LYNCHBURG, a city of Virginia, U.S.A., on the James river, 125m. W. by S. of Richmond, within the boundaries of Campbell county, but independent of it politically. It is on Federal highways 6o and 17o; has an airport; and is served by the Chesapeake and Ohio, the Norfolk and Western, and the Southern railways. The population was 30,070 in 1920 (28% negroes) ; in 1926 (special census) ; and was 40,661 in 1930 by the Federal census. The city's terraced hills command fine views of mountain, river, and valley scenery, reaching to the noble Peaks of Otter and lesser spurs of the Blue Ridge, 20M. to the west. An elaborate viaduct of concrete adds to the beauty of river and valley. On elevated ground overlooking the river is the campus of Randolph-Macon Woman's college (Methodist Episcopal South), one of the Randolph-Macon system of educa tional institutions (see ASHLAND, Virginia). Lynchburg is the seat also of Lynchburg college (Christian; established 1903) and the Virginia theological seminary and college for negroes (Bap tist). It is the see of a Protestant Episcopal bishop. Twelve
miles north is Sweet Briar college for women (chartered 1901). Lynchburg is one of the largest markets in the country for dark leaf tobacco, and it has numerous factories, with an output in 1927 valued at $35,000,000. The boot and shoe industry, in troduced in 1900, is the most important. The assessed valuation of property in 1926 was $48,134,941. The city was named after John Lynch, who inherited a large property here, and in 1757 established a ferry across the James. The settlement was estab lished as a village by Act of Assembly in 1786, was incorporated as a town in 1805, and became a city in 1852. Since 1920 it has had a commission-manager form of government. During the Civil War it was an important base of supplies for the Confeder ate army, and in June, 1864, Union forces made an unsuccessful attempt to get possession. Appomattox Court House, where Lee surrendered to Grant, is 2om. east of the city.