Photo: Nyttend · Public domainWhere Drakes Branch residents get care
CDC publishes only some of its health estimates for Drakes Branch, not the seven a Health Grade needs; here is what we do have.
Modeled estimates for adults 18+, CDC’s own estimate for Drakes Branch. How CDC estimates town health
What stands out about health in Drakes Branch
Stroke, COPD and heart disease run high in Drakes Branch
1 in 16 adults have had a stroke (6.3%), about twice the Virginia rate. 1 in 8 adults have COPD (11.8%), about twice the Virginia rate. Heart disease is also above the state: 10.5%, vs 6.1% across Virginia. In all, Drakes Branch runs above Virginia on eight of 11 chronic conditions. Age is part of it: 31% of residents are 65 or older (Virginia 17%), and stroke, COPD and heart disease are more common later in life. Conditions ↓
More Drakes Branch adults get no exercise
1 in 3 adults get no exercise outside work (35.5%), vs 23.8% across Virginia. Habits ↓
Dental care lags in Drakes Branch
58% of adults saw a dentist this year, vs 67.9% across Virginia. Among those 65 and older, 21.5% have lost all their teeth (Virginia 11.1%). Drakes Branch’s county is a federal shortage area for dental care. Checkups ↓
Written from the CDC, Medicare and HRSA data on this page. CDC PLACES 2025 release: modeled estimates for adults, not counts; “higher” and “lower” mean the Virginia figure falls outside Drakes Branch’s likely range.
Out of every 100 Drakes Branch adults…
Drakes Branch runs above VA on 10 of 12 conditions. Tap one to see it as people.
Drakes Branch is an older town: 31% of residents are 65 or older, vs 17% across Virginia. Heart disease, COPD and arthritis rise with age, so higher rates here say as much about who lives in Drakes Branch as about how healthy they are.
Everyday habits, side by side with Virginia
Share of adults, with the Virginia figure marked.
Keeping up with care
Share of Drakes Branch adults getting routine care. The full ring is 100%; the dark tick marks Virginia.
Care in and near Drakes Branch
No hospital or community health center in Drakes Branch itself. These are the nearest.
Hospitals: Medicare overall star ratings, 1–5. Community health centers charge on a sliding scale by income. Distances are straight-line from the center of Drakes Branch; ≈ marks a hospital located by its town, not its street. Shortage areas: HRSA Health Professional Shortage Areas (a “population” designation covers specific residents, such as those with low incomes).
How Drakes Branch adults are doing
On 2 of 4 measures, Drakes Branch runs above Virginia.
1 in 3 Drakes Branch adults feel lonely. A hello is a start.
Groups are the easiest way in: a walking group, a book club, your street.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. It’s free, confidential and open 24/7.
Making ends meet
Needs that shape health as much as any doctor visit: food, housing, utilities and a way to get around.
25.5% of Drakes Branch adults receive SNAP (food stamps), compared with 10.7% across Virginia.
Drakes Branch and the towns around it
How health changes across the town line.
Health next door
| Town | Health | Obesity | Diabetes | Smoking | Figures from |
|---|
Same-state neighbors only, ordered by length of shared border.
Living with a disability
Shown without a better/worse judgment.
of Drakes Branch adults live with a disability (Virginia 30%). Walking or climbing stairs is the most common.
Questions about health in Drakes Branch
Why doesn’t Drakes Branch have a Health Grade?
Every Health Grade is built from seven of CDC’s PLACES estimates, and CDC doesn’t publish all seven for Drakes Branch.
What hospital is closest to Drakes Branch?
Southside Community Hospital in Farmville, 24.7 miles in a straight line from Drakes Branch’s center point, is the nearest general hospital with an emergency room. Medicare rates it 4 of 5 stars.
Where can I get low-cost care near Drakes Branch?
2 community health center sites are within 10 miles; the nearest is CVHS Charlotte in Charlotte Court House, 4.7 miles away. They charge on a sliding scale by income.
Neighbors talk health
Doctors taking patients, urgent care, staying active in Drakes Branch.
Health estimates: CDC PLACES: Local Data for Better Health, 2025 release. The Virginia figure combines its counties, weighted by adult population. Hospitals and star ratings: Medicare Care Compare (CMS). Health centers and shortage areas: HRSA. Ages: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey. Town boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau. This page isn’t medical advice. In an emergency, call 911.