Shenandoah County is a county in Virginia, United States, in the northern Shenandoah Valley between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains. It had a population of 44,186 at the 2020 census and covers 512 square miles (1,330 km2) centred near 38°52′N 78°34′W.
Woodstock is the county seat, and its postal code is 22664. The county has 6 incorporated towns and dozens of unincorporated communities, and observes Eastern time.
Towns & Villages in Shenandoah County
Shenandoah County has six incorporated towns strung along U.S. Route 11 and the North Fork Shenandoah River, plus a large number of unincorporated communities and crossroads. Virginia has no independent cities inside its counties here, so every incorporated place below is legally a town. Places with no confirmed 2020 census figure are marked —.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodstock | Town · seat | 5,807 | 22664 |
| Strasburg | Town | — | 22657 |
| Mount Jackson | Town | — | 22842 |
| New Market | Town | — | 22844 |
| Edinburg | Town | — | 22824 |
| Toms Brook | Town | — | 22660 |
| Basye | Unincorp. | — | 22810 |
| Fort Valley | Unincorp. | — | 22652 |
| Maurertown | Unincorp. | — | 22644 |
| Quicksburg | Unincorp. | — | 22847 |
| Orkney Springs | Unincorp. | — | 22845 |
| Fishers Hill | Unincorp. | — | 22626 |
| Shenandoah Caverns | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Columbia Furnace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Conicville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Forestville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hamburg | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harmony | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Harrisville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hawkinstown | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Hudson Crossroads | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Jerome | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Lebanon Church | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Locust Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Airy | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Clifton | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Hope | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Mount Olive | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Saumsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Seven Fountains | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Van Buren Furnace | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Wheatfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Williamsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Willow Grove | Unincorp. | — | — |
Strasburg’s small residential district north of the town line is sometimes called Strasburg Junction; it is not a separate ZIP delivery area (22657 covers both). Fishers Hill is a rural crossroads community with its own PO Box-only ZIP (22626) rather than street delivery.
ZIP Codes
- 22664 — Woodstock
- 22657 — Strasburg (also serves Strasburg Junction)
- 22842 — Mount Jackson
- 22844 — New Market
- 22824 — Edinburg
- 22660 — Toms Brook
- 22810 — Basye (also serves Bryce Resort)
- 22652 — Fort Valley
- 22644 — Maurertown
- 22847 — Quicksburg
- 22845 — Orkney Springs
- 22626 — Fishers Hill (PO Box delivery only)
Smaller crossroads communities such as Conicville, Columbia Furnace, and Lebanon Church use the ZIP code of the nearest incorporated town rather than a code of their own.
Geography
Shenandoah County sits in the northern Shenandoah Valley, hemmed by the Blue Ridge to the east and the Alleghenies to the west, with the North Fork Shenandoah River threading the valley floor. Massanutten Mountain’s western slopes and Fort Valley — a narrow valley enclosed almost entirely within the ridge — run along the county’s eastern edge inside the George Washington National Forest. It borders Hardy County, West Virginia to the northwest; Frederick County to the northeast; Warren County to the east; Page County to the southeast; and Rockingham County to the southwest.
Demographics
Shenandoah County had 44,186 residents at the 2020 census. Woodstock and Strasburg are its two largest towns. Median household income runs below the Virginia median of $89,931, typical of the rural Shenandoah Valley outside the D.C. exurbs. Population density is roughly 87 people per square mile.
Economy & Local Life
Agriculture and food processing anchor the county’s economy — poultry and cattle operations are widespread, and Shenandoah County is part of Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley poultry belt. Tourism draws on Shenandoah Caverns, Bryce Resort near Basye, and Civil War heritage sites. Woodstock hosts the county government and a historic downtown along Main Street; Interstate 81 running the length of the county has drawn warehousing and light manufacturing to interchange areas near Strasburg and Woodstock.
History
The county was formed in 1772 as Dunmore County, named for the colonial royal governor. It was renamed Shenandoah County in 1778, during the Revolutionary War, after colonists rejected the name of the Loyalist-leaning governor and chose the river’s name instead. The Battle of New Market was fought here on May 15, 1864, when a Confederate force that included cadets from the Virginia Military Institute defeated a Union army moving up the valley.
Getting There
Interstate 81 and U.S. Route 11 run the length of the county, with U.S. Route 48/State Route 55 crossing east–west through Woodstock.
- Winchester — 20 miles northeast
- Harrisonburg — 20 miles southwest
- Front Royal — 25 miles east
- Washington, D.C. — 90 miles northeast
The nearest commercial airport is Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport near Weyers Cave, with fuller service at Washington Dulles International Airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Shenandoah County, Virginia?
It sits in the northern Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, between the Blue Ridge and Massanutten Mountains, about 90 miles northeast of Washington, D.C.
What is the population of Shenandoah County?
44,186 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Shenandoah County?
512 square miles (1,330 km2), of which about 3.4 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Shenandoah County?
Woodstock is the county seat.
How many towns are in Shenandoah County?
Six incorporated towns: Edinburg, Mount Jackson, New Market, Strasburg, Toms Brook, and Woodstock, plus dozens of unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Shenandoah County?
Twelve, led by 22664 (Woodstock), 22657 (Strasburg), 22842 (Mount Jackson), and 22844 (New Market).
What is Shenandoah County known for?
Shenandoah Caverns, the Battle of New Market, and its position along Interstate 81 in the Shenandoah Valley.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.