Big Island Virginia Map

About Big Island, Virginia

Big Island is a locality in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. It is a small community with a population of 91. The population density is 48.3 people per km². Big Island is located at 37.5337°N, 79.3598°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 24526.

Big Island rests where the James River, a broad, muscular artery, begins to widen, its currents carrying whispers of distant mountains. It lies 14.5 miles north-west of Lynchburg, VA (from Lynchburg, VA: bearing 305°T), and is situated 8.5 miles south-east of Glasgow. Here, the land rises and falls with a gentle, persistent grace, rolling away from the water's edge into a mosaic of fields and woodlands. Oak and pine dominate the higher ground, their branches reaching towards a sky that often seems to hold its breath, particularly in the late afternoon when the light softens to a hazy gold. The air itself carries a peculiar sweetness, a blend of damp earth after a summer shower and the faint, metallic tang that sometimes drifts from the industrial sites that dot the riverbanks. It is a place where the natural world asserts itself, not with dramatic pronouncements, but with a steady, undeniable presence, a quiet hum beneath the surface of everyday life. The history of Big Island is deeply entwined with the might of the James River and the resources it has yielded. For generations, this stretch of land was a hub of industry, particularly paper manufacturing, its mills once the beating heart of the local economy, their chimneys etching dark lines against the blue. The river, a vital transportation route, carried goods and dreams, its waters reflecting the ambition of those who sought to harness its power. While some of those grand industrial enterprises have since faded, leaving behind echoes in the architecture and the memories of its people, a resilient spirit persists. Agriculture still holds sway, with farms that have been tended for decades contributing to the enduring character of Big Island, their fields a testament to the enduring connection between the land and its inhabitants.

About This Big Island Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Big Island, Virginia — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 37.533749, -79.359754. Live weather conditions are sourced directly from the National Weather Service, with current observations and a 7-day forecast also powered by Open-Meteo. Real-time local news and world news feeds keep the page current, while a Wikipedia summary or an editorially written description provides background on Big Island and Bedford County.

Detailed location data for Big Island includes the ZIP code (24526), telephone area code (276), county seat of Bedford County (Bedford), and school district assignment (Bedford County Public Schools). These are among the most commonly searched location details for any US city or town.

Location data is drawn from the USGS Geographic Names Information System (GNIS) and cross-verified against 2020 US Census records by coordinate proximity — ensuring the correct Big Island is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.