Nace, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nace
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 Nace
Location in Virginia
Nace
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Botetourt |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Nace is a small, unincorporated community in Botetourt County, Virginia, United States. An "unincorporated community" means it's a place where people live, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. It's part of the larger county.
The town was first known as "Houston." Later, its name changed to "Nace." This new name honored George Washington Fayette Nace. He was a well-known local farmer who lived from 1822 to 1890.
Nace was once a busy place with several local businesses. It had an orchard and "truck farms," which are also called market gardens. These farms grew fresh produce to sell. There was also a tomato cannery. This cannery was owned by E. C. Firestone and was called the Firestone Canning Corporation.
Exploring Nace's Geology
Nace is an interesting place for geology. A tiny Brachiopod called Acrotreta buttsi can be found here. This small sea creature lived a very long time ago. It is found in the Rome Formation, which is a type of rock layer. Scientists have found these fossils near Nace, Virginia.
Mining History in Nace
Nace also had an iron mine nearby. This mine was called Houston Mine. It was once owned by Tredegar Iron Works of Richmond. This company was one of the biggest factories in the Southern United States. They made weapons for the Confederacy during the American Civil War. The Confederacy was a group of southern states that separated from the United States. After the war, Tredegar Iron Works helped build railroads across Virginia.
A company connected to the mine was Crozier Iron & Steel in Roanoke. This company provided materials for the Norfolk and Western Railway. This railway was important for transportation in the late 1800s.
Besides iron, Nace also had a small dairy farm. There was also some Manganese mining in the area. Manganese is a metal used in making steel.
Transportation in Nace
Transportation was important for Nace. The town had a railway station. It was located at milepost 225 for the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. This railway helped people and goods travel.
Nace also had a US Post Office. It operated for many years, from 1883 to 1964. This allowed people to send and receive mail.
Today, a part of Virginia State Route 640 in Botetourt County, Virginia, is still known as "Nace Road." This road is used for local travel. Sometimes, parts of Route 11 near Nace Road have temporary lane closures for road work.
