Bland County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the Ridge and Valley region of the southwestern part of the state. It had a population of 6,270 at the 2020 census and covers 358.7 square miles (929.0 km2) centred near 37°08′N 81°08′W.
Bland is the county seat, an unincorporated community, and its postal code is 24315. The county has no incorporated cities or towns — it is made up of 4 census-designated places (Bastian, Bland, Mechanicsburg and Rocky Gap) and more than 20 smaller unincorporated communities. Bland County observes Eastern Time.
Towns & Villages in Bland County
Bland County has no incorporated municipalities. Its population lives across four census-designated places (CDPs) and a scatter of unincorporated crossroads communities, most of them named for local families, post offices, or railroad-era landmarks. The table below carries the CDP legend: CDP for a census-designated place, Unincorp. for an unincorporated community.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bastian | CDP | 343 | 24314 |
| Bland | CDP · seat | — | 24315 |
| Byron | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Carnot | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Ceres | Unincorp. | — | 24318 |
| Clear Fork | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Crandon | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Eagle Oak | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Effna | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Grapefield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Groseclose Store | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hicksville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Holly Brook | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kimberling | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Little Creek | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mechanicsburg | CDP | — | — |
| Niday | Unincorp. | — | — |
| North Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Point Pleasant | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Pumpkin Center | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Rocky Gap | CDP | 87 | 24366 |
| Round Bottom | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Sharon Springs | Unincorp. | — | — |
| South Gap | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Stowersville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Suiter | Unincorp. | — | — |
North Gap and South Gap sit on opposite sides of the same low pass through Walker Mountain and are frequently confused with each other on older maps; they are separate communities a few miles apart along the same ridge.
ZIP Codes
- 24315 — Bland (also serves the county seat area)
- 24314 — Bastian
- 24366 — Rocky Gap
- 24318 — Ceres
The remaining unincorporated communities share one of these four ZIP codes depending on which post office route serves them; none has its own dedicated ZIP.
Geography
Bland County lies entirely within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province, a series of parallel forested mountains — including Walker Mountain and East River Mountain — separated by narrow farmed valleys. Wolf Creek, Clear Fork, and Laurel Fork are the county’s principal streams, converging near Rocky Gap in a stretch popular with trout anglers. Jefferson National Forest covers a substantial share of the county’s mountain land.
The county borders Mercer County, West Virginia to the north, Giles County to the northeast, Pulaski County to the southeast, Wythe County to the south, Smyth County to the southwest, and Tazewell County to the west.
Demographics
Bland County had 6,270 residents at the 2020 census, making it the fourth-least-populous county in Virginia. Bastian, with 343 residents, is the largest of the county’s four census-designated places; Bland, the unincorporated seat, and Mechanicsburg follow. The population is almost entirely rural — no part of the county falls inside an urban area. Median household income in Bland County runs below the Virginia median of $89,931, typical of the coalfield and Appalachian counties along the West Virginia line. Population density works out to roughly 17.5 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture, forestry, and county and state government employment anchor the local economy, alongside small manufacturing and health-related employers such as General Injectables and Vaccines in Bastian. Interstate 77’s East River Mountain Tunnel, connecting the county to Bluefield, West Virginia, brings through-traffic and truck-stop commerce along the northern edge of the county. Hunting, fishing on Wolf Creek and Clear Fork, and access to Jefferson National Forest trails are the county’s main draws for visitors.
History
The Virginia General Assembly formed Bland County on March 30, 1861, from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles counties. It was named for Richard Bland, a Virginia statesman who served in the House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress in the 18th century. The county’s formation, on the eve of the Civil War, predates most of the railroad-era communities — including Bastian, named after F. E. Bastian, manager of the county’s only rail line — that grew up around timber and sawmill operations in the early 1900s.
Getting There
Interstate 77 crosses the county north to south, running through Bastian and Rocky Gap and passing beneath East River Mountain through a tunnel into West Virginia. U.S. Route 21/52 and several state secondary roads serve the county’s smaller communities.
- Bluefield, West Virginia — about 15 miles north via I-77
- Wytheville, Virginia — about 20 miles south via I-77
- Tazewell, Virginia — about 20 miles west
- Pearisburg, Virginia — about 25 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, roughly 70 miles to the east; Mercer County Airport in Bluefield, West Virginia, offers general-aviation service closer to the county’s northern edge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Bland County, Virginia?
It sits in the southwestern part of the state, in the Ridge and Valley region along Interstate 77, bordering West Virginia to the north.
What is the population of Bland County?
6,270 residents at the 2020 census, making it one of Virginia’s least populous counties.
How big is Bland County?
358.7 square miles (929.0 km2), of which 357.7 square miles is land.
What is the county seat of Bland County?
Bland, an unincorporated community near the center of the county.
How many towns are in Bland County?
None are incorporated; the county has four census-designated places (Bastian, Bland, Mechanicsburg, and Rocky Gap) and more than 20 smaller unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Bland County?
24315 (Bland), 24314 (Bastian), 24366 (Rocky Gap), and 24318 (Ceres).
What highway runs through Bland County?
Interstate 77, which crosses under East River Mountain into West Virginia via the East River Mountain Tunnel.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.