City of Emporia, Virginia

City of Emporia Education, Geography, and History

Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States. Based on the 2010 census, the population was 5,927, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville county for statistical purposes. It is the county seat of Greensville County

Etymology - Origin of City of Emporia Name

The Town of Hicksford (also sometimes called Hick's Ford) was settled in 1710 in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christiana. After statehood, the Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form the new incorporated town of Emporia, which was named after the town of Emporia, Kansas.

Demographics:

County QuickFacts: City of Emporia

Emporia City History

Perched on the fall line of the Coastal Plain, the City of Emporia has historically been a commercial hub in Southside Virginia. The area along the Meherrin River was first explored in 1670. The Town of Hicksford was settled in 1710 where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christianna. The Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form Emporia, which was chartered as a City in 1967.

Once strategically located on an important north-south Confederate States railroad and supply line, Emporia today has a similar advantage of another transportation crossroads: Interstate 95 and US 58. The City is an ideal stop-over point for thousands of travelers on Interstate 95, as well for those heading to the coast on US 58. Much of the local retail economy is therefore strongly tied to the travel industry. It has recently ranked among the top five cities in the nation for retail sales per capita.

Emporia is also at the crossroads of two key railroads, CSX running north-to-south and Norfolk-Southern going east-to-west. The accessibility to major rail and highway routes contributes to a growing industrial base.

Emporia, Virginia was first incoporated as a town 1887 by the merger of Hicksford and Belfield. Charter revoked in 1888. [Virginia Genealogy, Sources & Resources, by Carol McGinnis, Genealogical Publishing Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1993.]

Emporia, Virginia reincorporated as a town 1896. County seat of Greensville County. Incorporated as a city in 1967. [Virginia Genealogy, Sources & Resources, by Carol McGinnis, Genealogical Publishing Inc., Baltimore, MD, 1993.]

Geography: Land and Water

As reported by the Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.0 square miles (18.1 km²), of which, 6.9 square miles (17.8 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (1.00%) is water. I-95 and US-58 are the major roads passing through the city, and 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.

Neighboring Counties

Bordering counties are as follows:

• Emporia is an independent city located within the confines of Greensville County, Virginia, United States.

Education

Greensville County Public Schools (grades K-12)
Brunswick Academy (K-12, 25 miles from Emporia)
St. Vincent's School (K-12, 40 miles, in Petersburg)
Southside Virginia Community College (25 miles)
Richard Bland Community College (40 miles)
St. Paul's College (25 miles)
Virginia State University (40 miles)
College of William & Mary (104 miles)
University of Richmond (65 miles)
Virginia Commonwealth University (65 miles)
Medical College of Virginia (65 miles)
Old Dominion University (90 miles)
University of Virginia (135 miles)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (219 miles)

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