South Boston, Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = South Boston, Virginia
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
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image_

mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of South Boston, Virginia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = Virginia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Halifax

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
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established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 31.8
area_land_km2 = 31.7
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 12.3
area_land_sq_mi = 12.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 8491
population_density_km2 = 268.2
population_density_sq_mi = 694.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 131
elevation_ft = 430
latd = 36 |latm = 42 |lats = 28 |latNS = N
longd = 78 |longm = 54 |longs = 12 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 24592
area_code = 434
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 51-73712GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1501641GR|3
website =
footnotes =

South Boston is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States. The population was 8,491 at the 2000 census. NASCAR drivers Ward Burton and Jeff Burton are from South Boston and prepared for their racing career at South Boston Speedway. Baseball player Michael Tucker is also from the area. Former professional football players Tyrone Davis, Ferrell Edmunds, Earl Ferrell, Barry Word, and Donald Testaman are also from the South Boston area. In 2002 a former local tobacco warehouse was transformed into the Prizery, a regional visual and performing arts center.

History

On December 8, 1796, the 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 by court order. South Boston became a town again and rejoined Halifax County on June 30, 1995.

Geography

South Boston is located at coor dms|36|42|28|N|78|54|12|W|city (36.707722, -78.903388)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 12.3 square miles (31.8 km²), of which, 12.2 square miles (31.6 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.41%) is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 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/sq mi (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 well-distributed 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.

See also

*Lost counties, cities and towns of Virginia
*Founders College

References

* [http://www.census.gov/geo/www/tiger/ctychng.html County status and boundary changes] United States Census Bureau

External links

* [http://www.gohalifaxva.com Welcome to South Boston & Halifax County]
* [http://www.southboston.com South Boston.com]
* [http://www.gohalifaxva.com/index.php/History.html History of Halifax County & South Boston]
* [http://www.footnote.com/browse.php#6702649 Town records 1905-1999] online at Footnote.com