Imagine living and working in a place that's filled with Southern hospitality and history, progressive in technology and economic opportunities, yet family-friendly, affordable and surrounded by the beauty of the beckoning outdoors. If it sounds too good to be true, Central Virginia exists to prove critics of this fantasy wrong.
Ranked among National Geographic's "Top 20 Best Adventure Towns, East Coast," in October 2009, the Lynchburg area offers one-of-a-kind prospects for fun and discovery.
Here are 10 examples, among hundreds that our area has to offer:
- Snowflex, Liberty Mountain's outdoor artificial snow sports slope
- The Blue Ridge Parkway
- The Appalachian Trail
- Smith Mountain Lake
- Wintergreen Ski Resort
- The National D-Day Memorial
- Thomas Jefferson's Poplar Forest
- Natural Bridge
- Appomattox Courthouse
- National Historical Park
- Patrick Henry's Red Hill estate
Combine all this adventure with the ripe history, unique shops, an enticing downtown atmosphere and diverse family environment, and it's hard to look around Lynchburg without asking, "What's not to love?"
Why Lynchburg?
Perhaps the better question is, "Why Not Lynchburg?" Known as the "Hill City" or the "City of Seven Hills," Lynchburg offers:
- mild weather
- a stable, growing workforce
- abundant educational opportunities
- inexpensive cost of living
- plentiful opportunities for
- creational activities
- A plethora of cultural events
With all of this at their fingertips, its easy to understand why more than 249,000 people call Lynchburg City, Bedford City and the surrounding counties of Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford and Campbell (known as Region 2000), home.
Love to Play
What do you do when your city is full of adrenaline craving, thrill-seeking residents? You build your city up with the best recreational venues, like Snowflex, an outdoor artificial snow sports slope - the only one of its kind in the entire western hemisphere. Rock climbers will find a second home at Rise Up Climbing, an indoor climbing facility in downtown Lynchburg, while Riverfront Skate Park continues to attract those who crave adventure on wheels.
In addition, nature and exercise enthusiasts alike will be thrilled at the abundance of outdoor opportunities available through the area's extensive system of parks and trails. Mile upon mile of outdoor trails are available right in Lynchburg City in places such as Blackwater Creek Bikeway and Riverwalk and along the historic James River. While there, try your hand at fishing or take a tube, canoe or kayak for a trip down the river.
A Heart for History
Lynchburg:
The First 100 Years
1757 Named for its founder, John Lynch, what was originally known as "Lynch's Ferry." The Hill City quickly developed because of its accessibility to the James River.
1786 Established by charter as "Lynchburg."
1810 Thomas Jefferson, who maintained a home nearby called Poplar Forest, wrote, "Lynchburg is perhaps the most rising place in the U.S.... It ranks now next to Richmond in importance."
1850 Lynchburg is among the richest towns per capita in the U.S., in part because the manufacturing, tobacco, iron and steel industries. Of course, much has changed in Central Virginia since the 1850's, but one thing that has not is the steady stream of visitors to landmarks like Point of Honor, Poplar Forest,
the National D-Day Memorial and the Appomattox Court House. Here, history is not just inescapable, it's embraced!
More to Love
Put simply, living in the Lynchburg area is good for your wallet and your well-being. Just take a gander at all the areas in which Lynchburg's rates fall below the national average:
- Violent crime
- Property taxes
- Auto insurance
- Utilities
- Food costs
- Healthcare costs
And a few notables that are better that the U.S. average:
- Unemployment rates
- Home prices and sales
- Air and water quality
- Voted by Forbes magazine as one of the Best Places for Business and Careers
Easy Accessibility
No matter which direction you are headed, Lynchburg is the perfect starting point to any destination. With eight daily arriving and departing flights
from Lynchburg Regional Airport, residents and visitors alike are never far from their next destination.
In addition, Region 2000 is within a day's drive to many of the largest cities on the East Coast, including:
- 7 ½ hours: Atlanta and NYC
- 6 hours: Philadelphia
- 4 ½ hours: OBX, NC
- 3 ½ hours: Washington, D.C.
- 3 ½ hours: Charlotte, NC
- 2 hours to Greensboro, NC
Within the Commonwealth:
- 4 hours: Virginia Beach
- 2 ½ hours: Richmond
- 2 hours: Virginia Tech
- 1 ½ hours: a NASCAR race at Martinsville Speedway
- 1 hour, 15 minutes: UVA
- 1 hour: Wintergreen Ski Resort
- 40 minutes: Peaks of Otter
