Birchleaf, Virginia

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Birchleaf, Virginia
Post Office in Birchleaf, Virginia.jpg
Post Office in Birchleaf
USA Virginia location map.svg
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Birchleaf
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Birchleaf
Coordinates: 37°10′38″N82°16′20″W / 37.17722°N 82.27222°W / 37.17722; -82.27222
Country United States
State Virginia
County Dickenson
Elevation
1,299 ft (396 m)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID1495271 [1]

Birchleaf is an unincorporated community in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 761 at the 2000 census.

Contents

Birchleaf was likely named for the birch timber in the area. [2]

Geography

Birchleaf is located approximately five miles southeast of the town of Haysi. The Russell Fork of the Levisa River runs through the center of the community. Frequent flooding of this river has resulted in a floodplain in which most of the community is located.

One of the most destructive floods occurred in 1977, the infamous "Flood of '77" as referred to by local residents. Over $20 million in damage occurred to this and other small communities along the Russell Fork River in April of that year.

Education

Birchleaf is served by Sandlick Elementary School and Ridgeview High School. Southwest Virginia Community College also runs a bus to nearby Richlands.

References

  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Birchleaf, Virginia
  2. Tennis, Joe (2004). Southwest Virginia Crossroads: An Almanac of Place Names and Places to See. The Overmountain Press. p. 10. ISBN   978-1-57072-256-1.
Birchleaf, Virginia - panorama.jpg
Helen Henderson Highway in Birchleaf