Lexington sits in Rockbridge County in the Shenandoah Valley, bordered by Buena Vista to the south and stretching east toward the Blue Ridge Parkway. The city's economy centers on Washington and Lee University and Virginia Military Institute, whose combined enrollment nearly matches the permanent population. Interstate 81 and Route 60 connect Lexington to Staunton, Roanoke, and the valley's agricultural communities, while the historic downtown serves both year-round residents and the steady flow of visitors to the Stonewall Jackson House and VMI Museum.