Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River , Lynchburg is known as the `` City of Seven Hills '' , `` The Hill City '' and sometimes described as `` A City Unto Itself '' mostly in reference to the city 's historical avoidance of State and Federal entanglements . Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River , Lynchburg is known as the `` City of Seven Hills '' , `` The Hill City '' and sometimes described as `` A City Unto Itself '' , because of its status as an independent city not located in any county and in reference to the city 's historical avoidance of State and Federal entanglements .