Altavista, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Altavista, Virginia
Town
Altavista welcome sign
Flag Logo
Nickname(s):  A-Town
Motto(s):  "Treasured past, Innovative future."
Location of Altavista, Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Campbell
Planned	1905
First settled	September 9th, 1907
Incorporated	September 1912
Founded by	The Lane Company
Named for	The Lane Family farm
Government
• Type	Mayor-council government
Area
• Total	5.24 sq mi (13.58 km2)
• Land	5.13 sq mi (13.28 km2)
• Water	0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2)
Elevation	548 ft (167 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,378
• Estimate  (2021)	3,396
• Density	664.07/sq mi (256.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24517
Area code(s)	434
FIPS code	51-01528
GNIS feature ID	1462426

Altavista is a town located in Campbell County, Virginia. It's part of the Lynchburg area. In 2020, about 3,378 people lived there. The town was started in 1907 by John Edward Lane and Henry L. Lane. It officially became a town in September 1912.

History of Altavista

Early Days

Native American Life

Before European settlers arrived, the land around Altavista was home to the native Saponi people. Their main town, "Sapon Town," was close to the Staunton River. The Saponi created many paths through the forests. These paths later helped colonists travel easily through the area. Other groups, like the Occaneechi, Cherokee, and Iroquois, also passed through this region.

How Altavista Began

In 1905, a company called The Lane Brothers Construction Company got a big job. They were hired to build 51 kilometers of railroad tracks. This new railroad would cross another important railway line.

The Lane Company saw that this crossing was a perfect spot for a new town. So, they bought 2,000 acres of land there. They started planning a town they first called Lane's Siding. On September 9, 1907, the very first settlers arrived. They came in a small red caboose.

Mrs. E. G. Fitzgerald, one of the early settlers, wrote about what it was like:

One of the first houses in Altavista, around 1907

"When I first came to Altavista there wasn't hardly any body living there. There was the foundation to two stores. Then people began to come and build houses and stores. Then they built a hold and two depots. After awhile some people built a house and used it for a church. They used it for a school house too. Now there are about one thousand people here."

Between 1908 and 1909, the town grew very fast. Lane's Siding was renamed Altavista after the Lane family farm. This name was chosen by tossing a hat! In less than a year, many buildings were constructed. These included a machine shop, a foundry, a woodworking plant, and a brick factory. There was also a bank, several stores, a water plant, and an electric plant. A hotel was built, along with about fifty homes. In September 1912, Altavista officially became an incorporated town.

An old map of Altavista from the Sanborn Fire Insurance Company

The Lane Company's Furniture

In 1912, John Edward Lane bought a small company that made boxes. He put his son, Edward Hudson Lane, in charge. Even though Edward had no experience, the company started making cedar chests. It was first called the Standard Red Cedar Chest Company.

During World War I, the company made ammunition boxes for the military. This helped them create a very efficient way to build things. After the war, they became very successful making cedar chests. In 1922, the company changed its name to The Lane Company. Over the years, they made other furniture too, like TV cabinets and recliners.

The Lane Company was most famous for its cedar chests. These were made at the original factory in Altavista. In 1992, the company faced financial problems. In 2001, the last Lane Cedar Chest was made, and the factory closed. Today, some of the old factory buildings are used by other businesses.

Historic Sites to Visit

The Avoca Museum

Altavista has some important historic places. The Avoca Museum and the Altavista Downtown Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are special places that are protected for their history.

Geography of Altavista

Altavista is in the southwestern part of Campbell County. To the south, it borders the Roanoke River. This river also separates Altavista from Pittsylvania County. The town of Hurt is right across the river.

U.S. Route 29 is a major highway that runs along the northern edge of Altavista. This highway makes it easy to get to and from the town. You can drive north about 25 miles to Lynchburg. Or, you can go south about 43 miles to Danville.

The town covers about 5.24 square miles (13.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small amount of water.

Population Facts

In 2000, there were 3,425 people living in Altavista. The town had 1,502 households. About 26% of these households had children under 18. The population included people of different backgrounds.

Education in Altavista

Public schools in Altavista are managed by Campbell County Public Schools.

Altavista High School Sports Championships

The sports teams from Altavista High School have won many state championships!

• Boys Basketball 2015 1A, Defeated Honaker Tigers 57–44
• Football 2014 1A, Defeated Essex Trojans 22–20
• Boys Basketball 2014 1A, Defeated Radford Bobcats 49–44
• Football 2013 1A, Defeated Essex Trojans 21–0
• Boys Basketball 2013 Group A, Division 1, Defeated West Point Pointers 80–62
• Boys Cross Country 2010 Group A
• Football 2009 Group A, Division 1, Defeated J.I. Burton Raiders 27–7
• Girls Softball 2009 Group A, Defeated Glenvar Highlanders 7–1
• Girls Basketball 2004 Single A, Defeated Radford Bobcats 50–39
• Boys Basketball 2004 Single A, Defeated Riverheads 54–37
• Girls Volleyball 2002 Single A

Climate

Altavista has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool.

Notable People

• Juan Thornhill, an NFL safety

See also

In Spanish: Altavista (Virginia) para niños