Radford, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Radford, Virginia
Independent city
Main Street in Radford, Virginia.
Seal
Nickname(s):  The New River City
Radford in Virginia
Radford, Virginia Location in Shenandoah Valley Show map of Shenandoah Valley Radford, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Radford, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1887
Named for	John B. Radford
Area
• Total	10.01 sq mi (25.92 km2)
• Land	9.68 sq mi (25.06 km2)
• Water	0.33 sq mi (0.86 km2)
Elevation	2,103 ft (641 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	16,070
• Density	1,605.4/sq mi (619.98/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	24141–24143
Area code(s)	540
FIPS code	51-65392
GNIS feature ID	1500073
Website	http://www.radfordva.gov

Radford is an independent city in the state of Virginia, USA. It is located along the New River. In 2020, about 16,070 people lived here. Radford is part of the larger Blacksburg–Christiansburg metropolitan area.

Radford is home to Radford University. The city also has four schools for younger students: McHarg Elementary, Belle Heth Elementary, Dalton Intermediate, and Radford High School.

History of Radford

Radford was named after Dr. John B. Radford. His home, Arnheim, is a historic place. Radford started as a small village near the New River. The river was important for travelers heading west.

Early Growth and Railroads

The town grew quickly after 1854 when the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad was built. A large train station was placed at a spot called Lovely Mount. This helped the town become a busy railroad center. The name of the town changed several times, from Lovely Mount to Central Depot, and then to Radford in 1891. Central Depot was a good name because it was halfway between Lynchburg and Bristol, Virginia. Other old names like "Ingle's Ferry" or "English Ferry" came from a ferry crossing the New River.

Industry and Education

Between 1900 and 1930, many businesses came to Radford. These included companies that made ice, dairy products, and other goods. In 1913, Radford was chosen for a women's college, which later became Radford University. This college brought more people and attention to the city.

In the 1940s, the U.S. Military built a plant to make gunpowder and ammunition. This plant, called the Radford Army Ammunition Plant or "the Arsenal," became a major employer. Many families moved to Radford, and new neighborhoods like Monroe Terrace, Radford Village, and Sunset Village were built for them.

Passenger train service through Radford ended in 1971. People started using highways and airplanes more. However, the railroad still plays an important role for freight trains today.

Several historic places in Radford are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the James Charlton Farm, Ingles Bottom Archeological Sites, and Ingles Ferry.

Glencoe Museum

Glencoe
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Glencoe, October 2013
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Location	First St., Radford, Virginia
Area	2.1 acres (0.85 ha)
Built	1875 (1875)
Architectural style	Second Empire
NRHP reference No.	00001439
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 22, 2000

The Glencoe Museum is in downtown Radford, overlooking the New River. This large brick house was built around 1870 in the Second Empire style. It was once the home of Confederate General Gabriel C. Wharton. The house was given to the city of Radford in 1996 and turned into a museum.

The museum shows many interesting things about Radford's past. You can see Native American tools and learn about how important the New River was to their way of life. There are also old maps of the city and pictures of Radford from long ago. The museum has exhibits on local sports history and how the river affected transportation. Glencoe Museum is a popular place for school trips and visitors. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

Parks and Attractions

Radford has five parks: Bisset Park, Wildwood Park, Riverview Park, Sunset Park, and Sisson Park. The city also has the historic Glencoe Museum, a farmer's market, and a movie theater.

Sunset Park and Sisson Park are in the west end of Radford. Riverview Park is mainly used for soccer and is also located on the New River. Wildwood Park is a special area for plants and wildlife. Sisson Park also has Joe Hodge Field, which is used for baseball and softball games.

Bisset Park

Bisset Park is the largest park in Radford, covering about 57 acres along the New River. It was named after David Bisset, who helped develop parks and recreation in Radford. The park has picnic areas, a gazebo, tennis courts, and open fields for soccer.

The Riverway Trail is a 3.5-mile paved path for biking and walking. You can access it from Bisset Park. The trail goes along the New River and into Wildwood Park. At the western end of Bisset Park, you can find a marker about the Civil War. You can also see the remains of a bridge that was burned during the Battle of New River Bridge.

Wildwood Park

Wildwood Park is a 50-acre wooded area in the center of town. It has a paved path along a stream and hiking trails on its hillsides. It became the city's first public park in 1929. The park's path connects to Bisset Park through a tunnel under Main Street.

Wildwood Park is used by Radford University and Radford High School for biology classes. Students study animals, plants, and streams here. Many different wildflowers grow in the park, making it a beautiful place to visit. You might see deer, raccoons, opossums, and many kinds of birds.

On the western side of the park is Adams Cave, a limestone cave. It was used to collect saltpeter during the Civil War. A small stream called Connelly's Run flows through the park. Children often enjoy looking for crayfish in the stream during summer.

