Clifton Forge is a town in

Alleghany County, Virginia Alleghany County is an American county located on the far western edge of Commonwealth of Virginia. It is bordered by the Allegheny Mountains, from which the county derives its name, and it is the northernmost part of the Roanoke Region. The ...

, United States which is part of the greater

Roanoke Region The Roanoke Region ( ) is the area of the Commonwealth of Virginia surrounding the city of Roanoke. Its usage may refer to the metropolitan statistical area or the Roanoke Valley, but it sometimes includes areas in the Allegheny Mountains and New ...

. The population was 3,555 at the 2020 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jackson's River Station. Clifton Forge was an

independent city An independent city or independent town is a city or town that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity (such as a province). Historical precursors In the Holy Roman Empire, and to a degree in its successor states ...

during the 2000 census. However, in 2001, Clifton Forge gave up its city status and reverted to a town. In previous decades, the railroad was a major employer. Clifton Forge is known for its mountain views and clear streams.

History

Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District is a national historic district located at Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Virginia. The district encompasses 77 contributing buildings in the central business district of Clifton Forge. It primarily ...

Clifton Forge Residential Historic District Clifton Forge Residential Historic District is a national historic district located at Clifton Forge, Alleghany County, Virginia. The district encompasses 728 contributing buildings and two contributing sites in a predominantly residential secti ...

, Clifton Furnace, Jefferson School, and

Longdale Furnace Historic District Longdale Furnace is an unincorporated community located east of Clifton Forge in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States. Much of the community was designated a national historic district and added to the National Register of Historic Places ...

are listed on the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

Transportation

Amtrak The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, Trade name, doing business as Amtrak () , is the national Passenger train, passenger railroad company of the United States. It operates inter-city rail service in 46 of the 48 contiguous United Stat ...

, the national passenger rail service, provides service to the

Clifton Forge station Clifton Forge station is a train station in Clifton Forge, Virginia, serving Amtrak's '' Cardinal'' line. It is located at 307 East Ridgeway Street. History The Virginia Central Railroad extended to Clifton Forge in 1857 here, a point originally ...

with the

Cardinal Cardinal or The Cardinal may refer to: Animals * Cardinal (bird) or Cardinalidae, a family of North and South American birds **''Cardinalis'', genus of cardinal in the family Cardinalidae **''Cardinalis cardinalis'', or northern cardinal, the ...

route. Also Clifton Forge serves a major locomotive fuel facility for

CSX Transportation CSX Transportation , known colloquially as simply CSX, is a Class I freight railroad operating in the Eastern United States and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec. The railroad operates approximately 21,000 route miles () of track. ...

and is home to the Chesapeake & Ohio Historical Society and C&O Railway Heritage Center. Clifton Forge is serviced by three major highways,

Interstate 64 Interstate 64 (I-64) is an east–west Interstate Highway in the Eastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. Route 40 (US 40), and US 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange w ...

US Route 60 U.S. Route 60 is a major east–west United States highway, traveling from southwestern Arizona to the Atlantic Ocean coast in Virginia. The highway's eastern terminus is in Virginia Beach, Virginia, where it is known as Pacific Avenue, in the ...

, and

US Route 220 U.S. Route 220 (US 220) is a spur route of US 20. It runs in a north–south layout in the eastern United States, unlike its parent route as well as conventionally even-numbered highways which run east-west. US 220 extends for fr ...

Geography

Clifton Forge is located at (37.819801, -79.823584). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town had a total area of , all land. Portions of the town were built upon a bridge, elevating the town above a stream.

Demographics

As of the

census A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording and calculating information about the members of a given population. This term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common censuses incl ...

of 2010, there were 3,884 people, 1,701 households, and 982 families residing in the town. The

population density Population density (in agriculture: standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geographical term.Matt RosenberPopul ...

was 1,252.9 people per square mile (485.5/km²). There were 2,004 housing units at an average density of 646.5 per square mile (225.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 84.4%

White White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

, 11.8%

Black Black is a color which results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without hue, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white ...

African American African Americans (also referred to as Black Americans and Afro-Americans) are an ethnic group consisting of Americans with partial or total ancestry from sub-Saharan Africa. The term "African American" generally denotes descendants of ens ...

, 0.2% Native American, 0.4%

Asian Asian may refer to: * Items from or related to the continent of Asia: ** Asian people, people in or descending from Asia ** Asian culture, the culture of the people from Asia ** Asian cuisine, food based on the style of food of the people from Asi ...

, 0.4% from

other races Other often refers to: * Other (philosophy), a concept in psychology and philosophy Other or The Other may also refer to: Film and television * ''The Other'' (1913 film), a German silent film directed by Max Mack * ''The Other'' (1930 film), a ...

, and 2.8% from two or more races.

Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to Vic ...

Latino Latino or Latinos most often refers to: * Latino (demonym), a term used in the United States for people with cultural ties to Latin America * Hispanic and Latino Americans in the United States * The people or cultures of Latin America; ** Latin A ...

of any race were 1.7% of the population. There were 1,701 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.8% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 37.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.18 and the average family size was 2.85. In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 20.4% from 25 to 44, 28.5% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.8 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.7 males. The median income for a household in the city was $34,256, and the median income for a family was $53,547. Males had a median income of $38,500 versus $29,630 for females. The

per capita income Per capita income (PCI) or total income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year. It is calculated by dividing the area's total income by its total population. Per capita i ...

for the city was $20,833. About 14.3% of families and 23.3% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 33.4% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the

Köppen Climate Classification The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by German-Russian climatologist Wladimir Köppen (1846–1940) in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen, notabl ...

system, Clifton Forge has a

humid subtropical climate A humid subtropical climate is a zone of climate characterized by hot and humid summers, and cool to mild winters. These climates normally lie on the southeast side of all continents (except Antarctica), generally between latitudes 25° and 40° ...

, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

In popular culture

* ''Mama'' (2013 horror film) Although the film was produced in

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, covering over , making it the world's second-largest country by tot ...

, it is set in Clifton Forge. *The 1985

video Video is an electronic medium for the recording, copying, playback, broadcasting, and display of moving visual media. Video was first developed for mechanical television systems, which were quickly replaced by cathode-ray tube (CRT) syste ...

for "

Driver 8 "Driver 8" is the second single from American musical group R.E.M.'s third album, ''Fables of the Reconstruction''. Released in September 1985, the song peaked at number 22 on the U.S. ''Billboard'' Mainstream Rock Tracks chart. It was not relea ...

" by

R.E.M R.E.M. was an American rock band from Athens, Georgia, formed in 1980 by drummer Bill Berry, guitarist Peter Buck, bassist Mike Mills, and lead vocalist Michael Stipe, who were students at the University of Georgia. One of the first alternativ ...

. was partly filmed in and around the C&O (Chessie System) yards. *

Dopesick (miniseries) ''Dopesick'' is an American drama miniseries, created by Danny Strong for Hulu. Based on the non-fiction book ''Dopesick: Dealers, Doctors, and the Drug Company that Addicted America'' by Beth Macy, it premiered on October 13, 2021, and conclud ...

, based on the book by

Beth Macy Beth Macy (born c. 1964) is an American journalist and non-fiction writer. She is the author of four published books, including national bestsellers ''Factory Man'' (2014) and ''Dope Sick'' (2018). Early life The daughter of a factory worker, S ...

, was filmed in several different areas of Clifton Forge.

Notable people

Natives

People born in Clifton Forge: *

Gary Ray Bowles Gary Ray Bowles (January 25, 1962 – August 22, 2019) was an American serial killer who was executed in 2019 for the murders of six men in 1994. He is sometimes referred to as The I-95 Killer since most of his victims lived close to the Inters ...

(1962-2019) - serial killer *

Dana Brunetti Dana Brunetti (born June 11, 1973) is an American media executive, film producer, entrepreneur and co-founder and chief content officer of Cavalry Media. Brunetti has been nominated for two Academy Awards for producing '' The Social Network'' ...

(born 1973) - media executive *

Bray Cary Bray Cary, born June 15, 1948, is a Senior Political Advisor as well as a US-based media and sports marketing entrepreneur. He is also the President, Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the Board of Directors of West Virginia Media Holdings, ...

(born 1948) - politician * Lisa Disbrow (born 1962) - US Air Force secretary * Oscar L. Heltzen (1882-1968) - lawyer *

Richard L. Hoffman Richard Lawrence Hoffman (September 25, 1927 – June 10, 2012) was an American zoologist known as an international expert on millipedes, and a leading authority on the natural history of Virginia and the Appalachian Mountains. He was a biology ...

(1927-2012) - zoologist *

Johnny Humphries John William Humphries (June 23, 1915 – June 24, 1965) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1938 to 1946. Born in Clifton Forge, Virginia, he played for the Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, and Philadelphia Phillies. Humphries play ...

(1915-1965) - baseball pitcher *

Trudi Lacey Trudi Lacey (born December 12, 1958) is an American basketball head coach, most recently of the Washington Mystics of the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA). NC State statistics Source USA Basketball Lacey was named to the team rep ...

, basketball player and coach *

Nancy Massie Meadows Nancy Massie Meadows (1912–March 27, 1986) was the wife of former Governor of West Virginia Clarence W. Meadows and served as that state's First Lady, 1945-1949. She was born in 1912 at Clifton Forge, Virginia. She graduated from Stuart Hall ...

(1912-1986) - governor * Nathan Moore (born 1970) - musician known as "Percy Byrd" * William Overstreet Jr. (1921-2013) - WW2 pilot *

Ira De Augustine Reid Ira De Augustine Reid (July 2, 1901 – August 15, 1968) was a prominent sociologist and writer who wrote extensively on the lives of black immigrants and communities in the United States. He was also influential in the field of educational sociolo ...

(1901-1968) - sociologist *

Denny Riddleberger Dennis Michael Riddleberger (born November 22, 1945) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. Listed at , , Riddleberger threw left-handed and batted right-handed. Dennis attended Churchland High School and then Old Dominion Universi ...

(born 1945) - baseballer * Bryan Stinespring (born 1963) - football coach * James T. Turner (born 1938) - senior judge *

Roger Arliner Young Roger Arliner Young (1899 – November 9, 1964) was an American scientist of zoology, biology, and marine biology. She was the first African American woman to receive a doctorate degree in zoology. Early years Born in Clifton Forge, Virgi ...

(1899-1964) - scientist

Politics

References

External links

Town of Clifton Forge

Travel & Tourism
{{authority control Towns in Virginia Towns in Alleghany County, Virginia Populated places on the James River (Virginia) Railway towns in Virginia