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== Education ==
== Education ==
The city is served by the Lynchburg City Schools. The school board is appointed by the Lynchburg City Council.
The city is served by the Lynchburg City Public Schools. The school board is appointed by the Lynchburg City Council.


*EC Glass High School - 2111 Memorial Ave
*EC Glass High School - 2111 Memorial Ave

Revision as of 15:43, 26 July 2007

Lynchburg, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Location in Virginia
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyIndependent City
Government
 • MayorJoan Foster
Population
 (2000)
 • Total65,269
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Websitewww.lynchburgva.gov

Lynchburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 65,269, but is at about 70,000 residents as of 2007. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills", "The Hill City" and sometimes described as "A City Unto Itself" because it is not located within any county limits, but a city in the middle of Amherst, Bedford, Campbell and Appomattox Counties.

The 2,122 square mile Metropolitan Statistical Area of Lynchburg is near the geographic center of Virginia and encompasses Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County, City of Bedford, and City of Lynchburg. It is the fifth largest MSA in Virginia with a population of about 215,000. Other nearby cities include Roanoke, Charlottesville and Danville. Lynchburg's sister cities are Rueil-Malmaison, France and Glauchau, Germany.

Lynchburg is the home of Central Virginia Community College, Christ College, Liberty University, Lynchburg College, Randolph College, and Virginia University of Lynchburg. The Lynchburg MSA also includes Sweet Briar College.

Lynchburg has a strong industrial base and is the regional center for commerce and retail. Industries include nuclear technology, pharmaceuticals and material handling. A diversity of small businesses has helped maintain a stable economy and minimized the downturns of the national economy.[citation needed] Reaching as high as 4th place, Lynchburg has been within the Top 10 Digital Cities survey for its population since the survey's inception in 2004.

History

First settled in 1757, Lynchburg was named for its founder, John Lynch, who at the age of 17 started a ferry service at a ford across the James River to route traffic to and from New London. He was also responsible for Lynchburg's first bridge across the river, which replaced the ferry in 1812. The "City of Seven Hills" quickly developed along the hills surrounding Lynch's Ferry. Thomas Jefferson maintained a home near Lynchburg, called Poplar Forest. Jefferson frequented Lynchburg and remarked "Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be useful to the town of Lynchburg. I consider it as the most interesting spot in the state."

The Allied Arts Building in downtown Lynchburg, completed in 1931.

Lynchburg was established by charter in 1786 at the site of Lynch's Ferry on the James River. These new easy means of transportation routed traffic through Lynchburg, and allowed it to become the new center of commerce for tobacco trading. It was a center of commerce and manufacture in the 19th century. Chief industries were tobacco, iron and steel. Transportation facilities included the James River Bateau on the James River, and later, the James River and Kanawha Canal and, still later, four railroads, including the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad and the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. In 1810, Jefferson wrote, "Lynchburg is perhaps the most rising place in the U.S.... It ranks now next to Richmond in importance..."

In 1804, evangelist Lorenzo Dow wrote of Lynchburg "... where I spoke in the open air in what I conceived to be the seat of Satan's Kingdom. Lynchburg was a deadly place for the worship of God." This was in reference to the lack of churches in Lynchburg. As the wealth of Lynchburg grew, prostitution and other "rowdy" activities became quite common and, in many cases, ignored, if not accepted, by the "powers that be" of the time. Much of this activity took place in an area of downtown referred to as the "Buzzard's Roost."

During the American Civil War, Lynchburg, which served as a Confederate supply base, was approached within one mile by the Union forces of General David Hunter as he drove south from the Shenandoah Valley. Under the false impression that the Confederate forces stationed in Lynchburg were much larger than anticipated, Hunter was repelled by the forces of Confederate General Jubal Early on June 18, 1864, in the Battle of Lynchburg. To create the false impression, a train was continuously run up and down the tracks while the citizens of Lynchburg cheered as if reinforcements were unloading. Local prostitutes took part in the deception, misinforming their Union "clients" of the large number of Confederate reinforcements.

From April 6-10, 1865, Lynchburg served as the Capital of Virginia. Under Gov. William Smith, the executive and legislative branches of the commonwealth moved to Lynchburg for the few days between the fall of Richmond and the fall of the Confederacy.

