View source for Front Royal, Virginia

{{Use American English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Town of Front Royal
| name               = Front Royal
| settlement_type    = [[Town]]
| image_blank_emblem = Logo of Front Royal, Virginia.png
| blank_emblem_type  = Logo
| blank_emblem_alt   = Logo of Front Royal
| nicknames           = Canoe Capital of Virginia, Fro Ro, The Royal
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = 2019-07-19 13 07 10 View of Front Royal, Interstate 66, U.S. Routes 340 and 522 and Virginia State Route 55 in Warren County, Virginia, viewed from an airplane which recently took off from Washington Dulles International Airport.jpg
| imagesize          = 
| image_caption      = Aerial view of Front Royal
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = Seal of Front Royal, Virginia.png

<!-- Maps -->| pushpin_map        = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA
| pushpin_label      = Front Royal

<!-- Location -->| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = [[United States]]
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2  = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2  = [[Warren County, Virginia|Warren]]

<!-- Government -->| government_footnotes = 
| government_type    = 
| leader_title       = [[Mayor]]
| leader_name        = Lori A. Cockrell
| leader_title1      = 
| leader_name1       = 
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   = 1788

<!-- Area -->| unit_pref          = Imperial
| area_footnotes     = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
| area_magnitude     = 
| area_total_sq_mi   = 10.52
| area_land_sq_mi    = 10.27
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.24

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 15011
| population_density_sq_mi = 1430.48

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = -5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = -4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_ft       = 568
| coordinates        = {{coord|38|56|N|78|12|W|region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = [[ZIP code]]
| postal_code        = 22630
| area_code          = [[Area code 540|540]]
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-29968<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website  }}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1498480<ref name="GNIS">{{cite GNIS|1498480|Front Royal|March 28, 2015}}</ref>
| website            = http://www.frontroyalva.com
| footnotes          = 
| pop_est_as_of      = 2023
| pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name="USCensusEst2021CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2021.html|date=December 17, 2021|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=September 7, 2022}}</ref>
| population_est     = 15400
| area_total_km2     = 27.24
| area_land_km2      = 26.61
| area_water_km2     = 0.63
| population_density_km2 = 552.33
}}

'''Front Royal''' is the only incorporated town in [[Warren County, Virginia]], United States. The population was estimated at 15,400 as of 2023.<ref name="2010Census_quickfacts">{{cite web |title=Front Royal (town) QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/frontroyaltownvirginia |access-date=September 7, 2022 |website=Census.gov}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Warren County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011  }}</ref>

== History ==
[[File:Battle of Front Royal 1.png|thumb|left|The [[Battle of Front Royal]] was fought during the US Civil War]]
[[File:American Viscose Plant Front Royal VA postcard.jpg|thumb|Mid-20th century postcard showing an aerial view of the American Viscose Corporation Plant in Front Royal, Virginia.]]

The entire [[Shenandoah Valley]] including the area to become Front Royal was annexed and claimed for hunting by the [[Iroquois Confederation]] during the later [[Beaver Wars]], by 1672. Some bands of the [[Shawnee]] settled in the area as client groups to the Iroquois and alternately to the Cherokee after 1721. The Iroquois formally sold their entire claim east of the Alleghenies to the [[Virginia Colony]] at the [[Treaty of Lancaster]] in 1744.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hofstra|first=Warren|title=The Planting of New Virginia: Settlement and Landscape in the Shenandoah Valley|year=2005|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore, MD|isbn=0801882710|pages=10–12}}</ref>   Front Royal, originally settled in 1754, had been known to European explorers as early as the 1670s, and the nearby settlement of Chester's Ferry was in existence by 1736. The town also had a well-known nickname by the 1790s, "Helltown," due to the many livestock wranglers and boatmen on the Shenandoah coming through the area, who came into town looking for alcohol. It was incorporated as "Front Royal" in 1788.

Rail service was established in 1854 with the construction of the Alexandria, Orange and Manassas Gap Railroad between Manassas and Riverton. This line was soon extended to Strasburg in time to become a factor in the [[Battle of Front Royal]] on May 23, 1862, and throughout the Civil War. Lumber, agriculture, manufacturing and grain mills provided employment in the region for decades after the Civil War.

