McDowell, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McDowell, Virginia
Unincorporated community
Aerial view of McDowell, Virginia
McDowell, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia McDowell, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Highland
Elevation	2,110 ft (640 m)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24458
Area code(s)	540
GNIS feature ID	1485285

McDowell is a small, quiet community in Highland County, Virginia, in the United States. It's not a city or a town with its own government, but rather a group of homes and businesses that share a common area. You can find McDowell about 7.2 miles (11.6 km) southeast of Monterey, Virginia, right along U.S. Route 250. It sits in a beautiful valley called Bullpasture, near where Crab Run flows into the Bullpasture River.

Discover McDowell, Virginia

McDowell was named after James McDowell, who was the governor of Virginia from 1843 to 1846. A governor is the elected leader of a state, similar to a president for a country. This community is famous for a very important event during the American Civil War.

A Glimpse into History

On May 8, 1862, the Battle of McDowell took place here. This was an important moment in the Civil War, showing how different strategies were used by the armies. It's a key part of McDowell's past.

The community has had a post office since 1828. This post office uses the ZIP code 24458. A ZIP code helps mail get to the right place.

Historic Places to Explore

McDowell is home to several places that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important sites that are protected for their history. These include:

• The Crab Run Lane Truss Bridge: An old bridge that shows how people built things a long time ago.
• The Mansion House: A historic home that tells stories of the past.
• The McClung Farm Historic District: A group of buildings and land that show what a farm was like in earlier times.

Entering McDowell from the east on US 250

Local Life

Just south of where Crab Run meets the Bullpasture River, you'll find RiverRun Farm. This farm raises sheep and produces wool and lamb. It's a great example of the farming life in this area.