Farmville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Farmville is a town in Prince Edward
and Cumberland
counties in the U.S. state
of Virginia
. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Prince Edward County
.
The Appomattox River
traverses Farmville, along with the High Bridge Trail State Park
, a more than thirty-mile long rail trail
park. At the intersection of US 15 VA 45 and US 460, Farmville is the home of Longwood University
and is the town nearest to Hampden-Sydney College
.
Farmville was the object of the Confederate Army's desperate push to get rations to feed its soldiers near the end of the American Civil War
. The rations had originally been destined for Danville
, but an alert quartermaster ordered the train back to Farmville. Despite an advance of the cavalry commanded by Fitzhugh Lee
, the Confederate Army was checked by the arrival of Union
cavalry commanded by Gen. Philip Sheridan
and two divisions of infantry. General Robert E. Lee
's Army of Northern Virginia
found itself soon surrounded. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House
on April 9, 1865.
, a case incorporated into Brown v. Board of Education
, the landmark case that overturned school segregation in the United States. Among the cases consolidated into the Brown decision, the Davis case was the only one involving student protests.
R.R. Moton High School
, an all-black school in Farmville named for Robert Russa Moton
, suffered from terrible conditions due to underfunding by white officials. The school did not have a gymnasium, cafeteria
, or teachers' restrooms. Teachers and students did not have desks or blackboards, and due to overcrowding, some students had to take classes in a school bus parked outside. The school's requests for additional funds were denied by the all-white school board. Students had protested against the poor conditions.
As a result of the Brown decision, in 1959 the Board of Supervisors for Prince Edward County refused to appropriate any funds for the County School Board; in massive resistance, it effectively closed all public schools rather than integrate them. Wealthy white students usually attended all-white private schools called segregation academies that formed in response. Black and poorer white students had to go to school elsewhere or forgo their education altogether. Prince Edward County's public schools remained closed for five years. When they finally reopened, the system was fully integrated.
The former R.R. Moton High School building became a community landmark. In 1998, it was named a National Historic Landmark
for its significance to the civil rights movement. It houses the Robert Russa Moton Museum
, a center for the study of civil rights
in education.
Prince Edward Academy was the longest-surviving of the segregation academies, still teaching students in the 1990s. Although technically integrated at that point, the school had few students of color. Prince Edward Academy was renamed the Fuqua School
in honor of J.B. Fuqua, a wealthy businessman who was raised nearby and who has endowed the school.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town covers a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²), of which, 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.99%) is water.
Farmville is located between Richmond and Lynchburg on U.S. Route 460
.
Write or email the Farmville Town Council members for more information.
after being the first fire department established in the county in 1870. FFD provides services to nearly 10,000 people in their first due, which comprises the entire town of Farmville, and into the immediately surrounding area of Prince Edward County, Buckingham County, and Cumberland County
.
Firefighting apparatus include 1250, 1000, 750 and 270-gallon engine/pump trucks, chief-use SUV, a support pick-up truck along with a hazmat
, decontamination, and spill/leak supply trailer. More information about the department can be found at www.farmvillefire.net .
and then is distributed into the Chesapeake Bay. Within Farmville there are several different areas which are a concern due to high amounts of heterotrophic bacteria and Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli, an enteric bacteria, has been classified into another group of bacteria called coliform bacteria. It is classified as coliform because it lives within the intestines of warm blooded animals. The strain of E. coli which is of most concern is the 0157 H7 strain because it can produce dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and in extreme cases even death. There are a couple of drains which are located within Farmville and its neighboring counties which are of concern, including Gross Creek, which usually exceeds the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Farmville's water and sewer services are publicly owned and operated by the Town of Farmville work crew. The town's water treatment plant draws its water supplies from the Appomattox River. Water from the river is treated to kill any waterborne pathogens. After that process all sedimentation is removed through a series of filtration tanks. The water plant sells a portion of this removed sedimentation to be mixed with topsoil and then to be made ready for farm use. The excess sedimentation is recycled back into Appomattox. The water plant can store 200,000 gals. of fresh water which can be transferred to Farmville’s water towers when needed. Currently Farmville averages 1 million gals. of water usage per day and its water plant is capable of producing up to 3 million gals. The water is used by the majority of the town and the Prince Edward schools, the only exception is citizen who choose to use a private water well.
