Growing Southwest Virginia town with innovative parks, local restaurants and new housing
Located on Virginia’s southwest side and just a few miles south of Virginia Tech, Christiansburg is a growing town with incredible parks, indoor recreation spaces and plenty of close-knit neighborhoods. “Our town slogan is ‘Small Town Living at its Best,’ and it really is. It’s a great place to work, shop, and raise a family,” says Mayor Mike Barber, a born-and-raised Christiansburg local who is starting his 12th year as mayor after 14 years on the town council. “We’re the 4th largest town in Virginia with around 25,000 residents. We may not have the natural wonders of the world, but we’re centrally located. We’re just 30 minutes from many rivers, waterfalls, mountains and trails.” Some Christiansburg residents work at Virginia Tech and can bike to it via the paved Huckleberry Trail. The town also offers residents dozens of shopping and dining options along North Franklin Street and annual festivals and events that overtake Main Street. The local government in Christiansburg is working hard toward rebuilding its 20th-century commuter rail station and has great hopes for its future.
Christiansburg's slogan is Small Town Living at its Best, which is a fitting motto for this thriving small southwest Virginia town.
Lots of new construction is happening around Christiansburg, with single family, townhomes and condos shooting up all around town.
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Forward-thinking playgrounds, recreation centers and the Huckleberry Trail
Christiansburg is proud of its many parks, as well as its recreation center which is free for residents. The aquatics center hosts swim meets from all around the state – sometimes the country – and is a major gathering space for locals throughout the year. The town built the multi-million-dollar Huckleberry Park of Christiansburg in 2023, which has already seen hundreds of thousands of visitors. "We work closely with our intellectual disabilities agency to provide programs and amenities for everyone. Huckleberry Park has been a game-changer with its inclusive playground designed for all abilities,” says Brad Epperley, the Director of Parks and Recreation in Christiansburg. “The roller slide at Huckleberry Park is specially designed for individuals with cochlear implants, removing the static interference caused by regular slides. It’s one of our most fun and thoughtful features." Folks can also hike, bike or run along the 8-mile Huckleberry Trail, named for the old railroad track that used to rest there. "The Huckleberry Trail connects Christiansburg to Blacksburg and Virginia Tech. It’s a beautiful place to walk, run, or bike and experience nature. We’re planning to add more branches and extensions to link schools, stores, housing and other amenities. Connectivity is our goal,” Epperley says.
The Huckleberry Trail connects downtown Christiansburg to Virginia Tech in Blacksburg to the north.
Huckleberry Park has a large dog park, playing fields and is connected to the Huckleberry Trail.
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Classic drive-ins, a variety of flavors and major shopping centers
Christiansburg is home to dozens of locally owned restaurants, as well as large shopping centers and national brand stores. “We’re not as congested as Blacksburg and other areas, but we’re a regional shopping hub in Southwest Virginia and are exploding with growth, new housing, parks and recreation,” Mayor Barber says. “Dude’s Drive-In is a local classic, a throwback to the 1940s curb service style, and we still have Starlite Drive-In outdoor movie theater, which operates from spring through fall.” He also recommends Farmhouse, which has been family-owned for over 50 years, and The Summit, a fine-dining establishment in town. Other favorites include Sandro’s for an Italian experience, El Loco for Mexican cuisine and Ocean Samurai for sushi. North Franklin Street has many familiar brand stores and fast-food joints, including Target, The Home Depot, Aldi and Five Guys.
Dude's Drive-In is an iconic fast food spot, with service directly from your car. Stop by for a chili dog and a chocolate milkshake.
Sandros is a popular Italian restaurant with great pizza pasta and more.
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Rockin' Main Street and the annual Christmas parade
The Christiansburg community is full of events and festivals throughout the year, which contributes to its small-town atmosphere. “We do a lot of annual events, like the Christmas tree lighting and parade on the second Friday of December. The 45-foot tree we use is the one I planted years ago as a banker. When I became mayor, I thought it was perfect for the square,” Mayor Barber says. “Kids from the community light the tree, and there’s an hour-and-a-half-long parade afterward. Vendors at the winter market always do well.” Rockin’ Main Street brings the community together a few times each year. The town blocks off Main Street and sets up a stage to accommodate local opening bands and national headliners. The event also includes local beer and wine, food trucks and games.
New housing developments and condo options in Christiansburg
Christiansburg stretches northwest and east along Interstate 81, reaching the southern edge of its closest neighbor, Blacksburg. This gives residents plenty of housing options, ranging from condos or townhouses near shopping centers, to more suburban communities in quiet cul-de-sacs. “Our median family income is about $75,000, and housing is more affordable than in Blacksburg. There are 500 new housing units coming in, from apartments to duplexes and townhouses, with maybe some single-family homes,” Mayor Barber says. The median single-family home price is around $315,000, though several new constructions and communities with larger estates can range between $550,000 and over $900,000. Condos and townhouses often range in value between $200,000 and $500,000, with options all over town.
Older homes are available closer to downtown, with a mix of bungalows, Victorians and other historic styles.
Rows and rows of townhomes line the outskirts of town, and housing options are more affordable than nearby Blacksburg.
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Montgomery County Public Schools and programs
Christiansburg falls within the Montgomery County Public School district, which is rated an overall A-minus on Niche. There are six schools in town: four primary and elementary schools, one middle school and one high school. Christiansburg Middle School and Christiansburg High School are rated B-minus and B, respectively. The high school is known for its athletics, with the longest state championship winning streak in Virginia history for wrestling. It also has a hands-on STEM Academy. Virginia Tech is just a few miles north in Blacksburg for students that want to pursue higher education.
Christiansburg schools receive an overall score of A- on Niche.
Christiansburg high school is known for its athletics, with the longest state championship winning streak in Virginia history.
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Route 460 to Blacksburg and a future commuter railway
Students and university staff can drive or take the bus about 8 miles north to Blacksburg via Route 460. “Our public transportation is free and takes riders from Christiansburg to Blacksburg and Radford. You can even call ahead for things like doctor's appointments, and they’ll make sure you get there on time,” Epperley says. Students and staff can bike north along the paved Huckleberry Trail, which connects several residential neighborhoods to campus. The town is also on the cusp of renovating the old rail station on Depot Street in Cambria to bring commuter rail lines back to Christiansburg. The project intends to accommodate 40,000 riders in its first year, though the completion date is yet to be determined. Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport is about 33 miles away via Interstate 81 in Roanoke.
Crime and possible flooding in Christiansburg
According to the FBI Crime Data Explorer, in 2023, Christiansburg’s property crime rates were above the national and state medians, while violent crime fluctuated throughout the year. During heavy rainfall, waterways like Crab Creek can overflow or flood.
As a 1994 graduate of Virginia Tech, Rayne fell in love with this area and have lived in the New River Valley for over 25 years. Her husband is a teacher at Kipps Elementary in Blacksburg and they are raising two daughters. Rayne has been or is currently involved with many staples in the community including the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce, Blacksburg Fire Department and Rescue Squad, Belmont Christian Church, the Appalachian Search and Rescue Team, Virginia Tech and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine. She loves the small town feel of this area and take pride in the NRV and the people who reside here.
Rayne has been through the process of buying and selling homes many times and know firsthand the importance of having a personal, professional, detail oriented Realtor by your side to guide the way. Real estate is not only her career, but her passion. She is pleased to work for Long and Foster and the Albimino & Stenger Team, providing exceptional and comprehensive real estate services to home buyers and sellers in the New River Valley. It would be her pleasure to assist you with your buying or selling journey.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
