Front Royal, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Front Royal
|
||
|---|---|---|
| Town of Front Royal | ||
Aerial view of Front Royal
|
||
|
||
| Nickname(s):
Canoe Capital of Virginia, Fro Ro, The Royal
|
||
 Front Royal
Location in Shenandoah Valley
Front Royal
Location in Virginia
Front Royal
Location in the United States
|
||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | Warren | |
| Founded | 1788 | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 10.52 sq mi (27.24 km2) | |
| • Land | 10.27 sq mi (26.61 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.24 sq mi (0.63 km2) | |
| Elevation | 568 ft (173 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
|
||
| • Total | 15,011 | |
| • Estimate
(2023)
|
15,400 | |
| • Density | 1,430.48/sq mi (552.33/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
22630
|
|
| Area code(s) | 540 | |
| FIPS code | 51-29968 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498480 | |
| Website | http://www.frontroyalva.com | |
Front Royal is a town in Warren County, Virginia, United States. It's the only town in Warren County that is officially incorporated. In 2023, about 15,400 people lived there. Front Royal is also the county seat, which means it's where the main government offices for Warren County are located.
Contents
History of Front Royal
Front Royal is located in the Shenandoah Valley. This area was once claimed by the Iroquois Confederation for hunting by 1672. Later, some Shawnee groups lived here, sometimes allied with the Iroquois or Cherokee. In 1744, the Iroquois officially sold their land claims east of the Allegheny Mountains to the Virginia Colony.
European explorers knew about this area as early as the 1670s. The town itself was first settled in 1754. A nearby settlement called Chester's Ferry existed by 1736. By the 1790s, Front Royal had a nickname, "Helltown." This was because many livestock wranglers and boatmen from the Shenandoah River would visit the town looking for drinks. The town was officially named "Front Royal" in 1788.
Railroad service came to Front Royal in 1854. This was important during the American Civil War. The railroad played a role in the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862. After the Civil War, jobs in the area came from lumber, farming, factories, and grain mills.
A large factory called American Viscose made rayon, a type of fabric. It was Front Royal's biggest employer, with 3,000 workers at its busiest time. The factory operated from the 1930s until 1989. During World War II, it made rayon for tires. Later, it produced rayon for rocket parts used by the Defense Department and NASA.
How Front Royal Got Its Name
There are a few ideas about how Front Royal got its unique name.
One popular story says the town was named after a huge oak tree. This tree, called the "Royal" Tree of England, stood in the town square. Local soldiers would practice their drills there. A common command was "front the Royal Oak!" Over time, this command was shortened to "Front Royal." A report from the United States Geological Survey in 1905 supports this idea.
Another story suggests that during the American Revolution, soldiers stationed in the town had a special password. The sentry would call out "Front," and the person entering had to reply "Royal." This military post eventually became known as "Camp Front Royal."
A third idea comes from French settlers and explorers in the 1700s. They might have called the area "le front royal," which means "the British frontier." This referred to the land grant given by King Charles II. In English, "le front royal" translates to the "Royal Frontier."
By 1788, when the town was officially formed, the name "Front-Royal" was already widely used.
Geography and Climate
Front Royal is about 76 miles (122 km) west of Washington, D.C.. It's also near other towns like Middletown and Strasburg.
The town covers about 10.5 square miles (27.2 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water. Front Royal is located where the North and South Forks of the Shenandoah River meet.
Weather in Front Royal
Front Royal has a humid subtropical climate. This means summers are warm and humid, with high temperatures usually in the low to mid-80s Fahrenheit (around 27-30 degrees Celsius). Winters are cool, with low temperatures in the upper 20s Fahrenheit (around -2 degrees Celsius).
