Emporia, Virginia
| Emporia, Virginia | ||
|---|---|---|
| City | ||
Downtown Emporia
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 Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia |
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| Coordinates: Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. | ||
| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| Chartered | 1967 | |
| Government | ||
| • Mayor | Mary L. Person | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.0 sq mi (18 km2) | |
| • Land | 6.9 sq mi (18 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) | |
| Elevation | 128 ft (39 m) | |
| Population (2013) | ||
| • Total | 6,170 | |
| • Density | 859/sq mi (332/km2) | |
| Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
| ZIP code | 23847 | |
| Area code(s) | 434 | |
| FIPS code | 51-25808[1] | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498475[2] | |
| Website | http://www.ci.emporia.va.us/ | |
Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,927,[3] making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes. It is the county seat of Greensville County.[4]
Contents
History
The Town of Hicksford (also sometimes called Hick's Ford) was settled in 1710 in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christanna. After statehood, the Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form the new incorporated town of Emporia, which was named after the town of Emporia, Kansas. The Town Emporia was re-chartered by the Virginia General Assembly as an independent city in 1967.
Emporia has long been a transportation crossroads. Currently, a major north-south railroad line of CSX Transportation crosses with an east-west line of Norfolk Southern. U.S. Route 58 crosses east-west and Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 301 cross north-south.
The Belfield-Emporia Historic District, Hicksford-Emporia Historic District, Greensville County Courthouse Complex, Greensville County Training School, H. T. Klugel Architectural Sheet Metal Work Building, Old Merchants and Farmers Bank Building, and Village View, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[5]
Geography
Emporia is located at Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. (36.693018, -77.53809).[6]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km2), of which 6.9 square miles (17.9 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6] The city is located about 65 miles south of Richmond, about 80 miles west of Norfolk and about 60 miles north of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. The City of Emporia is very close to Gaston, North Carolina. The City of Emporia also has the high school, Greensville County High School and the Emporia branch of Southside Virginia Community College.
Climate
| Climate data for Emporia, Virginia. | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
82 (28) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
109 (43) |
103 (39) |
100 (38) |
96 (36) |
85 (29) |
80 (27) |
109 (43) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 49.4 (9.7) |
53.2 (11.8) |
61.2 (16.2) |
70.7 (21.5) |
78.1 (25.6) |
85.9 (29.9) |
89.5 (31.9) |
87.9 (31.1) |
81.9 (27.7) |
72.0 (22.2) |
62.9 (17.2) |
52.8 (11.6) |
70.5 (21.4) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 27.2 (−2.7) |
29.3 (−1.5) |
36.1 (2.3) |
44.7 (7.1) |
54.0 (12.2) |
63.1 (17.3) |
68.0 (20) |
65.9 (18.8) |
59.0 (15) |
46.8 (8.2) |
37.7 (3.2) |
30.1 (−1.1) |
46.8 (8.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −4 (−20) |
0 (−18) |
12 (−11) |
21 (−6) |
32 (0) |
41 (5) |
50 (10) |
44 (7) |
34 (1) |
23 (−5) |
12 (−11) |
−10 (−23) |
−10 (−23) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.31 (84.1) |
3.04 (77.2) |
3.76 (95.5) |
3.27 (83.1) |
3.85 (97.8) |
3.68 (93.5) |
5.23 (132.8) |
4.73 (120.1) |
4.05 (102.9) |
2.90 (73.7) |
2.92 (74.2) |
3.21 (81.5) |
43.96 (1,116.6) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 2.4 (6.1) |
1.9 (4.8) |
0.9 (2.3) |
0.1 (0.3) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.0 (0) |
0.1 (0.3) |
1.2 (3) |
6.6 (16.8) |
| Source: The Western Regional Climate Center[7] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 1,088 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,027 | −5.6% | |
| 1910 | 2,018 | 96.5% | |
| 1920 | 1,869 | −7.4% | |
| 1930 | 2,144 | 14.7% | |
| 1940 | 2,735 | 27.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,664 | 107.1% | |
| 1960 | 5,535 | −2.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,300 | −4.2% | |
| 1980 | 4,840 | −8.7% | |
| 1990 | 5,306 | 9.6% | |
| 2000 | 5,665 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,927 | 4.6% | |
| Est. 2014 | 5,462 | [8] | −7.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11] 1990-2000[12] 2013 Estimate |
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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,927 people residing in the city. 62.5% were Black or African American, 32.7% White, 0.7% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 2.1% of some other race and 1.5% of two or more races. 4.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 5,665 people, 2,226 households, and 1,406 families residing in the city. The population density was 821.9 people per square mile (317.5/km²). There were 2,412 housing units at an average density of 349.9 per square mile (135.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 42.45% White, 56.15% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 0.42% from two or more races. 1.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,226 households out of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.5% were married couples living together, 21.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05.
In the city the population was spread out with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20.6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 83.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,333, and the median income for a family was $35,743. Males had a median income of $27,772 versus $21,657 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,377. About 11.4% of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5% of those under age 18 and 14.5% of those age 65 or over.
Festivals
The Emporia Bicycling Club hosts regular group rides, including the annual Great Peanut ride which attracts hundreds of bicyclists who ride to visit a peanut farm and are treated to hearty meals and live entertainment at camp. The Virginia Pork Festival is held each second Wednesday in June.
Traffic enforcement
The city is perhaps best known, along with surrounding Greensville County, for rigorous enforcement of speeding laws; local law enforcement patrols 3.0 miles of Interstate 95 and 3.7 miles of U.S. Route 58. Enforcement of traffic laws, most notably speed limits, supports local government; in FY 2013-4 court fines and courthouse fees, paid mostly through traffic citations, are expected to total $1.32 million, or 10.4% of all of Emporia's locally raised revenue.[14]
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Emporia has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[15]
Notable people
- Willie Gillus, former NFL quarterback
- June Harding, actress
- Maurice Hicks, former NFL running back
- Wynne LeGrow, Democratic politician
- Theresa Merritt, actress
- Vern Morgan, Baseball player and coach
- Hermie and Elliott Sadler, NASCAR racecar drivers
- Raynor Scheine, actor
- Bryant Stith, star basketball player at University of Virginia, and former NBA player
- E.J. Wilson, NFL defensive lineman for Tampa Bay Buccaneers
See also
References
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Climate Summary for Emporia, Virginia
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Emporia, Virginia. |
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