In 1798 William Black set aside 38 acres of land in an area known as Draper's Meadow to establish the village that would take his name: Blacksburg, Virginia. In the more than 200 years since its founding, this once small frontier outpost has grown into what the Washington Post recently called the most wired city in America. A diverse and well-educated community, Blacksburg holds a special place in the hearts of its residents as well as Virginia Tech students and alumni. From its humble beginnings in the late 18th century Blacksburg has evolved into a vibrant, diverse, and progressive community of nearly 40,000. Today Blacksburg sits on the cutting edge of great historical, environmental, cultural, and scientific frontiers, just as it did over 200 years ago.