Lynchburg, Virginia

Lynchburg, Virginia
City
The Allied Arts Building in downtown Lynchburg, completed in 1931.
Official seal of Lynchburg, Virginia Seal
Location in Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Government
• Mayor	Joan Foster
Area
• City	49.8 sq mi (128.9 km2)
• Land	49.4 sq mi (127.9 km2)
• Water	0.4 sq mi (0.9 km2)
Elevation	630 ft (192 m)
Population  (2006)
• City	67,720
• Density	1,321.5/sq mi (510.2/km2)
• Metro	239,510
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
Area code	434
FIPS code	51-47672Template:GR
GNIS feature ID	1479007Template:GR
Website	http://www.lynchburgva.gov

Lynchburg is an independent city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2006 census, the city had a total population of 67,720, 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 239,510. 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 is the regional center for commerce and retail. Industries within the Lynchburg MSA include nuclear technology, pharmaceuticals and material handling. A diversity of small businesses with the region has helped maintain a stable economy and minimized the downturns of the national economy. Reaching as high as 1st place (tied) in 2007, Lynchburg has been within the Top 10 Digital Cities survey for its population since the survey's inception in 2004.

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 1,321.5 people per square mile (510.2/km²). There were 27,640 housing units at an average density of 559.6/sq mi (216.1/km²). 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.

Lynchburg ranks below the 2006 median annual household income for the U.S. as a whole, which was $48,200, according to the US Census Bureau.[1]

The city's population has been stable for 25+ years: in 2006, it was 67,720; in 2000, it was 65,269; in 1990, it was 66,049; in 1980, it was 66,743.[2][3]

Geography and climate

Lynchburg is located at 37°24′13″N 79°10′12″W (37.403672, -79.170205)Template:GR.

Map

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 49.8 square miles (128.9 km²), of which, 49.4 square miles (127.9 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km²) 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	37.5	40.6	54.6	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 [4]

Business and industry

Lynchburg was founded on commerce and industry. It features a skilled labor force, below average, and often negative, unemployment rate, and below average cost of living. Of Virginia's larger metro areas, Forbes Magazine ranks Lynchburg the 5th best place in Virginia for business, with Virginia being the best state in the country for business. It should be noted that only 6 places in Virginia were surveyed and most of Virginia’s cities were grouped together by Forbes as "Northern Virginia". Lynchburg achieved the rank 109 in the whole nation in the same survey.

The Lynchburg News & Advance reports that while more people are working than ever in greater Lynchburg, wages since 1990 have not kept up with inflation. Central Virginia Labor Council President Walter Fore believes this is due to lack of white-collar jobs. According to the Census Bureau, adjusted for inflation, 1990 median household income was about $39,000 compared to 2006 median household income of $36,010.

Virginia Business Magazine reports that Young Professionals in Lynchburg recently conducted a study that clearly showed how much of its young workforce has been lost. According to Lee Cobb, executive director of Region 2000 Economic Development Council, Lynchburg has a reputation for being a low priority choice of location for young folks just starting out. This may be further evidenced by the below state average population with high school and college degrees and nearly zero population growth over the past 30 years (see Demographics above). Both the Region 2000 Economic Development Council and The Young Professionals of Central Virginia are attempting to improve the reputation and increase opportunities for young professionals.

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."

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. In 1810, Jefferson wrote, "Lynchburg is perhaps the most rising place in the U.S.... It ranks now next to Richmond in importance..." Lynchburg became a center of commerce and manufacture in the 19th century, and by the 1850s, Lynchburg (along with New Bedford, Mass.) was one of the richest towns per capita in the U.S. . Chief industries were tobacco, iron and steel. Transportation facilities included the James River Batteau 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.

Early on, Lynchburg was not known for its religiosity. 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 [5]). Dr. Fleet also invented ChapStick as a lip balm in Lynchburg in the early 1880s. About this time, Lynchburg was also the preferred site for the Norfolk & Western junction with the Shenandoah Valley Railroad. However, the citizens of Lynchburg did not want the junction due to the noise and pollution it would create. Therefore, it was located in what would become the City of Roanoke.

