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Roanoke, VA near Kia of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA
Independent city Roanoke, VA, located near Kia of Lynchburg in Lynchburg, VA, is the 10th largest city located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. Bisected by the Roanoke River, nestled in the middle of the Roanoke Valley between Maryland and Tennessee, Roanoke was originally named Big Lick, was established in 1852, and was chartered in 1874. It officially was renamed Roanoke in 1882 and was chartered as the independent city of Roanoke 2 years later in 1884, growing at such a rapid pace that the city earned the nickname the Magic City. The convenient location of the town allowed it to become the transportation hub of western Virginia, an important center of trails and railroads. In the past, manufacturing and textiles were a sizable chunk of the economy. Today, the Roanoke economy is driven in large part by healthcare and retail.
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A wide range of activities and attractions are available in Roanoke. One such attraction is the Mill Mountain Star, an installation lit by red, white, and blue lights that can be glimpsed from many points in the city and surrounding valley. The beautiful St. Andrews Catholic Church is both a state and national landmark. Roanoke's Historical Fire Station #1, opened back in 1907, is the oldest operating firehouse in Virginia. And for newspaper buffs, there is The Roanoke Times, the city's daily newspaper that has been in circulation for the past 120 years. Locals and out-of-towners alike come from all around to the many festivals and cultural events in the area such as the Chili Cook-Off, Festival in the Park, Local Colors Festival, Henry Street Festival, Big Lick Blues Festival, and the Strawberry Festival. Center in the Square draws many visitors, as it houses the History Museum of Western Virginia, Science Museum of Western Virginia, and the Hopkins Planetarium. Other notable museums include the Virginia Museum of Transportation, O. Winston Link Museum, Harrison Museum of African-American Culture, and the Taubman Museum of Art, which used to be housed in Center in the Square but now has its own 75,000-square-foot facility in downtown Roanoke and is home to the Roanoke Children's Theatre. Anyone looking to take in some theatre or a concert will have their pick of venues: the Mill Mountain Theatre, the Roanoke Performing Arts Theatre in the Roanoke Civic Center, the Shaftman Performance Hall, the Dumas Center for Artistic and Cultural Development (formerly the Dumas Hotel), the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra, the Grandin Theatre in the Grandin Village of Southwest Roanoke, the Virginia Western Theatre, and the Star City Playhouse. Other noteworthy attractions throughout Roanoke include the Blue Ridge Parkway, Hollins University, Hotel Roanoke, Mill Mountain Zoo, Roanoke Historic Farmers Market, Virginia's Explore Park, and the Texas Tavern.
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Roanoke is also home to a multitude of famous public figures, all of whom were either born in, lived in, or were otherwise associated with the city. Just a few of these people include astrophysicist and Nobel laureate John C. Mather, United States Ambassador to Romania Nicholas Taubman, American artist John Alan Maxwell, wrestler Tony Atlas, twin NFL players Ronde Barber and Tiki Barber (Roanoke County), MLB outfielder Billy Sample, model and actress Tai Collins, former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry H. Fowler, entrepreneur Cameron Johnson, NBA basketball player George Lynch, former tennis professional K. J. Hippensteel, singer Wayne Newton, McAfee founder John McAfee, CEO of the National Rifle Association Wayne LaPierre, actress Debbie Reynolds (metro area), former Miss America Nicole Johnson Baker, author Nelson S. Bond, playwright Kermit Hunter, and mathematician and Nobel laureate John Forbes Nash.
About 56 miles away from Lynchburg, VA, Roanoke is only a short drive from Kia of Lynchburg, new Kia and used car dealer. If you are interested in acquiring a new Kia or used car and want to take a test drive, stop by Kia of Lynchburg at 3400 Old Forest Road, Lynchburg, VA 24501 or give us a call on our sales line at 866-979-9135 today!
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