In the latter 19th century, Lynchburg's economy evolved into manufacturing (sometimes referred to as the "Pittsburgh of the South") and, per capita, made the city one of the wealthiest in the United States. In 1880, Lynchburg resident James Albert Bonsack invented the first cigarette rolling machine, and shortly thereafter Dr. Charles Browne Fleet, a physician and pharmacological tinkerer, introduced the first mass marketed over-the-counter enema, which the company he founded still manufactures (along with other laxative and bowel cleansing products, as noted on the company's website [1]). Dr. Fleet also invented ChapStick as a lip balm in Lynchburg in the early 1880s.

In the early 20th century, the state of Virginia authorized compulsory sterilization of the mentally retarded for the purpose of eugenics which was carried out at the Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded located just outside of Lynchburg.

Lynchburg is sometimes referred to as "A City Unto Itself", in part due to geographic and cultural isolation, but mostly in reference to the city's historical avoidance of State and Federal entanglements. The phrase was the title of a history book by columnist Darrell Laurant.

1919 panorama


Education

The city is served by the Lynchburg City Public Schools. The school board is appointed by the Lynchburg City Council.

  • EC Glass High School - 2111 Memorial Ave
  • Heritage High School - 3020 Wards Ferry Rd
  • Brookville High School - 100 Laxton Rd
    • Brookville Middle School 320 Bee Dr
    • Linkhorne Middle School - 2525 Linkhorne Dr
    • Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School - 1208 Polk St
    • Sandusky Middle School - 805 Chinook Place

Arts and culture

  • Academy of Fine Arts: A nonprofit organization committed to promoting and presenting the visual and performing arts, while creating opportunities for arts education. Located in the old Academy theatre (circa 1905)
  • Virginia School of the Arts: Founded in 1985, the Virginia School of the Arts has developed an international reputation for excellence by providing an outstanding pre-professional arts training program for students of high school age.

Attractions and entertainment

The following attractions are located within the Lynchburg MSA:

  • Cattle Annie's Restaurant & Entertainment: A 1000+ capacity, multi-function venue providing a variety of entertainment and other events. Established in 1993, Cattle Annie's is perhaps best-known for hosting nationally recognized artists on a frequent basis. Local, regional and nationally touring rock, pop and country artists perform regularly as well. The facility hosts numerous community and private events and has a full-service restaurant and banquet services.
  • Amazement Square: Central Virginia’s first multidisciplinary, hands-on children’s museum.
  • Lynchburg Museum: Through the doors of the Lynchburg Museum one can relive the city's past,­ rich with tales of Monocan tribes, early Quaker settlers, the reign of King Tobacco, the bloody struggle of the Civil War, the New South, and the drama of change in the 20th century.
  • The Old Court House: The Hill City's most famous historic landmark built in 1855. Fashioned as a Greek temple high above the James River, it is now the home of Central Virginia's best collection of memorabilia, fine furnishings, costumes and industrial history.
  • Point of Honor: The Federal-era mansion of Dr. George Cabell, Sr., friend and physician of the patriot Patrick Henry
  • Miller-Clayton House: Pre-19th century townhouse where Thomas Jefferson allegedly proved to the owner of the house's garden that tomatoes were not poisonous by eating one of the fruit. Home was dismantled in 1936 and rebuilt at its Riverside Park location, where the garden was also restored.
  • Smith Mountain Lake: A public lake with a surface area of over 22,000 acres (89 km²) and a shoreline that exceeds 500 miles.
  • Natural Bridge: Once owned by Thomas Jefferson, Natural Bridge is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
  • Peaks of Otter: Three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of Bedford, Virginia and in prominent view through-out most of Lynchburg
  • Crabtree Falls: The falls trails lead hikers along a rigorous five-mile loop which offers stunning views of the five cascades of Crabtree Falls. The vertical drop totals over 1,500 feet!
  • Appomattox Courthouse: The site of the Battle of Appomattox Court House, where the surrender of the Confederate Army under Robert E. Lee to Union commander Ulysses S. Grant took place on April 9, 1865, effectively ending the American Civil War.
  • National D-Day Memorial: Located in Bedford, Virginia, it commemorates all those who served the United States during the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 during World War II.
  • James River Heritage Trail: Composed of two smaller trails, the Blackwater Creek Bikeway and RiverWalk.
  • Annual events include: Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival, Home and garden tours, Kaleidoscope, Christmas Spectacular /Living Christmas Tree, James River Batteau Festival, Sedalia Center’s Chili Cook Off, Centerfest, Cooks for Hungry Relief at Cattle Annie's.

