{{Infobox City
|official_name = Lynchburg, Virginia
|nickname =
|motto =
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|image_flag =
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|image_map = Map_of_Virginia_highlighting_Lynchburg_City.svg
|mapsize = 250px
|map_caption = Location in Virginia
|subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_type1 = State
|subdivision_type2 = County
|subdivision_name = [[United States]]
|subdivision_name1 = Virginia
|subdivision_name2 = [[Independent City]]
|leader_title = Mayor
|leader_name = Joan Foster
|established_title =
|established_date =
|area_magnitude =
|TotalArea_sq_mi = 49.8
|area_total =
|LandArea_sq_mi = 49.4
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|WaterArea_sq_mi = 0.4
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|population_as_of = 2000
|population_note =
|population_total = 65,269
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|timezone = Eastern (EST)
|utc_offset = -5
|timezone_DST = EDT
|utc_offset_DST = -4
|latd=37 |latm=24 |lats=13 |latNS= N
|longd=79 |longm=10 |longs=12 |longEW= W
|elevation =
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|website = www.ci.lynchburg.va.us
|footnotes =
}}
[[Image:Allied Arts Building.jpg|thumb|left|The Allied Arts Building in downtown Lynchburg, completed in 1931.]]
'''Lynchburg''' is an [[independent city]] located in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]], [[USA]]. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 65,269 - making it one of the largest cities in Virginia. Located in the foothills of the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] along the banks of the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]], Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" and sometimes described as "A City Unto Itself."
The 2,122 square mile [[Lynchburg,_VA_MSA|Metropolitan Statistical Area of Lynchburg]] is the geographic center of [[Virginia]] and encompasses Amherst County, Appomattox County, Bedford County, Campbell County, City of Bedford, and City of Lynchburg. [[Appomattox, Virginia|Appomattox]], [[Natural Bridge (Virginia)]] and [[Smith Mountain Lake]] are nearby. Other nearby cities include Roanoke, Charlottesville and Danville, VA.
Lynchburg is the home of [[Central Virginia Community College]], Christ College, [[Liberty University]], [[Lynchburg College]], [[Randolph-Macon Woman's College]], and [[Virginia University of Lynchburg]]. The Lynchburg MSA also includes [[Sweet Briar College]].
Lynchburg has a strong industrial base and is the regional center for commerce and retail. Industries include Nuclear Technology, Pharmaceuticals and Material Handling. A diversity of small businesses has helped maintain a stable economy and minimized the downturns of the national economy. Reaching as high as 4th place, Lynchburg has been within the [http://www.centerdigitalgov.com/ Top 10 Digital Cities] survey for its population since the survey's inception in 2004.
== History ==
First settled in [[1757]], Lynchburg was named for its founder, [[John Lynch (disambiguation)|John Lynch]], who at the age of 17 started a ferry service at a ford across the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]]. He was also responsible for Lynchburg's first bridge across the river, which replaced the ferry in [[1812]]. The "City of Seven Hills" quickly developed along the hills surrounding Lynch's Ferry. [[Thomas Jefferson]] maintained a home near Lynchburg, called [[Poplar Forest]]. Jefferson frequented Lynchburg and remarked "''Nothing would give me greater pleasure than to be useful to the town of Lynchburg. I consider it as the most interesting spot in the state.''"
Lynchburg was established by charter in [[1786]] at the site of Lynch's Ferry on the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]]. These new easy means of transportation routed traffic through Lynchburg, and allowed it to become the new center of commerce for tobacco trading. It was a center of commerce and manufacture in the [[19th century]]. Chief industries were [[tobacco]], [[iron]] and [[steel]]. Transportation facilities included the [[James River Bateau]] on the James River, and later, the [[James River and Kanawha Canal]] and, still later, four [[railroad]]s, including the [[Virginia and Tennessee Railroad]] and the [[Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad]]. In 1810, Jefferson wrote, "''Lynchburg is perhaps the most rising place in the U.S.... It ranks now next to Richmond in importance...''"
In 1804, evangelist Lorenzo Dow wrote of Lynchburg "''... where I spoke in the open air in what I conceived to be the seat of Satan's Kingdom. Lynchburg was a deadly place for the worship of God''." This was in reference to the lack of churches in Lynchburg. As the wealth of Lynchburg grew, prostitution and other "rowdy" activities became quite common and, in many cases, ignored, if not accepted, by the "powers that be" of the time. Much of this activity took place in an area of downtown referred to as the "''Buzzard's Roost''."
