Hurley, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hurley
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Unincorporated community
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State Route 643 in Hurley
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 Hurley
Location in Virginia
Hurley
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Buchanan |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Hurley is a small community in Buchanan County, Virginia. It's not a city or town with its own government, which is why it's called an "unincorporated community." You can find Hurley where several local roads meet, not far from the borders of Kentucky and West Virginia.
Contents
A Look at Hurley's Past
The first post office in Hurley opened way back in 1893. People believe the community was named after an early settler, Samuel Robert Hurley.
Hurley's Timber History
Hurley is located where Lester's Fork flows into Knox Creek. This spot made it a great place for the timber industry. Timbering means cutting down trees for wood. Hurley became a major center for this in Buchanan County.
The William M. Ritter Lumber Company had its main office here. They used a special narrow-gauge railroad called the BS&C (Big Sandy and Cumberland) to move logs. This railroad even had unique Shay engines, which were good for steep, winding tracks.
From Timber to Coal
The Ritter Lumber Company also ran a few passenger cars along with their freight cars. But in 1923, the Norfolk and Western Railway took over the railroad. They changed the tracks to a standard size. They also replaced the Shay engines with bigger, more powerful steam engines. This change helped serve the growing coal industry in the area.
Dealing with Floods
Hurley faced a very tough time in 2002 when severe floods hit the community. These floods caused a lot of damage. The community worked hard to recover and rebuild after this natural disaster.
Schools in Hurley
Hurley has schools that serve the local students.
- Hurley High School
- Hurley Elementary/Middle School
