 Radford, or at least the train station area, was called Central Depot because of its central location halfway between Lynchburg and Bristol, Virginia of the original railroad, the Virginia and Tennessee Railroad (later the Norfolk and Western Railway).From 1900 to 1930, many companies came to Radford, including an ice company, a creamery, milling companies, piping, and preserving plants.In 1913, Radford was selected to become home to State Normal School, a women's college.