Burkeville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Burkeville is a town in Nottoway County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 489 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is disputed. The town is located on the crossroads of U.S. Routes 360
and 460
.
Burkeville has a stone quarry, and the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
. There is also a camp retreat for the blind.
The last Civil War battle before the surrender at Appomattox was fought nearby at Sayler's Creek
on April 6, 1865. Here were surrendered more men (without terms) than in any other battle on American soil. General Robert E. Lee
's depleted forces lost over 7,000 men killed, wounded, or taken prisoner at either Sayler's Creek or at General Gordon's engagement the same day, a few miles west. This led Lee to surrender at Appomattox
three days later.
Miss Ella Agnew in 1910 in Burkeville, was appointed the first State Agent for women by the United States
Department of Agriculture and was the first woman to be appointed by the Department to represent it in the field.
Polk Miller
, renowned old time banjo-player, story-teller, veterinarian, and Confederate veteran; was born on a plantation just west of Burkeville in 1844. Though he moved to Richmond shortly before the Civil War, he paid homage to his Southside roots through his music and story-telling, in which he engaged himself professionally in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sharing a stage on occasion with Mark Twain
, and becoming the first known artist to record music with a mixed-race ensemble.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.99% is water.
Prince Edward-Goodwin Lake State Park is to the west.
of 2000, there were 489 people, 206 households, and 134 families residing in the town. The population density
was 486.3 people per square mile (186.9/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 246.6 per square mile (94.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.78% White, 34.76% African American, 1.02% from other races
, and 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 206 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples
living together, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,821, and the median income for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $23,542 versus $21,442 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,947. About 7.8% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.
Nottoway County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,725 people, 5,664 households, and 3,885 families residing in the county. The population density was 50 people per square mile . There were 6,373 housing units at an average density of 20 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 489 at the 2000 census. The source of the town name is disputed. The town is located on the crossroads of U.S. Routes 360
U.S. Route 360
U.S. Route 360 is a spur of US 60 in the U.S. state of Virginia. The U.S. Highway runs from US 58 Business, Virginia State Route 293, and SR 360 in Danville east to SR 644 in Reedville. US 360 connects Danville, South Boston, and Keysville in Southside Virginia with the state capital of...
and 460
U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460 is a spur of U.S. Route 60. It currently runs for 655 miles from Norfolk, Virginia at U.S. Route 60 at Ocean View to Frankfort, Kentucky at U.S. Route 60. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky...
.
Burkeville has a stone quarry, and the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
Piedmont Geriatric Hospital
Piedmont Geriatric Hospital is a geriatric hospital located in the state of Virginia, USA. It is Virginia's only state facility solely dedicated to the evaluation and treatment of persons over the age of 65 . The 123-bed geriatric hospital is located in Burkeville on the 300 acre site of the...
. There is also a camp retreat for the blind.
History
The town was named either for a tavern or a Samuel Burke. It was formerly "Burke's Junction."The last Civil War battle before the surrender at Appomattox was fought nearby at Sayler's Creek
Battle of Sayler's Creek
-External links:* * : Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news...
on April 6, 1865. Here were surrendered more men (without terms) than in any other battle on American soil. General Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
's depleted forces lost over 7,000 men killed, wounded, or taken prisoner at either Sayler's Creek or at General Gordon's engagement the same day, a few miles west. This led Lee to surrender at Appomattox
Appomattox
Appomattox may refer to:*Appomattox, Virginia, a town*Appomattox County, Virginia* Appomattox Basin, a name for the Tri-Cities, Virginia region*Appomattox Court House, a court house in Virginia...
three days later.
Miss Ella Agnew in 1910 in Burkeville, was appointed the first State Agent for women by the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Department of Agriculture and was the first woman to be appointed by the Department to represent it in the field.
Polk Miller
Polk Miller
Polk Miller was a pharmacist and musician from Richmond and Bon Air, Virginia.-Early life, Civil War, druggist:Polk Miller was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia in August, 1844. While growing up, he learned to play the banjo from slaves on his father's plantation. He became a druggist in...
, renowned old time banjo-player, story-teller, veterinarian, and Confederate veteran; was born on a plantation just west of Burkeville in 1844. Though he moved to Richmond shortly before the Civil War, he paid homage to his Southside roots through his music and story-telling, in which he engaged himself professionally in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, sharing a stage on occasion with Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
, and becoming the first known artist to record music with a mixed-race ensemble.
Geography
Burkeville is located at 37°11′14"N 78°12′6"W (37.187131, -78.201702).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 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), of which, 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²) of it is land and 0.99% is water.
Prince Edward-Goodwin Lake State Park is to the west.
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 489 people, 206 households, and 134 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 486.3 people per square mile (186.9/km²). There were 248 housing units at an average density of 246.6 per square mile (94.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 62.78% White, 34.76% African American, 1.02% 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 1.43% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.43% of the population.
There were 206 households out of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% 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, 18.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 30.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.3% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 25.2% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 18.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $29,821, and the median income for a family was $39,688. Males had a median income of $23,542 versus $21,442 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 $15,947. About 7.8% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 8.7% of those age 65 or over.