During the [[American Civil War]], Lynchburg, which served as a [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] supply base, was approached within one mile by the [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] forces of General [[David Hunter]] as he drove south from the [[Shenandoah Valley]]. Under the false impression that the Confederate forces stationed in Lynchburg were much larger than anticipated, Hunter was repelled by the forces of Confederate General [[Jubal Anderson Early|Jubal Early]] on [[June 18]], [[1864]], in the [[Battle of Lynchburg]]. To create the false impression, a train was continuously run up and down the tracks while the citizens of Lynchburg cheered as if reinforcements were unloading. Local prostitutes took part in the deception, misinforming their Union "clients" of the large number of Confederate reinforcements.
In the latter 19th century, Lynchburg's economy evolved into manufacturing (sometimes referred to as the "Pittsburgh of the South") and, per capita, made the city one of the wealthiest in the [[United States]]. In 1880, Lynchburg resident [[James Albert Bonsack]] invented the first cigarette rolling machine, and shortly thereafter Dr. [[Charles Browne Fleet]], a physician and pharmacological tinkerer, introduced the first mass marketed over-the-counter [[enema]], which the company he founded still manufactures (along with other laxative and bowel cleansing products, as noted on the company's website [http://www.phosphosoda.com/consumers/askfleet.aspx]). Dr. Fleet also invented [[ChapStick]] as a lip balm in Lynchburg in the early 1880s.
In the early 20th century, the state of Virginia authorized compulsory sterilization of the mentally retarded for the purpose of [[eugenics]] which was carried out at the [[Virginia State Colony for Epileptics and Feebleminded]] located just outside of Lynchburg.
Lynchburg is sometimes referred to as "A City Unto Itself", in part due to geographic and cultural isolation, but mostly in reference to the city's historical avoidance of State and Federal entanglements. The phrase was the title of a history book by columnist Darrell Laurant.
==Neighborhoods==
The first neighborhoods of Lynchburg developed upon seven hills adjacent to the original ferry landing. These neighborhoods include:
* College Hill
* Daniel's Hill
* Diamond Hill
* Federal Hill
* Franklin Hill
* Garland Hill
* White Rock Hill
Other major neighborhoods include Boonesboro, College Park, Rivermont, Timberlake, Windsor Hills and Wyndhurst.
==Notable Residents==
Lynchburg was the home of [[Carter Glass]], who sat for many years in Congress as a representative and Senator of the Democratic Party in the early 20th century, served as the U.S. [[Secretary of the Treasury]] under Woodrow Wilson, and co-sponsored a bill (the [[Glass-Steagall Act]]), which created [[FDIC]] insurance and, from 1932 until its repeal in 1999, prohibited U.S. commercial banks from affiliating with investment banks (securities firms).
Lynchburg is the hometown of [[Televangelism|televangelist]] [[Jerry Falwell]], senior pastor of the [[Thomas Road Baptist Church]] and founder of the "[[Moral Majority]]" in the early [[1980]]s. He also established Liberty Baptist College, now known as [[Liberty University]].
It was also the birthplace of [[Charlie Thomas]], an American rhythm and blues singer best known for his work with [[The Drifters]], and [[Donna Andrews]], an American golfer who won six titles on the LPGA Tour between 1993 and 1998, including one major championship, the 1994 [[Nabisco Dinah Shore]]. Other notable residents include:
*[[Daniel Weissiger Adams]] (1820-1872), born in Lynchburg, noted lawyer and [[Confederate Army]] officer[{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | date = 1963}}]
*[[Dylan Baker]], Actor (''[[The Murder of Mary Phagan]]'')
*[[Greg Best]], born in Lynchburg, Olympic Silver Medalist.
*[[Connie Britton]], Actress: [[Friday Night Lights]], [[Spin City]], [[24]]
*[[Cornell Brown]], Professional (NFL) Football Player
*[[Ruben Brown]], Professional (NFL) Football Player
*[[Pearl S. Buck]],(1892-1973), Prolific writer and Nobel Prize winner.