Sports and recreation

Lynchburg claims to be the "Sports Capital of Virginia"[citation needed] and as such, is home to numerous sporting events and organizations including:

[* [2]:] YMCA of Central Virginia

  • Jamerson YMCA - 801 Wyndhurst Drive
  • Downtown YMCA - 1315 Church Street
  • Lynchburg Road Runners Club
  • Seven Hills Hash House Harriers: The purpose of "hashing" is to promote physical fitness among its members, to get rid of hangovers, to persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel, and to acquire a good thirst and satisfy it with beer. The "7h4" is one of thousands of chapters of Hash House Harriers located through-out the world.
  • Virginia Ten Miler: "One of the most challenging road races in the country."
  • Hiking areas include Crabtree Falls, Sharp Top, Candlers Mountain to Camp Hydaway, Flat Top, Appalachian Trail, Blackwater Creek Natural Area, Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area, Holliday Lake, Apple Orchard Trail, Otter Creek Trail

Neighborhoods

The first neighborhoods of Lynchburg developed upon seven hills adjacent to the original ferry landing. These neighborhoods include:

Other major neighborhoods include Boonsboro, College Park, Rivermont, Fort Hill, Timberlake, Windsor Hills, Sandusky, Linkhorne, and Wyndhurst.

Notable residents

Lynchburg was the home of Carter Glass, who sat for many years in Congress as a representative and Senator of the Democratic Party in the early 20th century, served as the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury under Woodrow Wilson, and co-sponsored a bill (the Glass-Steagall Act), which created FDIC insurance and, from 1932 until its repeal in 1999, prohibited U.S. commercial banks from affiliating with investment banks (securities firms).

Lynchburg was the hometown of televangelist Jerry Falwell, senior pastor of the Thomas Road Baptist Church and founder of the "Moral Majority" in the early 1980s. He also established Liberty Baptist College, now known as Liberty University.

It was also the birthplace of Charlie Thomas, an American rhythm and blues singer best known for his work with The Drifters and a member of the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, and Donna Andrews, an American golfer who won six titles on the LPGA Tour between 1993 and 1998, including one major championship, the 1994 Nabisco Dinah Shore. Other notable residents include:

Geography and climate

Lynchburg is located at 37°24′13″N 79°10′12″W / 37.40361°N 79.17000°W / 37.40361; -79.17000Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (37.403672, -79.170205)Template:GR.

Map

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 128.9 km² (49.8 mi²). 127.9 km² (49.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (0.74%) is water.

Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
Rec High °F 80 79 87 94 93 100 103 102 101 93 83 79
Norm High °F 44.5 48.6 57.6 68 75.5 82.5 86.4 85.1 78.3 68.4 58 48.4
Norm Low °F 24.5 26.9 34.4 42.6 51.2 59.5 63.7 62.4 55.9 43.7 35.2 27.9
Rec Low °F -10 -10 7 20 31 40 49 45 35 21 8 -4
Precip (in) 3.54 3.1 3.83 3.46 4.11 3.79 4.39 3.41 3.88 3.39 3.18 3.23
Source: USTravelWeather.com [3]

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 65,269 people, 25,477 households, and 15,591 families residing in the city. The population density was 510.2/km² (1,321.5/mi²). There were 27,640 housing units at an average density of 216.1/km² (559.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.63% White, 29.70% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.35% of the population.

There were 25,477 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $32,234, and the median income for a family was $40,844. Males had a median income of $31,390 versus $22,431 for females. The per capita income for the city was $18,263. About 12.3% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.

Media

Print

  • The News & Advance, Lynchburg's daily newspaper that serves the Central Virginia region and is owned by Media General.
  • Lynchburg Ledger, weekly newspaper
  • Lynchburg Living, monthly periodical
  • The Burg, weekly entertainment newspaper published by the The News & Advance
  • Lynch's Ferry, a biannual journal of local history

Television

  • WSET, ABC affiliate based in Lynchburg
  • WSLS, NBC affiliate based in Roanoke
  • WDBJ, CBS affiliate based in Roanoke
  • WBRA, PBS affiliate based in Roanoke
  • WFXR, FOX affiliate based in Roanoke
  • WWCW, FOX affiliate based in Lynchburg, which was previously WJPR
  • WPXR, ION affiliate based in Roanoke
  • W40BM, TBN affiliate based in Lynchburg
  • WTLU-CA, The Liberty Channel based in Lynchburg

