Big Sandy is a community in McDowell County, West Virginia, home to about 113 people across 0.5 square miles. Its ZIP code is 24816, and parts of 24881 are in Big Sandy too.
All in Big Sandy
Part is in Big Sandy, part in Roderfield
We’re writing up Big Sandy’s story and what everyday life there is like, for people thinking about moving in.
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| Nearest major airport | Piedmont Triad International Airport (GSO)135 miles away |
|---|---|
| Closer regional airport | Raleigh County Memorial Airport (BKW)39 miles away |
| Nearest city of 250,000+ | Winston-Salem, NC123 miles away |
| Nearest city of 1 million+ | Philadelphia, PA395 miles away |
Straight-line distances from the center of Big Sandy; driving is longer.
Source: Airports from OurAirports (scheduled passenger service); city centers and populations from the U.S. Census Bureau.
Source: Members of Congress from the congress-legislators project; districts from the Census Bureau’s relationship files; governor and mayor from Wikidata.
Big Sandy had 198 residents in the 2020 census, up 18% since 2010.
It’s the 378th largest of 429 towns in West Virginia by population.
McDowell County grew from 18,747 residents in 1900 to 19,111 in 2020.
McDowell County, 1900–2020
Source: U.S. Census Bureau decennial censuses (counties 1900–1990 from the Bureau’s historical county file).
Average highs peak around 84°F in summer, and winter lows average 24°F. About 48.4 inches of rain and melted snow fall in a typical year.
Source: NOAA 1991–2020 climate normals, Rd Bailey Lake, WV weather station (12 miles away).
2,253 jobs at 213 businesses in McDowell County. The biggest industries by employees:
Source: U.S. Census Bureau County Business Patterns 2023 (private employers; jobs counted where people work).
Nearest hospitals
Source: Hospitals from CMS Hospital General Information (ratings are CMS overall star ratings); straight-line distances.
Public schools here are run by McDowell County Schools. Check each district’s attendance zones for a specific address.
| School | Grades | Students | Type | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fall River Elementary SchoolBig Sandy | Pre-K–5 | 112 | Public | 0.5 mi |
Source: U.S. Department of Education, NCES: Common Core of Data (2024-2025) for public schools. Listed by address; we don’t rate schools.
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Shares ZIP codes with Roderfield.
Town boundaries don’t always match ZIP codes: a ZIP code can cross into neighboring towns, and a town can share a ZIP code with its neighbors. Facts describe the town itself; market figures describe whole ZIP codes.