Staunton, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Staunton
Independent city
Frederick Street
Flag Seal
Nickname(s):  Queen City of the Shenandoah Valley
Location of Staunton in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Staunton Location in Shenandoah Valley Show map of Shenandoah Valley Staunton Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Staunton Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	None (Independent city)
Incorporated	1801
Government
• Type	Council-manager government
Area
• Total	19.98 sq mi (51.74 km2)
• Land	19.92 sq mi (51.59 km2)
• Water	0.06 sq mi (0.15 km2)
Elevation	1,417 ft (432 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	25,750
• Density	1,288.8/sq mi (497.68/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP codes	24401-24402
Area code(s)	540
FIPS code	51-75216
GNIS feature ID	1500154
Website	http://www.staunton.va.us/

Staunton (/ˈstæntən/ STAN-tən) is a city in Virginia, United States. It is called an independent city. This means it is not part of any county. In 2020, about 25,750 people lived there.

Staunton is famous for being the birthplace of Woodrow Wilson. He was the 28th U.S. president. The city is also home to Mary Baldwin University and the Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind. Staunton was the first city in the U.S. to use a "city manager" system. This system helps run the city government smoothly.

History of Staunton

Bird's-eye view of Staunton around 1910

The first settlers arrived in this area in 1732. A wealthy merchant named William Beverley was given a large piece of land here in 1736. In 1746, the first town plan was drawn up. The town was first called Beverley's Mill Place.

In 1747, the town was renamed Staunton. It was named after Lady Rebecca Staunton. She was the wife of the Royal Lieutenant-Governor, Sir William Gooch, 1st Baronet. The town was in the middle of the colony. So, it became an important regional capital from 1738 to 1771. It had the westernmost courthouse in British North America.

Staunton was a key trading center by 1760. It helped move grain and tobacco. This helped the American Colonies grow their economies. In 1781, Staunton even served as the capital of Virginia for a short time. This happened when state leaders had to flee Richmond and Charlottesville to avoid the British during the American Revolution.

Staunton During the Civil War

A letter from Staunton's mayor in 1861.

Staunton became an important center for trade and industry. This was especially true after the Virginia Central Railroad arrived in 1854. Factories in Staunton made carriages, wagons, shoes, and clothing. In 1860, the Staunton Military Academy was started.

In May 1861, people in Virginia voted to leave the Union. Staunton voted strongly in favor of leaving. During the Civil War, Staunton was a key supply center for the Confederacy.

In May 1862, Union General John C. Frémont took over Staunton for a short time. He was on his way to meet another general. By October 1862, the city was back in Confederate control.

In June 1864, Union Major General David Hunter arrived with 10,000 soldiers. They destroyed the railroad station, warehouses, and factories. They also took supplies.

After the Civil War

On July 10, 1902, Staunton officially became an independent city.

In 1908, Staunton started the "city manager" form of government. Charles E. Ashburner was the first city manager in the United States. This system helps professional managers run the city's daily operations.

Geography of Staunton

Staunton covers about 20 square miles (51.7 square kilometers) of land. It is located in the Shenandoah Valley. This valley is between the Blue Ridge Mountains and the Allegheny Mountains. These are part of the larger Appalachian Mountains.

Lewis Creek flows through Staunton. This creek eventually flows into the Shenandoah River. The Shenandoah River then flows into the Potomac River and finally into the Chesapeake Bay.

People of Staunton

The population of Staunton was 25,750 in 2020. The city has grown steadily over the years.

Population Breakdown (2020)

Note: Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic group. People of Hispanic/Latino origin can be of any race.

Economy and Jobs

Staunton has many different types of jobs. Here are some of the top employers in the city:

Arts and Culture in Staunton

The "What is ART?" sign on the side of the Clocktower Building

The By & By Café and Beer Garden, with Blackfriars Playhouse and the Hotel 24 South behind

Staunton is a lively place for arts and culture.

• The American Shakespeare Center is here. They perform plays at the Blackfriars Playhouse. It's a copy of Shakespeare's old theater.
• The Heifetz International Music Institute is also in Staunton. It's a summer music school for talented classical musicians.
• You can visit the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library. It tells the story of President Wilson.
• The Museum of American Frontier Culture shows what life was like in early America.
• The Staunton Music Festival happens every August. It features many concerts.
• The Queen City Mischief and Magic festival is for Harry Potter fans. It brings thousands of visitors to downtown Staunton.