The American Viscose rayon plant, once Front Royal's principal employer, with 3,000 workers at its peak, operated between the 1930s and 1989. The plant manufactured rayon for tires during World War II and later produced rayon for rocket nozzles for the Defense Department and the [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration]].<ref name=pf1>{{cite news |last1=Finn |first1=Peter |title=Pollution Landmark Demolished in Va. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/local/1997/11/12/pollution-landmark-demolished-in-va/30f07e0d-22ec-4853-aab6-9f5bbead4419/ |access-date=June 30, 2018 |newspaper=Washington Post |date=November 12, 1997}}</ref>

===Etymology===
Several theories regarding the origins of the name "Front Royal" have been suggested.

A common theory is that the town was named for a giant [[oak tree]] – the "Royal" Tree of England – that stood in the public square during colonial days where Chester and Main Streets now join. It was there that the local militia were drilled. During drills, a frequent command given by the drill sergeant was, "front the Royal Oak!" The command was repeated and eventually shortened to simply "Front Royal".<ref name=nameOrigin_1>{{cite book|last1=Federal Writers' Project|title=Virginia: A Guide to the Old Dominion |date=1952|publisher=US History Publishers|isbn=1603540458|page=443|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z2VzSg9hfp0C&pg=PA443 |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref><ref name=nameOrigin_2>{{cite book |last1=Lillard |first1=David Edwin |title=Appalachian Trail names: Origins of place names along the AT |date=2002 |publisher=Stackpole Books |location=Mechanicsburg, PA |isbn=081172672X |page=42 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=XRsC_EBRPEwC&pg=PA42 |access-date=February 8, 2015}}</ref> This theory is supported by a bulletin published by the [[United States Geological Survey]] in 1905, which states that the town was first known as Royal Oak, with the current name being derived from the commands of a confused colonel.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA132 |title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States, Issue 258 of the U.S. Geological Survey Bulletin |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |author=Gannett, Henry |year=1905 |page=132 |access-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref>

A second account holds that when local militia were stationed around the town during the American Revolution, the sentry would call out "Front", to which the required entry password was to respond "Royal". Eventually their military post became known as "Camp Front Royal".<ref name=nameOrigin_1/><ref>{{cite book |last1=Willis |first1=Carrie Hunter |last2=Walker |first2=Etta Belle |title=Legends of the Skyline Drive and the Great Valley of Virginia |date=1940 |publisher=Dietz Press |pages=35–36 |url=http://www.gutenberg.org/files/33018/33018-h/33018-h.htm#Page_34 |access-date=February 5, 2015}}</ref>

A third version holds that, in early decades of European settlement, the area was referred to in French as "le front royal", meaning the British frontier. French settlers, trappers, and explorers in the [[Ohio Country]] of the mid-18th century were referring to the land grant made by King Charles II, then in control of Thomas, Lord Fairfax, Baron of Cameron. In English, "le front royal" is translated to the "Royal Frontier".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Harder |first1=Kelsie |title=Illustrated dictionary of place names, United States and Canada |date=1976 |publisher=Van Nostrand Reinhold Company |location=New York |isbn=9780442230692 |pages=188–189 |oclc=1622195 |edition=1st |ref=Harder}}</ref>

The name was in common usage by 1788, when the town was incorporated as "Front-Royal."<ref>{{cite book |title=Front Royal 1997 Town Plan |date=March 23, 1998 |publisher=Front Royal Town Council |page=6 |url=https://www.frontroyalva.com/DocumentCenter/View/1643/Pages-1-19 |access-date=July 31, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805101553/https://www.frontroyalva.com/DocumentCenter/View/1643/Pages-1-19 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Front Royal, VA.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Front Royal, VA with the Blue Ridge Mountains in the background|Front Royal, VA]]
Front Royal is approximately {{convert|76|mi|km}} west of [[Washington, D.C.]], {{convert|13|mi|km}} southeast of [[Middletown, Virginia|Middletown]], 12.5 (20&nbsp;km) miles east of [[Strasburg, Virginia|Strasburg]] and {{convert|26.3|mi|km}} northeast of [[Woodstock, Virginia|Woodstock]].