The town gets about 43 inches (109 cm) of rain each year. It also averages about 24 inches (61 cm) of snowfall per year.
| Climate data for Front Royal, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1995–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 75 (24) |
81 (27) |
88 (31) |
94 (34) |
98 (37) |
101 (38) |
104 (40) |
100 (38) |
99 (37) |
93 (34) |
86 (30) |
81 (27) |
104 (40) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 43.0 (6.1) |
46.5 (8.1) |
54.3 (12.4) |
66.6 (19.2) |
74.3 (23.5) |
82.3 (27.9) |
86.7 (30.4) |
84.6 (29.2) |
77.8 (25.4) |
67.3 (19.6) |
56.0 (13.3) |
46.8 (8.2) |
65.5 (18.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) |
36.1 (2.3) |
43.4 (6.3) |
54.5 (12.5) |
62.8 (17.1) |
71.2 (21.8) |
75.4 (24.1) |
73.5 (23.1) |
66.7 (19.3) |
56.1 (13.4) |
45.5 (7.5) |
37.4 (3.0) |
54.7 (12.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.1 (−4.4) |
25.7 (−3.5) |
32.5 (0.3) |
42.5 (5.8) |
51.3 (10.7) |
60.0 (15.6) |
64.1 (17.8) |
62.4 (16.9) |
55.6 (13.1) |
44.9 (7.2) |
35.1 (1.7) |
28.1 (−2.2) |
43.9 (6.6) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
−2 (−19) |
3 (−16) |
17 (−8) |
28 (−2) |
43 (6) |
49 (9) |
47 (8) |
37 (3) |
23 (−5) |
14 (−10) |
5 (−15) |
−4 (−20) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 2.85 (72) |
2.45 (62) |
3.77 (96) |
3.41 (87) |
4.36 (111) |
4.49 (114) |
3.57 (91) |
3.96 (101) |
4.76 (121) |
3.35 (85) |
3.29 (84) |
3.11 (79) |
43.37 (1,103) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.7 (12) |
9.4 (24) |
2.2 (5.6) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
4.8 (12) |
21.1 (54) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.6 | 8.3 | 10.0 | 11.3 | 13.5 | 11.7 | 10.7 | 10.6 | 8.9 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 9.0 | 119.7 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.5 | 2.4 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.6 | 7.5 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Front Royal
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 504 | — | |
| 1860 | 807 | 60.1% | |
| 1870 | 705 | −12.6% | |
| 1880 | 829 | 17.6% | |
| 1890 | 868 | 4.7% | |
| 1900 | 1,005 | 15.8% | |
| 1910 | 1,133 | 12.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,404 | 23.9% | |
| 1930 | 2,424 | 72.6% | |
| 1940 | 3,831 | 58.0% | |
| 1950 | 8,115 | 111.8% | |
| 1960 | 7,949 | −2.0% | |
| 1970 | 8,211 | 3.3% | |
| 1980 | 11,126 | 35.5% | |
| 1990 | 11,880 | 6.8% | |
| 2000 | 13,589 | 14.4% | |
| 2010 | 14,440 | 6.3% | |
| 2020 | 15,011 | 4.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 13,589 people living in Front Royal. They lived in 5,425 households, with 3,585 being families. The town had about 1,465 people per square mile (566 people per square kilometer).
About 88% of the people were White, and nearly 9% were African American. Other groups included Native American, Asian, and Pacific Islander people. About 2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of age, about 25.7% of the people were under 18. The median age was 37 years old. This means half the population was younger than 37 and half was older.
The average income for a household in Front Royal was $34,786. For families, it was $42,675. About 14.8% of the population lived below the poverty line. This included 15.2% of those under 18 and 13.2% of those 65 or older.
Economy and Development
Front Royal has its own Economic Development Authority. This group works to bring new businesses and jobs to the town.
Local Attractions
Front Royal is home to several important places:
- Randolph-Macon Academy: A school founded in 1892, known for its Air Force JROTC program.
- Christendom College: A private college.
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute (SCBI): A research center focused on wildlife conservation.
- Two high schools: Skyline High School and Warren County High School.
The town also hosts the Virginia Inland Port. This is a special port where goods can be checked by U.S. Customs before being moved across the country. It's located near U.S. Route 522.
Front Royal was once home to the Avtex Fibers rayon plant. This site is now a Superfund site, meaning it's being cleaned up due to past pollution. The goal is to turn it into an eco-friendly office park, soccer fields, and a conservancy park along the Shenandoah River.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Canine Center Front Royal is also here. Since 1974, this facility has trained dogs and their handlers to detect different things for federal and law enforcement agencies.
Sports and Culture
Front Royal has a baseball team called the Front Royal Cardinals. They joined the Valley Baseball League in 1984. Their games are played at Bing Crosby Stadium.
