City Town Info

Radford, VA


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Radford, Virginia

Introduction to Radford, Virginia

Radford, Virginia is 36 miles W of Roanoke, Virginia (center to center) and 132 miles N of Charlotte, North Carolina. The city has a population of 15,859.

Radford History

William Ingles arrived in this area in 1762 with his wife, Mary Draper Ingles. The couple established Ingles's Ferry, which became a commercial center with a tavern, general store, blacksmith's shop, and other businesses. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad came to this area in 1854. A depot was built at Lovely Mount and named Central since it was situated between Bristol and Lynchburg. Central developed rapidly and, in 1885, it was officially incorporated as a town. Its name was changed to Radford in 1887.

Radford and nearby Attractions

  • Bisset Park
  • Riverway Trail
  • Wildwood Park
  • Claytor Lake State Park
  • Radford Mountain Bike Park
  • Draper Valley Golf Club

Things To Do In Radford

Radford is located on a large bend of New River. The river serves as a popular hub for recreational opportunities. People frequent the river banks to enjoy picnics or to simply relax. They also enjoy swimming, fishing, canoeing, and kayaking. The city manages over 100 acres of parkland along the riverfront with playgrounds, soccer and football fields, tennis courts, a volleyball court, picnic shelters, and approximately five miles of walking, hiking, and biking trails.

Radford Transportation

Roanoke Regional/Woodrum Field Airport is nearby.

Radford Higher Education

Radford University, New River Community College, and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University are some of the institutions with facilities for higher education.

High Points

Radford strengths, compared to Peers (similar size places nationally) or State (other places in Virginia):

CategoryTrophy
Short Commute Times
(vs. State)		Top 5%trophyRadford Short Commute Times
Walking and Biking to Work
(vs. Peers)		Top 11%Radford Walking and Biking to Work
College Educated Adults
(vs. State)		Top 13%Radford College Educated Adults
Affordability of Property Taxes
(vs. Peers)		Top 16%Radford Affordability of Property Taxes

Comparative Profile of Radford, VA

Comparing Radford to similar size places nationwide (Peers) and to other places in Virginia (State):

Ratings range from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).


The People

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Female Share of the Population108
Racial Diversity65
Well-Paid Single Women56
Senior Citizens22
Well-Paid Single Men11
Male Share of the Population13
Children Under 5 Years Old11
Age of the Population11

Families

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Average Household Size24
Portion of People Married11

Wealth

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
College Educated Adults89
Median Family Income58
People in Middle Class or Better22
People Above Poverty11

Commute & Sprawl

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Walking and Biking to Work910
Short Commute Times910
Working at Home56
Public Transportation Use46

Housing

CharacteristicCompared
to Peers		Compared
to State
Affordability of Property Taxes96
People Living Alone85
Affordability of Rents86
Housing Recently Built78
Seasonal and Vacation Housing65
Studio & One-Bedroom Rentals67

Detailed pages on related topics: Radford colleges • Radford travel.

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Additional Details

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