In the late 1950s, a number of interested citizens requested to change the federal government's longstanding planned route for the interstate highway now known as I-64 between Clifton Forge and Richmond. Since the 1940's maps of the federal interstate highway system depicted that highway taking a northern route, with no interstate highway running through Lynchburg. The state highway commission's minutes reflected its approval of the northern route. Although the proponents of a southern route succeeded in persuading a majority of Virginia Highway Commissioners to support the change after a study, in July 1961 Governor Lindsay Almond and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Luther Hodges announced that the route would not be changed. This left Lynchburg as the only city with a population in excess of 50,000 (at the time) not served by an interstate.

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

For several decades throughout the mid-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, now known as the Central Virginia Training School, located just outside of Lynchburg. An estimated 8,300 Virginians were sterilized and relocated to Lynchburg, known as a "dumping ground" of sorts for the feeble-minded, poor, blind, epilectic, and those somehow otherwise seen as genetically "unfit"

Sterilizations were carried out for 35 years until 1972, when operations were finally halted. Later in the late 1970s the American Civil Liberties Union filed a class-action lawsuit against the state of Virginia on behalf of the sterilization victims. As a result of this suit the victims were recompensed only through formal apology and provision of counseling. Requests to grant the victims reverse sterilization operations were denied.

Carrie Buck, the plaintiff in the United States Supreme Court Case Buck v. Bell, was ordered to undergo compulsory sterilization for purportedly being "feeble-minded" as part of the state of Virginia's eugenics program while a patient at Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded in Lynchburg.

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

• • Linkhorne Middle School - 2525 Linkhorne Dr
  • Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School - 1208 Polk St
  • Sandusky Middle School - 805 Chinook Place

• • • William Marvin Bass Elementary School
    • Bedford Hills Elementary School
    • Dearington Elementary School for Innovation
    • Heritage Elementary School
    • Linkhorne Elementary School
    • Paul M. Munro Elementary School
    • Perrymont Elementary School
    • Robert S. Payne Elementary School
    • Sandusky Elementary School
    • Sheffield Elementary School
    • Thomas C. Miller Elementary School

The city is also home to a number of private schools, namely James River Day School, Virginia Episcopal School and Holy Cross Regional Catholic School. It is also home to Liberty Christian Academy, founded by the late Lynchburg resident Jerry Falwell.

Healthcare

Centra Health manages four hospitals in the Lynchburg Area:

• Lynchburg General Hospital-Lynchburg, VA
• Virginia Baptist Hospital-Lynchburg, VA
• Bedford Memorial Hospital-Bedford, VA (has joint partnership with Carilion Health System in Roanoke)
• Southside Community Hospital-Farmville, VA

Along with four hospitals, Centra Health manages numerous treatment, rehabilitation, mamography, and medical facilities across Central Virginia.

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)
• Batteau Festival: Celebrates the era when Lynchburg, Virginia was the center of the trade route between East and West. Flat-bottom boats called Batteaux filled the James River transporting tobacco and other goods to Richmond and bringing prosperity to the region.
• Dance Theatre of Lynchburg: Offers a full schedule of classes, a season of performances, and special events throughout the year.
• E.C. Glass High School Theatre: Offers productions from October through May each year.
• The Ellington Fellowship Playhouse: Hosts local, regional and national music acts on a regular basis.
• Jefferson Choral Society: The 100-plus voices that comprise the Jefferson Choral Society represent 15 different communities in and around Central Virginia.
• Kaleidoscope: An annual festival that offers exceptional recreational, cultural, educational, and entertainment opportunities that appeal to a broad spectrum of the community.
• Liberty University Theatre: Offers productions from October through May each year.
• Little Town Players: Offers productions throughout the year. Their theatre is located on the grounds of the Elks National Home in Bedford.
• Lynchburg College Theatre: Offers productions from October through April each year.
• Lynchburg Symphony Orchestra
• Lynchburg Youth Orchestra: A full orchestra comprised of high school students and a few talented middle school students.
• The Maier Museum of Art: Randolph College's nationally recognized museum features works by outstanding American artists of the 19th and 20th centuries.
• Randolph College Theatre
• Renaissance Theatre: Offers an open space, excellent acoustics, and an inviting atmosphere to enjoy the best of local theatre.
• Riverviews Artspace: A private, nonprofit art organization with galleries, public programs, open artist studios, classrooms, and shared performance studio.
• Sedalia Center's Chili Cook-Off: 40-50 chili-cooking teams compete for Best Chili (1st, 2nd, and 3rd place), Best Presentation, and Popular Choice. Taste them all and cast your vote! Live music, beer and other beverages available.
• Virginia Christmas Spectacular
• 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.
• Virginia Wine and Garlic Festival: An annual fall event featuring the state's wines, food from over 20 participating restaurants, and crafts from local artisans.

