a large, flat area called the Bent Mountain Plateau. This plateau is very fertile, meaning it's good for growing things. The community is in the very southwest part of Roanoke County. It's also close to other counties like Floyd, Franklin, and Montgomery.
Because parts of the mountain are also in Floyd County, there's a fun yearly event called the "Bent Mountain Brawl." This is a benefit game between the Cave Spring Knights and the Floyd County Buffaloes.
A Look Back at History
The roads around Bent Mountain have a long history. In 1840, a company was formed to build a road from Salem, Virginia to the top of Bent Mountain. This road was eventually built and is now a paved state highway. Part of this route followed an old path called the Trader's Path.
How Did Bent Mountain Get Its Name?
There are two main ideas about how Bent Mountain got its name:
- One idea is that it was named after two brothers, James and William Bent, who were early surveyors from Pennsylvania.
- The second idea is that the mountain itself is shaped like a horseshoe, or "bent."
Some people believe that settlers came to the Bent Mountain area even before other parts of the region, possibly as early as 1740.
Farming and Growth
After the American Civil War, a man named Jordan Woodrum bought a large piece of land on Bent Mountain. Many people thought this land, which was mostly covered in trees and shrubs, wasn't worth much. But Jordan Woodrum had a different idea! He planted Newtown Pippin apple trees on the hillsides. This helped start a new time of farming and growth in the area.
Learning and Schools
Students in Bent Mountain attend schools run by Roanoke County Public Schools. Most students go to Cave Spring High School.
Bent Mountain used to have its own elementary school, Bent Mountain Elementary School. This school was over 100 years old! However, in 2010, the number of students dropped below 50. Because of this, Roanoke County Schools decided to close the school. Now, students from Bent Mountain go to the nearby Back Creek Elementary.
