Boydton, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Boydton, Virginia
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Street scene in Boydton
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 Boydton, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Boydton, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | Virginia | ||||
| County | Mecklenburg | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 354 ft (108 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 302 | ||||
| • Density | 368.3/sq mi (142.2/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP code |
23917
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| Area code(s) | 434 | ||||
| FIPS code | 51-09016 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 1498456 | ||||
| Website | https://boydton.org/ | ||||
Boydton is a small town in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, in the United States. It's the main town, or county seat, for Mecklenburg County. In 2020, about 302 people lived there. Boydton is also close to a large lake called Kerr Lake, which is popular for boating and fishing.
Contents
Geography
Boydton is located in Virginia. It covers a total area of about 0.8 square miles (2.1 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large bodies of water like lakes or rivers within the town limits.
People Living in Boydton
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 261 | — | |
| 1880 | 382 | 46.4% | |
| 1900 | 527 | — | |
| 1910 | 421 | −20.1% | |
| 1920 | 457 | 8.6% | |
| 1930 | 492 | 7.7% | |
| 1940 | 424 | −13.8% | |
| 1950 | 501 | 18.2% | |
| 1960 | 449 | −10.4% | |
| 1970 | 541 | 20.5% | |
| 1980 | 486 | −10.2% | |
| 1990 | 453 | −6.8% | |
| 2000 | 454 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 431 | −5.1% | |
| 2020 | 302 | −29.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 454 people living in Boydton. These people lived in 134 different homes, and 95 of these were families. The town had about 553 people per square mile.
Most people in Boydton were White (about 58%) or African American (about 39%). A small number of people were from other backgrounds.
About 24% of homes had children under 18. Most homes (58%) were married couples living together. About 27% of homes had people living alone.
The average age of people in Boydton was 40 years old. About 15% of the population was under 18, and about 20% were 65 or older.
History of Boydton
Boydton was started in 1812. It was once home to the first campus of Randolph-Macon College. This college was a Methodist school. During the American Civil War, the school almost closed. Its focus changed to training military cadets.
After the war, it was hard for the school to keep going. So, the college moved to Ashland, Virginia. This new location was closer to railroad lines, which made travel easier.
In the 1800s, Boydton was the end point of a special road. This road was called the "Boydton and Petersburg Plank Road". It was about 80 miles (130 km) long and covered with wooden planks. This made it much smoother than other dirt roads at the time.
The Boyd's Tavern is an old building from the early 1800s. It was first run by a merchant named Alexander Boyd. Today, his family has fixed it up, and you can visit it.
In 1952, a big lake called Kerr Lake was created nearby. This lake became a popular spot for people who enjoy boating, camping, and fishing.
Besides Boyd's Tavern, two other places in Boydton are important historical sites. These are the Boydton Historic District and the Mecklenburg County Courthouse. They were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2002.
Famous People from Boydton
- Mark Alexander (1792–1883): He was born near Boydton and became a United States Congressman for Virginia.
- William A. Burwell (1780–1821): Born near Boydton, he was a state lawmaker and a United States Congressman for Virginia. He also worked as a private secretary for President Thomas Jefferson.
- Henry Johnson (1850–1904): Born in Boydton, he was a Buffalo Soldier in the US Army. He received the Medal of Honor for his bravery.
- Nancy Byrd Turner (1880-1971): A poet, editor, and lecturer born in Boydton.
- Odicci Alexander (1998-): A talented softball pitcher for James Madison University.
Climate
Boydton has a climate with hot, humid summers. The winters are usually mild to cool. This type of weather is known as a humid subtropical climate.
See also
In Spanish: Boydton para niños
