History
Radford History Overview
Radford's part of the New River has been settled for thousands of years by Native Americans. In the late 18th century the first white settlers arrived laying the foundations for modern-day Radford. The coming of the railroad in the middle of the 19th century marked Radford's rise to the city we know today.
This small log cabin of William and Mary Draper
Ingles was one of the first settlements in Radford.
Today, a rebuilt version of this cabin at the original
site gives and impression of life in the late 18th
century.
The first permanent settlement within Radford's present boundaries occurred at the New River crossing of the Wilderness Road. This trail extended westward from the valley of Virginia through southwest Virginia and on to the Cumberland Gap into Kentucky. This pathway was called the Wilderness Road and with later development it became known as the Stagecoach Road. Stagecoach Road would later be called the Valley Pike and eventually what is now US 11. Radford’s section of this road is known as Rock Road, and it was here that William Ingles and his wife, Mary Draper Ingles, established Ingles's Ferry in 1762. The ferry became the nucleus of a commercial center which was to have a tavern, blacksmith's shop and a general store, among other businesses,
The coming of the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad in 1854 brought a marked change in orientation for Radford. A depot was constructed at Lovely Mount and, because it was situated halfway between Lynchburg and Bristol, it was named Central. Its midway location also led the railroad to build repair shops at Central, stimulating residential and commercial growth in the village. When the railroad arrived, Lovely Mount had a population of 30. Two years later, when the first scheduled trains ran, there were over 100 people, as well as a roundhouse, repair shop, workmen's homes, a tavern, restaurant and general store. Gradually trade was taken away from Lovely Mount Tavern, and Central became the commercial center, serving as a shipping point for the area's products. These products consisted of tobacco, bacon and lumber.
In 1872, the New River Railroad, Mining and Manufacturing Company was chartered to build a railroad from Central to the Pocahontas coal fields in West Virginia. It was 10 years before Pocahontas coal reached Central (the railroad by then operated by Norfolk and Western), but this enterprise, coupled with a road to the Cripple Creek iron mines, spurred a boom in Central. Land development companies were formed and subdivisions planned. The Radford Land and Improvement Company developed much of the area that was to become West Radford. Several other companies developed East Radford and the area around the New River depot across the river. Industry was promoted and during this time an iron foundry, brick works, lumber companies, a knitting mill and a stone quarry came into being. Virginia Iron, Coal and Coke Company was a major employer. The population grew from 300 in 1880 to 3,000 in 1890.
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