The Winchester MSA is a mosaic of demographics, life styles, residential neighborhoods, retail development and industrial growth, all woven into a tapestry of rural, suburban and modest metropolitan environments, all preserving our historic significance and welcoming the expansion of the Washington DC MSA and the expansion of technology and twenty first century sophistication.  

Just 75 miles west of Washington DC via Interstate, and situated within a one day’s drive to over 50% of the population of the United States of America.

Identified by the Milkin Institute (www.milkeninstitute.org ) in their determination of the national Best Performing Small Cities list, Winchester Virginia as number 5 out of 179 surveyed.

The Weldon Cooper Center (www.coopercenter.org ) has determined the Winchester MSA is the second-fastest growing in Virginia with a five year growth rate of 12.7%

The Southern Business and Development’s (www.sb-d.com ) annual “Ten Top 10’s” issue included Winchester as one of the “Ten Strong Economies You May Not Have Noticed”

Inc. magazine’s (www.inc.com ) list of the nation’s best places for doing business recognizes Winchester after studies of job creation and other “signs of business vitality” as 26th out of all 393 areas studied and 19th with an employment base of 150,000 or less.

Our local Chamber of Commerce, (www.discoverourtown.com ) is one of the driving forces in giving us a most diverse economy, Winchester is home to numerous national companies including Rubbermaid, Federal Mogul, General Electric light bulb division, Cives Steel, Hood Dairies, American Woodmark, Trex Industries, Henkel-Harris Furniture and Crown Cork and Seal.

Contributing to the significant growth in “distribution” operations in the area with such companies as Home Depot, Kohl’s, Dollar General, Ford and others is the close proximity of the Virginia Inland Port ( www.vit.org ) just south of Winchester which facilitates Intermodal Container Transfer operations using the cross sections of the Interstate System.

In addition to the 12.7% growth rate in employment, the overall unemployment rate as provided by the Virginia Employment Commission ( www.vaemploy.com ) for the most recent five year average is 3.0% and a ten year average of 2.9%.

The Winchester metro area is promoted and served by a local Economic Development Authority ( www.winva.com ) with detailed demographics and other economic statistical data.

The Winchester MSA is served by Winchester Regional Airport. ( www.flyvirginia.com/airport/okv/  ) This facility is just outside the Air Defense Identification Zone created after 911. On 425 acres, it has 24/7 Full Precision Approach capacity with a 5500 ft long by 100 ft wide grooved asphalt runway directed 14/32.

With a 100 year history, the Winchester Medical Center ( www.valleyhealthlink.com ) is recognized by Solucients’s (www.100tophospitals.com ) Top 100 Hospitals as published in Modern Healthcare magazine as a Top 100 Hospitals in the United States, the only hospital in Virginia so recognized. This is a 411 bed not for profit facility serving a Tri-State Region.

Shenandoah University ( www.su.edu ), originally a conservatory for music and the arts, and now includes programs in Pharmacy, Nursing, Occupational Therapy, Education and Human Development and the School of Business. With football, baseball and basketball sports, the area population has “teams” to root for. Quality theater is presented to the public in the Ohrstrom-Bryant Auditorium.

Our Lord Fairfax Community College ( www.lf.vccs.edu ) offers a broad range of subject matters in support of community and commercial needs and expectations.

The public schools of The City of Winchester (www.wps.k12.va.us ) and Frederick County ( www.fcps.org ) are responsive to community needs and changing  demographics.

In the heart of the City of Winchester, the oldest city west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, is the “Old Town” walking mall ( www.winchesterva.gov/otdb  ), reminiscent of days gone by with active shops, dining and residential. The grand old George Washington Hotel is completely renovated to become a part of the Wyndham Group of historic hotels and the pre-civil war Taylor Hotel is being converted to retail and residential condos.

The City of Winchester was recognized as an All American City in 2005, and cherishes its historical significance to include the original offices of George Washington when he was a surveyor based in this City. A city with charm, history and modern adaptation. ( www.winchesterva.gov )

Frederick County ( www.co.frederick.va.us ) surrounds the City of Winchester, and enjoys much of the industrial and distribution base in the area. Primarily rural with mountains, farms, a broad base of residential environments and is served by new shopping centers and recreational facilities. New to the county will be a 980,000 square foot FBI office with 1200 new jobs, as well as a new headquarters building for FEMA.

To the East is Clarke County Virginia ( www.co.clarke.va.us ), primarily rural with controlled growth preserving the historic nature of the land and promoting equestrian interest.

To the South is Warren County Virginia (www.warrencountyva.net ) with Front Royal (www.frontroyalchamber.com ) as its county seat, and is more mountainous in nature, however has a very strong industrial base, two significant new shopping centers and is the beginning of Skyline Drive.

To the North is Berkley County West Virginia (www.berkeleycounty.org ) and Martinsburg West Virginia (www.martinsburg.com ) with significant absorption of residential expansion from Washington DC suburbs, with a Veterans Administration Hospital and the Air National Guard.

To the West is Morgan ( www.morgancountyeda.com ) and Hampshire ( www.historichampshire.org ) Counties West Virginia, primarily rural and relying on the Winchester MSA for most primary services.