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Big Island UMC from northPhoto: Nyttend · Public domain
The Big Island handbook

Living in Big Island, VA: what to set up and who to call

Big Island has no town government of its own, so Bedford County runs its elections and most services, and its children attend Bedford County Public Schools. Almost every address in Big Island can get fiber (99%, by the FCC’s map).

Which school will my kid attend?How do I register to vote?ZIP codes
Big Island has no town government. It’s a census-designated place in Bedford County, so the county and regional agencies provide most services. This page answers what we can; the same answers appear on Big Island’s town page under “Getting set up”.

I’m new in town

What to set up in Big Island, and who provides it. Tap an answer for the details and where they come from.

PowerAppalachian Powerinvestor-owned utility · 17.2¢/kWhMore →Internet4 providers99% of addresses get 100/20 MbpsMore →Trash & dumpNot on file yetWe don’t have Big Island’s trash rules yetMore →SchoolBedford County Public SchoolsWhich school depends on grade and addressMore →Register to voteOnlineRules from vote.govMore →ZIP code24526Where people live, not P.O. boxesMore →
Home services

Power, water and internet

Who to call to start service at a new address in Big Island.

Electricity

Power comes from Appalachian Power

Appalachian Power (Appalachian Power Co), an investor-owned utility, serves all of Big Island. Its homes paid an average of 17.2¢ per kWh in 2025, about $186 a month (its average across Virginia).

Service territory: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map dated Aug 2023). Prices and customers: EIA-861, 2025.

Internet

4 home internet providers serve Big Island

99% of 199 addresses can get 100/20 Mbps; 99% can get fiber.

ProviderTechnologyAddressesFastest (Mbps)
ZiTELFiber97%960/960
VerizonFiber, Fixed wireless67%2,300/2,300
ShentelFiber38%1,200/1,200
T-MobileFixed wireless64%100/20

FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025. Availability as providers report it, not speeds people get.

Trash & recycling

We don’t have Big Island’s trash rules yet

Pickup rules, the dump and recycling in Big Island.

Trash, recycling and bulk pickupNot on fileBig Island has no town government of its own, so look for trash and recycling rules on the county’s site.
Schools

Where your child goes to school

Public school districts and the school path by grade.

Big Island kids go to
PK–512 elementary schoolsDepends on your address
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your address
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your address

Big Island is in Bedford County Public Schools.

Test scores and every school: see Schools →

U.S. Department of Education, NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25. Enrollment rules and registration are the district’s.

Government & voting

No town hall: the county runs things

Big Island is unincorporated, so Bedford County is the local government.

Local governmentBedford CountyBig Island is a census-designated place: no town hall of its ownCensus
Who runs elections hereBedford General RegistrarElections here are run by Bedford County (county election office). 1239 Turning Point Road, Bedford, VA 24523 · (540) 586-7649 · [email protected]FVAP, Jul 2026
Register to voteOnlineIn Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before).vote.govCheck your registration and polling placevote.elections.virginia.govThe state’s voter lookup

Election office: FVAP local election office directory, updated Jul 2026; jurisdictions: EAC EAVS 2024. Registration rules and links: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026.

ZIP codes & area codes

Big Island is in ZIP code 24526

ZIP codes where Big Island residents live, with the share of the town in each.

ZIPPost office nameShare of Big IslandZIP’s residents in Big Island
24526Big Island, VA100%21%

Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas, by census block; post office names: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0). ZIPs created since 2020 are missing.

Everyday places

Getting around, the ER and the library

One line each; the subject pages have the rest.

Nearest emergency roomCentra Health - Lynchburg General Hospital13.2 miles awayGet a library cardLynchburg Public Library2315 Memorial Avenue · (434) 455-6300

ER: CMS hospital data. Library: IMLS Public Libraries Survey, FY2024.

Questions about living in Big Island

Who provides electricity in Big Island?

Appalachian Power (Appalachian Power Co), an investor-owned utility. Its homes paid about 17.2¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA).

What internet providers serve Big Island?

ZiTEL, Verizon, Shentel, T-Mobile (FCC, as of December 2025).

What ZIP codes are in Big Island?

24526. Census 2020 ZIP Code Tabulation Areas.

What school district is Big Island in?

Bedford County Public Schools.

How do I register to vote in Big Island?

In Virginia you can register online until 11 days before Election Day, in person up to and including Election Day, or by mail (postmarked 11 days before). Elections here are run by the Bedford General Registrar. Check your registration at vote.elections.virginia.gov.

Sources & dates

Every answer above names its source. Here they are with their dates.

  • Power: HIFLD Electric Retail Service Territories (map Aug 2023); EIA-861 final 2025.
  • Trash: OpenStreetMap, Geofabrik extract of Oct 9, 2026. © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).
  • ZIP codes: Census 2020 ZCTA relationship files; GeoNames postal codes (CC BY 4.0).
  • Schools: NCES Common Core of Data, 2024–25.
  • Registration: vote.gov, updated Sep 30, 2026 (read Oct 10, 2026). Official sites and area codes: Wikidata.
  • Election office: FVAP local election office directory (fetched Oct 10, 2026; each record dated), EAC EAVS 2024 jurisdictions; registration and lookup links from vote.gov’s state data, checked Oct 10, 2026.
  • Internet: FCC National Broadband Map, as of December 2025.