Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of
Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 48,914. Harrisonburg is
the county seat of Rockingham County, although the two are separate
jurisdictions. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of
Harrisonburg with Rockingham County for statistical purposes. Harrisonburg is
home to James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University.
Harrisonburg is the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan
Statistical Area, which has a 2011 estimated population of 126,562.
History The earliest documented English
exploration of the area prior to settlement was the "Knights of the
Golden Horseshoe Expedition", led by Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood, who reached
Elkton, and whose rangers continued and in 1716 likely passed through what is
now Harrisonburg. Harrisonburg, previously known as
"Rocktown", was named for Thomas Harrison, a son of English settlers. In
1737, Harrison settled in the Shenandoah Valley, eventually laying claim to over
12,000 acres situated at the intersection of the Spotswood Trail and
the main Native American road through the valley.
In 1779, Harrison deeded 2.5 acres of his land to the "public good" for the
construction of a courthouse. In 1780, Harrison deeded an additional 50 acres.
This is the area now known as "Historic Downtown Harrisonburg."
In 1849, trustees chartered a mayor-council form of government,
although Harrisonburg was not officially incorporated as an independent city
until 1916. Today, a council-manager government administers Harrisonburg.
= Newtown= When the slaves of the Shenandoah Valley
were freed in 1865, they set up near modern-day Harrisonburg a town called
Newtown. This settlement was eventually annexed by the independent city of
Harrisonburg some years later, probably around 1892. Today, the old city of
Newtown is still the home of the majority of Harrisonburg's predominantly
black churches, such as First Baptist and Bethel AME. The modern Boys and
Girls Club of Harrisonburg is located in the old Lucy Simms schoolhouse used for
the black students in the days of segregation.
A large portion of this black neighborhood was dismantled in the 1950s
when – in the name of urban renewal – the city government used federal
redevelopment funds from the Housing Act of 1949 to force black families out of
their homes and then bulldozed the neighborhood. This effort, called
"Project R4", focused on the city blocks east of Main, north of Gay, west of
Broad, and south of Johnson. The city later sold the land to commercial
developers. = Downtown Renaissance=
In early 2002, the Harrisonburg community discussed the possibility of
creating a pedestrian mall downtown. Public meetings were held to discuss the
merits and drawbacks of pursuing such a plan. Ultimately, the community decided
to keep its Main Street open to traffic. From these discussions, however, a
strong voice emerged from the community in support of downtown revitalization.
On July 1, 2003, Harrisonburg Downtown Renaissance was incorporated as a
501(c)3 nonprofit with the mission of rejuvenating the downtown district.
In 2004, downtown was designated as the Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District
on the National Register of Historic Places and a designated Virginia Main
Street Community, with the neighboring Old Town Historic District residential
community gaining historic district status in 2007. Several vacant buildings
have been renovated and repurposed for new uses, such as the Hardesty-Higgins
House and City Exchange, used for the Harrisonburg Tourist Center and high-end
loft apartments, respectively. In 2008, downtown Harrisonburg spent
over $1 million in cosmetic and sidewalk infrastructure improvements. The City
Council appropriated $500,000 for custom street signs to be used as "wayfinding
signs" directing visitors to areas of interest around the city. Another
$500,000 were used to upgrade street lighting, sidewalks, and landscaping
along Main Street and Court Square. In 2014, Harrisonburg Downtown
Renaissance was named a Great American Main Street by the National Main Street
Association and downtown was designated the first culinary district in the
commonwealth of Virginia. Culture
The creative class of Harrisonburg has grown alongside the revitalization of
the downtown district. Contributing to Harrisonburg's cultural capital are a
collection of education and art centers, residencies, studios, and
artist-facilitated businesses, programs, and collectives.
Some of these programs include: Larkin Arts, a community art center that opened
in 2012 and has four symbiotic components: an art supply store, a fine
arts gallery, a school with three classrooms, and five private studio
spaces. Old Furnace Artist Residency and SLAG
Mag: Artist residency and arts&culture quarterly zine focused on community
engagement and social practice projects started in 2013.
The Super Gr8 Film Festival, founded in 2009. The 2013 festival featured more
than 50 locally produced films, and all of the films in the festival were shot
using vintage cameras and Super 8 film. Arts Council of the Valley, including
the Darrin-McHone Gallery and Court Square Theater, provides facilities and
funding for various arts programs and projects.
OASIS Fine Art and Craft, opened in 2000, is a cooperative gallery of over
35 local artists and artisans exhibiting and selling their work. It offers fine
hand-crafted pottery, jewelry, fiber art, wood, metal, glass, wearable art,
paintings, and photography. The Virginia Quilt Museum, established
in 1995, is dedicated to preserving, celebrating, and nurturing Virginia's
quilting heritage. It features a permanent collection of nearly 300
quilts, a Civil War Gallery, antique and toy sewing machines, and rotating
exhibits from across the United States. = Historic sites=
In addition to the Thomas Harrison House, Harrisonburg Downtown Historic
District, and Old Town Historic District, the Anthony Hockman House,
Rockingham County Courthouse, Lucy F. Simms School, Whitesel Brothers, and
Joshua Wilton House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography According to the United States Census
Bureau, the city has a total area of 17.4 square miles, of which 17.3 square
miles is land and 0.1 square miles is water.