The waste water plant covers a more extensive area which includes all resident of Farmville, Prince Edward schools, Hampden Sydney and north to the Cumberland County
Court area. The plant treats approximately 1.7 million gals. a day and is capable of handling 2.4 million gals. The Waste water undergoes an extensive treatment process based on parameters set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality before being released back into the Appomattox River downstream of Farmville. All residents of Farmville are required to use the public sewage line. The only exception is granted to residents who have been using a private septic system prior to being annexed to the town. Both the water plant and the water treatment plant undergo a consumer confidence test every spring and have never received any violations. Contamination levels in the town's waterways are currently being checked bimonthly to monitor the water quality of creeks and streams leaving Farmville. Tests are conducted to see if the town's water pipes are leaching any pollutants into the environment and to detect any other sources of contamination. The information from test results is available at the Virginia DEQ Website.
of 2000, there were 6,845 people, 2,050 households, and 1,074 families residing in the town. The population density
was 982.5 people per square mile (379.2/km²). There were 2,294 housing units at an average density of 329.3 per square mile (127.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.07% White, 25.68% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races
, and 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 2,050 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% were married couples
living together, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution, strongly influenced by the presence of Longwood University, is: 14.7% under the age of 18, 40.7% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 67.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 63.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,343, and the median income for a family was $33,000. Males had a median income of $30,974 versus $20,764 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,552. About 19.9% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
is a public school located in the heart of town with an enrollment of about 5,000. It is one of the oldest public institutions in the country, founded as a female seminary. Longwood is mainly known as a teachers school and was once called State Female Normal School
. This school is known as the mother of sororities: Sigma Sigma Sigma
, Alpha Sigma Alpha
, Zeta Tau Alpha
, and Kappa Delta
were founded here. Longwood University opened a new recreational complex, and in 2007 finished construction on a 36000 square feet (3,344.5 m²), four-story multi-use complex, with retail stores on the lower floor with dorms above. It is steadily expanding as a university.
Hampden-Sydney College
is the 10th oldest college in America, an all-male private school founded in 1776. Hampden-Sydney is located five miles (8 km) outside Farmville, VA and has an enrollment of 1,200 students.
and Richmond
. Many residents use Farmville as a “bedroom community” to take advantage of the low cost of living. Many Longwood alumni are staying in the community after growing up elsewhere. The population increase has affected outlying areas as well.
The historic downtown was upgraded with the addition of brick sidewalks and trees along Main Street. An eight-screen cinema has been completed east of downtown. Every Tuesday and Saturday mornings in the summer near the old train station a farmers' market
is open, where farmers sell their fresh goods.
In 2008 a new YMCA
was opened behind the recently built Lowe's
. It includes an indoor swimming pool, locker rooms, six large HD TVs overlooking a gym, a child care center, and athletic fields. Family locker rooms, a teen center and aerobics room are included.
Robert E. Lee
retreated through Farmville as he escaped the Union Army
in the Civil War. The town is crossed by the High Bridge Trail State Park
which extends the 4 miles (6.4 km) to the historical High Bridge
.
Services include the Farmville Police Department, Prince Edward County Sheriff's Office, and Longwood University Police Departments. The Virginia State Police also has a strong presence in the town of Farmville. Piedmont Regional Jail, serving a six-county area, is located in Farmville.
in Buckingham County, Virginia). The festival includes all the traditional fare and concludes with a fireworks
show at the Farmville airport.
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
and Cumberland
Cumberland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,017 people, 3,528 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 4,085 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
. The population was 6,845 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
.
