54-679: Christiansburg Institute was a private school for African American students, active from 1866 until 1966 in Christiansburg in Montgomery County, Virginia . It closed in the wake of desegregation and one of the buildings is now a museum. It was also named Christiansburg Industrial Institute . The school was founded after the Civil War by Captain Charles S. Schaeffer , a Union soldier and Baptist minister from Philadelphia. It
108-672: A campus of approximately 14 buildings. The campus functioned as a teacher educational facility as well as a training school, and became a credentialed secondary school, recognized by both the State Board of Education and the Southern Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools. Christiansburg Institute's credentials made it one of the nation's premier African-American schools. During segregation in Southwestern Virginia, Christiansburg Industrial Institute
162-599: A concentration of taverns and rest stops along the Great Wilderness Road (present-day U.S. Route 11), the original 1.1-square mile town was established on November 10, 1792, by an act passed by the Virginia General Assembly. The town of Christiansburg was later incorporated on January 7, 1833. George Washington was known to have visited Christiansburg during the early years of settlement. Frontiersman Daniel Boone resided in town for
216-641: A control point on the NS Christiansburg district which runs from Roanoke, Virginia to Bluefield, West Virginia. Blacksburg Transit provides bus transportation in Christiansburg, and operates four routes within the town, The Explorer, Go Anywhere, Commuter, and the Two Town Trolley. William Christian (Virginia politician) William Christian ( c. 1742 – April 9, 1786) was a military officer, planter and politician from
270-634: A direct connection with the City of Radford, approximately 10 miles to the west. U.S. Routes 11 and 460 dually connect Christiansburg to Roanoke to the northeast. Christiansburg is one of two incorporated towns within Montgomery County and is a member of the New River Valley Planning District. This District encompasses Floyd, Giles, Montgomery and Pulaski Counties, as well as the City of Radford. Montgomery County has
324-499: A full-fledged public school. The Christiansburg Institute was the first black high school in southwestern Virginia and was also the first high school in Montgomery County to receive accreditation with the Virginia Public School System. It remained in operation as a segregated high school until 1966 when desegregation brought its closure. By the early 1900s, Christiansburg had taken on many of the functions of
378-572: A part of Sealtest) opened, and The Roberts' Motel – the first of its kind in Southwestern Virginia – also debuted after the war. Virginia Tech continued to expand, and by the mid-1950s, the school owned 2,000 acres in Montgomery County and employed more than 1,400 individuals. In 1953, the Starlite Drive-In opened and continues to operate as one of the few remaining drive-in theatres in the United States. The 1950s were most noted for
432-754: A regiment of militia from Fincastle County in Dunmore's War , but he and his troops arrived too late to participate in the decisive Battle of Point Pleasant . As relations with Britain soured, Christian became one of the signers of the Fincastle Resolutions , the earliest statement of armed resistance to the British Crown in the American colonies. In 1775, as the American Revolutionary War neared, Christian served on
486-664: A regional center, with a bank, newspaper, Temperance Hall and photographer. Telephone service was provided by the Montgomery Intelligence Company, which was incorporated in 1886. Agriculture played an important part in the local and regional economy, and livestock were regularly driven to market down Main Street or taken to the Christiansburg Depot. A fire following a temperance march in 1900 destroyed several buildings along West Main Street in
540-536: A time. Among records in the County Courthouse is a warrant dated 1774 for the arrest of Boone on a debt charge. The warrant was issued under King George's name but marked "Not executed – Gone to Kentucky." Boone later repaid the debt. Davy Crockett lived in Christiansburg and served as an apprentice to a local newspaper printer for a short time. Crockett also worked at John Snider's Hattery Shop, located on W. Main Street, for 18 months. William Clark , of
594-537: Is no evidence Christian ever practiced law. He married Henry's sister, Annie . They had several daughters who married and had children; their only son, William Henry Christian, died in 1800 at about age 19 without marrying. Christian lived in the part of Botetourt County, Virginia that became Fincastle County, Virginia . He was one of the new county's two representatives in the House of Burgesses in its last three sessions, from 1773 to 1775. In 1774, Christian commanded