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.
• Fort Early: Named after General Jubal Anderson Early, whose Confederate troops defended the city against invasion by Union General David Hunter.
• Lynchburg Museum: Through the doors of the Lynchburg Museum one can relive the city's past,­ rich with tales of Monacan 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-Claytor 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.
• Meredith's House: Sama lives next door! Free coffee at 8!

Sports and recreation

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

• Liberty University Athletics
• Lynchburg College Athletics
• Lynchburg Hillcats: A Class High-A professional baseball team in the Carolina League. They are affiliated with the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• 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
• The Southwest Virginia Outdoor And Social Club

Neighborhoods

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

• College Hill
• Daniel's Hill
• Diamond Hill
• Federal Hill
• Franklin Hill
• Garland Hill
• White Rock Hill

Other major neighborhoods include Boonsboro, College Park, Rivermont, Fairview Heights, Fort Hill, Forest Hill (Old Forest Rd. Area), 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 is the hometown of the late 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:

• Daniel Weissiger Adams (1820-1872), born in Lynchburg, noted lawyer and Confederate Army officer
• Carl Anderson (singer) (1945–2004) was a singer and actor best known for portrayal of Judas Iscariot in the Broadway and film versions of the rock opera by Andrew Lloyd-Webber, Jesus Christ Superstar.
• Dylan Baker, Actor (The Murder of Mary Phagan)
• Greg Best, born in Lynchburg, Olympic Silver Medalist.
• Ota Benga, died in Lynchburg, (c. 1884 – March 20, 1916) was a Congolese pygmy who was featured in a 1906 exhibit at the Bronx Zoo alongside an orangutan. He was tutored by Lynchburg poet Anne Spencer and briefly attended classes at the Virginia Theological Seminary and College.
• Leslie Bibb, An American actress and former fashion model.
• Connie Britton, Actress: Friday Night Lights, Spin City, 24
• Cornell Brown, Professional (NFL) Football Player for the Baltimore Ravens Super Bowl Winning Team (2000)
• Ruben Brown, Professional (NFL) Football Player
• Anthony Clark, Comedian
• Romeo Crennel,(1947), An American football player and is currently the head coach of the Cleveland Browns of the National Football League.
• Desmond T. Doss (January 17, 1919 – March 23, 2006) was the first conscientious objector to receive the Medal of Honor
• Dc Talk, A Christian rock band formed in the late 1980s by Toby McKeehan, Kevin Max, and Michael Tait.
• Jubal Early, (1816-1894), died in Lynchburg, Lt. Gen. of the Confederate Army
• Escape Velocity, a pop/rock band formed in Lynchburg
• Bernhard Gutmann, (1869-1936), painter of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist landscapes, still lifes, figure paintings, and genre scenes as well as a graphic artist, an illustrator, an inspiring teacher, and a significant influence on the development of regional art centers in Virginia and Connecticut.
• Douglas Southall Freeman, (1886-1953), born in Lynchburg, Journalist and Historian
• Charles Haley, (1964), born in Lynchburg, Professional Football Player. The only player in NFL history to be on five Super Bowl-winning teams.
• Keith Hamilton, born in Lynchburg, Professional Football Player for the New York Giants who played in Super Bowl XXXV
• Earl Hamner (1923), An American television writer and producer, best known for his work in the 1970s and 1980s on the long-running series The Waltons and Falcon Crest.
• Eli Harris, (1976), born in Lynchburg, Actor: The Nanny Diaries
• Brandon Inge, Professional Baseball Player for the Detroit Tigers
• William A. Johnson, Jr., former Mayor of Rochester, NY. Distinguished Professor of Public Policy at the Rochester Institute of Technology
• Luke Jordan, (1892-1952), singer, guitarist and pioneer of east-coast style blues
• Paris Lenon, (1977, An American football linebacker for the Detroit Lions of the NFL.
• George G. Loving, Jr. Lt. General, USAF, WWII Fighter Ace, Author "Woodbine Red Leader."
• Charles Lynch (1736–1796), brother of founder John Lynch, Patriot in American Revolution, source of word "lynching"
• Leland D. Melvin, Astronaut
• Faith Prince, Actress
• Lucius Shepard, Writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy
• Randy Simpson, Owner of Milwaukee Iron - Master Motorcycle Builder, TV Personality
• Anne Spencer, Poet and Social Activist
• Kenan Thompson, (1978), An American television and film actor. Although born in Atlanta, Georgia, Kenan considers Lynchburg his hometown as his family lives in the area.
• Allen G. Thurman, (1813-1895), born in Lynchburg, Democratic Representative and Senator for Ohio
• Skeet Ulrich, (1970), born in Lynchburg, Actor: Jericho
• Samuel Untermyer, (1858-1940), born in Lynchburg, Lawyer and civic leader
• Ricky Van Shelton, Country Music Singer
• Ray Pillow, Country music singer and publisher
• Sheldon Vanauken, Author and personal friend of CS Lewis
• Phil Vassar, Country Music Singer
• Bransford Vawter, The first poet of Lynchburg
• Charles Vess (born 1951) is an American fantasy artist and comic-book illustrator who has specialized in the illustration of myths and fairy tales. He has won several awards.
• George H. Walker, (1811-1866), born in Lynchburg, Mayor and one founder of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• Randall Wallace, Writer and movie director whose works include Braveheart and Pearl Harbor.
• Robert E. Withers, U.S. Senator from Virginia and U.S. Consul to Hong Kong.