According to the [[2010 United States census]], the town has a total area of {{convert|9.5|mi2|1}}, of which {{convert|9.3|mi2|1}} is land and {{convert|0.2|mi2|1}} (2.52%) is water. In 2014, the town annexed additional land, increasing the town's total land area to {{convert|10.5|mi2|1}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nvdaily.com/news/front-royal/judges-ok-deal-for-annexation/article_a30580ce-da5b-53a2-ac82-835f517bf155.html|title=Judges OK deal for annexation|last=Daily|first=The Northern Virginia|website=The Northern Virginia Daily|date=September 29, 2014 |language=en|access-date=October 2, 2019}}</ref>

Front Royal is located at the confluence of the [[North Fork Shenandoah River|North]] and [[South Fork Shenandoah River|South]] Forks of the [[Shenandoah River]].<ref name="Shen_DGIF">{{cite web |url=http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=173 |title=Shenandoah River – South Fork |website=Virginia.gov |author=Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries |access-date=March 28, 2015 |archive-date=March 23, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150323062529/http://www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=173 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

=== Climate ===
Front Royal experiences a [[humid subtropical climate]], with summer highs in the low to mid 80s and winter lows in the upper 20s. Front Royal averages 43 inches of precipitation per year, with 24 inches of snowfall per year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.usclimatedata.com/climate/front-royal/virginia/united-states/usva1118|title=Climate Front Royal - Virginia and Weather averages Front Royal|website=www.usclimatedata.com|access-date=March 31, 2019}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Front Royal, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1995–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F  = 75
| Feb record high F  = 81
| Mar record high F  = 88
| Apr record high F  = 94
| May record high F  = 98
| Jun record high F  = 101
| Jul record high F  = 104
| Aug record high F  = 100
| Sep record high F  = 99
| Oct record high F  = 93
| Nov record high F  = 86
| Dec record high F  = 81
| year record high F = 104
|Jan high F = 43.0
|Feb high F = 46.5
|Mar high F = 54.3
|Apr high F = 66.6
|May high F = 74.3
|Jun high F = 82.3
|Jul high F = 86.7
|Aug high F = 84.6
|Sep high F = 77.8
|Oct high F = 67.3
|Nov high F = 56.0
|Dec high F = 46.8
|year high F =
|Jan mean F = 33.6
|Feb mean F = 36.1
|Mar mean F = 43.4
|Apr mean F = 54.5
|May mean F = 62.8
|Jun mean F = 71.2
|Jul mean F = 75.4
|Aug mean F = 73.5
|Sep mean F = 66.7
|Oct mean F = 56.1
|Nov mean F = 45.5
|Dec mean F = 37.4
|year mean F =
|Jan low F = 24.1
|Feb low F = 25.7
|Mar low F = 32.5
|Apr low F = 42.5
|May low F = 51.3
|Jun low F = 60.0
|Jul low F = 64.1
|Aug low F = 62.4
|Sep low F = 55.6
|Oct low F = 44.9
|Nov low F = 35.1
|Dec low F = 28.1
|year low F =
| Jan record low F  = -4
| Feb record low F  = -2
| Mar record low F  = 3
| Apr record low F  = 17
| May record low F  = 28
| Jun record low F  = 43
| Jul record low F  = 49
| Aug record low F  = 47
| Sep record low F  = 37
| Oct record low F  = 23
| Nov record low F  = 14
| Dec record low F  = 5
| year record low F = -4
| precipitation colour  = green
| Jan precipitation inch  = 2.85
| Feb precipitation inch  = 2.45
| Mar precipitation inch  = 3.77
| Apr precipitation inch  = 3.41
| May precipitation inch  = 4.36
| Jun precipitation inch  = 4.49
| Jul precipitation inch  = 3.57
| Aug precipitation inch  = 3.96
| Sep precipitation inch  = 4.76
| Oct precipitation inch  = 3.35
| Nov precipitation inch  = 3.29
| Dec precipitation inch  = 3.11
| year precipitation inch  =  
| Jan snow inch  = 4.7
| Feb snow inch  = 9.4
| Mar snow inch  = 2.2
| Apr snow inch  = 0.0
| May snow inch  = 0.0
| Jun snow inch  = 0.0
| Jul snow inch  = 0.0
| Aug snow inch  = 0.0
| Sep snow inch  = 0.0
| Oct snow inch  = 0.0
| Nov snow inch  = 0.0
| Dec snow inch  = 4.8
| year snow inch = 21.1
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days  = 9.6
| Feb precipitation days  = 8.3
| Mar precipitation days  = 10.0
| Apr precipitation days  = 11.3
| May precipitation days  = 13.5
| Jun precipitation days  = 11.7
| Jul precipitation days  = 10.7
| Aug precipitation days  = 10.6
| Sep precipitation days  = 8.9
| Oct precipitation days  = 8.3
| Nov precipitation days  = 7.8
| Dec precipitation days  = 9.0
| year precipitation days = 119.7
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days  = 2.5
| Feb snow days  = 2.4
| Mar snow days  = 1.0
| Apr snow days  = 0.0
| May snow days  = 0.0
| Jun snow days  = 0.0
| Jul snow days  = 0.0
| Aug snow days  = 0.0
| Sep snow days  = 0.0
| Oct snow days  = 0.0
| Nov snow days  = 0.0
| Dec snow days  = 1.6
| year snow days = 7.5
| source = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name="NOWData">{{cite web
|url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=lwx
|title = NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = October 14, 2023}}</ref><ref name="NCEI">{{cite web
|url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&stations=USC00443229&format=pdf&dataTypes=MLY-TMAX-NORMAL,MLY-TMIN-NORMAL,MLY-TAVG-NORMAL,MLY-PRCP-NORMAL,MLY-SNOW-NORMAL
|title = Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020
|publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
|access-date = October 14, 2023}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 504
|1860= 807
|1870= 705
|1880= 829
|1890= 868
|1900= 1005
|1910= 1133
|1920= 1404
|1930= 2424
|1940= 3831
|1950= 8115
|1960= 7949
|1970= 8211
|1980= 11126
|1990= 11880
|2000= 13589
|2010= 14440
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
|2020=15011}}