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#1732793231228648-518: The New River was discovered by early settlers of German, French, Scot-Irish and English descent. Along the river, there were several Native American encampments, and conflicts were common between those tribes and the early settlers. As settlers began moving into present-day Christiansburg, they discovered that area was also inhabited by the Shawnee and other Native American tribes, who had discovered
702-489: The United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 14.3 square miles. The town is located at the crossroads of three major highways: Interstate 81, U.S. Route 460 and U.S. Route 11. I-81 forms the primary north–south thoroughfare from Maryland to Tennessee; U.S. Route 460 links Christiansburg with the town of Blacksburg, approximately a half mile to the north; and U.S. Route 11 provides
756-469: The 1830s through the 1850s, he often stayed in Christiansburg to depict town scenes. After the Civil War, Miller retired to Christiansburg and spent his last 20 years living with relatives and friends. The Montgomery Museum and Lewis Miller Regional Art Center, located at 300 Pepper Street SE, is named for him. During the Civil War, many men from the Christiansburg area served in the Confederate army in
810-561: The 1970s and 1980s, and two annexations added approximately 3,799 residents. A 1988 annexation incorporated Belmont Farms, the New River Valley Mall (which was under construction on the effective date), what had been the Virginia Tech Horticulture Farm (on the northern end of town) and the top of Christiansburg Mountain (on the eastern end of town). The town underwent two boundary adjustments in
864-750: The 1990s, which incorporated the Falling Branch Industrial Park and a portion of the Marketplace shopping center and the Christiansburg Industrial Park. In 2000, the Spradlin Farms area began development, providing an additional retail space to the town. In 2002, a large portion of both Blacksburg and Christiansburg, as well as a portion of Montgomery County, were designated as a part of an "urbanized area" based upon 2000 Census figures. In 2007,
918-524: The Cherokees in 1781. In 1785, Christian moved his family and slaves to what became Jefferson County, Kentucky , and the Louisville settlement. Christian started a plantation near fellow pioneer and politician Alexander Scott Bullitt (who married one of Christian's daughters and began a family) and executed claims for 9,000 acres (36 km ) of land as a bounty for his military service. Although
972-704: The Christiansburg High School site, was used as a Confederate headquarters. The nearby Montgomery White Sulphur Springs resort in Ellett Valley was utilized as a hospital from 1861 to 1865. Near the end of the war, Union General George B. Stoneman and his men were in Christiansburg and had established headquarters in the Rice D. Montague home, which still stands at 109 E. Main Street. His men were stationed there when news came of Confederate General Robert E. Lee's surrender at Appomattox. Following
1026-706: The Civil War, the population of Christiansburg experienced a decline that continued throughout the 19th century. In 1870, there were 864 people in the town, and by 1900, there were only 659. Captain Charles S. Schaeffer, an agent of the Freedmen's Bureau, founded the Christiansburg Normal Institute (renamed the Christiansburg Industrial Institute) in 1866. The school was formed as a private primary school for
1080-735: The Courthouse in 1826. Ten years later, a public privy was built near the public square, and a new courthouse was constructed in March 1836 in the east corner of the public square. The Christiansburg (Cambria) Depot in the community of Cambria was established on the Virginia Tennessee Railroad line in 1854. Downtown Christiansburg was the site of the Lewis-McHenry Duel on May 9, 1808. The rifle duel between Thomas Lewis and John McHenry, which killed both men, led to
1134-531: The Depot, and the Depot area community was eventually incorporated as the town of Cambria in 1906. The completion of U.S. Route 11 – the first interstate highway in America – was celebrated in Christiansburg when the last link passing through downtown was hard surfaced in 1926. By 1929, Virginia Polytechnic Institute was providing employment for the area's citizens through academic positions and mining jobs related to
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#17327932312281188-607: The Fincastle Committee of Safety and was elected to represent the county at the first four of the five Virginia Conventions after Virginia's royal governor, Lord Dunmore, dismissed the legislature. After the fifth revolutionary convention established the Commonwealth of Virginia, voters from Botetourt and Fincastle counties elected Christian as their representative in the Virginia Senate . However, in