*[[Anthony Clark]], Comedian
*[[Jubal Early]], (1816-1894), died in Lynchburg, Lt. Gen. of the Confederate Army
*[[Douglas Southall Freeman]], (1886-1953), born in Lynchburg, Journalist and Historian
*[[Brandon Inge]], Professional Baseball Player for the [[Detroit Tigers]]
*[[Luke Jordan]] (1892-1952), singer, guitarist and pioneer of east-coast style blues
*[[Charles Lynch]], (1736-1796), American Patriot
*[[Leland D. Melvin]], Astronaut
*[[Faith Prince]], Actress
*[[Ricky Van Shelton]], Country Music Singer
*[[Lucius Shepard]], Writer of Science Fiction and Fantasy
*[[Anne Spencer]], Poet and Social Activist
*[[Allen G. Thurman]], (1813-1895), born in Lynchburg, Democratic Representative and Senator for Ohio
*[[Skeet Ulrich]], (1970), born in Lynchburg, Actor: [[Jericho (TV series)|Jericho]]
*[[Samuel Untermyer]], (1858-1940), born in Lynchburg, Lawyer and civic leader
*[[Sheldon Vanauken]], Author and personal friend of [[CS Lewis]]
*[[Phil Vassar]], Country Music Singer
*[[George H. Walker]], (1811-1866), born in Lynchburg, Mayor and one founder of [[Milwaukee, Wisconsin]]
*[[Randall Wallace]], Writer and movie director whose works include [[Braveheart]] and [[Pearl Harbor (movie)|Pearl Harbor]].
==Geography==
Lynchburg is located at {{coor dms|37|24|13|N|79|10|12|W|city}} (37.403672, -79.170205){{GR|1}}.
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of 128.9 [[km²]] (49.8 [[square mile|mi²]]). 127.9 km² (49.4 mi²) of it is land and 1.0 km² (0.4 mi²) of it (0.74%) is water.
==Demographics==
As of the [[census]]{{GR|2}} of 2000, there were 65,269 people, 25,477 households, and 15,591 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was 510.2/km² (1,321.5/mi²). There were 27,640 housing units at an average density of 216.1/km² (559.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the city was 66.63% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 29.70% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.26% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.28% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.63% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.46% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.35% of the population.
There were 25,477 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.8% were non-families. 32.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the city the population was spread out with 22.1% under the age of 18, 15.5% from 18 to 24, 25.3% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 16.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 84.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $32,234, and the median income for a family was $40,844. Males had a median income of $31,390 versus $22,431 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $18,263. About 12.3% of families and 15.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 22.4% of those under age 18 and 10.7% of those age 65 or over.
== Media ==
===Print===
* Lynchburg's daily newspaper is [http://www.newsadvance.com The News & Advance], which serves the Central Virginia region and is owned by [[Media General]].
* Lynchburg Ledger, weekly newspaper
* Lynchburg Living, monthly periodical
* The Burg, weekly entertainment newspaper
===Television===
*[[WSET]], ABC affiliate based in Lynchburg
*[[WSLS]], NBC affiliate based in Roanoke
*[[WDBJ]], CBS affiliate based in Roanoke
*[[WBRA]], PBS affiliate based in Roanoke
===Radio===
*[[WJJX]] 101.7, Urban Contemporary based in Lynchburg
*WLNI 105.9, Talk Radio based in Lynchburg
*[[WNRN]] (WNRS 89.9), Modern Rock based in Charlottesville
*WROV 96.3, Classic Rock based in Roanoke
*WRMV 94.5, Southern Gospel based in Madison Heights
*WRVL 88.3, Christian Radio based in Lynchburg
*WRXT 90.3, Contemporary Christian Radio based in Lynchburg
*[[WSLC]] 94.9, Country based in Roanoke
*WSLQ 99.1, Adult Contemporary based in Roanoke
*WSNZ 102.7, Adult Contemporary based in Roanoke
*WVBE 100.1, Urban Contemporary based in Lynchburg
*WVTF 89.1, Public Radio based in Blacksburg
*WWMC 90.9 , Contemporary Christian Radio based at Liberty University
*WWZW 96.7, Adult Contemporary based in Buena Vista
*[[WXLK]] 92.3, Top-40 Radio based in Roanoke
*WYYD 107.9, Country based in Madison Heights
*WZZU 97.9, Classic Rock based in Lynchburg
== Transportation ==
===Rail===
[[Amtrak]]'s [[Crescent (Amtrak)|Crescent train]] connects Lynchburg with the cities of [[New York City|New York]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], [[Baltimore, Maryland|Baltimore]], [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]], [[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]], [[Atlanta, Georgia|Atlanta]], [[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]] and [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]]. The Amtrak station is situated at 825 Kemper Street. Lynchburg will be a primary hub of the [[Transdominion_Express|TransDominion Express]].
===Air===
[[Lynchburg Regional Airport]] provides service by [[US Airways Express]] to Charlotte, North Carolina, and [[Delta Connection]] to Atlanta, Georgia.
===Highway===
Primary roadways include [[U.S. Route 29]], [[U.S. Route 501]], [[U.S. Route 221]], running north-south, and [[U.S. Highway 460]], running east-west. Lynchburg is among the largest cities in the United States not served by an interstate, although much of Route 29 has been upgraded to interstate standard and significant improvements have been made to Highway 460.
