New River Valley
Encyclopedia
The New River Valley is a region in the eastern United States
along the New River in the Commonwealth of Virginia
(specifically Southwest Virginia
). The valley comprises the counties of Montgomery (including the towns of Blacksburg
and Christiansburg
), Pulaski, Floyd, Giles and the independent City of Radford. It is part of the Great Appalachian Valley
and was one of the first frontier areas in the United States, and was key to encouraging western expansion. The first Europe
an to explore the valley was Abraham Wood
of Fort Henry
in 1671 and settlements began to develop in the 18th century. A branch of the Great Wagon Road
led through the New River Valley. The valley was the location of several small American Civil War battles and according to the 2000 census is home to approximately 165,145 residents. The New River Valley is also home to several institutions of higher learning including Virginia Tech, Radford University
and New River Community College
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
along the New River in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
(specifically Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia
Southwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. Southwest Virginia has been defined alternatively as all Virginia counties on the Appalachian Plateau, all Virginia counties west of the Eastern Continental Divide, or...
). The valley comprises the counties of Montgomery (including the towns of Blacksburg
Blacksburg, Virginia
Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 42,620 at the 2010 census. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which...
and Christiansburg
Christiansburg, Virginia
Christiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
), Pulaski, Floyd, Giles and the independent City of Radford. It is part of the Great Appalachian Valley
Great Appalachian Valley
The Great Valley, also called the Great Appalachian Valley or Great Valley Region, is one of the major landform features of eastern North America. It is a gigantic trough — a chain of valley lowlands — and the central feature of the Appalachian Mountain system...
and was one of the first frontier areas in the United States, and was key to encouraging western expansion. The first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an to explore the valley was Abraham Wood
Abraham Wood
Abraham Wood , sometimes referred to as "General" or "Colonel" Wood, was an English fur trader and explorer of 17th century colonial Virginia...
of Fort Henry
Fort Henry
Fort Henry is the name of:*Fort Henry , a 1646 fort near present-day Petersburg, Virginia*Fort Henry , a 1774 fort near present–day Wheeling, West Virginia...
in 1671 and settlements began to develop in the 18th century. A branch of the Great Wagon Road
Great Wagon Road
The Great Wagon Road was a colonial American improved trail transiting the Great Appalachian Valley from Pennsylvania to North Carolina, and from there to Georgia....
led through the New River Valley. The valley was the location of several small American Civil War battles and according to the 2000 census is home to approximately 165,145 residents. The New River Valley is also home to several institutions of higher learning including Virginia Tech, Radford University
Radford University
Radford University is one of Virginia's eight doctoral-degree granting public universities. Originally founded in 1910, Radford offers comprehensive curricula for undergraduates in more than 100 fields, and graduate programs including the M.F.A., M.B.A...
and New River Community College
New River Community College
is a community college in Dublin, Virginia, United States, in the New River Valley of southwestern Virginia, one of 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System...
.