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Winchester is the
oldest city in Virginia west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Nestled at
the northern end of the Shenandoah Valley, the City was founded in
1744, by Colonel James Wood, and is often referred to as the "Top of
Virginia". Comprising of 9.3 square miles and a population of 25,000,
Winchester is located 70 miles west of Washington D.C. It is a regional
educational, medical, and employment center with a population that
swells to 70,000 in the daytime. The city enjoys a diverse economy with
numerous national corporations such as General Electric, Rubbermaid,
Ford Motor Company, National Fruit Products, Kraft Foods, Hershey
Pasta, Poly One, Hood Dairy and Trex having local facilities. It is
also the home of the Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival, which attracts
over 250,000 visitors each year.
Winchester also
boasts a vast history spanning over 260 years. Not only did George
Washington begin his military and political career in the city, but
Winchester's past also includes such historical figures as
Revolutionary War General Daniel Morgan; Admiral Richard Byrd; Former
Senator and Governor Harry F. Byrd; Pulitzer Prize-winning author Willa
Cather; Spottswood "Spotsy" Poles, 'the Black Ty Cobb off baseball' and
Country Music singer Patsy Cline. Winchester played an important role
in the Civil War when the city changed hands over 70 times during the
five battles fought in and around the city. After the Civil War,
entrepreneurs decided to re-build Winchester's economy by growing
apples and soon Winchester became known as the "Apple Capital of the
World". Throughout its history, Winchester has been blessed with strong
community commitment as demonstrated by private gifts consisting of
several schools, parks and fire halls, a library, city hall, and one of
the first public water systems in the country. It is the home of the
only privately endowed public high school and the 250 year old working
farm developed by Colonel James Wood and his decedents, which now
houses the Museum of the Shenandoah Valley.
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