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 13,589 people, 5,425 households, and 3,585 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was {{convert|1,464.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,752 housing units at an average density of {{convert|620.1|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the town was 88.31% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 8.68% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.63% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.66% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.40% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 2.13% of the population.

There were 5,425 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.9% were non-families. 28.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 25.7% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 28.7% from 25 to 44, 22.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $34,786, and the median income for a family was $42,675. Males had a median income of $32,373 versus $24,182 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,901. About 9.1% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 13.2% of those age 65 or over.

==Economy==
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2021}}
Front Royal owns and manages the town's Economic Development Authority, an independent agency responsible for promoting economic development within the town.

==Arts and culture==
=== Attractions ===
[[File:Front Royal gazebo.JPG|thumb|The gazebo at the Village Commons in Front Royal]]

Front Royal is the home of [[Randolph-Macon Academy]] (founded 1892). Front Royal is also the home of [[Christendom College]] and the [[Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute]] (SCBI). Along with these institutions are the two rival high schools, [[Skyline High School (Virginia)|Skyline High School]] and [[Warren County High School (Virginia)|Warren County High School]].

Commercially, Front Royal hosts the [[Virginia Inland Port]], a [[U.S. Customs]]-designated [[port of entry]], situated on [[U.S. Route 522]].<ref name="VIP">{{cite web |url=http://www.portofvirginia.com/facilities/virginia-inland-port-vip/ |title=Virginia Inland Port (VIP) |website=Portofvirginia.com |author=The Port of Virginia |access-date= March 28, 2015}}</ref>

[[File:Bing Crosby Stadium.JPG|thumb|left|Bing Crosby Stadium]]
Front Royal is home to the {{convert|440|acre|km2|adj=on}} [[Avtex Fibers]] [[Superfund]] Site. Once [[List of Superfund sites in Virginia|Virginia's largest Superfund site]], remediation activities at this former [[rayon]] manufacturing facility have been ongoing since 1989. The site is intended to eventually house a {{convert|175|acre|km2|adj=on}} eco-friendly office park, {{convert|30|acre|m2}} of soccer fields, and {{convert|240|acre|km2}} of conservancy park along the [[Shenandoah River]].<ref name="Avtex_CommSite">{{cite web |url=http://www.avtexfibers.com/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010124014000/http://www.avtexfibers.com/ |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 24, 2001 |title=Avtex Fibers Superfund Site – Community Homepage |website=Avtexfibers.com |access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref> The plant, which was built by the [[American Viscose Corporation]] in the 1930s and at one time employed nearly 3,500 workers, was closed in 1989 after being cited for more than 2,000 environmental violations over five years, including emissions of [[polychlorinated biphenyl]]s (PCBs) into the Shenandoah River.<ref name="Avtex_EPA">{{cite web |url=http://www.epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/VAD070358684.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040907081029/http://epa.gov/reg3hwmd/npl/VAD070358684.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=September 7, 2004 |title=Mid-Atlantic Superfund – Avtex Fibers, Inc. |website=Epa.gov |date=January 2015  |author=U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref><ref name=NYT_FroRoClosed>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/21/us/jobs-are-lost-in-plant-shutdown-but-so-is-foul-smelling-air.html |title=Jobs Are Lost in Plant Shutdown, but So Is Foul-Smelling Air |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 21, 1989 |author=Ayres, B. Drummond Jr. |access-date=January 14, 2017}}</ref> The plant's main buildings were demolished in 1997 as part of the cleanup.<ref name=pf1 />

