Pocahontas, VA

Pocahontas is a quiet Tazewell County community with deep roots in Appalachian mining history. Founded in 1881 as Virginia's first true coal boomtown, its streets are still lined with turn-of-the-century brick buildings and landmarks on the National Register of Historic Places. Residents and visitors can explore that heritage firsthand at the historic Exhibition Mine and Museum, where seasonal walking tours head right into the original coal seam.

ATTRCoal town guy / CC BY-SA 3.0

These days, the town draws plenty of outdoor recreation, particularly ATV and dirt bike riders taking advantage of the Spearhead Trails network that connects right to the edge of town. With quiet residential streets, a local community center, and major area employers like the Pocahontas State Correctional Center just up the road, the town offers an affordable, tight-knit place to settle for anyone who loves mountain scenery and open space.