Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is a city of 51,392 people in Harrisonburg city, Virginia, founded in 1779.
Why visit Harrisonburg
Townapedia lists 33 museums and landmarks, 29 parks and trails, 192 places to eat, 29 places to stay and 8 attractions in and around town.
Highlights include Court Square Theater, Eastern Mennonite University, Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center and Massanetta Springs Historic District.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 86°F; January lows average 23°F.
Weather in Harrisonburg
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Harrisonburg
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. It is also the county seat of the surrounding Rockingham County, although the two are separate jurisdictions. At the 2020 census, the population was 51,814. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Harrisonburg with Rockingham County for statistical purposes into the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had an estimated population of 126,562 in 2011.
From the Wikipedia article Harrisonburg, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Things to do8
James Madison University
School
Public research university in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Regal Cinemas 14
Cinema and theater · 1.2 mi
381 University Boulevard, Harrisonburg
Museums and landmarks33
Lucy F. Simms Continuing Education Center
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.5 mi
Building in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States
Massanetta Springs Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.2 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Thomas Harrison House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Listed on the NRHP in Virginia
30 West Bruce Street, Harrisonburg
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Turner Ashby Monument
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
United States historic place
Anthony Hockman House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.0 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Boxerwood Gardens
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.5 mi
Arboretum in Lexington, Virginia, USA
Daniel Harrison House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.6 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Dayton Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 4.0 mi
Park in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States of America
George Earman House
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 1.4 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
Harrisonburg Downtown Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.8 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Inglewood
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 3.3 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
John K. Beery Farm
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 5.3 mi
Historic house in Virginia, United States
21 more on the map.
Parks, trails and playgrounds29
A Dream Come True Playground
Playground · 1.1 mi
This playground is a totally accessible/inclusive playground with many unique and one-of-a-kind features. The playground has separate...
1050 Neff Avenue, Harrisonburg
17 more on the map.
Restaurants and cafes192
Cinnamon Bear Bakery and Deli
Restaurant · Deli · 1.0 mi
Serving the Harrisonburg Community Since 1986
600 University Boulevard, Harrisonburg
Tu-Fr 07:00-15:00; Sa-Su 08:00-14:00
Kung Fu Tea
Cafe · Bubble Tea · 1.1 mi
Welcome to Kung Fu Tea’s Fresh - Innovative - Fearless world of bubble tea (boba) and other tasty, refreshing beverages. All drinks are...
1645 Reservoir St;Reservoir Street, Harrisonburg
Th 12:00-22:00; Fr, Sa 12:00-22:00
Bella Luna Pizza
Restaurant · Pizza · 0.9 mi
80 West Water Street, Harrisonburg
Su-Th 11:30-20:30; Fr-Sa 11:30-21:30
Beyond
Restaurant · Asian · 0.9 mi
50 West Water Street, Harrisonburg
Mo-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:30-21:00
Billy Jack's Shack
Restaurant · Wings, Burger · 0.9 mi
92 South Main Street, Harrisonburg
Mo-Fr 11:00-00:00; Sa-Su 10:00-00:00
Clementine
Restaurant · Sandwich · 0.8 mi
153 South Main Street, Harrisonburg
Tu-Th 11:00-21:00; Fr 11:00-22:00; Sa 10:00-22:00; Su 10:00-15:00
Cracker Barrel
Diner · American · 2.8 mi
121 Pleasant Valley Road, Harrisonburg
Su-Th 07:00-21:00; Fr,Sa 07:00-22:00
Cuban Burger
Restaurant · Burger, Cuban · 0.9 mi
70 West Water Street, Harrisonburg
Tu-Th 11:00-20:00; Fr-Sa 11:00-21:00
Finnigan's Cove
Restaurant · Seafood, Burger · 0.9 mi
30 West Water Street, Harrisonburg
Mo-Fr,Su 11:00-02:00; Sa 13:00-02:00
First Watch
Restaurant · American, Breakfast · 1.3 mi
101 Burgess Road, Harrisonburg
Mo-Su 07:00-14:30
Hokkaido Restaurant
Restaurant · Japanese · 2.5 mi
3140 South Main Street
Mo-Fr 11:00-21:30; Fr, Sa 11:00-22:30; Su 11:00-21:30
180 more on the map.
History
The earliest documented English exploration of the area prior to settlement was the Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition, led by Lt. Gov. Alexander Spotswood, who reached Elkton, and whose rangers continued and in 1716 likely passed through what is now Harrisonburg.
Harrisonburg, previously known as "Rocktown," was named for Thomas Harrison, a son of English settlers and member of the Harrison family of Virginia. In 1737, Harrison settled in the Shenandoah Valley, eventually laying claim to over 12,000 acres (4,900 ha) situated at the intersection of the Spotswood Trail and the main Native American road through the valley.
