Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Forge is a town of 3,447 people in Alleghany County, Virginia.
Why visit Clifton Forge
Townapedia lists 6 museums and landmarks, 8 parks and trails, 6 places to eat and 1 place to stay in and around town.
Highlights include Callie Furnace, Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District, Booker T Washington Park and Ingleside Park.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 84°F; January lows average 22°F.
Weather in Clifton Forge
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Clifton Forge
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the greater Roanoke Region. 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.
From the Wikipedia article Clifton Forge, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks6
Callie Furnace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Place in Virginia listed on National Register of Historic Places
Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Clifton Forge Residential Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places
Historic district in Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Furnace
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.8 mi
Place in Virginia listed on National Register of Historic Places
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Jefferson School
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.6 mi
School in Clifton Forge, Virginia
Parks, trails and playgrounds8
Restaurants and cafes6
Bella Pizza Pasta & Subs
Restaurant · 1.1 mi
1625 Main Street, Clifton Forge
Mo-Th 11:00-21:30; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:00; Su 12:00-21:00
DQ Grill & Chill
Fast food · Ice Cream, Burger, Chicken · 0.9 mi
309 West Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge
Mo-Su 10:30-22:00
Domino's
Fast food · Pizza · 1.0 mi
1500 Main Street, Clifton Forge
Mo-Th 10:30-24:00; Fr-Sa 10:30-01:00; Su 10:30-24:00
Hardee's
Fast food · Burger · 1.1 mi
502 West Ridgeway Street, Clifton Forge
Mo-Sa 05:00-22:00; Su 06:00-22:00
Where to stay1
History
The town occupies land that was part of a 1770s land grant from Lord Botetourt to Robert Gallaspy when Botetourt was Governor of Virginia. The land passed into the hands of the Williamson and Smith families by the 1820s after several ownership changes, and a settlement developed along both sides of the Jackson River. The iron industry in the county and the completion of a road over North Mountain, now U.S. 60, caused the settlement to grow. The arrival of the Chesapeake and Ohio (C&O) railroad further grew the town, especially with the establishment of a major steam engine maintenance facility. During the railroad's heyday, it employed over 2,000 people. In the early 1950s, the C&O decided to locate its diesel maintenance facilities in West Virginia, and many railroad jobs were transferred there.
A local forge was named by Mr. William Lyle Alexander of Lexington in honor of his father's Clifton estate there, leading to the name Clifton Forge.
Clifton Forge Commercial Historic District, Clifton Forge Residential Historic District, Clifton Furnace, Jefferson School, and Longdale Furnace Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
From the History section of Clifton Forge, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Churches and places of worship15
Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church
Church · National Register of Historic Places · 2.4 mi
Shopping1
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries10
Jackson River Governor'S School
School · 1.7 mi
1000 College Drive, Clifton Forge
Healthcare1
Map of Clifton Forge
52 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 22°F | 2.6 in | 2.5 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 24°F | 2.4 in | 3.3 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 30°F | 3.4 in | 1.6 in |
| Apr | 66°F | 39°F | 3.6 in | 0.2 in |
| May | 74°F | 48°F | 4.3 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 80°F | 57°F | 4.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 84°F | 61°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 83°F | 60°F | 3.2 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 77°F | 53°F | 3.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 42°F | 2.5 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 55°F | 31°F | 2.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Dec | 45°F | 26°F | 2.9 in | 2.5 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Covington Fltr Plt (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Alleghany County has had 11 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
- 2018-09-11: Hurricane Florence (Hurricane)
- 2012-10-29: Hurricane Sandy (Hurricane)
- 2012-07-27: Severe Storms And Straight-Line Winds (Severe Storm)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Ingalls Field (HSP) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 9 miles away.
- Buchanan 22 mi south, about 36 min by car
- Buena Vista 26 mi east, about 42 min by car
- Blue Ridge 31 mi south, about 49 min by car
- Hollins 34 mi south, about 54 min by car
- Roanoke 38 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Salem 39 mi south, about 1 h by car
- Cave Spring 42 mi south, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Forest 43 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Lynchburg 45 mi southeast, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Stuarts Draft 45 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
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Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Downtown Clifton Forge, Virginia, January 2008, WaldoJ at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Clifton Furnace from north, Nyttend, Public domain
- Oakland Grove Presbyterian Church, Nyttend, Public domain
- Main Street Baptist Church (Clifton Forge, Virginia), James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Jefferson School (Clifton Forge, Virginia), James Shelton32, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Callie Furnace overview, Nyttend, Public domain
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