Blacksburg is an incorporated town located in the heart of New River Valley in the state of Virginia.http://www.blacksburgvarealestate.net/Index.htm It is located in Montgomery County and was founded in 1798.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html Blacksburg is Virginia’s largest town and has a population of 41,796 people.http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2008/CBSA-EST2008-01.csv The metropolitan population of the town is 158,328.http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2008/CBSA-EST2008-01.csv

Blacksburg is home to Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech University), the Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, and the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine.http://www.juggle.com/blacksburg Virginia Tech is rated among the top 50 research universities and is home to the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center.http://www.blacksburgvarealestate.net/blacksburg.htm In 2008, Forbes.com ranked Blacksburg tenth in the Best Small Places for Business and Careers.http://www.forbes.com/lists/2008/5/bestplaces08_Blacksburg-VA_100161.html

When European explorers arrived in the area in 1671, there were no Native Americans that inhabited the area anymore.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html The explorers were led by a man named Abraham Wood.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html Wood and his group named a river they followed through the area Wood’s River. On September 17, 1671, they claimed the area for King Charles ll of England.http://www.vt.edu/whee_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html

In the 1740s, Col. James Patton from Wood’s River Land Company took ownership of a large section of the land which would later become Montgomery and Pulaski counties.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html In 1772, Samuel Black of Staunton, Virginia bought 600 acres of land in the area for his sons.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html After Black died in 1792, his sons John and William divided the land equally. http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html John’s land covered the area which would become the central campus of Virginia Tech. William’s land covered the area that would evolve into downtown Blacksburg.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html

In 1797, William made a grid of streets and lots which totaled 16 blocks on a section of his land.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html He then began a petition to the state legislature to establish a town in his area. On January 13, 1798, Blacksburg was founded.http://www.vt.edu/where_we_are/blacksburg/blacksburg-history.html

Blacksburg lies at latitude 37.24' N and longitude 80.43' W.http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Blacksburg&state=VA&site=RNK&textField1=37.2327&textField2=-80.4284 The city has a land area of 18.8 square miles and an elevation of 2,080 feet above sea level.http://www.idcide.com/citydata/va/blacksburg.htm The annual average temperature is 51F and the annual average precipitation is 42.63 inches.http://www.idcide.com/weather/va/blacksburg.htm The town is located on a plateau between the Allegheny and Blue Ridge Mountains.http://www.blacksburgvarealestate.net/blacksburg.htm

• Peters Mountain Wilderness: 3,328 acres on the crest of Peters Mountain that features views of the countryside.http://www.blacksburg.gov/

• Mountain Lake Wilderness: A wilderness which is the largest in the Jefferson National Forest.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Historic Smithfield: Home of Revolutionary War patriot William Preston.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Virginia Tech Geosciences Museum: Features a mineral collection, fossils, and area mining history exhibits.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Cascades National Recreation Trail: Hiking and trout fishing in the Little Stony Creek.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Pandapas Pond: The pond offers warm water fishing and canoeing.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Blue Ridge Parkway: Features many kinds of wildlife and brilliant fall foliage.http://www.blacksburg.gov/
• Claytor Lake State Park: Visitors can go camping, fishing, hiking, swimming, boating, and picnicking.http://www.blacksburg.gov/

• Fran Tarkenton: Former NFL Football Player
• Edward J. Laurent: Author\Musical Artist
• Patri Friedman: Actorhttp://www.juggle.com/blacksburg