Amherst, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Amherst
Town
Amherst Historical Society building
Seal
Location of Amherst, Virginia
Amherst, Virginia Location in Virginia Show map of Virginia Amherst, Virginia Location in the United States Show map of the United States Amherst, Virginia Location in North America Show map of North America
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Amherst
Area
• Total	4.92 sq mi (12.75 km2)
• Land	4.90 sq mi (12.70 km2)
• Water	0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2)
Elevation	761 ft (232 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	2,231
• Estimate  (2019)	2,180
• Density	444.72/sq mi (171.70/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24521
Area code(s)	434
FIPS code	51-01672
GNIS feature ID	1498447
Website	Official website: http://www.amherstva.gov/

Amherst (once called Dearborn) is a small town in Amherst County, Virginia, United States. In 2010, about 2,231 people lived there. It is the main town, or county seat, of Amherst County.

Amherst is also part of the larger Lynchburg area.

History

Amherst was started in 1807. It was first known as "The Oaks" or "Seven Oaks." It began as a stop for stagecoaches traveling between Charlottesville and Lynchburg.

When Nelson County became its own county in 1807, Amherst became the main town for Amherst County. At this time, the village changed its name to honor Jeffery Amherst, 1st Baron Amherst. He was a hero from the French and Indian War. He was famous for the Battle of Ticonderoga and later served as the governor of Virginia.

On April 15, 1910, Amherst officially became a town. The General Assembly gave the town its official rules, called a charter, in 1950.

The town's official seal was designed by Ward Cruea. His first idea for the seal included the "sleeping giant," which is a mountain range. But this was not chosen because it was outside the town's actual borders.

According to a local story, people were talking in the town hall. They looked out towards East Court Street and thought the Amherst courthouse would be a good model for the seal. Back then, a large letter "A" was on a radio tower near the courthouse. This glowing "A" helped pilots find their way. About six months later, Cruea returned with a design. It showed the courthouse, the "A," and the year the town was officially formed. This design was chosen and became Amherst's official seal. You can see the original seal on the wall in the town council's meeting room.

One important spot in town is the roundabout where Main Street and U.S. Route 60 meet. People in Amherst call it "The Circle." It is the oldest traffic circle in Virginia's transportation system. The Village Garden Club takes care of the fountain and plants there.

Another famous place in Amherst is the Amherst County courthouse. The first courthouse was built in 1809. It was taken down in 1872, and the current building was built soon after. All of Amherst County's records have been kept there since 1761. That's when Amherst and Nelson counties were separated from Albemarle County.

The Thompson's Mill-Amherst Mill Complex used to be home to Amherst Milling Co. The main building is very old, with parts dating back to the late 1800s. It used to make cornmeal and flour before it closed in 2017. In 2018, the Virginia Department of Historic Resources added the building to its list of important Virginia landmarks.

Other important historic places in or near Amherst include the Bear Mountain Indian Mission School, Edgewood, 1818, Edgewood, 1858, Fairview, Forest Hill, The Glebe, Dulwich Manor, and Tusculum. These places are all listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Geography

Amherst is located at 37°34′37″N 79°3′2″W / 37.57694°N 79.05056°W / 37.57694; -79.05056. The United States Census Bureau says the town covers about 5.0 square miles (12.9 km²), and all of it is land.

The town is about 25 miles southeast of Lexington. It is 44 miles southwest from Charlottesville. It is also 20 miles northwest from Appomattox. Amherst is only 13 miles north of Lynchburg.

Population

In 2000, there were 2,251 people living in Amherst. There were 940 households and 568 families. The town had about 451 people per square mile.

Most people in Amherst were White (68.95%) or African American (29.63%). A small number were Native American, Asian, or from other backgrounds. About 1% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.

About 28.2% of households had children under 18. Many households (43.4%) were married couples. About 37% of all households were individuals living alone. The average household had 2.18 people.

The population was spread out by age. About 21.6% were under 18. About 24.3% were 65 or older. The average age was 43 years old.

Education

Amherst has many public schools for kids and teens. There are also places for higher education.

The Amherst County School System runs the public schools in the town. These schools include:

• Amherst Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Central Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Amherst Middle School (grades 6-8)
• Amherst County High School (grades 9-12)
• Monelison Middle School (grades 6-8)
• Madison Heights Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Elon Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)
• Temperance Elementary School (Kindergarten to 5th grade)

Amherst is also home to Sweet Briar College, which is a college for women. Central Virginia Community College has a small center in Amherst for higher learning.

