Clifton Forge, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Clifton Forge, Virginia
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Downtown Clifton Forge
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 Clifton Forge, Virginia
Location in Shenandoah Valley
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | Alleghany | |
| Settlement | 1700s | |
| Williamson's Station | February 13, 1861 | |
| Incorporated (town) | October 19, 1884 | |
| Incorporated (independent city) | March 31, 1906 | |
| Incorporated (town) | January 21, 2001 | |
| Named for | The Clifton estate in Lexington | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 3.08 sq mi (7.98 km2) | |
| • Land | 3.02 sq mi (7.82 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,083 ft (330 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,555 | |
| • Density | 1,154.2/sq mi (445.5/km2) | |
| ZIP Code |
24422
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| Area code(s) | 540 and 826 | |
| FIPS code | 51-17440 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1492780 | |
| Website | Official website: http://www.cliftonforgeva.gov/ | |
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States. It is part of the greater Roanoke Region. In 2020, about 3,555 people lived here. The Jackson River flows through the town. Because of the river, it was once called Jackson's River Station.
Clifton Forge used to be an independent city. This changed in 2001 when it became a town again. For many years, the railroad was a very important employer in Clifton Forge. The town is known for its beautiful mountain views and clear streams.
Contents
History of Clifton Forge
Clifton Forge has several places listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District and the Clifton Forge Residential Historic District. Also listed are the Clifton Furnace, Jefferson School, and Longdale Furnace Historic District. These places are important parts of the town's history.
Geography and Climate
Clifton Forge is located at 37°49′11″N 79°49′24″W / 37.81972°N 79.82333°W. The town covers about 3.1 square miles (7.98 square kilometers) of land. Some parts of the town were built on a bridge, raising them above a stream.
What is the Climate Like?
The weather in Clifton Forge has hot, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is called a humid subtropical climate. On climate maps, it is often shown as "Cfa".
People of Clifton Forge
In 2020, there were 3,555 people living in Clifton Forge. The town had 1,988 housing units. Most of the people were White (82.0%). About 11.7% were African American or Black. Other groups made up smaller parts of the population. About 1.9% of the people were Hispanic or Latino.
In 2010, there were 3,884 people living in the town. There were 1,701 households. About 23.9% of these households had children under 18. The average household had 2.18 people. The average family had 2.85 people.
The median age in Clifton Forge was 45.8 years. This means half the people were older than 45.8 and half were younger. About 21.7% of the population was under 18 years old.
Education in Clifton Forge
Students in Clifton Forge attend Alleghany Highlands Public Schools. Younger students go to Mountain View Elementary School. Older students attend Alleghany High School. Until 2023, students went to Clifton Middle School.
Mountain Gateway Community College is also located just west of the town. It offers higher education programs.
Getting Around Clifton Forge
Air Travel
The closest airport for small planes is Ingalls Field, near Hot Springs. For bigger planes with passenger flights, you can use Greenbrier Valley Airport or Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport.
Roads
Clifton Forge is connected by three main highways. These are Interstate 64, U.S. Route 60, and U.S. Route 220.
Train Travel
Amtrak is the national passenger train service. It has a stop at the Clifton Forge station. You can take the Cardinal train route from here. Clifton Forge is also a big fuel stop for CSX Transportation trains. The Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society and C&O Railway Heritage Center are also located here.
Famous People from Clifton Forge
Many interesting people were born in Clifton Forge:
- Dana Brunetti (born 1973) – a media executive
- Bray Cary (born 1948) – a politician
- Lisa Disbrow (born 1962) – a US Air Force secretary
- Oscar L. Heltzen (1882–1968) – a lawyer
- Richard L. Hoffman (1927-2012) – a zoologist
- Johnny Humphries (1915–1965) – a baseball pitcher
- Trudi Lacey – a basketball player and coach
- Nancy Massie Meadows (1912–1986) – a governor
- Nathan Moore (born 1970) – a musician known as "Percy Byrd"
- William Overstreet Jr. (1921–2013) – a WW2 pilot
- Ira De Augustine Reid (1901–1968) – a sociologist
- Denny Riddleberger (born 1945) – a baseball player
- Bryan Stinespring (born 1963) – a football coach
- James T. Turner (born 1938) – a senior judge
- Roger Arliner Young (1899–1964) – a scientist
Images for kids
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Downtown Clifton Forge