The Appomattox River
Appomattox River
The Appomattox River is a tributary of the James River, approximately long, in central and eastern Virginia in the United States, named for the Appomattocs Indian tribe who lived along its lower banks in the 17th century...
traverses Farmville, along with the High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail State Park in Southside Virginia is a rail trail converted from a railway line last belonging to Norfolk Southern and having originated as a portion of the Southside Railroad....
, a more than thirty-mile long rail trail
Rail trail
A rail trail is the conversion of a disused railway easement into a multi-use path, typically for walking, cycling and sometimes horse riding. The characteristics of former tracks—flat, long, frequently running through historical areas—are appealing for various development. The term sometimes also...
park. At the intersection of US 15 VA 45 and US 460, Farmville is the home of Longwood University
Longwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
and is the town nearest to Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
.
Civil War history
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. The rations had originally been destined for Danville
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
, but an alert quartermaster ordered the train back to Farmville. Despite an advance of the cavalry commanded by Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee
Fitzhugh Lee , nephew of Robert E. Lee, was a Confederate cavalry general in the American Civil War, the 40th Governor of Virginia, diplomat, and United States Army general in the Spanish-American War.-Early life:...
, the Confederate Army was checked by the arrival of Union
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
cavalry commanded by Gen. Philip Sheridan
Philip Sheridan
Philip Henry Sheridan was a career United States Army officer and a Union general in the American Civil War. His career was noted for his rapid rise to major general and his close association with Lt. Gen. Ulysses S...
and two divisions of infantry. 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 Army of Northern Virginia
Army of Northern Virginia
The Army of Northern Virginia was the primary military force of the Confederate States of America in the Eastern Theater of the American Civil War, as well as the primary command structure of the Department of Northern Virginia. It was most often arrayed against the Union Army of the Potomac...
found itself soon surrounded. He surrendered at Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Courthouse is the current courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892. It is located in the middle of the state about three miles northwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, once known as Clover Hill - home of the original Old Appomattox Court House...
on April 9, 1865.
Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County
Farmville and Prince Edward County Public Schools were the source of Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward CountyDavis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County
Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County was one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, the famous case in which the U.S. Supreme Court, in 1954, officially overturned racial segregation in U.S. public schools...
, a case incorporated into Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education
Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, 347 U.S. 483 , was a landmark decision of the United States Supreme Court that declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students unconstitutional. The decision overturned the Plessy v. Ferguson decision of 1896 which...
, the landmark case that overturned school segregation in the United States. Among the cases consolidated into the Brown decision, the Davis case was the only one involving student protests.
R.R. Moton High School
R.R. Moton High School
R. R. Moton High School was built in 1939 by Prince Edward County for Negro children, in the colonial-revival style common to school buildings in that era. It replaced several smaller one-room schools scattered around the County....
, an all-black school in Farmville named for Robert Russa Moton
Robert Russa Moton
Robert Russa Moton was an African American educator and author. He served as an administrator at Hampton Institute and was named principal of Tuskegee Institute in 1915 after the death of Dr. Booker T. Washington, a position he held for 20 years until retirement in 1935.-Youth, education,...
, suffered from terrible conditions due to underfunding by white officials. The school did not have a gymnasium, cafeteria
Cafeteria
A cafeteria is a type of food service location in which there is little or no waiting staff table service, whether a restaurant or within an institution such as a large office building or school; a school dining location is also referred to as a dining hall or canteen...
, or teachers' restrooms. Teachers and students did not have desks or blackboards, and due to overcrowding, some students had to take classes in a school bus parked outside. The school's requests for additional funds were denied by the all-white school board. Students had protested against the poor conditions.
As a result of the Brown decision, in 1959 the Board of Supervisors for Prince Edward County refused to appropriate any funds for the County School Board; in massive resistance, it effectively closed all public schools rather than integrate them. Wealthy white students usually attended all-white private schools called segregation academies that formed in response. Black and poorer white students had to go to school elsewhere or forgo their education altogether. Prince Edward County's public schools remained closed for five years. When they finally reopened, the system was fully integrated.