Staunton also has many art galleries and schools. The Statler Brothers, famous country music legends, are from Staunton.

Staunton in Movies

Downtown Staunton has been used as a filming location for several movies:

• Gods and Generals (a Civil War film)
• Hearts in Atlantis
• Assault at West Point: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker
• Evan Almighty
• Familiar Strangers
• Rita Dove: An American Poet (a documentary)

Attractions to See

• Staunton has almost 200 buildings designed by architect Thomas Jasper Collins. He worked in different Victorian styles.
• The Hotel 24 South is the only historic hotel still open. It was renovated in the early 2000s.

Historic Places

Stuart House with gate and pumpkins

Many buildings in Staunton are on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites. Some of these include:

• Booker T. Washington High School: A former high school for African-American students.
• The Oaks: An old house from the 1840s.
• Sears House: A "bracketed cottage" built around 1860.
• Staunton Coca-Cola Bottling Works: A former Coca-Cola plant with a modern design.
• Stuart House: An 18th-century home inspired by Thomas Jefferson.
• Waverly Hill: A beautiful Georgian-revival house designed in 1929.

Sports in Staunton

Staunton has a history with baseball teams:

• In 1894, the city had a team called the Staunton Hayseeds.
• In 1914, there was a team called the Staunton Lunatics.
• From 1939 to 1942, the city had the Staunton Presidents.

Today, Staunton does not have a professional minor league baseball team. However, the Staunton Braves play in the Valley Baseball League. This is a summer baseball league for college players.

Parks and Recreation

Staunton has several parks for outdoor fun:

• Betsy Bell and Mary Gray Wilderness Parks: A 70-acre mountaintop park. It has an observation platform with great views.
• Gypsy Hill Park: A large 214-acre park. It has a golf course, sports stadiums, a gym, a lake, playgrounds, a swimming pool, and a mini-train.
• Montgomery Hall Park: A 148-acre park with softball and soccer fields, tennis courts, disc golf, playgrounds, and hiking trails.
• Booker T. Washington Community Center: This used to be a high school. Now it's a community center.
• Landes Park: A small, one-acre park near downtown.
• Reservoir Hill Park: A small four-acre park at the old city reservoir.
• Men's Green Thumb Park: About two acres, created by a garden club.
• Knowles Park: A small piece of land across from Gypsy Hill Park.
• Woodrow Park (Sears Hill): About five acres, named after President Woodrow Wilson. It has a scenic view of downtown.

Education in Staunton

Staunton High School

Staunton City Schools is the public school district for the city.

For a long time, African-American students were not allowed to attend the same schools as white students. In 1964, a group called the NAACP pushed for schools to be desegregated. By 1966, a court ordered that all schools and teachers in Staunton must be desegregated.

Public schools in Staunton:

• T.C. McSwain Elementary School
• A.R. Ware Elementary School
• Bessie Weller Elementary School
• Shelburne Middle School
• Staunton High School
• Dixon Educational Center

State-operated school:

• Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind

Private schools:

• Stuart Hall School
• Grace Christian School
• C. F. Richards Jr. Academy
• Mary Baldwin University (a private college)
• Raw Learning

Media

• The News Leader: The local newspaper.
• WHSV: An ABC TV station from Harrisonburg.
• WKDW-AM: A radio station.
• WQSV-LP: A community radio station.

Transportation

Roads and Highways

Major roads that go through Staunton include U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 250. These roads help people travel in and out of the city. Interstate 64 and Interstate 81 are also very close to Staunton. They provide fast routes for longer trips.

Public Transportation

Big Watering Can with Buckingham Branch locomotives

• Staunton has an Amtrak train station downtown. The Cardinal train stops here.
• The Blue Ridge Intercity Transit Express (BRITE) offers bus service in Staunton. There are three routes: the Downtown Trolley, West Route, and North Route.
• Coordinated Area Transportation Services (CATS) provides a shuttle service between Staunton and Waynesboro.
• The Virginia Breeze offers intercity bus service. It connects Staunton to places like Blacksburg and Washington.

The closest commercial airport is Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport.

Notable People from Staunton

Sister Cities

Staunton has two sister cities:

• Vişeu de Sus, Romania
• Dabas, Hungary

Images for kids

• 

  A drawing by Lewis Miller, 1853-1867.

• 

  Entrance gates, Stuart-Robertson House, Staunton.

See also

In Spanish: Staunton (Virginia) para niños