Buffalo Junction, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buffalo Junction, Virginia
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Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
County | Mecklenburg |
Elevation | 423 ft (129 m) |
Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
ZIP code |
24529
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Area code(s) | 434 |
GNIS feature ID | 1496822 |
Buffalo Junction is a small place in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in the United States. It is called an unincorporated community. This means it's a group of homes and businesses that don't have their own local government like a town or city. Instead, it's part of the larger county.
Buffalo Junction is located about 4.4 miles (7.1 km) west-southwest of a town called Clarksville. It has its own post office with the special code 24529.
A Look at Its Past: The Railroad
The name Buffalo Junction comes from its history with trains. Long ago, it was an important spot where different train tracks met. This meeting point was called a railroad junction.
The Atlantic and Danville Railway
The Atlantic and Danville Railway used to have tracks running right through Buffalo Junction. Trains would travel through this area.
What is a Railroad Wye?
At Buffalo Junction, there was a special track layout called a "wye." A wye is shaped like the letter 'Y'. It allows trains to turn around or switch to a different track. This wye connected the main train line to another place called Buffalo Springs, which was about 3.89 miles (6.26 km) away. This connecting track was known as the Buffalo Springs Branch.
The Buffalo Springs Branch track was built before the year 1890. It helped trains reach Buffalo Springs. However, this branch line was closed down by 1940. Even though the trains are gone, the name Buffalo Junction reminds us of its important railroad past.