Starkey, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Starkey, Virginia
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 Starkey, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Starkey, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Roanoke |
| Elevation | 1,138 ft (347 m) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24018
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| Area code(s) | 540 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1495131 |
| USGS | |
Starkey is a small community located in southern Roanoke County, Virginia, in the United States. It's known as an "unincorporated community," which means it's a place with a name and people living there, but it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Starkey is found south of U.S. 221, close to the scenic Blue Ridge Parkway. The historic Starkey School is located here and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Contents
History of Starkey
How Starkey Got Its Name
The community of Starkey was named after the Starkey family. They were among the first settlers in the area, along with families like the Harveys, Sloans, and Fowlers. A man named Tazewell M. Starkey owned much of the land here.
A Busy Shipping Point
In the past, when roads in Roanoke were rough, Starkey was a very important place for shipping goods. Farmers would send large amounts of apples, barrels, and parts for barrels (called barrel staves) from Starkey to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Railroad Arrives
The village didn't have an official name until the early 1890s. This was when the Roanoke and Southern Railroad connected with the Norfolk and Western Railroad. A new railroad station was built and named after Tazewell Starkey, who had given the land for the railroad tracks.
Shenandoah Packing Company
In 1908, the Shenandoah Packing Company was started in Starkey. This company was very busy, canning about 11,000 cans each season. They canned local produce like apples, tomatoes, sweet potatoes, and beans.
The Post Office Story
Later, a post office was built in Starkey. However, it was first named "Farland." This was because another post office in nearby Floyd County, Virginia, already had the name "Starkey." When that other post office stopped using the name, the Starkey post office was finally able to use its proper name, matching the railroad station.
A Transportation Hub
Starkey became an important center for railroad transportation. Farmers from nearby areas like Back Creek, Virginia, Cave Spring, Virginia, and Bent Mountain, Virginia used it to send their goods. Today, the community of Starkey is no longer as distinct as it once was.