The [[U.S. Customs and Border Protection]]'s Canine Center Front Royal is located in Front Royal.<ref name="CCFR_CBP">{{cite web |url=http://www.cbp.gov/border-security/along-us-borders/canine-program/history-3 |title=Canine Program History |website=Cbp.gov |access-date= March 28, 2015}}</ref> This facility has trained dogs and their handlers in various detection abilities for federal and law enforcement agencies since 1974.<ref name="NatGeo_CETC">{{cite web |url=http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/07/0712_020712_drugdogs_2.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025001351/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2002/07/0712_020712_drugdogs_2.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 25, 2005 |title="Detector Dogs" Sniff Out Smugglers for U.S. Customs |newspaper=News.nationalgeographic.com |date=July 12, 2002 |author=Brian Handwerk |access-date=March 28, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Front Royal Cardinals]] baseball team joined the [[Valley Baseball League|Valley League]] in 1984. Games are played in Bing Crosby Stadium. [[Bing Crosby]] helped raise funds for the building of the original stadium by arranging for his film ''[[Riding High (1950 film)|Riding High]]'' to have its world premiere in Front Royal on April 1, 1950. Crosby's initial involvement came about on April 30, 1948, when after acting as grand marshal of the Grand Feature Parade of the 21st. [[Shenandoah Apple Blossom Festival]] in [[Winchester, Virginia]], he went on to Front Royal where he sang on the courthouse steps as part of a concert to help raise money for a new stadium. Bing was the first contributor to the Front Royal Recreation Center Building Fund when he donated $1,000. On April 1, 1950, Front Royal celebrated "Bing Crosby Day" and starting at 11 a.m., Crosby led a two-hour parade through the streets in front of a crowd of 20,000 to Recreation Park for the dedication of the baseball stadium. Park Theater was the venue for the official world premiere of ''Riding High'' at 8:30&nbsp;p.m. where Crosby entertained the audience with several songs. During his appearance at the Park Theater, Bing wrote out a personal check for $3,595 to bring the gross receipts of the day to $15,000.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Macfarlane|first1=Malcolm|title=Bing Crosby - Day by Day|url=http://www.bingmagazine.co.uk/bingmagazine/Chapter_8.htm#Year_1950|website=BING magazine|publisher=International Club Crosby|access-date=January 25, 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers.jpg|thumb|[[Spelunker's Frozen Custard & Cavern Burgers]] on South Street]]
In 1953, Frank Nesbitt coached a [[Little League]] team from Front Royal which came in 3rd in the world tournament. Freddie Moore was one of the players on that team, and later became active in Front Royal Little League. After Moore died of cancer one of Front Royal's Little League fields was named in his honor.

The [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] Museum on Chester Street has many interesting artifacts from the 1860s, as have the museum buildings of the Warren Heritage Society, the Ivy Lodge (c. 1859), the Belle Boyd Cottage (c. 1836) and the Balthis House (c. 1788).

Front Royal was designated the "Canoe Capital of Virginia" in February 1999.<ref name=CanoeCap>{{cite web|title=The Winding Road to the Canoe Capital of Virginia|url=http://frontroyalchamber.com/subpage.asp?page=canoe&header=canoe|publisher=Warren County Chamber of Commerce|access-date=March 26, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120209135137/http://www.frontroyalchamber.com/subpage.asp?page=canoe&header=canoe|archive-date=February 9, 2012}}</ref>

===National Register of Historic Places===
[[File:Sonner Hall RMC 20150328.jpg|thumb|right|[[Sonner Hall]] at [[Randolph-Macon Academy]] is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Warren County, Virginia|National Register of Historic Places]].]]