Bing Crosby, a famous singer and actor, helped raise money for the original stadium. In 1950, his movie Riding High had its world premiere in Front Royal. Crosby also sang on the courthouse steps to help raise funds for the stadium. He even made the first donation of $1,000. On "Bing Crosby Day" in 1950, he led a parade and donated more money to the stadium fund.
In 1953, a Little League team from Front Royal coached by Frank Nesbitt came in 3rd place in the world tournament. One of the players, Freddie Moore, later became very involved in Front Royal Little League. After he passed away, one of the Little League fields was named in his honor.
The Confederate Museum on Chester Street has many items from the 1860s. The Warren Heritage Society also has museum buildings like the Ivy Lodge (built around 1859), the Belle Boyd Cottage (around 1836), and the Balthis House (around 1788).
In February 1999, Front Royal was officially named the "Canoe Capital of Virginia."
Historic Places to Visit
Many buildings and areas in Front Royal are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:
- Balthis House
- Erin
- Fairview Farm
- Flint Run Archeological District
- Front Royal Historic District
- Front Royal Recreational Park Historic District
- Killahevlin
- Mountain Home
- Riverside
- Riverton Historic District
- Rose Hill
- Sonner Hall (at Randolph-Macon Academy)
- Warren County Courthouse
Education in Front Royal
The Samuels Public Library serves the town. It has a long history, starting as Virginia's second subscription library in 1799. Its current building opened in 2009.
Schools in Front Royal
Front Royal has many schools for different age groups:
- Mountain Laurel Montessori School
- A.S. Rhodes Elementary School
- Blue Ridge Technical Center
- E.W. Morrison Elementary School
- Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School
- Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School
- Ressie Jeffries Elementary School
- Skyline Middle School
- Warren County Middle School
- Brighter Futures Learning Community
- Mountain Vista Governor's School
- Skyline High School
- Warren County High School
- John XXIII Montessori Center
- Chelsea Academy (grades K-12)
- Randolph-Macon Academy (grades 6–12)
- Divinum Auxilium Academy (grades preschool-6)
- St. Edith Stein School for Girls (grades 7–12)
- St. Joseph the Just School for Boys (grades 7–12)
- John Paul the Great Montessori Academy (grades K-12)
Higher Education
For college-level studies, Front Royal is home to:
- Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation
- Christendom College
Media and News
Front Royal has three radio stations and two weekly newspapers.
On the radio, FM stations WZRV and WFQX are licensed to the town. AM station WFTR is also based and licensed here.
The Northern Virginia Daily is a newspaper that comes out every day. Weekly newspapers include The Sherando Times and The Warren County Report. The Warren Sentinel is the oldest newspaper in the county, having been published for over 150 years.
Transportation
Front Royal is located where several important roads meet. These include US 340 and US 522. SR 55 also goes through the town. I-66 passes just north of Front Royal.
For local travel, Virginia Regional Transit runs the Front Royal Trolley, which is a bus service. Ride Smart Northern Shenandoah Valley provides bus service for people commuting between Front Royal and the Washington D.C. area. The Virginia Breeze intercity bus also stops in Front Royal, offering service between Blacksburg and Washington D.C.
Famous People from Front Royal
- Dana Allison: A professional baseball player.
- Howard Klein: A pianist and former music critic for The New York Times.
- J. Hillis Miller Sr.: The fourth president of the University of Florida.
- W. K. Stratton: An actor known for the TV series Black Sheep Squadron.
- Darrell Whitmore: A professional baseball player.
Images for kids
-
The Battle of Front Royal was fought during the US Civil War
-
Mid-20th century postcard showing an aerial view of the American Viscose Corporation Plant in Front Royal, Virginia.
-
Front Royal, VA with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background
-
The gazebo at the Village Commons in Front Royal
-
Bing Crosby Stadium
-
Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers on South Street
-
Sonner Hall at Randolph-Macon Academy is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
-
E.W. Morrison Elementary School
-
Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation
-
View south along US 340/522 and east along SR 55 in Front Royal
_crossing_the_South_Fork_Shenandoah_River_in_Front_Royal,_Warren_County,_Virginia.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Front Royal para niños
