Some 250th Celebration Facts on the Blue Ridge area
Blue Ridge area of Botetourt and a few Celebration facts
The Blue Ridge area of Botetourt consists of Blue Ridge, Troutville and Roanoke addresses.US 11, I-81 separates much of the area from the rest of Botetourt. But, US 220 Alternate, Cloverdale Rd is the main road that brings us all together.
The Blue Ridge area encompasses three zip codes 24012, 24064 and 24175.
Those zip codes are Roanoke, Blue Ridge and Troutville. The community is bisected by US 460 East and West. More prominent side roads include Webster Rd, Laymantown, Mountain Pass, Rainbow Forest Dr, Blue Ridge Springs to name a few.
A spa-type hotel existed on the eastern end of Blue Ridge during the 19th Century and was named Blue Ridge Springs. One of the main businesses in the Blue Ridge area is located close by the site of the old Springs—Boxley Quarry. An intersting sidebar, a rather large fossil rock is located at the quarry and was discovered about 10 years ago!
Historically, farming has always been important in the region. In the early 1960s many acres were sold off and subdivided and increased the population significantly, giving rise to a population in the area of around 8,000 give or take. Some of the old time names of farmers in the area included Riley, Spickard, Fluke, Foster, Swartzel, Jeter, Murray and Zimmerman. Many of those families still reside in Botetourt today!
Colonial Elementary built in 1938 as an all grades community public school (including a high school,) will get a new building this year off of Laymantown Road on Murray Drive. There are numerous small businesses in the area including car lots, eateries, strip malls and a Food Lion plaza.
While not an incorporated town, Blue Ridge VA is a CDP. Census Designated Area. So get your Census forms in or go to US Census.Gov.
The Blue Ridge Parkway can be accessed from Blue Ridge. Go for a drive. Enjoy your trip.!
Cathy Benson