Within Front Royal, the following buildings, properties and districts are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]]:<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>
{{columns-list|colwidth=22em|
*[[Balthis House]]
*[[Erin (Front Royal, Virginia)|Erin]]
*[[Fairview Farm]]
*[[Flint Run Archeological District]]
*[[Front Royal Historic District]]
*[[Front Royal Recreational Park Historic District]]
*[[Killahevlin]]
*[[Mountain Home (Front Royal, Virginia)|Mountain Home]]
*[[Riverside (Front Royal, Virginia)|Riverside]]
*[[Riverton Historic District (Front Royal, Virginia)|Riverton Historic District]]
*[[Rose Hill (Front Royal, Virginia)|Rose Hill]] 
*[[Sonner Hall]]
*[[Warren County Courthouse (Virginia)|Warren County Courthouse]]
}}

== Government ==
[[File:Front Royal Historic District 2020e.jpg|thumb|Front Royal Town Hall]]

The mayor and town council are Front Royal's elected officials.<ref name="TC">{{cite web | title = Town Council | publisher = Town of Front Royal | url = https://www.frontroyalva.com/222/Town-Council | accessdate = August 12, 2021}}</ref>  The mayor is Lori Cockrell, and members of the town council are Glenn Wood, Bruce Rappaport, Joshua Ingram, Wayne Sealock, Melissa DeDemonico-Payne, and Vice-Mayor Amber Veitenthal<ref name="TC"/><ref>{{cite web | title = Mayor | publisher = Town of Front Royal | url = https://www.frontroyalva.com/380/Mayor | accessdate = August 12, 2021 | archive-date = May 19, 2022 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220519043830/https://frontroyalva.com/380/Mayor | url-status = dead }}</ref>

==Education==
The [[Samuels Public Library]] is the town's public library.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Virginia Public Library Directory |work=lva.virginia.gov |access-date=May 30, 2022 |url= https://www.lva.virginia.gov/public/libraries_rms.asp?CityCountyName=VA0075}}</ref> Its history goes back to 1799 as Virginia's second subscription library, in 1836 it was formed as the Front Royal Library Society, Bernard Samuels donated a building in 1952, and its current building opened to the public in 2009.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Your Library |work=Samuels Public Library |access-date=May 30, 2022 |url= https://samuelslibrary.net/index.php/about/about-your-library }}</ref>

===Primary and secondary schools===
[[File:Front Royal Historic District 2020a.jpg|thumb|E.W. Morrison Elementary School]]

{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* Mountain Laurel Montessori School<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://mountainlaurelmontessori.org|title=Mountain Laurel Montessori School}}</ref> 
* A.S. Rhodes Elementary School
* Blue Ridge Technical Center
* E.W. Morrison Elementary School
* Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School
* Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School
* Ressie Jeffries Elementary School
* Skyline Middle School
* Warren County Middle School
* Brighter Futures Learning Community
* Mountain Vista Governor's School
* Skyline High School
* Warren County High School
* John XXIII Montessori Center<ref>{{cite web |title=Catholic Montessori School Front Royal VA |url=https://john23mcc.org/ |website=John XXIII Montessori Center}}</ref>
* Chelsea Academy (grades K-12)<ref>{{cite web |title=Chelsea Academy: A Liberal Arts Education in the Catholic Tradition for Grades K-12 |url=https://chelseaacademy.org/ |website=Chelsea Academy}}</ref>
* Randolph-Macon Academy (grades 6–12)
*Divinum Auxilium Academy (grades preschool-6)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://divineassistanceacademy.org |title=Divinum Auxilium: Divine Assistance Academy}}</ref>
*St. Edith Stein School for Girls (grades 7–12)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stedithsteinschool.org |title=St Edith Stein School for Girls: Rediscover Authentic Christian Femininity}}</ref>
*St. Joseph the Just School for Boys (grades 7–12)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://stjosephthejust.org |title=St Joseph the Just School for Boys }}</ref>
*John Paul the Great Montessori Academy (grades K-12)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://jpgma.org |title=John Paul the Great Montessori Academy}}</ref>{{div col end}}

===Colleges and universities===
[[File:Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation.jpg|thumb|right|Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation]]

* [[George Mason University#Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation|Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation]]<ref name=factsheet>{{cite magazine|last1=National Zoological Park|title=Smithsonian-Mason School of Conservation Facilities and Program Fact Sheet|url=http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/PressMaterials/PressKit/SIMason/SImasonfacility.cfm|magazine=Smithsonian|access-date=October 17, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907191801/http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Publications/PressMaterials/PressKit/SIMason/SIMasonfacility.cfm|archive-date=September 7, 2015}}</ref>
* [[Christendom College]]

==Media==
Three radio stations and two weekly newspapers are based and licensed to Front Royal.

