Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg, Virginia is known as the “City of Seven Hills.” First settled in 1757, Lynchburg was named for its founder, John Lynch, who established the ferry service which was instrumental in turning the colonial village into an important center of trade. Thomas Jefferson frequented Lynchburg and built his home, Poplar Forest, in the area as a retreat from Monticello. Jefferson 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." |
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By the mid-1800s Lynchburg, Virginia was a thriving center for manufacturing, trade, and shipping and one of the most prosperous communities of its size in the United States. A large number of factories opened, some of which would remain cornerstones of the economy for years to come. Tobacco and shoe manufacturing were two of the main industries. At its peak, the Craddock-Terry Shoe Corporation was the fifth largest shoe company in the world. |
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The owners of these profitable businesses built fine homes in the “Seven Hills of Lynchburg” leaving a legacy of architectural styles that can still be seen today. Education and the arts also flourished. Numerous colleges, the Jones Memorial Library, and the Academy of Music were all founded in the late-19th to early-20th century. World War II had Lynchburg's factories running around the clock and businesses were able continue to modernize.Since the 1950's, Lynchburg has evolved from a manufacturing city to one with a diverse economy as a variety of businesses, including financial, pharmaceuticals, and cellular communications moved to the area. |
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In the last two decades, the city has been slowly revitalizing downtown and the riverfront area. The new Bluffwalk Center with a hotel and conference center, retail space, restaurants, entertainment venues, and a new City Hall is the centerpiece of this plan. The Craddock Terry Hotel, housed in what was once the Craddock-Terry Shoe factory and a tobacco storage warehouse, is one of the cornerstones of the revitalization project. |
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In 2006, the National Trust for Historic Places named Lynchburg a “Great American Main Street Award” winner. Today Lynchburg is a prosperous small, southern community and a wonderful destination for visitors from across the nation and around the world. |
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