Brookneal, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Brookneal is an incorporated town
in Campbell County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 1,259 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
. It was named after John Brooke and his wife, Sarah (née Neal) Brooke, who established a tobacco warehouse which became known as "Brooke's Warehouse" which was located near the boat landing and ferry crossing on the Staunton River.
The "Town of Brookneal" in Campbell County, Virginia
was incorporated and a charter issued in 1908. Later to become the smallest incorporated town
in the Central Virginia Region, Brookneal was established as it served as the closest center of commerce for portions of Campbell, Charlotte
, and Halifax counties. As transportation modes developed, Brookneal's location offered proximity to waterways, roads and railroads.
From the earliest days of settlement of the area by Europeans in the Colony of Virginia, the American Revolutionary War
era, and extending through most of the first half of the 19th century in Virginia, roads were primitive and poorly maintained, and waterways were a major transportation resource for commerce. Upstream from the fall line
marking the western reaches of the coastal plain of Virginia
(and adjacent areas of North Carolina
), canals and other improvements aided navigation by batteaux and other watercraft before railroads supplanted river transportation in the Piedmont region located east of the Mountains. Just south of Brookneal lies the Roanoke River
(also known as the Staunton River), which flows east to its mouth at Plymouth, North Carolina
and the Atlantic Ocean via the sound
s in eastern North Carolina. Through the efforts of the Roanoke Navigation Company, established with the assistance of both states in 1815, passage was possible from as far west as Salem
in Roanoke County
. By 1828, it was noted that boats were traversing 124 miles of "tolerable good and safe navigation" of the Roanoke River between Brookneal and Salem.
An early advocate of the waterway was Patrick Henry
, the first Governor of Virginia
after statehood. His Red Hill Plantation was located near Brookneal in rural Charlotte County. (The plantation is now a museum known as the Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial
). A ferry was established on the Staunton River to connect Red Hill (in Charlotte County) with Campbell County and Halifax County.
By the 1850s, the new technology of railroads was rapidly overtaking the canal systems in many areas, and providing access to additional places. In 1887 the construction of the Lynchburg and Durham Railroad began at Lynchburg, passing south through Brookneal. Just south of town, the railroad crossed the Staunton River into Halifax County. It was completed in 1892, and almost immediately, was leased to the Norfolk and Western Railway
, and merged into it in 1896. In 1904, the Tidewater Railway
was formed by industrialist financier Henry Huttleston Rogers
to provide a pathway for the shipment of bituminous coal
from southern West Virginia
to coal pier
s on the ice-free harbor of Hampton Roads
. Planned by Campbell County native William Nelson Page
, the right-of-way selected for favorable grades passed along the north bank of the river, crossing the L&D. In 1907, the Tidewater Railway was combined with the Deepwater Railway
(initially a West Virginia
short line railroad) to form the new Virginian Railway
. By 1908, construction was nearing completion, and the new line officially began service on July 1, 1909. (In 1959, the Virginia Railway was merged with the Norfolk and Western. Each later became part of the modern Norfolk Southern system in the early 1980s).
The town of Brookneal suffered a series of disasters in 1912, culminating in a fire that destroyed much of the town; however, the citizens rebuilt and recovered, and substantial brick houses replaced many of the old wooden structures. Soon, the small town resumed its growth.
Served for many years by passenger trains and freight service on both railroad lines, and later by U.S. Highway 501 and State Route 40, Brookneal developed a diverse economy with manufacturing, agriculture, service firms and retail offerings. The proximity to the river enhanced its recreational opportunities for residents and visitors as well.
Today, Brookneal is experiencing a time of economic downturn due largely to the dissolution of the Virginia Tobacco Co-Op which made tobacco warehouses defunct, and the decline of the American textile industry which resulted in the closing of the Dan River mill in Brookneal. The Dan River textile mill employed nearly 400 workers. Many Brookneal residents have been forced to relocate in order to secure gainful employment.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.31%) is water.
of 2000, there were 1,259 people, 509 households, and 325 families residing in the town. The population density
was 360.0 people per square mile (138.9/km²). There were 580 housing units at an average density of 165.8 per square mile (64.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 63.78% White, 34.71% African American, 0.56% from other races
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
There were 509 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples
living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,938, and the median income for a family was $35,592. Males had a median income of $26,800 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,164. About 15.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Federally, Brookneal is part of Virginia's 5th congressional district
, represented by Republican Robert Hurt
, elected in 2010 by defeating incumbent Tom Perriello.
The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Jim Webb
, elected in 2006, who announced his intention to retire and not to run in the 2012 race for his Senate seat. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Mark Warner
, elected in 2008. The Governor of Virginia is Republican Bob McDonnell
, elected in 2009.
