Harrisonburg
Located in the Shenandoah Valley, between the Blue Ridge Mountains, Harrisonburg is the outdoor adventure capital of Western Virginia! Outdoor enthusiasts flock to Harrisonburg every year to attend nationwide outdoor sporting events. The city's downtown district is a designated First Arts and Cultural District, First Culinary District of Virginia and has an award-winning Main Street Community. Home to James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University, and offers world class entertainment and unique attractions from the beautiful arboretum to a captivating planetarium.
Harrisonburg has a population of 51,814 with 17,142 households and a median household income of $56,050. Explore more economic and demographic data here. This city is situated conveniently along the main north-south interstate 81.
Settled in 1737, this city has a rich historic culture. In 2004, downtown Harrisonburg was designated as the Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and the Old Town Historic District residential community gained historic district status in 2007. Take a tour of Downtown that has shopping, dining, museums, art galleries and more by visiting the Hardesty-Higgins House Visitor Center- walking tours happen daily.
Schools
Harrisonburg City Public Schools is an above average, public school district that has 6,682 students in grades PK and K-12. It has an average student-teacher ratio of 13:1.
There are 6 elementary schools, two middle schools and one high school.
Elementary schools include, Bluestone Elementary, Smithland Elementary,Spotswood Elementary, Stone Spring Elementary, Waterman Elementary and Keister Elementary
Harrisonburg City Middle schools are Skyline Middle School , and
Thomas Harrison Middle School. The high school in the area is Harrisonburg High School and there is a second high school being built called Rocktown Highschool. Explore more information about Harrisonburgs public schools here.
Restaurants
The restaurant scene in Harrisonburg is booming from comfortable cafes, dedicated sustainable spots, soul food and fine dining- there is a restaurant to fit every pallet.
Local Chop House is dedicated to sourcing local ingredients in an ethical and sustainable way, that is THE place to go for steak in town, for a special occasion or if you just want great local food.
Joshua Wilton is some of the best fine dining Harrisonburg has to offer, they serve exquisite seasonal entrees like duck confit, rainbow trout and stake frites with an ambiance and experience that is renowned throughout the Shenandoah Vally.
Jimmy Madisons is a local favorite that offers a special blend of soulful music, modern southern cuisine and premium whiskeys.
There are also a diverse variety of international restaurants including an incredible Korean restaurant called Mashita that has fried chicken to die for as well as an extensive menu of healthy options.
Craft Beer, Cider and wineries
Harrisonburg’s craft breweries offer some of the best brews in the nation. Sample award-winning flagships or small batch seasonal varieties. Many of the breweries in Harrisonburg are dog and family friendly such as Pale Fire Brewing Company, and Sage Bird Ciderworks. There is an extensive list of events and festivals within the beer scene in Harrisonburg as well, such as the Rocktown Beer and Music Festival held every April.
Harrisonburg also has plenty of beautiful wine bars and wineries. Enjoy a local glass of wine at CrossKeys Vineyards a family owned award winning winery just 15 minutes from downtown. Or check out a casual glass at Rootstock Wine Bar and Provisions.
Theaters and Museums
Dive into family or individual fun with the many museums and theaters that are in Harrisonburg. The Explore More Discovery Museum is the perfect place to take your kids. There is also the state-of-the-art hybrid planetarium, John C. Wells Planetarium located at James Madison University which offers free Saturday public shows from September through May.
There are a variety of hopping venues that host live music and entertainment each week. The Forbes Center for the Performing Arts hosts nationally- known acts on stage in 5 different stages and has a jammed packed calendar for on stage performances. Additional live theater and cutting edge-films can be caught at the Valley Playhouse.
Outdoor activities
Harrisonburg is the region's outdoor adventure capital. With access to George Washington National Forest and Shenandoah National Park and numerous trails, parks, and waterways- the city is an outdoor lover’s paradise. There are many annual cycling, hiking and running events and festivals that keep adventure seekers engaged throughout the year.
Wild Guide Adventures offer caving adventures and cave tours at many of the natural caves found near Harrisonburg, they also offer rock climbing, bouldering and rappelling adventures at the beautiful Seneca rocks, Hidden Rocks, and many more scenic spots.
Experience first-class golfing with challenging courses and special events and tournaments at any one of Harrisonburg’s six golf courses, all within 15 miles of the city. The City also boasts scenic greenways and a very active running community and hosts many race events including The Muddler, Harrisonburg Half Marathon and NUTT Endurance Challenge.
Harrisonburg is also an incredibly bike friendly city with miles of bike friendly city streets, winding single track trails, and outfitters that can lead bike tours. If biking isn’t your thing, there is an arboretum and botanical gardens with beautiful hikes. Harrisonburg also has 10 beautiful well kept parks within the city that have tennis, basketball, and pickle ball courts, playgrounds and fields and public pools.
Real Estate: The Harrisonburg real estate market offers a variety of housing options, from historic homes in established neighborhoods to new developments and modern apartments. The city’s relatively affordable cost of living, combined with its strong sense of community and excellent amenities, makes it an attractive place to call home.
Whether you're a young professional, a growing family, or a retiree, Harrisonburg, VA, has something to offer everyone. Discover why so many people are choosing to make this charming city their home.