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Deep in the Shenandoah Valley,
Quaint Lexington, Virginia is Steeped in History and Boasts Traditional
Values, a Scenic Locale and a Low Crime Rate
Cost of Living: Above the
National Average
| Nestled in the inspiring natural
beauty of the Shenandoah Valley of western
Virginia, Lexington (population 7,000) is a
quaint, quiet burg steeped in history and
tradition. Settled in 1777, it is
home to the prestigious Virginia Military
Institute (VMI), established in 1839, and the
highly regarded liberal arts college of
Washington and Lee, established in 1749.
The entire downtown is listed on the State
and National Registers of Historic Places, and
General Robert E. Lee and General
"Stonewall" Jackson are buried
here. Although Lexington is a
bit isolated geographically, Civil War buffs and
other tourists wander into town, and the two
colleges give it a vitality not always present
in small southern communities. Of the
population, 17% is age 45 to 64, and 16% is age
65 or better. |
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While not booming,
Lexington is growing slightly and holding its
own in these difficult economic times. The cost of
living is approximately 5% above the national
average, and the median home price is
$250,000. A variety of residential
architectural styles includes bungalow, Craftsman,
Cape Cod, Colonial Revival and Victorian, as well as
more the common ranch-style and
split-level. There are also some town
homes available. Outside of town limits, the
norm is horse farms and homes with acreage (and a restored
barn here and there).
Real estate is
taxed at the rate of $.65 per $100 of a home's assessed value,
and homes are assessed at 100%. When it comes to
retirement income, taxpayers age 65
and older are eligible for a deduction of $12,000, which may be
reduced when annual income exceeds $50,000 (single) or $75,000
(married). Social Security is
not taxed. The sales tax rate is 6%.
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Lexington thrives on its military heritage and has numerous
museums and historic sites in and around town. The
completely restored "Stonewall" Jackson house is a museum, and the
Hunter's Raid Civil War Trail documents a Union general's 1864
raid through the Shenandoah Valley, including the burning of VMI
after its cadets had earlier distinguished themselves in the
Battle of New Market. The VMI Museum traces the history of
the country's oldest state-supported military college, and the
nearly hidden Museum of
Military Memorabilia showcases uniforms worn by militaries around
the world. The "Stonewall" Jackson Memorial Cemetery,
surrounding the old Lexington Presbyterian Church on South Main
Street, is a fascinating trip back in time and holds the remains
of Revolutionary War veterans, 144 Confederate soldiers and
General Jackson. And the VMI Corps of Cadets marching in
formation each Friday afternoon is a stirring site.
This is an
interactive map. Click on the arrows in the upper left hand
corner to move the map to the East, West, North or South, and click on the +/- signs to zoom in
and out.
While military culture is at its core, Lexington
also boasts a low-key, NCAA-sanctioned baseball team (the
Rockbridge Rapids), an 18-hole golf course (the Lexington Golf and
Country Club), a YMCA , two farmers' markets and a couple of tasty wineries within twenty
minutes of town. Each year, the Lenfest Center for the
Performing Arts on the campus of Washington and Lee University
presents 125+ public performances, including plays, ballet and
opera. The sprawling Virginia Horse Center,
just outside of town, is the center of Virginia's horse industry
and presents more than 100 events a year, everything from dressage
competitions to rodeos to music jams.
Lexington,
Virginia, Continued....
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