Penola, Virginia facts for kids

Penola is a small place located in Caroline County, Virginia. It's known as an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are not officially a town or city with their own local government. Instead, it's managed as part of the larger Caroline County.

A Look Back at Penola's History

Penola has an interesting past. Its name comes from a Native American language. The word "Penola" means "cotton." This might suggest that cotton was an important crop or resource in the area a long time ago.

A post office opened in Penola in 1857. This was a very important service for the people living there, helping them send and receive mail. The post office served the community for many years before it closed in 1961.

Penola was also a stop on a major railroad line called the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. In the 1800s, railroads were a main way to travel and move goods. Being a railroad stop meant Penola was connected to other places and could grow. Today, this railroad line is used by CSX Transportation, a large freight railroad company.