Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford metropolitan area

The Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area is a Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) as defined by the United States Office of Management and Budget (OMB) located in the New River Valley of Southwest Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 151,272 (though a July 1, 2007 estimate placed the population at 157,614). [cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/popest/metro/tables/2007/CBSA-EST2007-01.csv | title = Annual Estimates of the Population of Metropolitan and Micropolitan Statistical Areas: April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2007 (CBSA-EST2007-01) | format = CSV | work = 2007 Population Estimates | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2008-03-27 | accessdate = 2008-09-02]

The MSA is dominated by the presence of Virginia Tech and Radford University. The area, coming to be known as the Tri-Cities of the New River Valley, has experienced tremendous growth in the last twenty years and continues to be among the fastest growing areas in Virginia. It is bordered by the Allegheny Mountains to the North and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the South, with the New River flowing through the valley itself. Blacksburg, the largest of the cities, is home to Virginia Tech, while Radford, the smallest of the cities, is home to Radford University. While Christiansburg, which is located in between the other two cities, does not have an institution of higher education, it is home to hundreds of stores, restaurants, and an historic downtown. Christiansburg continues to be the economic hub of the New River Valley.

MSA components

"Note: Since a state constitutional change in 1871, all cities in Virginia are independent cities that are not located in any county. The OMB considers these independent cities to be county-equivalents for the purpose of defining MSAs in Virginia."

Three counties and one independent city are included in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area. [cite web | url = http://www.census.gov/population/www/metroareas/lists/2007/List4.txt | title = Metropolitan Statistical Areas and Components| format = TXT | work = Metropolitan statistical areas and metropolitan divisions defined by the Office of Management and Budget, November 2007 | publisher = United States Census Bureau, Population Division | date = 2008-06-24 | accessdate = 2008-09-02]

*Counties
**Giles
**Montgomery
**Pulaski

*Independent Cities
**Radford

Communities

Places with more than 35,000 inhabitants

*Blacksburg (Principal city)

Places with 10,000 to 20,000 inhabitants

*Christiansburg (Principal city)
*Radford (Principal city)

Places with 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitants

*Dublin
*Elliston-Lafayette (census-designated place)
*Fairlawn (census-designated place)
*Merrimac (census-designated place)
*Narrows
*Pearisburg
*Pembroke
*Pulaski
*Shawsville (census-designated place)

Places with less than 1,000 inhabitants

*Glen Lyn
*Rich Creek

Unincorporated places

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 151,272 people, 58,443 households, and 34,881 families residing within the MSA. The racial makeup of the MSA was 91.24% White, 4.34% African American, 0.18% Native American, 2.44% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.50% from other races, and 1.28% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.29% of the population.

The median income for a household in the MSA was $31,446, and the median income for a family was $44,478. Males had a median income of $32,377 versus $22,605 for females. The per capita income for the MSA was $17,184.

ee also

*List of U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas in Virginia
*Virginia census statistical areas

References