Small-Town Charm, Progressive Thinking Make Abingdon Well-Rounded
For a town of only 8,000, Abingdon sure has a lot going for it.
Small-town charm comes naturally here, with picture-perfect streets bordered by red-brick sidewalks and beautifully restored historic structures. But what's really drawing attention to Abingdon is its ability to maintain that charm while having a cutting-edge technological vision that has singled it out as one of the East's most forward-thinking small communities.
Big on Technology
As towns go, Abingdon is a successful little village that thinks big.
A fiber optic cable installed beneath Main Street has businesses, government and residents wired for whatever technology the 21st century throws its way. Meanwhile, town leaders had enough vision and foresight some 30 years ago to protect Abingdon's historic roots, creating a solid planning strategy that continues today.
"The nature of the town goes back to some of the owners long ago who decided some of the old houses were worth keeping," says Al Bradley, who retired in 2005 after spending 25 years as Abingdon's director of planning. "The town came along in '71 or so and blessed it with a zoning ordinance to keep it that way. It's very unique. I don't know another town I've seen that's the quality of Abingdon ... Someone said Abingdon is a lot like Williamsburg – except Abingdon is real."
Residents Take Pride
Many of Abingdon's 8,000 natives never leave at all, except for college and military service. Bradley is just such a person.
"I grew up here. I was born here in 1946, and aside from college and the service, I've lived here the whole time," he says. "I find it a wonderful place to live. The people here are very likable."
It's not a bad place to work, either. Located along Interstate 81 just north of the Tri-Cities, Abingdon is the county seat of Washington County and sits about 2,068 feet above sea level, something like a mountain-town version of Carmel, Calif.
People here take as much pride in their town's appearance as they do in its accomplishments.
"It's very well groomed and maintained," says Suzanne Lay, executive vice president of the Washington County Chamber of Commerce. "They try to keep the streets very attractive."
Historic Downtown
Merchants maintain the 10-block downtown section in fine form year-round. In spring and summer, half-barrels stuffed with pansies, geraniums and seasonal blooms dot the sidewalks near light poles constructed to look like old-fashioned gas lamps. Come fall, shopkeepers and restaurant owners decorate with hay bales and corn shucks. And by the time the annual Christmas parade marches through town in December, the buildings are decked in white lights and greenery, with red-bowed wreaths on every door.
The elegant 1832 Martha Washington Inn pampers travelers with modern amenities amid priceless period antiques and furnishings. Houses from the 18th and early 19th centuries blend peacefully together. A Victorian home might neighbor a Federal-style building on one side and a 1940s bungalow on the other. Somehow, the mix is harmonious.
Multi-Generational Appeal
An extensive arts community contributes to the town's cultural appeal, drawing seniors and growing families alike. The famous Barter Theatre draws people from everywhere with its high-quality performances. Exhibits, lectures and festivals are held in Abingdon year-round. And the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center is the ideal place for the town's many retirees to pick up a master's degree or train for a second career.
"The Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center has a college for older adults, which gives seniors an opportunity to take special interest classes such as opera or computer," Lay says. "For a small fee, they can take as many classes as they want. That's a big draw."
Virginia Highlands Community College is another higher education option, providing affordable opportunities to complete the first half of a bachelor's degree, pursue a two-year degree in a technical field or brush up basic skills.
Abingdon's well-outfitted recreation center, parks and solid school system also appeal to growing families. Once a place where people chose to live while commuting to work elsewhere, Abingdon is transforming itself into a town where you can live and work comfortably.
The quality of life, progressive city government and constant stream of activities make it a very attractive prospect. And quite without prejudice, Lay agrees. Abingdon, she says, is "a place for dreams."
