Blackstone, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Blackstone, Virginia
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Downtown Blackstone, April 2015
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Location of Blackstone, Virginia
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| County | Nottoway | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Town Council | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 4.51 sq mi (11.69 km2) | ||
| • Land | 4.50 sq mi (11.64 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.05 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 453 ft (138 m) | ||
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 3,621 | ||
| • Estimate
(2019)
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3,329 | ||
| • Density | 740.60/sq mi (285.96/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
23824
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| Area code(s) | 434 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-07832 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1463528 | ||
| Website | Official website: http://www.townofblackstoneva.com | ||
Blackstone is a town in Nottoway County, Virginia. It is located in the United States. In 2010, about 3,621 people lived there. The town has had a few different names over the years. It was first called Blacks and Whites, then Bellefonte, before finally becoming Blackstone.
Contents
History of Blackstone
The town started as a small village called "Blacks and Whites." It got this name from two people who ran taverns there before the American Revolutionary War. Later, on May 11, 1875, its name changed to Bellefonte. But then, on August 4, 1882, it went back to being called Blacks and Whites.
Finally, on February 23, 1886, the town officially became Blackstone. This new name honored William Blackstone, a very important English judge.
Historic places in Blackstone
Several old and important places in Blackstone are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Blackstone Historic District, Butterwood Methodist Church and Butterwood Cemetery, Little Mountain Pictograph Site, Oakridge, and Schwartz Tavern. These sites help tell the story of the town's past.
Railroad and growth
In the mid-1800s, when it was still called Blacks and Whites, the town was a stop on the Southside Railroad. This railroad later became part of the Norfolk and Western Railway, which is now the Norfolk Southern Railway. The town's streets were planned out in a grid pattern in 1874. Blackstone officially became an incorporated town in 1888.
The railroad helped Blackstone grow a lot. It became a busy place for selling and shipping a type of tobacco called dark-leaf tobacco. This made the town's economy strong.
Geography and Climate
Blackstone is located at 37°4′36″N 78°0′5″W / 37.07667°N 78.00139°W. The town covers about 4.6 square miles (11.8 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 4.5 square miles (11.7 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.04 square miles (0.1 square kilometers), is water.
Blackstone's weather
| Climate data for Blackstone, Virginia (Fort Barfoot) 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1972–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 81 (27) |
82 (28) |
89 (32) |
95 (35) |
95 (35) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
103 (39) |
101 (38) |
97 (36) |
86 (30) |
80 (27) |
103 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 48.2 (9.0) |
51.9 (11.1) |
59.2 (15.1) |
69.8 (21.0) |
76.7 (24.8) |
84.1 (28.9) |
87.7 (30.9) |
85.9 (29.9) |
80.4 (26.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
60.4 (15.8) |
51.6 (10.9) |
68.9 (20.5) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.4 (3.0) |
40.0 (4.4) |
47.1 (8.4) |
56.9 (13.8) |
65.5 (18.6) |
73.6 (23.1) |
77.8 (25.4) |
76.0 (24.4) |
69.8 (21.0) |
58.5 (14.7) |
48.1 (8.9) |
40.6 (4.8) |
57.6 (14.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 26.5 (−3.1) |
28.2 (−2.1) |
35.0 (1.7) |
44.1 (6.7) |
54.4 (12.4) |
63.1 (17.3) |
67.8 (19.9) |
66.1 (18.9) |
59.3 (15.2) |
46.5 (8.1) |
35.8 (2.1) |
29.7 (−1.3) |
46.4 (8.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) |
−9 (−23) |
6 (−14) |
11 (−12) |
29 (−2) |
37 (3) |
41 (5) |
41 (5) |
35 (2) |
22 (−6) |
8 (−13) |
−1 (−18) |
−13 (−25) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.74 (95) |
2.86 (73) |
4.12 (105) |
3.69 (94) |
4.35 (110) |
4.28 (109) |
4.43 (113) |
4.20 (107) |
4.39 (112) |
3.90 (99) |
3.13 (80) |
3.75 (95) |
46.84 (1,190) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.5 (3.8) |
0.6 (1.5) |
0.4 (1.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.8 (2.0) |
3.3 (8.4) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 9.1 | 8.1 | 9.2 | 8.8 | 10.4 | 9.0 | 9.5 | 8.5 | 7.9 | 7.6 | 7.8 | 9.4 | 105.3 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 0.7 | 0.5 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 1.7 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Blackstone
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1890 | 580 | — | |
| 1900 | 585 | 0.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,486 | 154.0% | |
| 1920 | 1,497 | 0.7% | |
| 1930 | 1,772 | 18.4% | |
| 1940 | 2,699 | 52.3% | |
| 1950 | 3,536 | 31.0% | |
| 1960 | 3,659 | 3.5% | |
| 1970 | 3,412 | −6.8% | |
| 1980 | 3,624 | 6.2% | |
| 1990 | 3,497 | −3.5% | |
| 2000 | 3,675 | 5.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,621 | −1.5% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 3,329 | −8.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 3,675 people living in Blackstone. The town had 1,430 households. About 29% of these households had children under 18 living there. The average age of people in Blackstone was 40 years old. About 24.3% of the population was under 18.
Things to See and Do
Blackstone has several important places and attractions.
Fort Barfoot
Nearby is Fort Barfoot, which used to be called Camp Pickett. The U.S. Army built it in 1941. It was a very large training center during World War II. In the 1990s, it closed as a main Army base. Now, it is the main office for the Virginia National Guard.
In 2014, the U.S. Department of State chose Fort Barfoot for their Foreign Affairs Security Training Center. This center opened in 2019. In 2021, the government temporarily housed about 5,900 people from Afghanistan at the facility.
Local attractions
The Blackstone Female Institute, later called Blackstone College for Girls, used to be in town for many years. Its buildings were later used as a meeting center for the United Methodist Church.
Blackstone has a shopping area with stores and a medical center. People from three nearby rural counties come to shop here. The town also has a regional bus station that serves 11 counties.
The oldest building in Blackstone is Schwartz Tavern. It was built between 1790 and 1840. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about the town's history. The Robert Thomas Carriage Museum also opened in 2007. It has 28 old carriages, sleighs, and buggies that have been fixed up.
Famous People from Blackstone
- Bea Arthur was an actress who attended Blackstone School for Girls in 1933. She was active in their drama program.
- Bishop James Cannon, Jr. was the first president of Blackstone College. He was well-known for supporting the prohibition movement in the country.
- Booker T. Spicely was a soldier in the U.S. Army.
- John A. Tyree was a Vice Admiral in the U.S. Navy. He received the Navy Cross award twice.
- James F. Epes was a lawyer and a Representative.
- Robert Jones is an American football player.
See also
In Spanish: Blackstone (Virginia) para niños
