Forest Virginia Map

About Forest, Virginia

Forest is a locality in Bedford County, Virginia, United States. It has a population of 13,430. The population density is 353.9 people per km². Forest is located at 37.3638°N, 79.2897°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 24551.

Forest, Virginia, unfolds across the rolling Piedmont, where the Blue Ridge Mountains begin their ancient, stoic ascent to the west. It lies 8.8 miles west-south-west of Lynchburg, VA (from Lynchburg, VA: bearing 247°T), and is situated 3.5 miles north-north-west of Timberlake. The land here is a study in gentle slopes and broad valleys, a terrain sculpted by millennia of rain and wind, now softened by a verdant cloak of mature hardwood forests and open fields. Sunlight, when it breaks through the often-present haze, falls in broad, warm strokes, illuminating the dust motes dancing in the air above winding country roads. The character of Forest is one of quietude, of a place that breathes with the steady, measured pulse of the seasons, where the air itself seems to carry the faint, sweet scent of pine and damp earth, especially after a summer shower. This land, long inhabited by indigenous peoples, later became a crossroads for early settlers drawn by its fertile soil and abundant timber. Forest's history is intertwined with the agricultural heritage of Bedford County, with its economy once anchored by tobacco and later by a burgeoning timber industry that shaped the very landscape. While modern development has brought new businesses and a growing residential presence, echoes of its past remain in the weathered barns and stone fences that dot the countryside. The spirit of Forest is one of resourceful independence, a characteristic perhaps forged in the days when isolation was a constant companion, and a strong sense of community was essential for survival.

About This Forest Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of Forest, Virginia — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 37.363753, -79.289749. 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 Forest and Bedford County.

Detailed location data for Forest includes the ZIP code (24551), 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 Forest is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.