1242-542: The Gardner Zink Mill west of town and the Chrisman Mill along Crab Creek (on what is now State Route 661/Chrisman Mill Road). These two mills were responsible for the centralization of a number of area milling operations in the late 1700s. New streets were laid out during the early 1800s, and additional construction included a number of churches and a public well and pumps, which were placed just north of
1296-558: The New River Center was constructed just north of the New River Valley Mall , which added another large retail development to the town. Also in 2007, the town of Christiansburg and Montgomery County agreed to an adjustment, which brought 49.816 acres and approximately 66 persons into Town (with one single-family house and Wheatland Retirement Community accounting for the population). In a 2009 boundary adjustment,
1350-531: The Revolutionary War had ended, Native Americans continued to defend their lands against occupation by American settlers. Christian and his wife helped establish Fort William, Kentucky, where Christian directed the defense of what is now Louisville from Native American attacks. As one of the most experienced military officers in Kentucky, in 1786 he led an expedition against Native Americans north of
1404-552: The Shenandoah Valley under General T.J. "Stonewall" Jackson . Christiansburg was invaded several times by Union Forces operating under W.W. Averell, and in 1864, the Union Army burned all of the Christiansburg Depot structures except the passenger station. Confederate forces were active within the Christiansburg area and occupied a number of buildings in and around the town. The Lattimer Plantation, which once stood on
1458-575: The Virginia House of Burgesses multiple times between 1758 and 1765, and helped found the towns of Christiansburg and Fincastle . William Christian and his sisters received an "unusually good" education, perhaps from their mother. As a young man, Christian served as a captain in the Anglo-Cherokee War (1758–1761) under Colonel William Byrd . In the mid-1760s, he read law under the guidance of Patrick Henry , although there
1512-403: The average family size was 2.86. In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 33.3% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 12.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males. The median income for a household in the town
1566-585: The command of an expedition against the Overhill Cherokees . The expedition involved little combat, but Christian and his men destroyed Cherokee towns, compelling some of the chiefs to agree to peace. Christian was one of the commissioners who negotiated the "Treaty of the Long Island of the Holston " with the Cherokees, signed on July 20, 1777. He was also a commissioner in a second treaty with
1620-464: The downtown area. Despite this fire, Christiansburg experienced vigorous growth in the first decade of the 20th century, growing from 659 persons in 1900 to 1,568 in 1910. The success of the Norfolk and Western Railroad's Christiansburg Depot, which served as the main shipping point for much of Montgomery County, contributed to much of this growth. Several new houses were built between the town center and
1674-424: The education of black children and was located on Zion Hill, between the town and the old Christiansburg (Cambria) Depot. Booker T. Washington served as superintendent of the institute from 1896 until his death in 1915 and was instrumental in expanding the curriculum to include both classical instruction and practical instruction in industry and the trades. The school was relocated to Lattimer Plantation in 1898 and
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1728-615: The famous Lewis and Clark Expedition , resided in Christiansburg. He lived in downtown Christiansburg in the existing house at 109 E. Main Street, which is commonly known as the Montague home. Meriwether Lewis also visited Christiansburg on occasion. Christiansburg experienced significant growth in the early 1800s, and by 1840, the population had grown to 400. Most residential growth was confined to Main Street and Cross Street (now Franklin Street). Several industrial complexes developed around
1782-676: The largest and most rapidly growing population within the Planning District. As of the census of 2000, there were 16,947 people, 7,093 households, and 4,766 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,217.0 people per square mile (470.1/km ). There were 7,430 housing units at an average density of 533.6 per square mile (206.1/km ). The racial makeup of the town was 93.13% White , 4.83% African American , 0.21% Native American , 0.41% Asian , 0.02% Pacific Islander , 0.48% from other races , and 0.91% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.99% of
