Smithfield is a plantation house in Blacksburg, Virginia, built from 1772 to 1774 by Col. William Preston to be his residence and the headquarters of his farm. It was the birthplace of two Virginia Governors: James Patton Preston and John B. Floyd.

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15 on the National Register · #21 in VAHistoric places →

Know Blacksburg

The town at a glance, and the guide to how things work

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About Blacksburg

Town in Virginia, United States

1798Established

44,826Population

19.9 sq miArea

2,077 ftElevation

Blacksburg is an incorporated town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States, with a population of 44,826 at the 2020 census. Blacksburg and the surrounding county is dominated economically and demographically by the presence of Virginia Tech. Blacksburg, Christiansburg, and the city of Radford are the three principal jurisdictions of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area, which encompasses those jurisdictions and all of Montgomery, Pulaski, and Giles counties for statistical purposes. The MSA has an estimated population of 181,863 and is currently one of the faster-growing MSAs in Virginia.

Official town website ↗

From Wikipedia, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0 · facts via Wikidata (CC0)

How Blacksburg ranks

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#4Shortest commute in VA #8Safest in VA #31Best schools in VA All VA rankings →

Town numbers

ZIP code24060, 24061, 24062

Area code540

Living in Blacksburg

Housing in Blacksburg

$417K▲ 2.5% in a year Typical home value · Zillow

The typical Blacksburg home is worth about $417,000, up 2.5% in a year, close to the Virginia typical home.

A seller's market

Buyer’sBalancedSeller’s

Days on market8

Sale-to-list98.6%

Sold in May26

Zillow Home Value Index · Redfin Data CenterHousing market →

Safety in Blacksburg

A⁻

Safety Grade A-

Blacksburg reports less crime per resident than 78% of the U.S. towns and cities we grade.

Violent crime per 1,000

Blacksburg 0.7

Virginia 2.1

U.S. 3.3

Property crime per 1,000

Blacksburg 5.5

Virginia 13.9

U.S. 15.5

FBI crime data, 2025 · crimes reported to policeCrime & safety →

Work & commute in Blacksburg

Full picture →

47% of Blacksburg’s working residents work right in town. The top destinations are Christiansburg (8%), Roanoke (4%) and Radford (3%). Half commute less than 5 miles.

Christiansburg

Roanoke

Radford

Salem

47%Work in townlive and work in Blacksburg 5 miWhere do people commute?the commute map 21,328Jobs based herea job hub

Census LEHD 2023 · ACSWork & commute in Blacksburg →

Health in Blacksburg

A⁻

Health Grade A−

Healthier than 80% of U.S. towns on seven CDC estimates, and 99% of towns with similar incomes.

Compared with Virginia

11better than VA·10worse

of 32 measures CDC estimates. The other 11 are too close to call.

Conditions 9▲ 1▼ 2 close Habits 1▲ 1▼ 2 close Care 4▼ 3 close Mind 1▲ 2▼ 2 close Everyday needs 2▼ 2 close

BetterToo close to callWorse

What stands out

3.3%Fewer adults who have had cancerVA 7.7% · better 5.7%Fewer adults with diabetesVA 12.5% · better 12.1%More adults without reliable transportationVA 7.4% · worse

Care nearby

Lewisgale Hospital MontgomeryBlacksburg · 3.3 mi · ER

Montgomery ClinicChristiansburg · 7.1 mi · sliding-scale fees

Primary careShortage · county-wide

DentalShortage · county-wide

Mental healthShortage · county-wide

CDC PLACES 2025 · modeled estimates for adults · CDC's estimate for Blacksburg · CMS · HRSAHealth in Blacksburg →

Natural hazards in Blacksburg

Very low

Expected storm and flood damage is higher than in 0% of U.S. communities.

🌊 Inland flooding🥶 Cold waves🏚️ Earthquakes

5Does Blacksburg flood?paid flood claims since 1978 7Disasters that paid out herefederal disasters sent FEMA money to Blacksburg MapBlacksburg vs. its neighborsnearby towns shaded by rating

FEMA National Risk Index December 2025 · OpenFEMANatural hazards in Blacksburg →

Climate in Blacksburg

Full climate →

Blacksburg has chilly winters and pleasant summers. A typical July afternoon reaches 84°, a January night drops to 25°, and about 25 inches of snow falls in a normal winter.

45° / 26°Winter

65° / 41°Spring

82° / 60°Summer

66° / 43°Fall

How much snow does Blacksburg get?About 25 inches a winter.Rain & snow →When is the first frost?Around Oct 19, with the last in spring around Apr 24.Frost dates →Is it warmer than it used to be?+1.1° vs. the 20th century.Then & now →

NOAA U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020Climate in Blacksburg →

Schools in Blacksburg

All Blacksburg schools →

School Grade B

The public schools Blacksburg’s kids attend, from kindergarten through graduation, outperform 63% of Virginia’s districts on state tests and graduation. Among towns with similar incomes, they sit near the middle.

#31Best public schoolsof 219 in VA

DistrictMontgomery County Public SchoolsSchools10

Kipps Elementary B+Elementary · Grades K–5 · 358 students Margaret Beeks Elementary A-Elementary · Grades PK–5 · 346 students Gilbert Linkous Elementary AElementary · Grades PK–5 · 292 students Harding Avenue Elementary AElementary · Grades K–5 · 279 students St. John Neumann AcademyElementary · Grades PK–8 · 191 students Mine Me Us Montessori SchoolElementary · Grades PK–4 · 74 students

School data from the U.S. Department of Education (NCES, EDFacts). The School Grade is our own summary of state test results and graduation rates, graded within VA. Ratings are from neighbors.

Blacksburg is a college town

Colleges →

56%

of Blacksburg’s residents are enrolled in college. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University has about 36,796 students on campus, and 1 more college is in town.

55%How hard to get in?admission rate $24,953What does it cost?net price a year 86%Do students finish?graduation rate

College Scorecard · IPEDSColleges in Blacksburg →