Emporia

Emporia and a predecessor town have been the county seat of Greensville County since 1791. The Meherrin River, like the Nottoway River and the Blackwater River, empties to the southeast into Albemarle Sound. Emporia has long been a transportation crossroads. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,766, making it the third-least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city and surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes. The city was named after the home town of U.S. Senator Preston B. Plumb of Kansas. It was re-chartered in 1892, and the town issued its first bonds (to establish a water plant, lighting and street improvements) in 1900. It hosted an agricultural fair in 1906, and brick buildings replaced frame structures in 1906. In 1967, the Virginia General Assembly re- chartered the Town of emporia as an independent city. The town is located on a major north-south railway line, a Norfolk-west line in east-west Virginia, and a major east-south CSX line in Norfolk. It is also home to the Belfield Historic District, a National Register of Historic Places site, and an American Legion post. The Town of Hicksford (originally Hicks' Ford) was settled by Captain Robert Hicks (1658-1739) in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Me Herrin River en route to Fort Christanna.

History

Emporia has long been a transportation crossroads. The Meherrin River, like the Nottoway River and the Blackwater River, empties to the southeast into Albemarle Sound. The Town of Hicksford (originally Hicks' Ford) was settled by Captain Robert Hicks (1658-1739) in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Me Herrin River. During the American Civil War, the Petersburg Railroad (to Weldon), built in 1830, was a tactical prize as Union troops sought to isolate the confederate capitol. In 1887, Hicksford and Belfield merged, forming the newly incorporated town of Emporia. Now, a major north-south CSX railway crosses a Norfolk and Western railway line. U.S. Route 58 east and west crosses the town, providing services for travelers north-west and south. The town is home to the Greensville County Courthouse Complex, Hugel Architectural Klugel School, and Greensville H.C. Tugugel Training School. It is on the National Register of Historic Places, all of which are listed on the U.N. List of Registered Historic Places. It was named after the home town of Senator Preston B. Plumb of Kansas, whose friend Benjamin D. Tillar Jr. was a delegate for the Atlantic and Danville Railway, which planned to go from Portsmouth as had the Weldon railroad, but more westward through the meherrin river towns.

Geography

Emporia is located at 36°4134N 77°3217W (36.693018, -77.53809). The city is located about 65 miles south of Richmond, about 80 miles west of Norfolk and about 60 miles north of Rocky Mount, North Carolina. According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²), of which 6.9square miles (17.9 km²) is land and 0.1square miles(0.26km²) (1.1%) is water. Emporia has a population of 2,816. The city's population was 2,788 at the 2010 U.S. Census. It is located in the Piedmont region of North Carolina, near the border with South Carolina, Virginia, and the Carolinas. It has a latitude of 36.4°N, and a longitude of 77.3°W. It was founded in the early 1800s, and is located on the banks of the Little Rappahannock River, which flows into the James River. The town's name comes from a Native American tribe, the Emporians, who lived in the area in the 1800s and early 1900s. The current mayor is the son of a former mayor of the same name, who was killed in a car accident in the 1950s. He was buried in a shallow grave in the town's cemetery.

Governance

The City of Emporia is governed by a Council/Manager system. There are seven members of City Council elected from districts and a weak Mayor elected at large. City Council and the Mayor are elected to four year terms, in Federal Election years. Their terms are staggered so that not all members are elected at once. The Courts System, Greensville County Sheriff, Commonwealth's Attorney and the Public Schools are shared with Greensville county. A major source of the revenue for Greensville. County now comes from speeding tickets issued to out of state travelers along I-95. This benefits both Virginia lawyers and the local economy.Emporia. is the location of several voting houses which art part of Greensville Virginia's voting district I. The city is also served by its own Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Sheriff and General Registrar. It is located in the state's second largest city, behind Richmond, Virginia. It has a population of around 2,000 people. It. is located on the banks of the Potomac River, which runs through the center of the city. The town is home to a number of tourist attractions, including the Virginia Museum of History and Science, the Virginia State Museum of Art, and the Virginia National Museum of Natural History. It also has a small airport, which is used as a base for air travel. The City has a large number of restaurants, many of which are open to the public. It was the site of the U.S. Civil War Battle of Fredericksburg, which took place in 1864.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Emporia has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. The town has a population of about 2,000. The city has a reputation for being a good host to conventions and conventions. It has a history of hosting international conventions and events. It also has a tradition of hosting conventions and international events in the summer and fall. It is known as the "Emporia Capital of the World" for its proximity to the U.S. East Coast and the Atlantic Ocean. It was the site of the opening of the first airport in the United States, which was built in 1881. The airport was named after the town's founder, William "Bill" Emporio. The current airport is named after his daughter, who was born in the town in 1883. The U.N. World Heritage Site is located in the city, and was established in 1891. It dates back to the 17th century and is located on the banks of the Susquehannock River, which runs through the city's downtown area. The area has a long history of being a center of trade and commerce, and has been known as "The City of the Sea" since the early 1800s. In the early 20th century, the town was known for its textile industry, which is based in the area's port. It had a long tradition of producing textiles.

