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South Boston, Virginia

Coordinates: 36°42′28″N 78°54′12″W / 36.70778°N 78.90333°W / 36.70778; -78.90333
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South Boston, Virginia
Town
South Boston Historic District
South Boston Historic District
Nickname: 
SoBo
Location of South Boston, Virginia
Location of South Boston, Virginia
Coordinates: 36°42′28″N 78°54′12″W / 36.70778°N 78.90333°W / 36.70778; -78.90333
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyHalifax
Government
 • MayorEdward Owens
Area
[1]
 • Total13.15 sq mi (34.07 km2)
 • Land13.06 sq mi (33.83 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2)
Elevation
430 ft (130 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total8,142
 • Estimate 
(2019)[2]
7,588
 • Density580.92/sq mi (224.30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24592
Area code434
FIPS code51-73712[3]
GNIS feature ID1501641[4]
Websitewww.southboston.com

South Boston, formerly Boyd's Ferry,[5] is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,142 at the 2010 census,[6] down from 8,491 at the 2000 census. It is the most populous town in Halifax County.

History

Presidential election results[7]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
1992 52.1% 1,435 38.1% 1,051 9.8% 271
1988 64.1% 1,694 35.4% 936 0.6% 15
1984 65.6% 1,899 33.7% 974 0.7% 20
1980 61.0% 1,615 36.7% 971 2.4% 63
1976 57.0% 1,389 41.1% 1,001 2.0% 48
1972 71.6% 1,865 27.2% 709 1.2% 31
1968 50.2% 1,298 24.0% 620 25.9% 669
1964 65.4% 1,206 34.5% 636 0.1% 1
1960 62.7% 807 37.1% 477 0.2% 3

On December 8, 1796, the Virginia General Assembly authorized eight commissioners to establish at Boyd's Ferry on the south side of the Dan River the town of South Boston, named for Boston, Massachusetts. Because this site proved vulnerable to flooding, it was eventually abandoned in favor of a new settlement on the north side. By the 1850s the Richmond and Danville Railroad passed through South Boston, which eventually developed into an important market for brightleaf tobacco. In 1884 it was incorporated as a town; in 1960 it became an independent city; and in 1995 it made history by being the first city in Virginia to revert to town status and rejoined Halifax County.

Within the town limits Berry Hill Plantation, E. L. Evans House, Reedy Creek Site, South Boston Historic District, are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[8] Fourqurean House, Glennmary, Glenwood, Tarover, and Seaton are nearby.

South Boston was home to the National Tobacco Festival (a typically three day annual festival held every Fall) from its inception in 1935 to 1941, when it was suspended during World War II. In 1948, the festival was moved to Richmond, Virginia when it outgrew the town. It was held in Richmond until 1984, when it was canceled due to rising production costs and decreased interest.[9][10] South Boston was the 2nd largest producer of tobacco in the United States until the Great Depression.

Geography

South Boston is located south of the center of Halifax County at 36°42′28″N 78°54′12″W / 36.70778°N 78.90333°W / 36.70778; -78.90333 (36.707722, −78.903388).[11] It is bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of Riverdale. U.S. Route 501 passes through the center of the town, leading north 5 miles (8 km) to Halifax, the county seat, and south 23 miles (37 km) to Roxboro, North Carolina. U.S. Route 360 crosses the southeast corner of the town limits, leading northeast 37 miles (60 km) to Keysville and west 31 miles (50 km) to Danville. U.S. Route 58 passes through the southernmost part of South Boston with US 360, leading west with it to Danville but running east 48 miles (77 km) to South Hill.

According to the United States Census Bureau, South Boston has a total area of 13.2 square miles (34.1 km2), of which 13.1 square miles (33.8 km2) are land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km2), or 0.74%, are water.[6] The Dan River, a tributary of the Roanoke River, flows to the east along the southern edge of the town.

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880328—
18901,789445.4%
19001,8513.5%
19103,51690.0%
19204,33823.4%
19304,84111.6%
19405,2528.5%
19506,05715.3%
19605,974−1.4%
19706,88915.3%
19807,0933.0%
19906,997−1.4%
20008,49121.4%
20108,142−4.1%
2019 (est.)7,588[2]−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 8,491 people, 3,502 households, and 2,185 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.7 people per square mile (268.3/km2). There were 3,946 housing units at an average density of 322.8 per square mile (124.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 50.63% White, 47.25% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.48% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 3,502 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,964, and the median income for a family was $34,848. Males had a median income of $28,212 versus $20,371 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,872. About 15.3% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 23.9% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Encyclopedia of Virginia: Cities of Virginia". South Boston, in Halifax County, was named for Boston, Massachusetts. The town was originally located on the south side of the Dan River and called Boyd's Ferry.
  6. ^ a b "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): South Boston town, Virginia". American Factfinder. U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved March 20, 2018.
  7. ^ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved February 28, 2019.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  9. ^ Heatwole, Anne-Ryan (July 21, 2010). "New Looks for the Old Belt". VirginiaLiving.com. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  10. ^ "The Tobacco Festival Unfiltered". ArcGIS StoryMaps. Retrieved January 9, 2021.
  11. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.

Further reading

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