Life in Staunton
I appreciate the pace of life that comes with living in a small city. When you walk downtown, you often run into someone you know, and people are ready to stop and say hello. At Stuart Hall, students are used to running into teachers (and their families) outside of school hours, which creates a unique opportunity for relationship-building in our community.
-Julie, Spiritual Life Coordinator
Joining Stuart Hall as a faculty member means becoming part of an educational community committed to equipping each day and boarding student to live a life of intellectual curiosity, creativity, and contribution. It also means becoming part of our beloved hometown, Staunton, Virginia.
Staunton, a city of about 26,000 in the picturesque Shenandoah Valley, gives our students and teachers access to municipal amenities and stunning natural resources. Old Main, the central school building, is just a five-minute walk from the historic downtown, while our Eastham Center, a state-of-the-art technology center, is in the heart of downtown shopping and dining.
Lifestyle Highlights
Rich with parks, Victorian architecture and art galleries, Staunton has ranked among the safest cities in the Commonwealth. Smithsonian Magazine cited its rejuvenation and cultural assets when listing Staunton among the 10 best small towns in the United States.
Local residents — who pronounce “Staunton” without the “u” — especially appreciate its lively restaurant scene, diverse performing arts, and proximity to Shenandoah National Park.
Easily walkable, friendly and outgoing, our town has heart and a deep sense of community. We’re also home to the American Shakespeare Center and the Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library.
The Shenandoah Valley is rich with cycling opportunities, and skiing and snowboarding resorts are within an hour’s drive of campus! Residents of Staunton enjoy four distinct seasons.
More About Living in Staunton
- Mary Baldwin University, a private, coeducational university, is within walking distance of Stuart Hall. Several other colleges and universities are located within an hour’s drive.
- Staunton is on Amtrak's Cardinal line, which connects New York City, Washington, DC, and Chicago. And we are close to three airports: Shenandoah Valley (SHD), Charlottesville Albemarle (CHO), and Roanoke-Blacksburg (ROA).
I think that it's fair to say Staunton punches above its weight. For such a small town, great music, food, and culture are very accessible. It draws people from fairly unique and diverse backgrounds, so it can feel a lot more sophisticated than you might expect for a small town in the Shenandoah Valley. At the same time, it is a very down to earth place to live and visit.
-Mark, Staff Accountant