1836-480: The next session, the district boundaries changed, with Botetourt County joining Washington, Montgomery, Greenbrier and Kentucky counties in a district that elected William Fleming as their state senator for a four-year part time term. Christian soon returned, after yet another boundary change as settlers moved southwest along the Cumberland Road through Washington County and Greenbrier County into what
1890-529: The number of devastating fires that occurred in town. In 1954, Roses' 5&10 and Cavalier Furniture were both destroyed. Catastrophe struck again in 1956, destroying most of the businesses on East Main Street. In a single fire, the town lost the City Market, Royal Cafe, Smith & Jones, Jennings Barber Shop and Interiors by Richard. Fires in 1957 claimed Simmons Shoe Shop, the Blue Moon Lunch and
1944-606: The passage of the Barbour Bill in 1810, outlawing dueling in Virginia. Former town resident Dr. John Floyd was the attending surgeon at the Lewis-McHenry duel and later governor of Virginia, as well as a member of Congress. He was also the father of John Buchanan Floyd, who served as governor of Virginia from 1849 to 1852. Pennsylvanian artist Lewis Miller was fascinated with Montgomery County's scenery, and throughout
1998-408: The population. There were 7,093 households, out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.6% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% were non-families. 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and
2052-527: The rebuilt Jennings Barber Shop. A major fire on Main Street (now Cambria Street, N.E.) in Cambria in 1959 destroyed many of the oldest and most historic buildings there. Having lost most of its taxpaying enterprises and faced with failing utilities, the town of Cambria proposed and was accepted for consolidation with the Town of Christiansburg on December 31, 1965. The town of Christiansburg continued to grow in
2106-491: The river some years prior. In the late 1600s, Dutch priest Friar Hans arrived in the region; it was named Hans Meadow after him in the early 1700s. In the 18th century, the region was settled by pioneers from Pennsylvania and eastern Virginia. In 1776, Montgomery County was formed from part of Fincastle County. The City of Radford, as well as parts of Floyd, Giles and Pulaski counties, were all subsequently formed from Montgomery County land. The town of "Christiansburgh" – as it
2160-522: The school's coal-operated power plant. The depression years were notable for Christiansburg for an unusual reason: Christiansburg's Post Office was one of approximately two dozen locations in Virginia to receive Mural American Artwork or sculptures, which were created through Roosevelt's Works Project Administration. Christiansburg's mural is entitled Great Road and was completed in 1938 by John DeGroot. Following World War II, Christiansburg rapidly industrialized. The Southern Dairies Plant (which later became
2214-620: The school. Christiansburg, Virginia Christiansburg (formerly Hans Meadows ) is a town and the county seat of Montgomery County, Virginia , United States. The population was 23,348 at the 2020 census , up from 21,041 at the 2010 census. Christiansburg, Blacksburg and the city of Radford are the three principal municipalities of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area , which encompasses those municipalities, all of Montgomery County, and three other counties. In 1671,
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2268-616: The southern edge of Christiansburg. U.S. Route 11 runs east–west through the town. U.S. Route 460 goes north from Christiansburg to Blacksburg , the location of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University . Historically, several Norfolk and Western / Southern Railway trains a day, the Birmingham Special , the Pelican and the Tennessean , made stops at Christiansburg station . Today, Christiansburg serves
2322-537: The town added the area of the Christiansburg Middle School, Harkrader Sports Complex and former Harkrader Farm, which brought in 170.318 acres and approximately six residents. A "friendly sign war" between local businesses in the community went viral in 2021. Christiansburg is located at 37°5′28″N 80°24′28″W / 37.09111°N 80.40778°W / 37.09111; -80.40778 (37.141164, −80.407700). According to
2376-618: The western part of the Colony of Virginia . He represented Fincastle County in the House of Burgesses and as relations with Britain soured, signed the Fincastle Resolutions . He later represented western Virginia in the Virginia Senate and founded Fort William (now Louisville, Kentucky ), as well as helped negotiate the Treaty of Long Island of the Holston, which made peace between the Overmountain Men and Cherokees in 1777. He
