Make the New River Your Home

The New River Valley encompasses the pastoral beauty of rolling hills and gentle valleys and the lively side of life in street fairs, nationally televised athletic events, challenging outdoor activities, and a variety of entertainment for all ages.

 

There are small towns and very small towns, a big university campus and smaller campuses, little shops and large bookstores, cozy cafés, rustic steakhouses and fine dining, along with friendly, little lodging options and big hotels.

 

Whether you are the strolling-around type who loves to have a cappuccino in one hand and a good book in the other, the personality who prefers stretching yourself to the limit with a mountain hike or bike ride, or somewhere between resting heart rate and breaking a sweat, the New River Valley provides the opportunities.

 

The Old "New River"
Named for the New River, which is really a very old river, the area was settled by pioneers and farmers enamored with the fertile land and attractive environment.

 

While the river provided water, food, and energy, it was also a significant obstacle since it runs south to north while most of the early roads were blazed east and west. It is part of the waterways dubbed “western waters” because it flows to the Gulf of Mexico instead of the Atlantic Ocean.

 

In the 18th century, settlements became towns, and local entrepreneurs opened small businesses and offered services to the farmers and traders. In the mid-19th century, trains started coming, and railroad depots and stations were built. By the 20th century, the area was emerging in higher education, and tourists would come for relaxation in the fresh air.

 

The New River flows into Giles County at its border with West Virginia and meanders 37 miles through the County. The waterway offers a plethora of tubing, fishing, camping sites, and picturesque photo opportunities. Small towns, waterfalls, national forests, a covered bridge, a natural lake, and several miles of the Appalachian Trail create an inviting, rural atmosphere.

 

Montgomery County
Montgomery County is home to the largest towns, Christiansburg and Blacksburg, established in 1792 and 1798, respectively. Daniel Boone blazed the Wilderness Trail through these parts, and Christiansburg honors this with a street fair each year. The town has enticing antiquing and is the retail-shopping mecca for the region.

 

Blacksburg
Blacksburg is home to Virginia Tech, the largest university in the state as well as the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine and the new Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine. Highly rated as a retirement place and among the first in the nation to create an electronic village, the town is a compact blend of higher education, global technology, and old-fashioned hospitality with an interesting, international presence.

 

Huckleberry Trail
The Huckleberry Trail, a 6.5-mile walking trail, connects downtown Blacksburg with the shopping mall in Christiansburg. Popular with walkers, bicyclists, and occasional in-line skaters, the paved path follows the old railroad bed on which the train brought cadets to Virginia Tech decades ago.

 

Floyd County
For a rocking good time on weekends, Floyd County is tops. It was organized in 1831 and was named for the governor at the time. The little town was first incorporated in 1858 as Jacksonville and re-named Floyd in 1896. It retains a simple atmosphere, and the bluegrass, clogging, country music, and dancing will make you smile, move, and laugh like nowhere else.

 

The Blue Ridge Parkway passes through Floyd County, and the views are spectacular. Hiking, biking, antiquing, wine tasting, bird watching, picnicking, and cross-country skiing are just some of the mountain adventures.

 

Radford
Radford, originally called Central or Central Depot, was re-named in 1892 for John B. Radford, a local resident and medical doctor. It is an incorporated city and home of Radford University, founded in 1910. The campus has six colleges and about 9,200 students. The Carilion New River Valley Medical Center is a state-of-the-art hospital with a Level III trauma center, unique pediatric unit, cardiac rehab, and a wide variety of medical services.

 

By: Joanne M. Anderson