Country roads, take me home / to the place I belong / West Virginia, mountain momma / take me home, country roads. -- From "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver
Apparently, Daniel Boone shared these sentiments expressed by singer-songwriter John Denver
Country roads, take me home / to the place I belong / West Virginia, mountain momma / take me home, country roads. -- From "Take Me Home, Country Roads" by John Denver
Apparently, Daniel Boone shared these sentiments expressed by singer-songwriter John Denver. When Boone, as a member of the Kanawha County Assembly, was elected to the Virginia House of Delegates in 1791, he walked the long trek to Richmond, rather than leaving Kanawha County.
You can call West Virginia your home, too, in the city of Cross Lanes. Scenic Cross Lanes is a suburb of Charleston, West Virginia's capital. Located in the northern region of the state at the intersection of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers, Charleston and Cross Lanes are part of the Western Allegheny Mountains Plateau. As part of Kanawha County, Cross Lanes covers an area equal to 6.38 square miles of land along with 0.04 square mile of water. According to 2010 U.S. Census Bureau statistics, the community's population is 9,995 residents, which is slight drop off from the numbers reported in 2000. Cross Lanes is located at an elevation of 709 feet above sea level. Other towns and cities within a 50-mile radius include Glen Ferris, Deep Water and Salt Rock.
Due mainly to its close proximity to Charleston, Cross Lanes has a high-density population of approximately 1,557 residents per square mile, although this figure computed for comparable communities throughout the state is only around 77. Even the corresponding national median population density for similar sized communities across the U.S. is only about 81 residents per square mile. Major industries and employment sources in Charleston include West Virginia Power Company and the McLaughlin Air National Guard Base. The city is also home to Yeager Airport and the University of Charleston. Other colleges and universities located in Charleston are major campuses of West Virginia University, the WVU Institute of Technology (WV Tech), West Virginia State University and Marshall University.
When preparing for your move to the beautiful rural serenity of the suburban community of Cross Lanes, remember that this area of West Virginia has four definite seasonal changes. Winters sometimes bring surprisingly cold temperatures. Lowest temperatures during snowy or icy weather can fall below zero occasionally. In addition, snow accumulations can be as heavy as snowfalls in Pennsylvania, Ohio and New York. Hottest summer temperatures are usually in the low to mid-eighties, and both spring and autumn can be brief seasons some years when winter weather begins early and lingers late. One attractive quality of summer months is the cool, refreshing evenings, especially following hot, muggy days. The countryside is especially stunning in both spring and autumn, due to the fresh brightness of early spring greenery and flowers and the breathtaking colors of the autumn foliage.
When packing to make your move to Cross Lanes, remember to bring along all personal records relevant to renting your new home or apartment. You will want to include your current rental records, your landlord's contact information, your personal and business banking records, personal government identification and proof of work background or business ownership. If you are a homeowner who is downsizing to an apartment rental, be sure to pack your homeowner's records as well. Of course, if you are among the lucky who have located a choice of places to live in at Cross Lanes prior to moving there, you can relax somewhat, concentrating on packing your personal belongings and home furnishings for relocating.
Although there are not definite neighborhood divisions and names in Cross Lanes, home property sales, rental houses and apartment rental units are currently offered on such popular roadways as Betheny Drive, Dolores Drive, Stranahan Drive and Big Tyler Road. All these streets are within the town's major zip code of 25313. Property types include single family homes, apartment complexes, small apartment buildings and townhouses. There are also mobile homes for rent and sale. Most of the rental houses and other places to live in Cross Lanes were constructed between 1970 and 1999, although some were built more recently. The rental apt complexes and smaller apartment buildings offer rental units of all sizes, from a studio or 1 bedroom apartment for rent to a 3 or 4-bedroom unit to accommodate households of various sizes. There are also homes and townhouses for rent or for sale. In addition, all areas of town have houses that have been remodeled into rental units and some houses with studio apartments, a basement apartment or 1 bedroom apartment for rent.
There are many ways to enjoy leisure time in and around Cross Lanes. Charleston offers many concerts, theater productions and other performing arts activities, as well as major sports events. This busy metropolis is also home to such attractive parks as Cato Park and Coonskin Park along with the Kanawha State Forest. This expansive state park includes camping facilities, hiking and biking trails, picnic spots and a large swimming pool. Other major Cross Lanes attractions include the Tri-State Racetrack and Gaming Center where people gather to watch horse racing, dog races, boxing and other sports. The Mardi Gras Casino draws large crowds and offers the latest in casino games and slot machines, food, drinks and shows. It is a primary point of entertainment for the region. Popular restaurants include Charleston's Bluegrass Kitchen offering modern American and vegetarian dishes and Buffalo Wild Wings in Cross Lanes, serving chicken wings and other traditional American cuisine. As a new resident of Cross Lanes, you are sure to make many interesting friends while enjoying a healthy and diversified new lifestyle.
