Big Island, Virginia
Big Island is a census-designated place (CDP) in northern Bedford County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 303. The small community is located along the James River north of Lynchburg, Virginia. The area is named for a large, uninhabited island in the river upstream from the community. The Bedford Hydropower Project and larger Cushaw Hydroelectric Project dams are located near Big Island and provide electricity to a portion of Bedford County, including the Town of Bedford. The community is centered around a Georgia Pacific paper mill that has been in operation  for more than 125 years and is considered one of the longest continuously producing paper mills in the United States. Fire protection to the Big Island area is provided by the Big Island Vol. Fire Company, Inc., and Emergency medical services are provided by the Big Island Emergency Crew, Inc. and Bedford Co. Dept. of Fire & Rescue.