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, bi-monthly periodical
• The Lynchburg Guide, quarterly resource directory
• 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, Liberty University channel based in Lynchburg

Radio

• WJJX 102.7, Urban Contemporary based in Lynchburg
• WLNI 105.9, Talk Radio based in Lynchburg
• WNRN (WNRS 89.9), Modern Rock based in Charlottesville
• WROV 96.3, 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 Roanoke
• 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, Christian CHR/Rock radio based at Liberty University
• WWZW 96.7, Hot AC based in Buena Vista
• WXLK 92.3, Top-40 Radio based in Roanoke
• WYYD 107.9, Country based in Lynchburg
• WZZU 97.9, 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
• WKDE 105.5 Country based in Altavista

Transportation

Bus

The Greater Lynchburg Transit Company operates the local bus service within the city. The GLTC additionally provides the shuttle bus service on the Liberty University campus.

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.

List of local businesses

• Aerofin Corporation
• Amusement Safety Organization, Inc.
• American Hofmann Corporation
• Andrew Corp
• AREVA
• Banker Steel
• Barr Labs
• Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.
• BWX Technologies, Inc.
• C.B. Fleet
• Centra Health
• Centralva.net
• DePaul Family Services
• English Construction
• Flowserve
• Frito Lay
• Genworth Financial
• Griffin Pipe Products Company
• InService America
• Intermet Corporation - Archer Creek Foundry
• J. Crew Outfitters
• Mail America Communications
• Milwaukee Iron - Custom motorcycle fabricator featured in the television show "Southern Steel"
• Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company
• Norcraft Companies - StarMark Cabinetry
• Old Virginia Candle Company
• Parker Hannifin Corporation - Powertrain Division
• Progress Printing
• Rose Computers & Network Solutions
• R.R. Donnelley
• Sentry Equipment & Erectors, Inc.
• Southern Air
• StarTek
• Taylor-Ramsey Corporation
• Tyco Electronics - M/A-COM Critical Communications - Private Land Mobile Radio Systems
• Trax Tech Services

Miscellaneous

• The Monacan Indian tribe still lives in the Lynchburg area.[6]
• 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. There is no other known connection between the phrase and Lynchburg.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 identified on-screen as the scene of destructive shootout in 2007 film Shooter, starring Mark Wahlberg.
• 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.

External links

• City of Lynchburg
• The Survival of Professional Baseball in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1950s-1990s
• The News & Advance is Lynchburg's daily newspaper serving Central Virginia.
• Lynchburg Online
• The Lynchburg Guide
• Historic Lynchburg Photographs Series vintage post cards, railroad images & more
• Lynchburg Virginia is Lynchburg's site for interactive local news and useful links for the residents of Lynchburg
• "Little-Known" Attractions of Lynchburg and Central Virginia Lynchburg's Infamous "Alternate Reality" Web Site
• Lynchburg History Old photos of Lynchburg

• Historical Facts about Lynchburg, circa 1938