Blue Ridge Region of Virginia
The Roanoke Valley is the epicenter of the Blue Ridge Region of Virginia. We’ve got everything your family, industry, and company could possibly need. Take a moment to browse below…
Roanoke Virginia is known as “The Star City of The South” for good reason. We’ve got an incredible concentration of amenities everyone is looking for; beautiful climate with 4 seasons, mountain biking paradise, steepest road marathon in the country, sports tourism magnet, high-tech innovation corridor, critical mass of colleges & universities, and the medical field’s epicenter in Virginia. Not to mention we’ve got an 88 FOOT NEON STAR atop Mill Mountain!
Four Season Climate
Imagine a place in America where you can celebrate all four seasons, but without the extreme summer heat of the deep South, or the sub-zero cold of some Northern states. The Blue Ridge Region of Virginia is the place to find it all. According to the US Climate Data website, our region sees an average annual high of 67°F and the average annual low of 46°F. Of course we have 80’s and 90’s in the summer, and a few days in the teens in the winter, but most of the time it is mild and pleasant.
Our team has helped several retiring families who lived in Boston and New York whom we like to call “half-backs”. They moved from an extreme cold climate to the warm sun of Florida, only to discover it was way too hot! So they moved half way back home to the beautiful Blue Ridge Region of Virginia.
America’s East Coast Mountain Biking Capital
In a May 2018 article from Virginia’s Blue Ridge, the IMBA (International Mountain Biking Association) named the Blue Ridge Region a Silver-Level Ride Center™. The article quotes David Wiens, Executive Director of IMBA, who said the “…Silver-Level Ride Center status solidifies the enthusiasm for mountain biking along the East coast and puts Virginia on par with some of the greatest mountain bike destinations.” There are only 15 Silver-Level Ride Center’s in the WORLD, and the Blue Ridge Region is the only one on the East Coast of the USA. Check out the IMBA Ride Center Fact Sheet for all the details.
College & University Powerhouse
We have 12 top-notch colleges and universities within a 2 hour drive of the Roanoke Valley. Included are (with enrollments in 2021):
1) Virginia Tech (37,000)
2) Radford University (8,998)
3) Roanoke College (1,865)
4) Hollins University (713)
5) Ferrum College (960)
6) Liberty University (85,586)
7) University of Lynchburg (2,553)
8) Randolph College (550)
9) Virginia Military Institute (1,698)
10) Washington & Lee University (1,860)
11) Mary Baldwin University (987)
12) University of Virginia (27,115)
Vital Technology Corridor For Business
The Blue Ridge Region’s technology corridor is anchored by Virginia Tech which has naturally spun off hundreds of technology innovations and companies. Examples of some high-tech companies with roots in the Blue Ridge Region are American Biosystems, Luna Innovations, Maxx Performance, Synthonics
There are several organizations which highlight the concentration of STEM businesses and technological innovations including:
Roanoke-Blacksburg Technology Council – 280+ Member Companies, 40+ Annual Events
Center for Research & Technology – Promoting technology-based businesses in Roanoke
Roanoke Regional Partnership – A point of contact for businesses relocating & expanding
Medical Epicenter of Virginia
Carilion Clinic – Headquartered in Roanoke, VA, Carilion has hundreds of hospitals and clinic branches throughout the Blue Ridge Region, and over 1,200 physicians.
Virginia Tech Carilion Research Institute – Opened on Sept. 1, 2010 the medical school in the City of Roanoke has 26 research teams and 300+ faculty, staff, and students.
LewisGale Regional Health System – Headquartered in Salem, VA, LewisGale has 4 hospitals, 6 outpatient centers, and over 700 physicians throughout the Blue Ridge Region.
Transportation Hub to the North, South, East, West
The Blue Ridge Region is located strategically at the center of the East Coast, but is far enough from the Atlantic Coast to avoid the dangers of hurricanes. Whether it is air travel, interstate trucking, train transport, or automobile, you can get there easily from here.
Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport
Interstate 81
AMTRACK