Of course, we've long known that Blacksburg is a pretty cool place to be. The town offers a high quality of life, including low taxes, accessible health care, advanced public services, and award-winning public transportation, all without the cost of living, traffic, risks, and complexities of a major metropolitan area.

But don't just take it from us. Here's why Virginia Tech students think Blacksburg is deserving of the Best College Town in the South honor.

• "Because everyone is here is a Hokie and Hokies respect," says Megan Goldberg of Charlottesville, Va., who is studying management and psychology and plans to graduate in 2013.
• There's just such a sense of community here," says Erica Hetzel of Williamsburg, Va., who is studying environmental policy and planning and plans to graduate in 2013. "There's a real downtown, with local bars and restaurants galore. I also love the Hokie pride that permeates through town -- you can't escape it, and that's also why game days in the fall are so special."
• "I've never been to another college town where the entire community feels like family. Everybody in Blacksburg is a Hokie, regardless of whether they attended Virginia Tech or not. It's a family, 41,700 strong!" says Caleb Smith of Tappahannock, Va., who is studying sociology and plans to graduate in 2012.
• "I like the subtle things like the flowers hanging from the lights during the spring and summer and the Virginia Tech posters and signs in the windows of every business downtown," says Kyle Lamers of Fort Worth, Texas., who is studying building construction and plans to graduate in 2013. "I picked Virginia Tech mainly because of Blacksburg and the surrounding mountains. I wanted to be away from a big city (Roanoke to me is still even considered a small city) and be in a college town. Blacksburg fit what I wanted exactly and obviously many others feel the same way."
     

  Students and local residents shop at the Blacksburg Farmers Market, in the heart of downtown and just off campus.

  
  

Read more about Blacksburg in Virginia Tech Magazine:

• “Metropolitan Blacksburg?”
• “It’s business as usual in Blacksburg”
• “Thinking and driving: Hooptie Ride offers safety with style”
• “Adventures along the road to Blacksburg: Getting here is half the fun”