Geography and Climate

Radford is located at 37.127585 degrees North latitude and -80.569523 degrees West longitude. The city covers about 10.2 square miles. Most of this area is land, with about 0.3 square miles of water. The New River flows along the southwestern, western, and northern edges of the city.

Weather and Climate History

High-water mark sign in Bisset Park marking the height of the 1940 flood.

The biggest flood in Radford's history happened on August 14, 1940. A slow-moving tropical storm brought a lot of rain. This storm caused record rainfall in Virginia, especially in the mountains. For example, Copper Hill in Floyd County, Virginia, received over 17 inches of rain.

The New River (Kanawha River) reached a record height of almost 36 feet, which is about 22 feet above flood level. People in low areas had to leave their homes. Factories like Burlington Mills and Lynchburg Foundry had to close because of the high water. Roads leading out of Radford were also flooded. Luckily, no one died in southwest Virginia, but the flood caused millions of dollars in damage.

In 2011, a sign was placed in Bisset Park to remember this historic flood. It helps people understand the risk of flooding in the area.

Nearby Areas

• Pulaski County, Virginia – to the west
• Montgomery County, Virginia – to the east

Population Changes

2020 Census Information

Note: The U.S. Census counts Hispanic/Latino people as an ethnic group. This table separates them from the racial categories.

Sports Achievements

Radford has a rich history in sports, especially with its high school teams.

• From 1946 to 1950, Radford had its own professional baseball team, the Radford Rockets. They played in the Blue Ridge League.
• John Dobbins was the first Black football player for Virginia Tech.
• Radford High School has won 36 state titles in various sports from the Virginia High School League (VHSL).
• The Radford High School football teams of 1971 and 1972 were undefeated. They won over 26 games in a row and claimed the AA state title two years in a row.
• Frank Beamer, who later became a famous football coach at Virginia Tech, was an assistant coach for the 1971 Radford Bobcats Football Team.
• Norman G. Lineburg is a legendary coach in Virginia. He coached the Radford Bobcats football team from 1970 to 2006, winning 315 games. He has the second-most wins in VHSL football history.
• Darris Nichols, a former Radford High School basketball star, played for the West Virginia Mountaineers. He is known for hitting a game-winning shot in 2007 that sent his team to the NIT Championship game. He also holds school records for games played.

Radford High School State Titles

• 2022 Class A Boys' Outdoor Track and Field
• 2017 Class 2A Boys Swimming
• 2013 Class A Boys' Outdoor Track and Field
• 2013 Class A Boys' Basketball
• 2012 Class A Boys' Cross Country
• 2011 Class A Boys' Basketball
• 2011 Class A Girls' Basketball
• 2009 Class A Boys' Basketball
• 2008 Class A Boys' Soccer
• 2007 Class A Girls' Soccer
• 2007 Class A Boys' Soccer
• 2007 Class A Boys' Cross Country
• 2005 Class A Girls' Basketball
• 2002 Class A Girls' Tennis
• 2001 Class A Girls' Tennis
• 2000 Class A Girls' Tennis
• 1999 Class A Girls' Tennis
• 1998 Class A Wrestling
• 1998 Class A Girls' Tennis
• 1998 Class A Boys' Tennis
• 1998 Class A Boys' Track
• 1990 Class AA Girls' Track
• 1989 Class AA Girls' Track
• 1988 Class AA Girls' Basketball
• 1988 Class AA Girls' Tennis
• 1985 Class AA Girls' Tennis
• 1984 Class AA Girls' Volleyball
• 1984 Class AA Girls' Basketball
• 1983 Class AA Girls' Basketball
• 1972 Class AA Football
• 1972 Class AA Boys' Outdoor Track
• 1972 Class AA Boys' Indoor Track
• 1971 Class AA Football
• 1963 Class AA Boys' Tennis
• 1949 Class AA Boys' Basketball

Notable People from Radford

Many well-known people have connections to Radford:

• Richard Harding Poff: A U.S. Representative and a Senior Justice of the Virginia Supreme Court.
• The Gregory Brothers: Musicians and comedians.
• John Dalton: A former Governor of Virginia.
• James Hoge Tyler: Another former Governor of Virginia.
• James Clinton Turk: A United States District Judge.
• Theodore Roosevelt Dalton: A United States District Judge.
• Glen E. Conrad: A United States District Judge.
• Scott Long: A human rights activist.
• Mike Williams: A Major League Baseball pitcher.
• John Ripley: A United States Marine Corps Colonel.
• Kevin Hartman: A Major League Soccer goalkeeper.
• Margaret Skeete: (1878–1994), once the oldest living American.
• Paul Washer: A Christian missionary.
• Seka (actress): An actress and author.
• Mike Young (basketball): The Head Basketball Coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies men's team.

See also

In Spanish: Radford (Virginia) para niños