Situated on the New River, Radford has served as a gateway since its earliest days. Pioneers journeyed westward through the area along the Wilderness Road in the 1700s and 1800s, and the railroad made its way west in the 1850s, bringing about a boom in development. Today Radford still welcomes people with its small-city living, natural beauty, and educational opportunities. Author Scott L. Gardner, director of Glencoe Museum, has partnered with the Radford Public Library, where he has worked for over five years.