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in Campbell County
Campbell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,078 people, 20,639 households, and 14,694 families residing in the county. The population density was 101 people per square mile . There were 22,088 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,259 as of the 2000 census. It is part of the Lynchburg
Lynchburg, Virginia
Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 75,568 as of 2010. 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" or "The Hill City." Lynchburg was the only major city in...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
On January 14, 1802, "Brooke Neal" was established the Commonwealth of Virginia in Chapter 65 of the Acts of AssemblyVirginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
. It was named after John Brooke and his wife, Sarah (née Neal) Brooke, who established a tobacco warehouse which became known as "Brooke's Warehouse" which was located near the boat landing and ferry crossing on the Staunton River.
The "Town of Brookneal" in Campbell County, Virginia
Campbell County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 51,078 people, 20,639 households, and 14,694 families residing in the county. The population density was 101 people per square mile . There were 22,088 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile...
was incorporated and a charter issued in 1908. Later to become the smallest incorporated town
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in the Central Virginia Region, Brookneal was established as it served as the closest center of commerce for portions of Campbell, Charlotte
Charlotte County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,472 people, 4,951 households, and 3,435 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile . There were 5,734 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, and Halifax counties. As transportation modes developed, Brookneal's location offered proximity to waterways, roads and railroads.
From the earliest days of settlement of the area by Europeans in the Colony of Virginia, the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
era, and extending through most of the first half of the 19th century in Virginia, roads were primitive and poorly maintained, and waterways were a major transportation resource for commerce. Upstream from the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
marking the western reaches of the coastal plain of Virginia
Tidewater region of Virginia
The Tidewater region of Virginia is the eastern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia formally known as Hampton Roads. The term tidewater may be correctly applied to all portions of any area, including Virginia, where the water level is affected by the tides...
(and adjacent areas of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
), canals and other improvements aided navigation by batteaux and other watercraft before railroads supplanted river transportation in the Piedmont region located east of the Mountains. Just south of Brookneal lies the Roanoke River
Roanoke River
The Roanoke River is a river in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina in the United States, 410 mi long. A major river of the southeastern United States, it drains a largely rural area of the coastal plain from the eastern edge of the Appalachian Mountains southeast across the Piedmont...
(also known as the Staunton River), which flows east to its mouth at Plymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth, North Carolina
Plymouth is the largest town in Washington County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 4,107 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Washington County...
and the Atlantic Ocean via the sound
Sound
Sound is a mechanical wave that is an oscillation of pressure transmitted through a solid, liquid, or gas, composed of frequencies within the range of hearing and of a level sufficiently strong to be heard, or the sensation stimulated in organs of hearing by such vibrations.-Propagation of...
s in eastern North Carolina. Through the efforts of the Roanoke Navigation Company, established with the assistance of both states in 1815, passage was possible from as far west as Salem
Salem, Virginia
Salem is an independent city in Virginia, USA, bordered by the city of Roanoke to the east but otherwise adjacent to Roanoke County. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 24,802 according to 2010 U.S. Census...
in Roanoke County
Roanoke County, Virginia
Roanoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area and located within the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 85,778. As of 2010, the population was 92,376...
. By 1828, it was noted that boats were traversing 124 miles of "tolerable good and safe navigation" of the Roanoke River between Brookneal and Salem.
An early advocate of the waterway was Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry
Patrick Henry was an orator and politician who led the movement for independence in Virginia in the 1770s. A Founding Father, he served as the first and sixth post-colonial Governor of Virginia from 1776 to 1779 and subsequently, from 1784 to 1786...
, the first Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
after statehood. His Red Hill Plantation was located near Brookneal in rural Charlotte County. (The plantation is now a museum known as the Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial
Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial
Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial in Charlotte County, Virginia near the Town of Brookneal, honors Patrick Henry, the fiery legislator and orator of the American Revolution...
). A ferry was established on the Staunton River to connect Red Hill (in Charlotte County) with Campbell County and Halifax County.
By the 1850s, the new technology of railroads was rapidly overtaking the canal systems in many areas, and providing access to additional places. In 1887 the construction of the Lynchburg and Durham Railroad began at Lynchburg, passing south through Brookneal. Just south of town, the railroad crossed the Staunton River into Halifax County. It was completed in 1892, and almost immediately, was leased to the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
, and merged into it in 1896. In 1904, the Tidewater Railway
Tidewater Railway
The Tidewater Railway was formed in 1904 as an intrastate railroad in Virginia, in the United States, by William N. Page, a civil engineer and entrepreneur, and his silent partner, millionaire industrialist Henry Huttleston Rogers of Standard Oil fame...
was formed by industrialist financier Henry Huttleston Rogers
Henry H. Rogers
Henry Huttleston Rogers was a United States capitalist, businessman, industrialist, financier, and philanthropist. He made his fortune in the oil refinery business, becoming a leader at Standard Oil....