The former R.R. Moton High School building became a community landmark. In 1998, it was named a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
for its significance to the civil rights movement. It houses the Robert Russa Moton Museum
Robert Russa Moton Museum
Robert Russa Moton Museum in the town of Farmville in Prince Edward County, Virginia is a museum which serves as a center for the study of civil rights in education.It is housed in the former R. R...
, a center for the study of civil rights
Civil rights
Civil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
in education.
Prince Edward Academy was the longest-surviving of the segregation academies, still teaching students in the 1990s. Although technically integrated at that point, the school had few students of color. Prince Edward Academy was renamed the Fuqua School
Fuqua School
Fuqua School is a private primary and secondary school located in Farmville, Virginia. It is named after J.B. Fuqua, who made a large contribution to the school in 1992 to save it from financial insolvency...
in honor of J.B. Fuqua, a wealthy businessman who was raised nearby and who has endowed the school.
Geography
Farmville is located at 37°17′52"N 78°23′45"W (37.297639, -78.395712).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 covers a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.2 km²), of which, 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (0.99%) is water.
Farmville is located between Richmond and Lynchburg on U.S. Route 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...
.
Town council
Council meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. The location is in the Council Chamber of the second floor of the Farmville Town Hall, on 116 North Main StreetWrite or email the Farmville Town Council members for more information.
Volunteer fire fighting
The Farmville Volunteer Fire Department is designated as Company 1 in Prince Edward CountyPrince Edward County, Virginia
Prince Edward County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 23,368. Its county seat is Farmville.-Formation and County Seats:...
after being the first fire department established in the county in 1870. FFD provides services to nearly 10,000 people in their first due, which comprises the entire town of Farmville, and into the immediately surrounding area of Prince Edward County, Buckingham County, and Cumberland County
Cumberland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 9,017 people, 3,528 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. The population density was 30 people per square mile . There were 4,085 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile...
.
Firefighting apparatus include 1250, 1000, 750 and 270-gallon engine/pump trucks, chief-use SUV, a support pick-up truck along with a hazmat
Hazmat
Hazmat, HazMat and similar terms can refer to:* Hazardous materials and items—see Dangerous goods** Hazchem—a system of hazardous chemical classification and firefighting modes** A hazmat suit is a type of protective clothing...
, decontamination, and spill/leak supply trailer. More information about the department can be found at www.farmvillefire.net .
Water quality
The town of Farmville, Virginia is located within the Piedmont Region and has many tributaries which filter into the Appamatox River. After the water is carried into the Appamatox River it drains into the James RiverJames River
The James River may refer to:Rivers in the United States and their namesakes* James River * James River , North Dakota, South Dakota* James River * James River * James River...
and then is distributed into the Chesapeake Bay. Within Farmville there are several different areas which are a concern due to high amounts of heterotrophic bacteria and Escherichia coli. Escherichia coli, an enteric bacteria, has been classified into another group of bacteria called coliform bacteria. It is classified as coliform because it lives within the intestines of warm blooded animals. The strain of E. coli which is of most concern is the 0157 H7 strain because it can produce dehydration, vomiting, diarrhea and in extreme cases even death. There are a couple of drains which are located within Farmville and its neighboring counties which are of concern, including Gross Creek, which usually exceeds the standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Farmville's water and sewer services are publicly owned and operated by the Town of Farmville work crew. The town's water treatment plant draws its water supplies from the Appomattox River. Water from the river is treated to kill any waterborne pathogens. After that process all sedimentation is removed through a series of filtration tanks. The water plant sells a portion of this removed sedimentation to be mixed with topsoil and then to be made ready for farm use. The excess sedimentation is recycled back into Appomattox. The water plant can store 200,000 gals. of fresh water which can be transferred to Farmville’s water towers when needed. Currently Farmville averages 1 million gals. of water usage per day and its water plant is capable of producing up to 3 million gals. The water is used by the majority of the town and the Prince Edward schools, the only exception is citizen who choose to use a private water well.
