Radford

By Scott L. Gardner and Radford Public Library

Situated on the New River, Radford has served as a gateway since its earliest days. Pioneers journeyed westward through the area along the Wilderness Road in the 1700s and 1800s, and the railroad made its way west in the 1850s, bringing about a boom in development. Today Radford still welcomes people with its small-city living, natural beauty, and educational opportunities. Author Scott L. Gardner, director of Glencoe Museum, has partnered with the Radford Public Library, where he has worked for over five years.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Arcadia Publishing
• Release date: Jan 3, 2011
• ISBN: 9781439641583

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INTRODUCTION

As settlers ventured westward through Virginia, they encountered a natural boundary, which is the New River. In order for the early travelers to cross the river safely, it was necessary to open ferries. One such example was Ingles Ferry (1762), located on the famous Wilderness Road. As a result of this roadway coming through the area, a settlement emerged that was known as Lovely Mount. With the 19th century came the rapid development and construction of the railroad system. The Virginia and Tennessee Railroad first came through the area in the 1850s, sparking the establishment of the town of Central, which earned its name because of its geographic location at the central point between Lynchburg and Bristol, Virginia. As time passed, Lovely Mount eventually became absorbed into the growing town of Central. In 1882, Norfolk and Western acquired the rail lines in the area and set off a massive growth period for Central. As a result, Central achieved the necessary population to become a city and was incorporated in 1887 and finally chartered as a city in 1892, becoming the City of Radford, Virginia.

Radford’s growing size and city status brought on great changes in its industrial and housing markets. In the city, a water power plant and a street railway system were established. Other industries flourished such as the Lynchburg Foundry and the Radford Ice Company. Forward-thinking individuals began buying up land in the area and establishing businesses to develop and sell off the land for new neighborhoods. One such company was the Radford Land and Development Company. Much of the city of Radford sits on land that was once owned by Dr. John Blair Radford, Gen. Gabriel C. Wharton, Capt. William Ingles, and the Heth family. In 1891, a traffic bridge was constructed across the New River into Pulaski County, and in 1893, a bridge crossed Connelly’s Run, connecting the two ends of Radford. The growth of the city was halted for a period because of the depression of 1893, but eventually the city continued to develop, although never at the rate it once had. Through the turn of the 20th century, Radford again experienced steady growth. The city established two new schools, one in the East End called Belle Heth and one in the West End named McHarg. Both were built in 1908. The city also established the first high school classes in 1909, producing the first graduates in