== Arts & Culture ==
* [http://www.academyfinearts.com/ Academy of Fine Arts]: A nonprofit organization committed to promoting and presenting the visual and performing arts, while creating opportunities for arts education. Located in the old Academy theatre (circa 1905)
* [http://www.vsaart.org/ Virginia School of the Arts]: Founded in 1985, the Virginia School of the Arts has developed an international reputation for excellence by providing an outstanding pre-professional arts training program for students of high school age.
== Attractions & Entertainment ==
* [http://www.CattleAnnies.com/ Cattle Annie's Restaurant & Entertainment]: A 1000+ capacity, multi-function venue providing a variety of entertainment and other events. Established in 1993, Cattle Annie's is perhaps best-known for hosting nationally recognized artists on a frequent basis. Local, regional and nationally touring rock, pop and country artists perform regularly as well. The facility hosts numerous community and private events and has a full-service restaurant and banquet services.
* [http://www.amazementsquare.org/ Amazement Square]: Central Virginia’s first multidisciplinary, hands-on children’s museum.
* [http://www.lynchburgmuseum.org/ Lynchburg Museum]: Through the doors of the Lynchburg Museum you can relive our city's past rich with tales of Monocan tribes, early Quaker settlers, the reign of King Tobacco, the bloody struggle of the Civil War, the New South and the drama of change in the 20th Century.
* The Old Court House (built 1855) is the Hill City's most famous historic landmark. Fashioned as a Greek temple high above the James River, it is now the home of Central Virginia's best collection of memorabilia, fine furnishings, costumes and industrial history.
* [http://www.pointofhonor.org/ Point of Honor]: The Federal-era mansion of Dr. George Cabell, Sr., friend and physician of the patriot [[Patrick Henry]]
* Miller-Clayton House: Pre-19th century townhouse where Thomas Jefferson allegedly proved to the owner of the house's garden that tomatoes were not poisonous by eating one of the fruit. Home was dismantled in 1936 and rebuilt at its Riverside Park location, where the garden was also restored.
* [[Smith_Mountain_Lake|Smith Mountain Lake]]: A public lake with a surface area of over 22,000 acres and a shoreline that exceeds 500 miles.
* [[Natural_Bridge_(Virginia)|Natural Bridge]]: Once owned by [[Thomas Jefferson]], Natural Bridge is considered one of the seven natural wonders of the world.
* [[Peaks of Otter]]: Three mountain peaks in the Blue Ridge Mountains, overlooking the town of [[Bedford, Virginia]] and in prominent view through-out most of Lynchburg
* Crab Tree Falls: The falls trails lead hikers along a rigorous five-mile loop which offers stunning views of the five cascades of Crabtree Falls. The vertical drop totals over 1,500 feet!
* [[Appomattox Courthouse]]: The site of the [[Battle of Appomattox Court House]], where the surrender of the [[Confederate States of America|Confederate Army]] under [[Robert E. Lee]] to [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] commander [[Ulysses S. Grant]] took place on [[April 9]], [[1865]], effectively ending the [[American Civil War]].
* [[National D-Day Memorial]]: Located in [[Bedford, Virginia]], it commemorates all those who served the United States during the D-Day Invasion of Normandy, France on June 6, 1944 during World War II.
* The [http://www.lynchburgva.gov/Index.aspx?page=546 James River Heritage Trail]: Composed of two smaller trails, the Blackwater Creek Bikeway and RiverWalk.
* [[Lynchburg Hillcats]] baseball club of the [[Carolina League]].
* [http://www.discoverlynchburg.org/virginia10miler.htm Virginia Ten Miler]: "One of the most challenging road races in the country."
== Sports & Recreation ==
Lynchburg claims to be the "Sports Capital of Virginia" and as such, is home to numerous sporting events and organizations including:
* [http://www.libertyflames.com/ Liberty University Athletics]
* [[Lynchburg Hillcats]] Baseball, A Class High-A professional baseball team in the Carolina League
* [http://www.lynchburg.edu/athletics.xml Lynchburg College Athletics]
* [http://www.lynchburgroadrunners.org/ Lynchburg Road Runners Club]
* [http://www.7h4Hash.com/ Seven Hills Hash House Harriers]: The purpose of "hashing" is to promote physical fitness among its members, to get rid of hangovers, to persuade the older members that they are not as old as they feel, and to acquire a good thirst and satisfy it with beer. The "7h4" is one of thousands of chapters of [[Hash_House | Hash House Harriers]] located through-out the world.
