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Whitewood, Virginia facts for kids

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Whitewood
Unincorporated community
Whitewood, Va.
Whitewood, Va.
Whitewood is located in Virginia
Whitewood
Whitewood
Location in Virginia
Whitewood is located in the United States
Whitewood
Whitewood
Location in the United States
Country United States
State Virginia
County Buchanan
Population
 (2000)
 • Total 485
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
24657
Area code(s) (276)

Whitewood is a small community located in Buchanan County, Virginia. It is not an official city or town, but rather an "unincorporated community." This means it's a group of homes and businesses that are not part of a larger city government.

In the year 2000, about 485 people lived in the Whitewood area. The community is situated along the Dismal River. This river is part of a larger water system that flows into the Big Sandy River.

History of Whitewood

Early Settlement and Lumber Industry

Whitewood was first settled in the early 1900s. Lumber companies came to the area to cut down trees from the surrounding hills. These companies helped to build the first parts of the community.

The name "Whitewood" was given to the settlement around 1905. It is believed that the name came from the light color of the wood cut by the first lumber mill. A post office was opened in Whitewood in 1906, helping the community grow.

Whitewood High School and Recent Events

Whitewood High School was an important building in the community. It was built in 1940. In September 2008, the school was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This list includes places that are important to the history of the United States.

Sadly, the old school building was taken down in early 2010. More recently, on July 12, 2022, Whitewood experienced a very damaging flood. This event caused a lot of harm to the community.

Education in Whitewood

Students in the Whitewood area attend public schools in Buchanan County.

Local High School

  • Twin Valley High School, located in Pilgrim's Knob, serves students from Whitewood and nearby areas.

People from Whitewood

  • Ruth White is a well-known author who grew up in Whitewood. She is famous for writing books for children.
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