Birchleaf, Virginia

Unincorporated community in Virginia, United States

37°10′38″N 82°16′20″W / 37.17722°N 82.27222°W / 37.17722; -82.27222CountryUnited StatesStateVirginiaCountyDickensonElevation

1,299 ft (396 m)Time zoneUTC-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.

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

Geography

Birchleaf is located approximately 5 miles SE of the town of Haysi, Virginia. 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 1977.

Education

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

References

^ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Birchleaf, Virginia
^ 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.