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is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,029 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg–Radford Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Montgomery County, Virginia and the city of Radford. However, many residents of the eastern section of Montgomery County more often travel to Roanoke, Virginia or Salem, Virginia for work, shopping, and services since these cities are generally closer and do not require driving up Christiansburg Mountain on US 460 (which is a concurrency with US 11 here) or Interstate 81.
The community of Elliston-Lafayette is approximately four miles east of Shawsville. The majority of US 460 between the communities is a completely straight stretch of road, which is not common in this area of Virginia, known locally as the Elliston Straightaway. During the 1990s, there was some minor controversy between Elliston and Shawsville about how far down the Elliston Straightaway would be the appropriate place for a "Welcome to Shawsville" sign. Additionally, Shawsville Elementary School also resides in 24087, the Elliston ZIP Code.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.