Boom Furnace, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boom Furnace, Virginia
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 Boom Furnace, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Boom Furnace, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Pulaski |
| Elevation | 1,929 ft (588 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24347
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| GNIS feature ID | 1494845 |
Boom Furnace is a small, quiet place in Pulaski County, Virginia. It is known as an "unincorporated community." This means it is a group of homes and people that is not officially a town or city with its own local government. The unique name, "Boom Furnace," comes from a very special iron furnace that used to operate nearby.
The Story Behind the Name
This community got its interesting name from an old iron furnace. When this furnace started up, it made loud, booming noises! Imagine the sound echoing through the area – it must have been quite a spectacle.
The Historic Boom Furnace
The Boom Furnace was a busy place long ago. It began working in 1882. This wasn't just any furnace; it was a "cold blast, water power charcoal" furnace. This means it used charcoal for fuel, water power to help it work, and a "cold blast" method to make iron. It was one of the last of its kind in Virginia.
The furnace operated for many years, helping to produce iron. But in 1906, it stopped working. Even though it's no longer making iron, the old furnace still stands today. It's like a giant historical monument, reminding everyone of the area's industrial past.
What is an Unincorporated Community?
You might wonder what an "unincorporated community" is. It's a place where people live together, but it doesn't have its own separate government like a city or town. Instead, it's usually part of a larger county. For Boom Furnace, it's part of Pulaski County. This means the county government provides services like roads, schools, and police for the community.
