Christiansburg, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Christiansburg, Virginia
Town
Downtown Christiansburg
Flag Seal
Motto(s):  The Place to be!
Christiansburg, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Christiansburg, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Montgomery
Incorporated	November 10, 1792
Area
• Total	14.64 sq mi (37.93 km2)
• Land	14.62 sq mi (37.87 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.07 km2)
Elevation	2,133 ft (650 m)
Population
• Total	21,041
• Estimate  (2019)	22,473
• Density	1,537.14/sq mi (593.50/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	24068, 24073
Area code(s)	540
FIPS code	51-16608
GNIS feature ID	1498467
Website	http://www.christiansburg.org/

Christiansburg is a town in Virginia, United States. It is the main town of Montgomery County. In 2020, about 23,348 people lived there. Christiansburg is part of a larger area that includes the towns of Blacksburg and Radford.

History of Christiansburg

How the Town Began (1671–1792)

The New River was found by early settlers in 1671. These settlers came from different parts of Europe. Native American tribes, like the Shawnee, also lived along the river.

In the early 1700s, a Dutch priest named Friar Hans arrived. The area was then called Hans Meadow after him. Later, pioneers from Pennsylvania and eastern Virginia settled here.

In 1776, Montgomery County was created. The town of Christiansburg was named after Colonel William Christian. He was an early settler and a brave leader.

Christiansburg started as a place with taverns and rest stops along a major road called the Great Wilderness Road. The town was officially created on November 10, 1792. It became an incorporated town on January 7, 1833.

Famous Early Visitors

Many important people visited Christiansburg in its early days.

• George Washington, who became the first U.S. President, visited the town.
• The famous frontiersman Daniel Boone lived in Christiansburg for a while.
• Davy Crockett, another well-known frontiersman, also lived here. He worked at a hat shop for some time.
• William Clark, from the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition, lived in downtown Christiansburg. His partner, Meriwether Lewis, also visited the town.

Early Years and Growth (1793–1860)

Christiansburg grew a lot in the early 1800s. By 1840, about 400 people lived there. Mills and other businesses helped the town grow. New streets were built, and churches were added. A new courthouse was built in 1836.

A famous rifle fight, called the Lewis-McHenry Duel, happened in Christiansburg in 1808. Both men died, which led to a law in Virginia that made dueling illegal.

An artist named Lewis Miller loved the scenery around Montgomery County. He often stayed in Christiansburg to draw town scenes. The Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center is named after him.

Civil War and Later (1861–1899)

During the American Civil War, many local men fought for the Confederate army. Union soldiers came to Christiansburg several times. In 1864, they burned most of the train station buildings.

Confederate soldiers used some buildings in town as headquarters. A nearby resort was even used as a hospital during the war. After the war, Christiansburg's population went down for a while.

Christiansburg Institute

In 1866, a school called the Christiansburg Normal Institute was founded. It was created to educate Black children.

Booker T. Washington, a very important educator, led the institute from 1896 to 1915. He helped the school grow and offer many different subjects, including practical skills. The school moved to a larger area and added many buildings. Famous people like George Washington Carver visited the school.

The Christiansburg Institute became a public high school in 1947. It was the first high school for Black students in southwestern Virginia. It closed in 1966 when schools became desegregated.

Early 1900s (1900–1945)

By the early 1900s, Christiansburg had a bank, a newspaper, and telephone service. Farming was very important to the local economy.

A big fire in 1900 destroyed some buildings downtown. But Christiansburg still grew quickly. The success of the train station, which shipped goods for the county, helped a lot. The area around the train station became its own town called Cambria in 1906.

In 1926, the first interstate highway in America, U.S. Route 11, was completed through Christiansburg. During the Great Depression, Christiansburg's Post Office received a special mural called "Great Road" in 1938. This artwork was part of a government program to help artists.

After World War II (1946–1965)

After World War II, Christiansburg became more industrial. New businesses opened, and Virginia Tech continued to grow, providing many jobs. In 1953, the Starlite Drive-In movie theater opened, and it's still open today!

The 1950s saw several big fires that destroyed many businesses in town. Because of these challenges, the town of Cambria joined with Christiansburg on December 31, 1965.

Modern Times (1966–Present)

Christiansburg kept growing in the 1970s and 1980s, adding more land and people. New shopping areas like the New River Valley Mall were built.

In the 2000s, more retail areas like Spradlin Farms and the New River Center were developed. The town also made some adjustments to its borders, adding more land and residents. In 2021, a fun "friendly sign war" between local businesses became popular online.

Geography

Christiansburg is located at 37°5′28″N 80°24′28″W / 37.09111°N 80.40778°W / 37.09111; -80.40778.

The town covers about 14.3 square miles.

Christiansburg is at the meeting point of three main highways: Interstate 81, U.S. Route 460, and U.S. Route 11. These roads connect Christiansburg to other important towns and cities like Blacksburg and Roanoke.

Christiansburg is one of two towns in Montgomery County. It is part of the New River Valley Planning District, which is a growing area.

Population Information

In 2000, there were about 16,947 people living in Christiansburg. The population density was about 1,217 people per square mile. The town has grown over the years, reaching an estimated 22,473 people in 2019.

The median age in Christiansburg was 35 years old. About 23.8% of the population was under 18 years old.

Fun Things to Do

Uptown Christiansburg, formerly New River Valley Mall

The New River Valley Mall was renamed Uptown Christiansburg in 2020. You can find a branch of the New River Community College there. Christiansburg also has two movie theaters, including the cool Starlite Drive-In.

Parks and Recreation

Christiansburg has many public parks for outdoor fun. It also has an aquatic center for swimming and a recreation center. The recreation center offers bike rentals, basketball courts, and racquetball courts. You can also enjoy the Huckleberry Trail for walking and biking.

Getting Around Town

Roads

Interstate 81 runs along the southern edge of Christiansburg. U.S. Route 11 goes through the town from east to west.

U.S. Route 460 connects Christiansburg to Blacksburg, where Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University is located.

Trains

In the past, several passenger trains used to stop at the Christiansburg station. Today, Christiansburg is a control point for freight trains on the NS Christiansburg district.

Bus Services

Blacksburg Transit provides bus transportation within Christiansburg. They have several routes like The Explorer and the Two Town Trolley.

The Smart Way Bus connects Christiansburg to Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, the Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport, and Roanoke, Virginia. In Roanoke, you can catch an Amtrak train.

The Virginia Breeze bus service connects Christiansburg to other cities like Harrisonburg, Virginia and Washington, D.C..

Radford Transit also offers bus service connecting Christiansburg to Radford, Virginia and Blacksburg/Virginia Tech. Pulaski Area Transit connects Christiansburg to Pulaski, Virginia.

Famous People from Christiansburg

• Chris Bachelder, a writer
• Robert Craig, a U.S. Congressman
• George Rogers Clark Floyd, a politician, was born here
• Matt Hagan, a champion race car driver
• Henry King, a Hollywood director
• Louis King, a Hollywood actor and director
• Derrick Lancaster, a racing driver
• Clyde Lynn, a racing driver
• Archer Allen Phlegar, a Virginia Supreme Court justice
• Ruby Altizer Roberts, an author and Virginia's poet laureate
• Ronnie Thomas, a NASCAR Rookie of the Year, and his father Jabe Thomas, also a NASCAR driver
• Gertrude Hoag Wilson, a composer and music director

See also

In Spanish: Christiansburg (Virginia) para niños