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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. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Lynchburg with neighboring Campbell County for statistical purposes. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills". Appomattox and Natural Bridge (Virginia) are nearby.

Lynchburg is the home of Randolph-Macon Woman's College, Lynchburg College, Liberty University, Central Virginia Community College, Christ College, and Virginia University of Lynchburg.

History

First settled in 1757, Lynchburg was named for its founder, John Lynch, who at the age of 17 started a ferry service at a ford across the James River. He was also responsible for Lynchburg's first bridge across the river, which replaced the ferry in 1812. Thomas Jefferson maintained a home near Lynchburg, called Poplar Forest. Lynchburg was established by charter in 1786 at the site of Lynch's Ferry on the 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 and Kanawha Canal and, later, four railroads.

During the American Civil War, Lynchburg, which served as a Confederate supply base, was approached within one mile by the Union forces of General David Hunter as he drove south from the Shenandoah Valley. Hunter was driven back by the forces of Confederate General Jubal Early on June 18, 1864.

Lynchburg became known in the latter 20th century as the home of the televangelist Jerry Falwell, who formed the "Moral Majority" in the early 1980s. Soon after he established Liberty University. It was also where Dr. Charles Browne Fleet introduced the first mass marketed over-the-counter enema, where the company he founded still manufactures laxative and bowel cleansing products, as noted in the company's website *.

Geography

Lynchburg is located at (37.403672, -79.170205).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 128.9 km² (49.8 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 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, 29.70% African American, 0.26% Native American, 1.28% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or 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 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.

Communications

Lynchburg's daily newspaper is The News & Advance, which serves the Central Virginia region and is owned by Media General.

Transportation

Amtrak's Crescent train connects Lynchburg with the cities of New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Charlotte, Atlanta, Birmingham and New Orleans. The Amtrak station is situated at 825 Kemper Street.

Lynchburg Regional Airport provides service by US Airways Express to Charlotte, North Carolina and Delta Connection to Atlanta, Georgia.

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

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)

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.

Amazement Square: Central Virginia’s first multidisciplinary, hands-on children’s museum.

The town hosts the Lynchburg Hillcats baseball club of the Carolina League.

External links

Cities in Virginia | Lynchburg, Virginia | Cities on the James River

Lynchburg (Virginia) | Lynchburg (Wirginia) | Lynchburg (Virgínia)

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "Lynchburg, Virginia".

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