The waste water plant covers a more extensive area which includes all resident of Farmville, Prince Edward schools, Hampden Sydney and north to the Cumberland County
Cumberland County
Cumberland County may refer to:In Australia:* Cumberland County, New South Wales, the original county of the colony* the former name of Cumberland Land District, Tasmania, AustraliaIn England:...
Court area. The plant treats approximately 1.7 million gals. a day and is capable of handling 2.4 million gals. The Waste water undergoes an extensive treatment process based on parameters set by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality before being released back into the Appomattox River downstream of Farmville. All residents of Farmville are required to use the public sewage line. The only exception is granted to residents who have been using a private septic system prior to being annexed to the town. Both the water plant and the water treatment plant undergo a consumer confidence test every spring and have never received any violations. Contamination levels in the town's waterways are currently being checked bimonthly to monitor the water quality of creeks and streams leaving Farmville. Tests are conducted to see if the town's water pipes are leaching any pollutants into the environment and to detect any other sources of contamination. The information from test results is available at the Virginia DEQ Website.
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 6,845 people, 2,050 households, and 1,074 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 982.5 people per square mile (379.2/km²). There were 2,294 housing units at an average density of 329.3 per square mile (127.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.07% White, 25.68% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.05% Asian, 0.26% Pacific Islander, 0.48% 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 1.24% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.26% of the population.
There were 2,050 households out of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 32.5% 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, 17.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution, strongly influenced by the presence of Longwood University, is: 14.7% under the age of 18, 40.7% from 18 to 24, 16.5% from 25 to 44, 13.6% from 45 to 64, and 14.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females there were 67.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 63.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,343, and the median income for a family was $33,000. Males had a median income of $30,974 versus $20,764 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 $13,552. About 19.9% of families and 22.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.
College and university
Longwood UniversityLongwood University
Longwood University is a four-year public, liberal-arts university located in Farmville, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1839 and became a university on July 1, 2002...
is a public school located in the heart of town with an enrollment of about 5,000. It is one of the oldest public institutions in the country, founded as a female seminary. Longwood is mainly known as a teachers school and was once called State Female Normal School
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
. This school is known as the mother of sororities: Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma
Sigma Sigma Sigma , also known as Tri Sigma, is a national American women’s sorority with membership of more than 100,000 members. Sigma Sigma Sigma is a member of the National Panhellenic Conference and hosts chapters on more than 110 college campuses and 89 alumnae chapters in communities all...
, Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha
Alpha Sigma Alpha is a US national sorority founded on November 15, 1901 at the Virginia State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia...
, Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha
Zeta Tau Alpha is a women's fraternity, founded October 15, 1898 at the State Female Normal School in Farmville, Virginia. The Executive office is located in Indianapolis, Indiana...
, and Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta
Kappa Delta was the first sorority founded at the State Female Normal School , in Farmville, Virginia. It is one of the "Farmville Four" sororities founded at the university...
were founded here. Longwood University opened a new recreational complex, and in 2007 finished construction on a 36000 square feet (3,344.5 m²), four-story multi-use complex, with retail stores on the lower floor with dorms above. It is steadily expanding as a university.
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
is the 10th oldest college in America, an all-male private school founded in 1776. Hampden-Sydney is located five miles (8 km) outside Farmville, VA and has an enrollment of 1,200 students.
Today
Farmville is a growing community mainly because of the rise in statewide and national prominence of LynchburgLynchburg, 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...
and Richmond
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Many residents use Farmville as a “bedroom community” to take advantage of the low cost of living. Many Longwood alumni are staying in the community after growing up elsewhere. The population increase has affected outlying areas as well.
The historic downtown was upgraded with the addition of brick sidewalks and trees along Main Street. An eight-screen cinema has been completed east of downtown. Every Tuesday and Saturday mornings in the summer near the old train station a farmers' market
Farmers' market
A farmers' market consists of individual vendors—mostly farmers—who set up booths, tables or stands, outdoors or indoors, to sell produce, meat products, fruits and sometimes prepared foods and beverages...
is open, where farmers sell their fresh goods.