Demographics As of the census of 2000, 40,468 people,
13,133 households, and 6,448 families resided in the city. The population
density was 2,304.4/mi2. The 13,689 housing units averaged 779.5/mi2. The
racial makeup of the city was 84.84% White, 5.92% Black or African American,
0.19% Native American, 3.11% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 3.35% from other
races, and 2.57% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos] of any race were
8.85% of the population. Of the 13,133 households, 23.3% had
children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living
together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.9% were
not families. About 28.3% of all households were made up of individuals,
and 8.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The
average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the city, the population was distributed as 15.4% under the age of
18, 40.9% from 18 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 13.2% from 45 to 64, and 9.3% who
were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 23 years. For every 100
females, there were 90.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there
were 87.5 males. The median income for a household in the
city was $29,949, and for a family was $45,159. Males had a median income of
$29,951 versus $22,910 for women. The per capita income for the city was
$14,898. About 11.5% of families and 30.1% of the population were below the
poverty line, including 18.7% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65
or over. Education
= School systems= Serving about 4,400 students,
Harrisonburg City Public Schools comprises five elementary schools, two
middle schools, and a high school. Eastern Mennonite School, a private
school, serves grades K–12 with an enrollment of about 386 students.
= High schools= Harrisonburg High School
Blue Ridge Christian School Eastern Mennonite School
= Middle schools= Blue Ridge Christian School
Eastern Mennonite School Thomas Harrison Middle School
Skyline Middle School = Elementary schools=
Blue Ridge Christian School Eastern Mennonite School
W.H. Keister Elementary Smithland Elementary School
Spotswood Elementary Stone Spring Elementary
Waterman Elementary = Higher education=
Eastern Mennonite University James Madison University
Blue Ridge Community College Harrisonburg Center
National College American National University
Points of interest Edith J. Carrier Arboretum
Downtown Harrisonburg Harrisonburg's Old Post Office Mural
Virginia Quilt Museum - located downtown and dedicated to preserving,
celebrating, and nurturing Virginia's quilting heritage. The museum was
established in 1995 and features a permanent collection of nearly 300
quilts, a Civil War Gallery, antique and toy sewing machines, and rotating
exhibits from across the United States. Events
The Rocktown Beer & Music Festivals - Every year, about 3,000 people converge
on Turner Pavilion and Park to attend the event, celebrating good beer, good
living, good music, and a great community. Whether rain or shine, it is
always a mighty fine time. The festival happens twice a year, in April and again
in September. The Alpine Loop Gran Fondo road-cycling
event hosted by professional cyclist Jeremiah Bishop starts and finishes in
downtown Harrisonburg. The first annual Super Gr8 Film Festival
was held in Harrisonburg in November 2010.
The annual Harrisonburg International Festival celebrates international foods,
dance, music, and folk art. Valley Fourth - Downtown Harrisonburg's
4 July celebrations that bring in over 12,000 people. The festival includes a
morning run, barbecue cook-off competition, beer and music garden,
kids' area, parade, and fireworks. Sports
Eastern Mennonite Royals 2010 Division III Men's Basketball Elite
8 qualifiers 2004 Women's Basketball Sweet 16
qualifiers Harrisonburg Turks
James Madison Dukes 2004 Division I-AA National Champions
Climate The climate in this area is
characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.
Harrisonburg has a humid subtropical climate, Cfa on climate maps according
to the Köppen climate classification. Notable people
Samuel B. Avis, former United States Representative for West Virginia
Jeremiah Bishop, 2003 Pan American Games gold medalist in cross country mountain
bike racing Nelson Chittum, former pitcher for the
St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox Dell Curry, former NBA player, father of
NBA players Stephen Curry and Seth Curry Critter Fuqua and Ketch Secor,
cofounders of old-time band Old Crow Medicine Show
Daryl Irvine, former starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox
Akeem Jordan, right outside linebacker for the Washington Redskins
Alan Knicely, former catcher for four MLB teams between 1979 and 1986
Edgar Amos Love, educator, bishop in the Methodist Church, and cofounder of Omega
Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc Bill Mims, former Attorney General of
Virginia and current justice of the Supreme Court of Virginia
Gus Niarhos, former catcher for the Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, New
York Yankees, and Philadelphia Phillies John Birdsell Oren, U.S. Coast Guard
Rear Admiral Ralph Sampson, former collegiate
basketball stand-out at the University of Virginia, former NBA player; first
overall selection in the 1983 NBA Draft by the Houston Rockets
David E. Shank, cofounder and general manager of the Valley of Virginia Milk
Producers Cooperative Association, which developed and marketed Shendandoah's
Pride milk Howard Stevens, former NFL running back
who played for the New Orleans Saints and the Baltimore Colts
Maggie Stiefvater, best-selling author of number-one The Wolves of Mercy Falls
series Samuel Collins, boxer/mixed martial arts
champion in the tristate competition between Virginia, North Carolina, and
Maryland Josh Sundquist, paralympian, bestselling
author, and motivational speaker Kristi Toliver, 2009 ACC women's
basketball Player of the Year John Wade, former center for the Tampa
Bay Buccaneers and the Oakland Raiders See also
Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation
National Register of Historic Places listings in Harrisonburg, Virginia
Virginia Mennonite Conference References and notes
External links City of Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Chamber of Commerce
Harrisonburg Tourism