Daylight through the yearLongest day (Jun 21): 14 h 40 min6:06 am – 8:47 pmShortest day (Dec 21): 9 h 39 min7:33 am – 5:12 pm
Sun todaySunrise –Sunset –
ClimateWarmest month July: highs 79°F, lows 63°FColdest month January: highs 41°F, lows 22°F46 in of rain a year, on about 84 dayswettest month July9 in of snow a year, on about 4 days0 days above 90°F, 89 nights below freezing in a typical yearSource: NOAA 1991-2020 Climate Normals, Elk Creek 4ssw station, 4 mi away; rain from Trout Dale 3 Sse
Parks and public landsGrayson Highlands State Parkstate park · 12.2 mi · 4,476 acresSouth Fork of the New River State Natural and Scenic Riverstate park · 13.3 mi · 611 acresNew River State Parkstate park · 15.2 mi · 3,194 acresNew River Trail State Parkstate park · 18.3 miBullhead Mountain State Natural Areastate park · 18.9 mi · 436 acresHungry Mother State Parkstate park · 19.2 miSource: USGS Protected Areas Database (PAD-US)
Earthquakes10 of magnitude 3 or more within 50 miles since 19701 of magnitude 4+, 1 of magnitude 5+Largest: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202017 mi away, near Sparta, North CarolinaMost recent: magnitude 5.1 on 9 Aug 202017 mi awaySource: USGS Earthquake Catalog
Natural hazardsOverall risk Very LowGrayson County, VA, compared with all US countiesHighest-rated hazardsLandslide Relatively ModerateCold wave Relatively ModerateSource: FEMA National Risk Index (county level)
Air quality94% of days had good air in 2025337 of 357 days measured20 moderate daysMedian index 37, worst day 80main pollutant: ozoneSource: US EPA Air Quality Index, nearest monitors: Giles County, VA, 53 mi away
Drinking waterTown of Independenceserves 971 people from purchased ground water under influence of surface water sourNo health-based violations since 20212 monitoring or reporting violations since 2021Source: US EPA Safe Drinking Water Information System, largest system in the county
Elevation3,432 ft1,046 m above sea levelSource: USGS 3D Elevation Program
Local servicesHospitalAlleghany Memorial Hospital14.3 miPost officeElk Creek Post Office5.5 miTown hallIndependence Town Hall7.3 miPoliceIndependence Police Department7.2 miFire stationElk Creek Volunteer Fire Department5.2 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
SchoolsWithin 2 miNo schools listedCollegeWilkes Community College - Alleghany Center14.0 miSource: USGS National Structures Dataset
Getting aroundAirportTri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport TRI65 miMajor airportPiedmont Triad International Airport GSO84 miInterstateI-8115 miUS highwayUS 213.1 miAmtrakHinton, WV HIN71 miCoachWytheville (Elizabeth Brown Park)Virginia Breeze, Operated by Dillon's21 miSources: OurAirports; US Census Bureau TIGER roads; Bureau of Transportation Statistics NTAD
Distances in these cards are measured from the centre of the 24379 ZIP area.