== Business & Industry ==
Lynchburg was founded on commerce and industry. It features a skilled labor force, low unemployment rate, affordable cost of living, and a stable economy. Area business include:
* [http://www.aerofin.com/ Aerofin Corporation]
* [http://www.andrew.com/ Andrew Corp]
* [http://www.areva.com/ Areva]
* [http://www.bankersteel.com/ Banker Steel]
* [http://www.barrlabs.com/ Barr Labs]
* [http://www.belvac.com/ Belvac Production Machinery, Inc.]
* [http://www.bwxt.com/ BWX Technologies, Inc.]
* [http://www.cbfleet.com/ C.B. Fleet]
* [http://www.centrahealth.com/ Centra Health]
* [http://www.centralva.net/ Centralva.net]
* [http://www.englishconst.com/ English Construction]
* [http://www.flowserve.com/ Flowserve]
* [http://www.fritolay.com/ Frito Lay]
* [http://www.genworth.com/ Genworth Financial]
* [http://www.griffinpipe.com/ Griffin Pipe Products Company]
* [http://www.inserviceamerica.com/ InService America]
* [http://www.intermet.com/ Intermet Corporation] - [http://www.intermet.com/capabilities/loc-archercreek.html Archer Creek Foundry]
* [http://www.jcrew.com/ J. Crew Outfitters]
* [http://www.macom.com/ M/A-COM, Inc.] - [http://www.macom-wireless.com/ Wireless Systems]
* [http://www.mail-america.com/ Mail America Communications]
* [http://www.milwaukeeironinc.com/ Milwaukee Iron] - Custom motorcycle fabricator featured in the television show "Southern Steel"
* [http://www.nationwide.com/ Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company]
* [http://www.norcraftcompanies.com/ Norcraft Companies] - [http://www.starmarkcabinetry.com/ StarMark Cabinetry]
* [http://www.oldvirginiacandle.com/ Old Virginia Candle Company]
* [http://www.parker.com/ Parker Hannifin Corporation] - [http://www.parker.com/ptd Powertrain Division]
* [http://www.progprint.com/ Progress Printing]
* [http://www.rosecomputers.com/ Rose Computers & Network Solutions]
* [http://www.rrdonnelley.com/ R.R. Donnelley]
* [http://www.sentryequipment.com/ Sentry Equipment & Erectors, Inc.]
* [http://www.southern-air.com/ Southern Air]
* [http://www.startek.com/ StarTek]
* [http://www.taylorramsey.com/ Taylor-Ramsey Corporation]
==Trivia & Interesting Facts==
* The Monacan Indian tribe lived in the Lynchburg area until well into the 17th century.
* The Society of Friends, or Quakers, was the first religious group to settle in Lynchburg.
* The phrase "Lynch's Law" may have been derived from Col. Charles Lynch, who organized and administered trials of British loyalists during the revolutionary war. It is doubtful that an hangings took place and there is no other known connection between the phrase and Lynchburg.
==References==
*
==External links==
*[http://www.ci.lynchburg.va.us/ '''City of Lynchburg''']
{{Mapit-US-cityscale|37.403672|-79.170205}}
* [http://etext.virginia.edu/journals/EH/EH37/Nagy.html/ '''The Survival of Professional Baseball in Lynchburg, Virginia, 1950s-1990s''']
*[http://www.newsadvance.com '''The News & Advance'''] is Lynchburg's daily newspaper serving Central Virginia.
*[http://www.lynchburgonline.com '''Lynchburg Online''']
*[http://www.lynchburgguide.com '''The Lynchburg Guide''']
*[http://www.retroweb.com/lynchburg '''Historic Lynchburg Photographs Series'''] vintage post cards, railroad images & more
*[http://lynchburgvirginia.blogspot.com/'''Lynchburg Virginia'''] is Lynchburg's site for interactive local news and useful links for the residents of Lynchburg
*[http://www.PeaksViewAerials.com/ '''Peaks View Aerials'''] host low altitude aerial photos of downtown Lynchburg and Lynchburg historic sites such as Monument Terrace, old depot train station, Amazement Square, Langley Fountain and Point of Honor. See [http://www.PeaksViewAeials.com/ www.PeaksViewAeials.com] Portfolio
*[http://www.lynchburgpictures.com/ '''Lynchburg Pictures''']: A web site dedicated to pictures of and from Lynchburg, Virginia and its people.
*[http://www.retroweb.com/lynchburg/attractions/index.html '''"Little-Known" Attractions of Lynchburg and Central Virginia'''] Lynchburg's Infamous "Alternate Reality" Web Site
{{Virginia}}
[[Category:Cities in Virginia]]
[[Category:Lynchburg, Virginia]]
[[Category:Cities on the James River]]
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