Blackstone, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Blackstone is a town in Nottoway County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 3,675 at the 2000 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.44%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,675 people, 1,430 households, and 886 families residing in the town. The population density
was 811.8 people per square mile (313.2/km²). There were 1,581 housing units at an average density of 349.2 per square mile (134.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.23% White, 46.39% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 1.88% from other races
, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 1,430 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% were married couples
living together, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,566, and the median income for a family was $41,520. Males had a median income of $26,419 versus $17,905 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $15,562. About 20.2% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.5% of those under age 18 and 31.7% of those age 65 or over.
was established by the U.S. Army in 1941 and was a very large training center during World War II. It was closed by the BRAC Commission in the 1990s and is now the headquarters for the Virginia National Guard. The 2-year Blackstone Female Institute / Blackstone College for Girls also operated in Blackstone for many years. The buildings and grounds are now owned by the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, which uses it as the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center (VUMAC), drawing 19,000 visitors a year, with $9 million in renovations planned. The Blackstone shopping district (including a Wal-Mart
, medical center, and livestock market) attracts customers from a large 3-county rural area. The town recently received a Main Street designation from the state, and a $1 million downtown revitalization project started in 2008. In 2009 the town opened the $4 million James Harris medical center. The Town of Blackstone also has regional bus terminal that serves 11 counties. The oldest building in town is Schwartz Tavern, built in stages from 1790 to 1840, now used as a museum. From November to January, a local hardware store displays a giant 52 by 16 foot (17 by 5 meter) model railroad layout with hundreds of figurines. The Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, containing 24 restored, antique carriages, sleighs, and buggies, was also opened in 2007.
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 3,675 at the 2000 census.
Geography
Blackstone is located at 37°4′36"N 78°0′5"W (37.076661, -78.001302).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 4.6 square miles (11.8 km²), of which, 4.5 square miles (11.7 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.44%) 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 3,675 people, 1,430 households, and 886 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 811.8 people per square mile (313.2/km²). There were 1,581 housing units at an average density of 349.2 per square mile (134.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 50.23% White, 46.39% African American, 0.03% Native American, 0.71% Asian, 1.88% 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 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.39% of the population.
There were 1,430 households out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.7% 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, 18.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.0% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 3.06.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.3% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 21.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 81.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $27,566, and the median income for a family was $41,520. Males had a median income of $26,419 versus $17,905 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 $15,562. About 20.2% of families and 26.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.5% of those under age 18 and 31.7% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure and attractions
Nearby Fort PickettFort Pickett
Fort Pickett, Virginia, is a Virginia Army National Guard installation, located near the town of Blackstone, Virginia. It is named for the United States Army officer and Confederate General George Pickett.- Beginnings :...
was established by the U.S. Army in 1941 and was a very large training center during World War II. It was closed by the BRAC Commission in the 1990s and is now the headquarters for the Virginia National Guard. The 2-year Blackstone Female Institute / Blackstone College for Girls also operated in Blackstone for many years. The buildings and grounds are now owned by the Virginia Conference of the United Methodist Church, which uses it as the Virginia United Methodist Assembly Center (VUMAC), drawing 19,000 visitors a year, with $9 million in renovations planned. The Blackstone shopping district (including a Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
, medical center, and livestock market) attracts customers from a large 3-county rural area. The town recently received a Main Street designation from the state, and a $1 million downtown revitalization project started in 2008. In 2009 the town opened the $4 million James Harris medical center. The Town of Blackstone also has regional bus terminal that serves 11 counties. The oldest building in town is Schwartz Tavern, built in stages from 1790 to 1840, now used as a museum. From November to January, a local hardware store displays a giant 52 by 16 foot (17 by 5 meter) model railroad layout with hundreds of figurines. The Robert Thomas Carriage Museum, containing 24 restored, antique carriages, sleighs, and buggies, was also opened in 2007.
Notable residents
- Bishop James Cannon, Jr., first President of Blackstone College, achieved fame as the leading prohibitionProhibitionProhibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
advocate in the nation. - Booker T. SpicelyBooker T. SpicelyBooker Thomas Spicely was a victim of racial violence whose murder is considered to be one event in a series of events that contributed to the Civil Rights movement, much like when Irene Morgan was arrested and jailed in Virginia for refusing to give up her seat on an interstate bus to a white...
, U.S. Army soldier and victim of a racially-motivated murder in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North CarolinaDurham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
, in 1944.