Lynchburg, VA is a special city with a lot of character. From old renaissance-style downtown buildings to modern manufacturing facilities and world-class educational institutions – our city blends historical elegance and cutting-edge infrastructure. But, every now and then, Lynchburg is misunderstood. To set the record straight, here are our responses to some of the most common misconceptions about the City – a place that was once celebrated as being one of the most affluent cities in the United States.
- Lynchburg is really small
Yes, Lynchburg has the quaint charm and connectedness of a less urbanized city, but our population continues to grow substantially each year. Lynchburg’s popluation has grown more than 19% since 2000. - Lynchburg is an older community
We are steeped in rich history with Victorian-era and Greek revival architecture and charming cobblestone pathways downtown. However, our City has a growing youthful population of students and young professionals. In fact, students from all over the nation and the world travel to study at Lynchburg’s esteemed postsecondary schools. At the same time, our large local businesses – especially in the scientific, technology and manufacturing sectors – recruit young professionals from across the globe. The median age in Lynchburg is 30.3, which is seven years younger than the average population in the state. - Lynchburg is hard to get to
Although Lynchburg is one of the largest communities of its kind that isn’t on a major interstate; numerous transportation channels via plane, train and well-connected highways link us to major cities. We’re less than a day’s drive away from all of the biggest metropolitan areas on the east coast. - It’s challenging to start a business in Lynchburg
Sometimes people think that it’s hard to get connected in Lynchburg, but our city offers plenty of opportunities to grow something new here. Through the Economic Development Authority, Small Business Development Center and other local resources, it is easy to access financial incentives, grants, loans, business training programs, store and office real estate locations and more. - Lynchburg is far away from everything
Less than four hours away from Virginia beach, Washington D.C. and Charlotte, N.C., Lynchburg is close to several large and exciting metropolitan areas. We’re also a quick drive away from Smith Mountain Lake and the Appalachian Trail, where you can hike, camp and soak up beautiful views of the Blue Ridge Mountains. - There’s nothing to do in Lynchburg
Everything from outdoor concerts, art gallery showings, amazing eateries, award-winning local breweries, and plenty of recreational sports to Frisbee golf courses and salsa dancing downtown – Lynchburg boasts a vibrant and wide range of fun activities and attractions. In fact, here’s a short list of just nine amazing things to do here right in Lynchburg. - Lynchburg isn’t an innovative place
Our City is home to many cutting-edge scientific, manufacturing, software, engineering, sophisticated medical and nuclear international technology companies – such as Areva, Centra, Trax and Babcock & Wilcox. The progressive products, technical research and services created by these local companies affect numerous industries and individual lives worldwide.
Don’t let these misconceptions about Lynchburg fool you. Lynchburg is a budding City with a strong economy and a continuously growing workforce. To learn more about our City, take a look at our breakdown of local business history:
{{cta(‘470752f4-3ca8-4f71-b880-dc5b69a04790’)}}