On radio, FM stations [[WZRV]] and [[WFQX-FM|WFQX]] are licensed to the town. WZRV is actually based in Front Royal, while WFQX is based in nearby [[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]]. Also, on radio, AM station [[WFTR]] is based and licensed to the town.

''[[The Northern Virginia Daily]]'' is a daily newspaper serving the area. Weekly newspapers ''The Sherando Times'' and ''The Warren County Report'' are based in Front Royal. ''The Warren County Report'' serves Warren County, while ''The Sherando Times'' serves the [[Stephens City, Virginia|Stephens City]], [[Middletown, Virginia|Middletown]], and [[Kernstown, Virginia|Kernstown]] areas of nearby [[Frederick County, Virginia]]. ''The Warren Sentinel'' is the county's oldest newspaper, dating back over 150 years. It is published each Thursday.

==Infrastructure==
[[File:2018-10-18 13 26 05 View south along U.S. Routes 340 and 522 and east along Virginia State Route 55 (Shenandoah Avenue) crossing the South Fork Shenandoah River in Front Royal, Warren County, Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|View south along US 340/522 and east along SR 55 in Front Royal]]

===Transportation===
Front Royal is located at the intersection of [[U.S. Route 340 in Virginia|US 340]] and [[U.S. Route 522 in Virginia|US 522]]. [[Virginia State Route 55|SR 55]] also passes through Front Royal.  [[Interstate 66|I-66]] passes just north of Front Royal.

Virginia Regional Transit operates the Front Royal Trolley, which provides local bus service.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Culpeper – Virginia Regional Transit| access-date = January 20, 2020| url = https://vatransit.org/culpeper/}}</ref>

Ride Smart Northern Shenandoah Valley provides commuter bus service between Front Royal and the DC area.<ref>{{Cite web| title = Commuter Bus| work = Ride Smart| access-date = January 20, 2020| url = http://ridesmartva.org/commuter-bus/| archive-date = January 19, 2020| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200119074711/http://ridesmartva.org/commuter-bus/| url-status = dead}}</ref>

The state-operated Virginia Breeze intercity bus provides service between [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] and DC and stops in Front Royal.<ref>{{Cite web| title = The Virginia Breeze: Bus from Blacksburg to Washington, DC| work = The Virginia Breeze: Bus from Blacksburg to Washington, DC {{!}} DRPT| access-date = January 20, 2020| url = https://virginiabreeze.org/}}</ref>

== In popular culture ==
In [[James Axler]]'s [[Deathlands]] series, central protagonist Ryan Cawdor is a native of Front Royal and visits the town several times throughout the series.

==Notable people==
* [[Dana Allison]], professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dana Allison|url=http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Salaries/A/Dana-Allison.shtml|work=The Baseball Cube|access-date=August 20, 2010|archive-date=December 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191219024849/http://www.thebaseballcube.com/Salaries/A/Dana-Allison.shtml|url-status=dead}}</ref> 
* [[Howard Klein (music critic)|Howard Klein]], pianist and former music critic for ''[[The New York Times]]''
* [[J. Hillis Miller Sr.]], fourth president of the University of Florida.
* [[W. K. Stratton (actor)|W. K. Stratton]], actor in the TV series [[Black Sheep Squadron]].
* [[Darrell Whitmore]], professional baseball player.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Madden|first1=W. C.|title=Baseball's First-year Player Draft, Team by Team Through 1999|date=2001|publisher=McFarland|pages=364}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Front Royal, Virginia}}
{{wikivoyage|Front Royal}}
*{{Official website|http://www.frontroyalva.com}}
* [http://www.discoverfrontroyal.com/ Front Royal Tourism Info]
* [http://www.frontroyalchamber.com/ Front Royal/Warren County Chamber of Commerce]
* [http://www.warrenheritagesociety.org/ Warren Heritage Society]

{{Warren County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Front Royal, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Warren County, Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1788]]
[[Category:1788 establishments in Virginia]]