Eagle Rock, Virginia

Eagle Rock had the last lock of the James River and Kanawha Canal. Lime production This was the location of the kilns for making lime. Limestone was transported across the James River via a tram system and then burned in the kilns to make lime. Originally a river ford, known as "The Free Stone Ford", allowed mule drawn wagons to cross. In May 1884 a bridge was constructed across the river for the limestone. Later, large towers were constructed and the lime sent across the river by cable. Old quarries and locally known Quarry Hill are located on either side of US 220. The Bessemer Archaeological Site, Phoenix Bridge, and Roaring Run Furnace are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Rail history At the end of the James River and Kanawha Canal system, transportation was done by rail. Eagle Rock was the point of convergence of the Richmond and Alleghany Railroad (soon to be known as the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway, and later CSX Transportation) and the Craig Valley Line, which ran to Surber Station and on to New Castle, Virginia. ==Geography==

Eagle Rock is located at (37.6422510, −079.7918942). According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 0.71 square mile, all land. ==Demographics==

Eagle Rock first appeared as a census designated place in the 2020 U.S. census. As of the census of 2020, there were 209 people residing in the CDP. The population density was . There were 102 housing units. The racial makeup of the CDP was 93.7% White, 0% Black or African American, 0% Native American, 0% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 0% from other races, and 6.3% from two or more races. 1.3% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. ==Education==

The CDP is served by Botetourt County Public Schools. Eagle Rock had its own high school until the late 1950s, when the Northern Botetourt high schools were all consolidated into the newly formed James River High School in neighboring Springwood. Public school students residing in Eagle Rock attend Eagle Rock Elementary School, Central Academy Middle School, and James River High School. ==Notable people==

• William Hanes Ayres (1916–2000), U.S. Congressman from Ohio who served ten terms in the House, was born in Eagle Rock • Norvel Lee, (1924-1992) Olympic boxer who represented the United States at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and won a gold medal at the 1952 Summer Olympics in Helsinki • Angela Tincher, All-American softball pitcher for James River High School and Virginia Tech ==References==