Demographics

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 5,927 people living in the city. 62.5% were Black or African American. 4.4% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). By percentage of counties or independent cities, Emporia has the highest population of Muslims in the United States. The city has a population of 5,665 people, 2,226 households, and 1,406 families. The median income for a household in theCity was $30,333. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.05. In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 20. 6% from 45 to 64, and 20.6 per cent who were 65 years of age or older. The per capita income for the city was $15,377. About 11.4%. of families and 16.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.5%. of those under age 18 and 14.5 per cent of those age 65 or over. The U.S. Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race. The 2020 census will be held on October 1, 2020. The population of the city is expected to be around 5,000.

Festivals

The Virginia Pork Festival was held each second Wednesday in June. Over 40,000 pounds of pork is served alongside alcoholic beverages, hushpuppies and sweet potato french fries. The festival is currently on hold due to lack of funding. The Emporia Bicycling Club hosts regular group rides, including the annual Great Peanut ride which attracts hundreds of bicyclists who ride to visit a peanut farm and are treated to hearty meals and live entertainment at camp. The event is free and open to the public, but donations can be made at www.emporiabicyclingclub.org or by calling the club at (858) 615-8255. The club is also available on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for those who want to join in on the fun and participate in the rides and activities.

Education

Greensville County Public Schools serves both Emporia and Greensville County.Circa 1972 there was an effort by residents to create a separate school division. On June 22, 1972, the United States Supreme Court denied the creation of the district on a 5-4 basis, with the four dissenters having been appointed by U.S. president Richard Nixon. Its high school is Greensvile County High School, which is located in the town of Emporian. It is the only public high school in the state of North Carolina. The school district has an enrollment of about 2,000 students. It was founded in the 1950s and is the largest public school district in North Carolina, with a population of about 3,000. The district's high school was built in the 1960s and has a enrollment of more than 1,200. It has an average enrollment of around 2,200 students, with an average of about 1,100 students in the high school class of 2013. It also has a high school that is open to the general public. It opened in the 1970s and was the first school division in the county. It closed in the 1990s and reopened in the 2000s. The high school has a graduation rate of about 80%. It is one of the top schools in the country. The county has a total enrollment of 2,400 students, the highest in the region. It had a population in the 1980s and 1990s of about 4,000, with about 1.5 million students.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia = 87. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 100. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 100. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Emporia = 4.6 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Employed

The most recent city population of 5,766 individuals with a median age of 40.3 age the population dropped by -1.08% in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia population since 2000 and are distributed over a density of 830 residents per square mile of area (320/km²). There are average 2.38 people per household in the 2,213 households with an average household income of $39,955 a year. The unemployment rate in Alabama is 12.20% of the available work force and has dropped -6.60% over the most recent 12-month period and the projected change in job supply over the next decade based on migration patterns, economic growth, and other factors will increase by 14.60%. The number of physicians in Emporia per 100,000 population = 325.6.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Emporia = 43.6 inches and the annual snowfall = 6.2 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 103. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 204. 89 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 26.7 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 37, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Emporia, Greensville County, Virginia which are owned by the occupant = 45.68%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 40 years with median home cost = $108,110 and home appreciation of -5.37%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $7.92 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.