In 2008 a new YMCA
YMCA
The Young Men's Christian Association is a worldwide organization of more than 45 million members from 125 national federations affiliated through the World Alliance of YMCAs...
was opened behind the recently built Lowe's
Lowe's
Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a U.S.-based chain of retail home improvement and appliance stores. Founded in 1946 in North Wilkesboro, North Carolina, the chain now serves more than 14 million customers a week in its 1,710 stores in the United States and 20 in Canada. Expansion into Canada began in...
. It includes an indoor swimming pool, locker rooms, six large HD TVs overlooking a gym, a child care center, and athletic fields. Family locker rooms, a teen center and aerobics room are included.
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....
retreated through Farmville as he escaped the Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
in the Civil War. The town is crossed by the High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail State Park
High Bridge Trail State Park in Southside Virginia is a rail trail converted from a railway line last belonging to Norfolk Southern and having originated as a portion of the Southside Railroad....
which extends the 4 miles (6.4 km) to the historical High Bridge
High Bridge (Appomattox River)
High Bridge is a historic former railroad bridge across the Appomattox River valley about east, or downstream, of the town of Farmville in Prince Edward County, Virginia...
.
Services include the Farmville Police Department, Prince Edward County Sheriff's Office, and Longwood University Police Departments. The Virginia State Police also has a strong presence in the town of Farmville. Piedmont Regional Jail, serving a six-county area, is located in Farmville.
Library
In April 2010, the Farmville-Prince Edward branch of the Central Virginia Regional Library relocated to a new and much larger facility. The library's catalog is now available online.Heart of Virginia Festival
The Heart of Virginia Festival happens in Farmville the first weekend in May and has grown every year since it was established in 1978. It is called the Heart of Virginia because Farmville sits south of the geographic center of the state (intersection of Route 24 and 60 outside of Dillwyn, VirginiaDillwyn, Virginia
Dillwyn is an incorporated town in Buckingham County, Virginia, in the United States. The population was 447 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Dillwyn is located at ....
in Buckingham County, Virginia). The festival includes all the traditional fare and concludes with a fireworks
Fireworks
Fireworks are a class of explosive pyrotechnic devices used for aesthetic and entertainment purposes. The most common use of a firework is as part of a fireworks display. A fireworks event is a display of the effects produced by firework devices...
show at the Farmville airport.
First Fridays
First Fridays, held on the first Friday of every month from May to September, feature bands and family events on the banks of the Appomattox River at the edge of the town limits.Recreational activities
Recreational activities are available for youth, adults, and older citizens in Farmville. William Bailey is currently the recreational director, whom has held his position for a year. If anyone would like further information about the new and upcoming activities and schedules, go to farmvilleva.com and search under the recreation link.Notable residents
- Maj. Walter ReedWalter ReedMajor Walter Reed, M.D., was a U.S. Army physician who in 1900 led the team that postulated and confirmed the theory that yellow fever is transmitted by a particular mosquito species, rather than by direct contact...
, M.D., U.S. Army physician - Rapper Lady of RageLady of RageRobin Yvette Allen , better known by her stage name The Lady of Rage, is an American rapper and actress best known for collaborations with several Death Row Records artists, including Dr. Dre and Snoop Doggy Dogg on the seminal albums The Chronic and Doggystyle...
was born in Farmville. - J.B. Fuqua (June 16, 1918–April 5, 2006), a businessman, philanthropist and chairman of The Fuqua Companies and Fuqua Enterprises was born in Prince Edward County (Prospect); he resided the majority of his life in Atlanta, GA.
- LTG Samuel V. WilsonSamuel V. WilsonLieutenant General Samuel Vaughan Wilson , aka "General Sam", completed his active military career in the fall of 1977, having divided his service almost equally between special operations and intelligence assignments...
