Riner is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2020 Census was 1,196. Riner had its beginnings in 1808 when a sawmill was put into operation. The town was first called Old Forks, and then later Five Forks and Five Points. It was known primarily as Auburn from about 1850 until 1882. The U.S. post office was the reason that the name of the village was changed from Auburn to Riner in 1882. Between the establishment of the original U.S. Post office in the community in the 1871-73 congressional session and 1882 there was no postmaster in the town, and the mail was distributed at the local store by the proprietor Major Lawrence.