2430-501: Was $ 40,851, and the median income for a family was $ 47,428. Males had a median income of $ 35,139 versus $ 23,398 for females. The per capita income for the town was $ 19,579. About 6.4% of families and 8.5% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.2% of those under age 18 and 6.9% of those age 65 or over. The population for 2004 was 17,926 which is an increase of 979 from the 2000 census. Of this 8,151 (48.1%) are male and 8,796 (51.9%) are female. New River Valley Mall
2484-520: Was altered in 1896 when Booker T. Washington , founder of Tuskegee Institute , became an adviser. The school changed its curriculum from a classical education model that emphasized reading, writing, and history, to become a vocational and technical school exemplified by the Tuskegee Institute and Hampton Institute . A 185 acres (75 ha) farm was purchased for the school in 1905. By the 1940s Christiansburg Industrial Institute had grown to
2538-540: Was established to educate freed slaves. After the war, Schaeffer joined the Freedmen's Bureau agency and came to Christiansburg in 1866 with the mission to educate newly freed slaves and prepare them for freedom. The school started in a rented one-room house with only twelve students. By 1869, it had grown to over two hundred students and came to be known as the Hill School. The school has a classical curriculum and
2592-769: Was first Kentucky County , then Jefferson , Fayette , and Lincoln Counties —all before Kentucky became a state in its own right. On February 13, 1776, he was appointed lieutenant colonel of the 1st Virginia Regiment . Christian's brother-in-law Patrick Henry was the initial colonel in command, but when the regiment was taken into the Continental Army , Henry declined to continue serving, and so Congress promoted Christian to colonel on March 18, 1776. When British-allied Cherokees under Dragging Canoe and Oconostota went to war with Virginia in 1776, Christian resigned his Continental Army commission in July, accepting instead
2646-636: Was killed in 1786 at the outset of the Northwest Indian War , leading an expedition against Native Americans near what is now Jeffersonville, Indiana . Christian was born about 1742, in Augusta County, Virginia . He was the son of Elizabeth Starke and her husband Israel Christian , immigrants from Ireland who settled in Staunton, Virginia , in 1740, where they operated a general store. Israel Christian represented Augusta County in
2700-515: Was mostly taught by white teachers who traveled from the northern states to teach the freed slaves. By 1870, the Freedmen's Bureau stopped funding the school and Schaeffer was instead helped financially by a Quaker group called the Friends' Freemen's Association. In the 1880s, Schaeffer took on an advisory position and control of the school was given to an entirely African American staff. Christiansburg Industrial Institute's (CII) educational approach
2754-555: Was originally spelled – was named in honor of Colonel William Christian , who was an early settler in the region. He was one of the first justices of Fincastle County, a member of the Virginia Legislature, and brother-in-law of Patrick Henry . Theodore Roosevelt , in his history The Winning of the West, later wrote that Colonel Christian was a "noted Indian fighter" and a "very gallant and honorable man." Developing from
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#17327932312282808-466: Was renamed Uptown Christiansburg in 2020. A branch of the New River Community College is located there. There are two movie theaters in Christiansburg, including Starlite Drive-In, a drive-in theater . Christiansburg maintains public parks, an aquatic center, a recreation center, and the Huckleberry Trail . The recreation center offers bike rentals, basketball courts, a track, racquetball courts, and multi-purpose rooms. Interstate 81 runs along
2862-422: Was significantly expanded in the following years, growing to 14 buildings and 185 acres. George Washington Carver and other members of the Tuskegee University staff visited CII, and prominent industrial engineer John Wines Lester lived on the CII campus. The Institute came under lease by the Montgomery County School System in 1935. The property was transferred to Montgomery County Schools in 1947, establishing it as
2916-443: Was the only secondary school for African Americans in Montgomery County. It also educated black students from 15 nearby counties. In 1934 the Montgomery County School Board began its management of the school. CII was converted in 1947 to a regional high school for African-American students, and closed in 1966, when the local schools were integrated. Tillman Sease was the school's athletic director from 1948 until 1956 and coached at
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