McDowell Virginia Map

About McDowell, Virginia

McDowell is a locality in Highland County, Virginia, United States. It is a small community with a population of 58. The population density is 14.0 people per km². McDowell is located at 38.3357°N, 79.4906°W. It observes the Eastern Time (America/New_York) timezone. ZIP code: 24458.

McDowell unfolds into a quiet valley, a landscape shaped by the patient work of water and time. It lies 26.1 miles west-north-west of Staunton, VA (from Staunton, VA: bearing 300°T), and is situated 18.7 miles north-north-west of Craigsville. Rolling hills, cloaked in the deep greens of hardwood forests and the lighter hues of grazing pastures, rise to meet a sky that often holds a soft, diffused light, particularly in the late afternoon when shadows lengthen and begin to pool in the hollows. The Allegheny Mountains form a distant, blue-tinged backdrop, their peaks softened by distance and the haze of summer air, suggesting a vastness that presses in on this small pocket of earth. Here, the Shenandoah River, a silver ribbon unspooling through the terrain, is more a presence felt than seen from every vantage point, its murmur a constant undertone to the rustle of leaves and the distant lowing of cattle. The character of McDowell is one of patient endurance, a place where the land dictates the pace of life, and where the seasons paint their own indelible marks. The history of McDowell is etched into its agricultural roots, a testament to generations who coaxed sustenance from this fertile ground. Early settlers, drawn by the promise of rich soil and abundant timber, established farms that still form the backbone of the local economy, with cattle and hay being primary concerns. The legacy of those who cleared the land and built the first cabins is evident in the weathered barns and stone fences that punctuate the fields, remnants of a simpler, more arduous existence. While industry has largely bypassed McDowell, the enduring spirit of self-reliance and community remains, fostered by an unspoken understanding of shared challenges and rewards. The annual county fair, a vibrant gathering of livestock, crafts, and local produce, serves as a focal point, a modern echo of the harvest celebrations that have long been a part of life here, a time when the quietude of McDowell briefly gives way to a communal pulse.

About This McDowell Map Page

This page provides an embedded street and satellite map of McDowell, Virginia — switch between views using the small square in the bottom left-hand corner of the map. Coordinates: 38.335679, -79.4906. 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 McDowell and Highland County.

Detailed location data for McDowell includes the ZIP code (24458), telephone area code (540), county seat of Highland County (Monterey), and school district assignment (Highland 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 McDowell is identified even where the name is shared across multiple counties or states. Population figures are sourced from the 2020 US Census.