Local Businesses

Amherst has several businesses that offer products and jobs. Major employers in and near the town include the Ambriar and Mountainview Shopping Centers. Other important businesses are Clorox, Buffalo Air (which makes HVAC machines), Sweet Briar College, Hermle (a clock maker), and Greif paper mill.

Town Services

Amherst provides important services for its residents. These include:

• Water services
• Sewer services
• Trash collection
• Street lights (if requested)

Transportation

Amherst does not have public transportation. All ways of getting around and transportation services are privately owned.

Air Travel

Lynchburg Regional Airport is about 20 miles south of Amherst. Falwell Aviation, Inc., another airport, is in Lynchburg. Both are used by small planes for business and fun. You can find commercial passenger flights at Lynchburg Regional. Falwell Aviation has places for small private jets to land. Air freight service is also available from Lynchburg Regional. Other airports are nearby in Charlottesville, Roanoke, Richmond, Washington, D.C., and Durham, North Carolina.

Train Travel

Norfolk Southern's main train line goes through Amherst. This line connects Washington, D.C., and Birmingham, Alabama. It serves Glad Manufacturing.

Passenger train service to Amherst stopped many years ago. However, the Amtrak Crescent train uses this line. It passes through Amherst daily on its way between Washington, D.C., and New Orleans. You can catch this train in Lynchburg and Charlottesville.

Bus Travel

The Greyhound Bus Company has a stop in Amherst. Buses stop there for passengers if needed while traveling on U.S. Route 29.

Trucking Services

Many trucking companies serve Amherst. These companies deliver goods across the eastern United States, parts of the Midwest, and Canada.

Other delivery services like United Parcel Service (UPS), Purolator, Emery, Courier Express, and Federal Express (FedEx) also serve the area.

Major Roads

Amherst has two main highways: U.S. Route 29 and U.S. Route 60.

U.S. Route 29

This is a multi-lane highway. It goes from Baltimore, Maryland, through Amherst, and south to Pensacola, Florida. About 15 miles south of town, Route 29 meets U.S. Route 460, which is a major east-west highway. Interstate 64 meets U.S. Route 29 about 45 miles north of Amherst.

There are two parts of U.S. Route 29 in Amherst: U.S. 29 and U.S. 29 Business. U.S. 29 Business used to be the main route. But a new road was built around the downtown area, so the old route became U.S. 29 Business.

U.S. Route 60

This is a two-lane highway that goes through Amherst. It is an east-west highway that stretches from the Atlantic Ocean in Virginia Beach to the Pacific Ocean in Los Angeles. Route 60 is a direct way to travel from Amherst to Richmond, the state capital. It also connects the area to Interstate 81, a north-south interstate highway that goes through the Shenandoah Valley.

Healthcare

Amherst does not have an emergency room. People needing emergency medical help go to Centra's Lynchburg General Hospital. However, Amherst does have several healthcare offices and groups, including:

• Amherst Rescue Squad (Emergency Medical Service)
• Fairmont Crossing (Nursing Home, Health Rehabilitation)
• Amherst UVA Dialysis Facility
• Harman Eye Center
• Central Virginia Family Dentistry
• Amherst Family Dental Care

In 2014, Centra announced plans to open a new medical facility in Amherst.

Fun Things to Do

Amherst has many attractive outdoor places that are great for visitors. These spots offer beautiful natural views and are good for fishing, hiking, picnics, and other outdoor activities. Some of these places include:

• Mount Pleasant National Scenic Area
• Blue Ridge Parkway
• Panther Falls
• Station Creek Falls
• Long Mountain Wayside/Appalachian Trail
• Thrashers Lake Park
• Stonehouse Lake Park
• Mill Creek Lake Park
• Virginia Blue Ridge Railway Trail
• Sweet Briar College Trails
• Coolwell Park
• James River Heritage Trail
• Riverridge Park
• Monacan Park
• ATV Trails
• James River Foot Bridge/Appalachian Trail

Famous People

• Black Herman, an African American stage magician
• David B. Mintz, a Methodist minister who served Amherst in 1802

See also

In Spanish: Amherst (Virginia) para niños