Radio

  • WJJX 101.7, Urban Contemporary based in Lynchburg
  • WLNI 105.9, Talk Radio based in Lynchburg
  • WNRN (WNRS 89.9), Modern Rock based in Charlottesville
  • WREL 96.7, Contemporary based in Lexington
  • WROV 96.3, Classic Rock based in Roanoke
  • WRMV 94.5, Southern Gospel based in Madison Heights
  • WRVL 88.3, Christian Radio based in Lynchburg
  • WRXT 90.3, Contemporary Christian Radio based in Lynchburg
  • WSLC 94.9, Country based in Roanoke
  • WSLQ 99.1, Adult Contemporary based in Roanoke
  • WSNZ 102.7, Adult Contemporary based in Roanoke
  • WVBE 100.1, Urban Contemporary based in Lynchburg
  • WVTF 89.1, Public Radio based in Blacksburg
  • WWMC 90.9 , Contemporary Christian Radio based at Liberty University
  • WWZW 96.7, Adult Contemporary based in Buena Vista
  • WXLK 92.3, Top-40 Radio based in Roanoke
  • WYYD 107.9, Country based in Madison Heights
  • WZZU 97.9, Classic Rock based in Lynchburg
  • WAMV 1420, Southern Gospel based in Madison Heights
  • WBRG 1050, Talk/ Sports based in Lynchburg
  • WKPA 1390, Religious based in Lynchburg
  • WLLL 930, Gospel Music based in Lynchburg
  • WLVA 590, Religious based in Lynchburg
  • WVGM 1320, Sports based in Lynchburg

Transportation

Rail

Amtrak's Crescent train connects Lynchburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 825 Kemper Street. Lynchburg will be a primary hub of the TransDominion Express.

Air

Lynchburg Regional Airport provides service by US Airways Express to Charlotte and Delta Connection to Atlanta.

Highway

Primary roadways include U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 501, U.S. Route 221, running north-south, and U.S. Highway 460, running east-west. Lynchburg is among the largest cities in the United States not served by an interstate, although much of Route 29 has been upgraded to interstate standard and significant improvements have been made to Highway 460.

Business and industry

Lynchburg was founded on commerce and industry. It features a skilled labor force, low unemployment rate, affordable cost of living, and a stable economy. Area business include:

Miscellaneous

  • The Monacan Indian tribe lived in the Lynchburg area beginning until well into the 17th century.[citation needed]
  • The Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers, were the first religious group to settle in Lynchburg.
  • The phrase "Lynch's Law" may have been derived from a relative of founder John Lynch, Col. Charles Lynch, who organized and administered trials of British loyalists during the revolutionary war. It is doubtful that any hangings took place and there is no other known connection between the phrase and Lynchburg.[citation needed]
  • In October 1868, Dr. Malcolm Loomis, a part-time resident of Lynchburg, used a vertical antenna, a high-frequency detector and a spark gap transmitter to successfully send electro-magnetic waves through the atmosphere, thus inventing radio six years before the birth of the “father of radio,” Guglielmo Marconi. Despite records that indicate Loomis invented the radio, he lacked the necessary funds to perfect his equipment and gain recognition for his invention.[citation needed]
  • In the winter of 1951, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., selected Lynchburg’s Randolph-Macon Woman’s College as a storage facility in the event of a national emergency. In exchange for participating in “Project Y,” the college was allowed to use the facility’s front rooms as its own exhibition space, which the college began doing in the 1970s. Despite escalating Cold War tensions during the ’50s, ’60s, and ’70s, the National Gallery was never forced to move any national treasures to Project Y.[citation needed]
  • In the 1800s, Lynchburg and New Bedford, Mass., were the richest towns per capita in the U.S. [citation needed]
  • In the movie Escape From L.A., the capital city of a "more theocratic" United States has been moved Lynchburg. Lynchburg is also the hometown of the movie's president.
  • Lynchburg is the scene of destructive shootout in 2007 film Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg. [citation needed]
  • Famous visitors: Andrew Jackson, Andrew Johnson, John Wilkes Booth, William McKinley and James A. Garfield, Robert E. Lee and Ulysses S. Grant, George A. Custer, Frank James, Will Rogers, Ronald Reagan, William Kunstler, The Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., Jesse Jackson, Oliver North. [citation needed]

References

  • ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

    • External links

    Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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