where is james madison university?

Where Is James Madison University?

James Madison University (JMU) is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, United States. The main campus sits at 800 South Main Street, Harrisonburg, VA 22807. Nestled in the scenic Shenandoah Valley, just west of Massanutten Mountain, JMU offers students a picturesque setting about two hours from Washington, D.C..

The Campus Setting

The university's campus sprawls across 721 acres and features 148 major buildings. The historic heart of JMU is the Bluestone side of campus, located on South Main Street (also known as U.S. Route 11, historically called "The Valley Pike"). Many buildings in this area are constructed from locally sourced "bluestone," a type of limestone from the surrounding Shenandoah Valley that gives the campus its distinctive character. What started in 1908 with just two buildings—Jackson Hall and Maury Hall (now known as Darcus Johnson Hall and Gabbin Hall)—has grown into one of Virginia's second most photographed locations on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter.

The Harrisonburg Community

Harrisonburg, the city that hosts JMU, is a friendly and diverse community with a population of approximately 42,000 people. The town's location in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley provides students with both a safe college environment and access to natural beauty. The campus quadrangle is conveniently positioned on South Main Street, making it easily accessible within the city.

A Brief History

Founded in 1908 as the State Normal and Industrial School for Women at Harrisonburg, the institution underwent several name changes throughout its history. It became the State Teachers College at Harrisonburg in 1924, then was renamed Madison College in 1938 to honor James Madison, the fourth President of the United States, whose Montpelier estate is located in nearby Orange, Virginia. The university received its current name, James Madison University, in 1977 as it evolved from its origins as a normal school and teacher's college into a comprehensive public research university.

TL;DR: James Madison University is located in Harrisonburg, Virginia, in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley, about two hours from Washington, D.C. The campus sits at 800 South Main Street and features historic "bluestone" architecture across 721 acres. Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.