Info On Blacksburg Area (Roanoke, Jefferson: condos, houses, job market)

[anjoe]

Interested in the Blacksburg area. Is there any industries that a mechanical engineer could get a job at? Would like to know of the major industries in the area, schools and how you like living in the community. Thanks for any info....
Also, like this area because of the mountains and rolling hills scenery.

[lovnva]

Blacksburg is a fairly big place. You may check out Va. Tech's web site for info on jobs. There are some manufacturing plants in the area such as Wolverine and Federal-Mogul.

I didn't go to any schools when I lived there but I have never heard anything bad of those schools.

I lived over there for a couple of years. I lived in what they call the Luster's Gate area which is outside of the town limits and loved it.

Try doing a search for Blacksburg Va and see what you can find. Just a suggestion and I hope this helps you!!

lovnva

[VT Hokie 2007]

Blacksburg has a pathetic job market, EXCEPT for Virginia Tech--there are a TON of job listings on its website, vt.edu. The Greater Roanoke Valley (that's what I call the New River Valley) is very large geographically (but the commutes are easy). You almost certainly could find a job in mechanical engineering in the New River Valley (Giles County, Craig County, Montgomery County, Roanoke, etc.), but there is almost certainly no overabundance of jobs for college-educated persons.

Blacksburg is a truly awesome town. Blacksburg specifically is a college town through and through. However, the local population seems to get along just fine. Christianburg is just a few miles down the road and is actually a "real" town. Non-VT jobs, families, car dealerships, etc. I'd DEFINITELY recommend the area for those who can find a job, young people, retirees, and persons who like small towns with a lot of educated people.

BTW, summer in Blacksburg is abandoned. Things are REALLY nice and it gives a good break from the students--when the students come back, it is then a joyous occasion--then in December, you get another break from them. Unique place.

Oh yeah, the cost of living is VERY low. There is only one house on the market above $900,000--then there aren't more than a few houses on the market over $500,000. Most would be in the $200-$400,000. My friend, who just got married in August, purcahsed a brand-new and very nice town house in Christiansburg for $90,000!

I rent, btw, for $330/month--rent, utilities, cable, master bedroom, etc. $330/month!

[roanoker 4]

We were all saddened by the terrible tragedy of the Virginia Tech murders.
As a resident of the area, I still cannot believe such an event occured here.
Blacksburg is a beautiful and very safe place to live and work. I visit there often just to see some different scenery. While it will take time for this community to heal, I would like to welcome everyone to the Blacksburg/Roanoke area. Shalom!

[lovenrv]

Actually, in addition to employment at VA TECH [Va's largest university] there is a spin off development known as the VT Corporate Research Center - it has created more than 1,500 high-paying professional, technical + research jobs in the past 10 years. There are literally hundreds of Biotech, Infotech, and other industries located there.

Further, Litton, Federal Mogul, Luna Technologies and others are located within town limits. Additionally, a new Medical College has opened and in Roanoke, Carillion has partnered with spin-offs from VA Tech REsearch Companies and is building a medical school there as well as a full multi-building facility known as the Riverside Center for Technology. Presently under construction it will become a focal point for Medical, Biotech and other research related jobs.

That said, there should be plenty of opportunities for someone with your desired skill set.

REgarding housing, the earlier postings are a bit inacurate. There are actually a couple of $1 million plus homes on the market but the majority of Blacksburg-Christiansbug housing falls in the 200-400 thousand range. Obviously, with many condos falling on low end.

In addition to the quaint downtown, a new pedestrian promenade is about to be built along College Avenue and new performance arts space called Black Box Theatre breaks ground in the Spring along this main artery. Within two years Va Tech will break ground on a new full-service Performing Arts Center downtown, as well. The Lyric Theatre is a great deco film house renovated a few years ago and features many art films, live music and performance.

The Audubon Quartert calls Blacksburg home as does VT Football. The New River, Jefferson National Forest both offer extensive outdoor challenges and there are a few great golf courses around, too.

South Main Street is bustling with a great new retail center currently under construction to feature 12 Screen Cinema, Golds Gym, Panera Bread, Jos A Bank, Ann Taylor Loft, Coldwater Creek, Talbots, Chicos, a brew pub + about 5 other restaurants and an additional 25-30 upper end retailers. [There's a big fight about a second phase which is rumored to hold WalMart but that hasn't been confirmed and the main center is being built regardless].

A couple of miles south of town in Christiansburg you have everything from Belk and Target to Dick's Sporting Goods, Gap Outlet, Best Buy, etc...so all your services are within a 15 minute drive of just about anywhere you'd live in Montgomery County.

Blacksburg-Christiansburg-Montgomery Co were recently designated a MSA as the center of a local population in excess of 154,000 - so growth is definitely happening here along with many new jobs.

Roanoke is 35 minutes east and is an metro valley of about 230,000 with a commerical airport - direct flights to NYC, Philly, Charlotte, Chicago, Detroit and Atlanta.

Men's Health rated Blacksburg in the top 5 'nature loving cities' issue a couple of years ago, and many pubs have rated it high in intellectual employment, quality of life, etc.

Due to the University, services, housing, natural landscape and weather Blacksburg has also been consistently rated as a fantastic place to retire.

So - it's a growing town with a small town feel and plenty to do if you crave a very relaxed style of life.