, former Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency and President Emeritus of Hampden-Sydney College. Credited for helping to create Delta ForceDelta Force1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta is one of the United States' secretive Tier One counter-terrorism and Special Mission Units. Commonly known as Delta Force, Delta, or The Unit, it was formed under the designation 1st SFOD-D, and is officially referred to by the Department of Defense...
. - LTG William G. BoykinWilliam G. BoykinLieutenant General William G. Boykin was the United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence. He has played a role in almost every recent major American military operation, serving in Grenada, Somalia, and Iraq. He is currently an author and teaches at Hampden-Sydney College,...
, former United States Deputy Undersecretary of Defense. - Chris AshworthChris AshworthChristopher Michael Ashworth , better known as simply Chris Ashworth, is an American actor, perhaps best known for his portrayal of Sergei Malatov on The Wire...
, actor - Vince GilliganVince GilliganVince Gilligan is an American writer, director and producer. He is the creator of the highly acclaimed television series Breaking Bad. Gilligan has also worked on the hit series The X-Files and The Lone Gunmen. He is a graduate of the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University...
, writer for The X-FilesThe X-FilesThe X-Files is an American science fiction television series and a part of The X-Files franchise, created by screenwriter Chris Carter. The program originally aired from to . The show was a hit for the Fox network, and its characters and slogans became popular culture touchstones in the 1990s...
and creator and writer of Breaking BadBreaking BadBreaking Bad is an American television drama series created and produced by Vince Gilligan. Set and produced in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Breaking Bad is the story of Walter White , a struggling high school chemistry teacher who is diagnosed with advanced lung cancer at the beginning of the series... - Cullen Johnson, Miss Virginia (1994) and Miss America runner-up
- Confederate General Joseph E. JohnstonJoseph E. JohnstonJoseph Eggleston Johnston was a career U.S. Army officer, serving with distinction in the Mexican-American War and Seminole Wars, and was also one of the most senior general officers in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
- James B. HughesJames B. Hughes-Early life and education:James was born October 12, 1805 in Prince Edward County, Virginia to Simon Hughes and Betsy Colman Bigger. He was raised just outside Farmville near Hampden-Sydney...
, Publisher, Abolitionist, Congressman
Longwood University students
- Jerome KerseyJerome KerseyJerome Kersey is a retired American professional basketball player in the National Basketball Association for a number of teams, but most notably for the Portland Trail Blazers. He also has served in various coaching roles in the NBA. Kersey is currently a resident of Happy Valley, Oregon in...
(2006), former basketball player (Drafted in the second round in 1984 by the Portland Trail Blazers, but did not finish degree until 2006). - Michael TuckerMichael Tucker (baseball player)Michael Anthony Tucker is a 1st Baseman for the independent Southern Maryland Blue Crabs organization. Tucker played with the Kansas City Royals , Atlanta Braves , Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , San Francisco Giants , Philadelphia Phillies , and New York Mets . He batted left-handed and threw...
(1993), former baseball player - Jason MrazJason MrazJason Thomas Mraz , also known as Mr. AZ and Mr. Raz, is an American singer-songwriter. Mraz released his debut album, Waiting for My Rocket to Come, which contained the hit single "The Remedy ", in 2002, but it was not until the release of his second album, "Mr. A-Z", in 2005, that Mraz achieved...
, Solo music artist - Pat McGeePat McGee (musician)Pat McGee is a singer, songwriter, and guitarist from Annandale, Virginia, and is a founding member and frontman of the Pat McGee Band.-Biography:...
, Lead singer of the Pat McGee BandPat McGee BandThe Pat McGee Band is a rock band from Richmond, Virginia. Formed by frontman Pat McGee, who attended Longwood University in Farmville, VA. On the heels of his solo release From the Wood in 1995, the Pat McGee Band signed with Warner Bros. Records subsidiary Giant Records in 1999...
External links
- Farmville Shopping and Business Directory -- FarmvilleDirectory.com
- Town of Farmville municipal website -- FarmvilleVA.com
- http://www.piedmontregionaljail.org
- http://farmvillelibrary.com/
- http://www.farmvilleherald.com