In 1779, Harrison deeded 2.5 acres (1.0 ha) of his land to the "public good" for the construction of a courthouse. In 1780, Harrison deeded an additional 50 acres (20 ha).
This is the area now known as "Historic Downtown Harrisonburg".
In 1849, trustees chartered a mayor–council form of government, although Harrisonburg was not officially incorporated as an independent city until 1916. Today, a council–manager government administers Harrisonburg.
On June 6, 1862, an American Civil War skirmish took place at Good's Farm, Chestnut Ridge near Harrisonburg between the forces of the Union and the forces of the Confederacy at which the C.S. Army Colonel, Turner Ashby (1828–1862), was killed.
From the History section of Harrisonburg, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Where to stay29
Churches and places of worship51
The Islamic Center of the Shenandoah Valley
Place of worship · Sunni · 1.4 mi
1330 Country Club Road, Harrisonburg City
Cedar Grove United Methodist Church
Church · United Methodist · 2.4 mi
1712 Smithland Road, Harrisonburg
Shopping43
Gas and EV charging32
Schools, colleges and libraries43
Healthcare14
Shenandoah Oral and Facial Surgery
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.3 mi
2031 Legacy Lane, Harrisonburg
Velocity Urgent Care
Clinic and pharmacy · 2.7 mi
3841 Stone Spring Road, Rockingham
Map of Harrisonburg
250 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 42°F | 23°F | 2.7 in | 4.2 in |
| Feb | 46°F | 24°F | 2.2 in | 6.2 in |
| Mar | 54°F | 30°F | 3.2 in | 4.5 in |
| Apr | 65°F | 40°F | 3.3 in | 0.1 in |
| May | 74°F | 50°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 82°F | 60°F | 3.9 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 86°F | 64°F | 4.1 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 84°F | 62°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 78°F | 55°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 67°F | 43°F | 2.5 in | 0.2 in |
| Nov | 56°F | 32°F | 2.6 in | 0.6 in |
| Dec | 46°F | 26°F | 2.9 in | 3.6 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Dale Enterprise Hcn (4 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
Harrisonburg city has had 8 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for hurricanes.
- 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
Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport (SHD) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 12 miles away.
- Belmont Estates 3 mi west, about 4 min by car
- Massanetta Springs 4 mi southeast, about 6 min by car
- Dayton 4 mi west, about 6 min by car
- Keezletown 4 mi east, about 7 min by car
- Bridgewater 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Linville 6 mi north, about 10 min by car
- Mount Crawford 6 mi southwest, about 10 min by car
- Charlottesville 35 mi southeast, about 56 min by car
- Culpeper 47 mi east, about 1 h 15 min by car
- Front Royal 50 mi northeast, 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
Loading what members have shared...
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
- Rockingham County Courthouse, Alma mater, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Harrisonburg Transit bus 55 at Varner House (50962763696), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Harrisonburg Transit bus 49 at Hoffman Hall (50962053698), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Harrisonburg Transit bus 49 at Godwin Hall (50962053548), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Massanetta Springs Hotel, Nyttend, Public domain
- Turner Ashby Monument, Nyttend, Public domain
- Thomas Harrison House Harrisonburg VA Sept 2013, Strawser, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Lucy F Simms School Harrisonburg VA Sept 2013, Strawser, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Scoreboard at Bridgeforth Stadium (50962763531), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Railroad track through JMU (50007671963), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bridgeforth Stadium at night (50937194563), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Bridgeforth Stadium Scoreboard 07 2011, Guinnessguy, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Bridgeforth Stadium and Plecker Athletic Performance Center (50998933466), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Standard horn in Moody Hall (10621843624), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Standard 4-350 horn with Space Age AV32 light plate (50939475911), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Snow Jonah in Bluestone, RockyCoffee19, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Moody Hall computer lab (50018504797), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Marching Royal Dukes on the Field, Datalore47, CC BY-SA 4.0
- JMU RVA 2019, JustinLP93, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Death Wish Coffee Bag, The terrydactyl, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Varner House (49978496251), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Study Room in Hoffman Hall, Brionema, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Varner House at night (50286716292), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- James Madison statue (50285887468), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Moody Hall (50998109108), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Statue of James Madison -04- (50998927107), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Statue of James Madison -02- (50998808691), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Statue of James Madison -01- (50998927002), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Statue of James Madison -05- (50998109133), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Statue of James Madison -03- (50998808676), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall computer lab -03- (49978588037), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall Room G1 (49977807368), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Standard bell at Maury Hall (49977807343), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall computer lab -01- (49977807278), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall computer lab -05- (49977807358), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall Room G2 (49978327076), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall computer lab -02- (49978326986), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall computer lab -04- (49978588052), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall -03- (50937194578), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Maury Hall -02- (50937194683), Ben Schumin from Montgomery Village, Maryland, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0
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