Pocahontas at a glance
- Population: 257 — 199th in Virginia, which has 227 Census places (US Census Bureau, Vintage 2023).
- 2020 Census base: 268 people (US Census Bureau, 2020 Census count).
- 2020 to 2023 change: down roughly 4.1% across the 2020-to-2023 comparison (US Census Bureau).
- Rank among Virginia places: 199th by size among 227 communities (US Census Bureau).
- Size percentile: about 12% of Virginia's Census places are smaller (US Census Bureau).
- Coordinates: it sits at 37.3097, -81.3458 in the US Census Bureau Gazetteer.
- Nearest larger cities: Bramwell, WV (3 mi); Bluefield, VA (6 mi); Bluefield, WV (8 mi); Gary, WV (11 mi); Princeton, WV (14 mi), each a US Census place with its estimated population.
- Nearest smaller communities: Anawalt, WV (6 mi); Northfork, WV (9 mi); Keystone, WV (9 mi) (Census populations).
What a personal loan costs in Pocahontas
Personal loans are closed-end installment debt, so the monthly payment and the payoff date are known from the start.
The number to compare is the APR, not the interest rate, because the APR folds in origination fees and other charges; our personal loan calculator will show what a given amount and term would cost.
A longer term reduces what you owe each month and increases the total interest, which is the trade-off to weigh before choosing one.
A useful rule is to keep the new payment inside the room your budget already has, so the loan eases pressure instead of adding to it.
Virginia lending rules that apply in Pocahontas
The Virginia rate caps and licensing rules that reach Pocahontas are listed below, each with its source and retrieval date.
| Rule | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Small-loan / installment lender licensing | Consumer finance license required from the State Corporation Commission (Va. Code § 6.2-1501) Source says: No person shall engage in the business of making loans to individuals for personal, family, household, or other nonbusiness purposes | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| State lending regulator | Virginia State Corporation Commission, Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) Source says: The Bureau of Financial Institutions (BFI) is a regulatory division of the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC.) | Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Maximum legal interest rate (usury cap) | 12% per year maximum contract rate, except as otherwise permitted by law (Va. Code § 6.2-303) Source says: no contract shall be made for the payment of interest on a loan at a rate that exceeds 12 percent per year | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
| Payday lending status | Legal via licensed short-term lenders; interest capped at a 36% simple annual rate plus limited fees (Va. Code § 6.2-1817) Source says: Interest at a simple annual rate not to exceed 36 percent | Virginia General Assembly (Code of Virginia) as of 2026-09-16 |
How to compare offers in Pocahontas
Run through this list before signing anything in Pocahontas:
- Pull your free credit reports and dispute any error — it is the cheapest way to improve the rate you are offered.
- Run your figures through the personal loan calculator on this site so you know the payment before a lender quotes one.
- Pre-qualify with at least three lenders and compare the APR, not the interest rate.
- Check that the lender is licensed in Virginia using the regulator named above.
- Read the disclosure for origination fees and any prepayment penalty before you sign.