to provide a pathway for the shipment of bituminous coal
Bituminous coal
Bituminous coal or black coal is a relatively soft coal containing a tarlike substance called bitumen. It is of higher quality than lignite coal but of poorer quality than Anthracite...
from southern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
to coal pier
Coal pier
A coal pier is a transloading facility designed for the transfer of coal between rail and ship.The typical facility for loading ships consists of a holding area and a system of conveyors for transferring the coal to dockside and loading it into the ship's cargo holds...
s on the ice-free harbor of Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
. Planned by Campbell County native William Nelson Page
William N. Page
William Nelson Page was an American civil engineer, entrepreneur, industrialist and capitalist. He was active in the Virginias following the U.S. Civil War...
, the right-of-way selected for favorable grades passed along the north bank of the river, crossing the L&D. In 1907, the Tidewater Railway was combined with the Deepwater Railway
Deepwater Railway
The Deepwater Railway was an intrastate short line railroad located in West Virginia in the United States which operated from 1898 to 1907.William N. Page, a civil engineer and entrepreneur, had begun a small logging railroad in Fayette County in 1896, sometimes called the Loup Creek and Deepwater...
(initially a West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
short line railroad) to form the new Virginian Railway
Virginian Railway
The Virginian Railway was a Class I railroad located in Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The VGN was created to transport high quality "smokeless" bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to port at Hampton Roads....
. By 1908, construction was nearing completion, and the new line officially began service on July 1, 1909. (In 1959, the Virginia Railway was merged with the Norfolk and Western. Each later became part of the modern Norfolk Southern system in the early 1980s).
The town of Brookneal suffered a series of disasters in 1912, culminating in a fire that destroyed much of the town; however, the citizens rebuilt and recovered, and substantial brick houses replaced many of the old wooden structures. Soon, the small town resumed its growth.
Served for many years by passenger trains and freight service on both railroad lines, and later by U.S. Highway 501 and State Route 40, Brookneal developed a diverse economy with manufacturing, agriculture, service firms and retail offerings. The proximity to the river enhanced its recreational opportunities for residents and visitors as well.
Today, Brookneal is experiencing a time of economic downturn due largely to the dissolution of the Virginia Tobacco Co-Op which made tobacco warehouses defunct, and the decline of the American textile industry which resulted in the closing of the Dan River mill in Brookneal. The Dan River textile mill employed nearly 400 workers. Many Brookneal residents have been forced to relocate in order to secure gainful employment.
Geography
Brookneal is located at 37°3′7"N 78°56′42"W (37.052001, -78.944958).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km²), of which, 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.3 km²) of it (3.31%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,259 people, 509 households, and 325 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 360.0 people per square mile (138.9/km²). There were 580 housing units at an average density of 165.8 per square mile (64.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 63.78% White, 34.71% African American, 0.56% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.
There were 509 households out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,938, and the median income for a family was $35,592. Males had a median income of $26,800 versus $20,089 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $14,164. About 15.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.
Federally, Brookneal is part of Virginia's 5th congressional district
Virginia's 5th congressional district
Virginia's fifth congressional district is a United States congressional district in the commonwealth of Virginia. It covers all or part of Greene, Campbell, Bedford, Albermarle, Nelson, Fluvanna, Buckingham, Cumberland, Appomattox, Prince Edward, Charlotte, Lunenburg, Franklin, Henry,...
, represented by Republican Robert Hurt
Robert Hurt (Virginia politician)
Robert Hurt is the U.S. Representative for , serving since January 2011. He is a member of the Republican Party. The district stretches from Charlottesville to Southside and west to Bedford and Franklin counties. Prior to joining Congress, Hurt was a state senator and delegate, councilman and...
, elected in 2010 by defeating incumbent Tom Perriello.
The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Jim Webb
Jim Webb
James Henry "Jim" Webb, Jr. is the senior United States Senator from Virginia. He is also an author and a former Secretary of the Navy. He is a member of the Democratic Party....
, elected in 2006, who announced his intention to retire and not to run in the 2012 race for his Senate seat. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Mark Warner
Mark Warner
Mark Robert Warner is an American politician and businessman, currently serving in the United States Senate as the junior senator from the Commonwealth of Virginia. He is a member of the Democratic Party. Warner was the 69th governor of Virginia from 2002 to 2006 and is the honorary chairman of...
, elected in 2008. The Governor of Virginia is Republican Bob McDonnell
Bob McDonnell
Robert Francis "Bob" McDonnell is an American politician who has been the 71st Governor of Virginia since January 2010. A former lieutenant colonel in the United States Army, McDonnell served in the Virginia House of Delegates from 1993 to 2006 and served as Attorney General of Virginia from 2006...
, elected in 2009.