Dendron, Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dendron, Virginia
Town
Location of Dendron, Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Surry
Area
• Total	3.57 sq mi (9.24 km2)
• Land	3.57 sq mi (9.24 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	118 ft (36 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	251
• Density	70.31/sq mi (27.16/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	23839
Area code(s)	757, 948
FIPS code	51-22160
GNIS feature ID	1492862

Dendron is a small town located in Surry County, Virginia, United States. In 2020, the town had a population of 251 people.

Two notable people were born in Dendron. One was Leslie Garland Bolling, a famous sculptor. The other was Curtis W. Harris, who later became the mayor of Hopewell, Virginia.

Where is Dendron?

Dendron is located in Virginia at these coordinates: 37°2′40″N 76°56′5″W / 37.04444°N 76.93472°W / 37.04444; -76.93472.

The town covers an area of about 3.6 square miles (9.2 square kilometers). All of this area is land, with no water.

A Look at Dendron's Past

Dendron started as a "mill town." This means it was built by a company to house its workers. The Surry Lumber Company built Dendron for people who worked at its sawmill.

How Dendron Got Its Name

At first, the village was called Mussel Fork Village. In 1896, its name changed to "Dendron." This name comes from the Greek word "δένδρον," which means "tree." This makes sense because it was a lumber town!

Growing into a Busy Town

After 1896, the sawmill and the town grew quickly. More people moved to Dendron, and the company built more homes for them. By 1906, Dendron had 1,513 people living there.

The town had 298 homes, two hotels, and 18 company stores. There were also five churches.

By 1928, Dendron's population had grown to almost 3,000 people. The town also had a post office, two schools, a jail, and two banks. There were two doctors, a skating rink, and a movie theater. Many other businesses opened too, like a drug store, barber shops, and restaurants.

The Sussex, Surry and Southampton Railway

The Surry Lumber Company also ran a special narrow gauge railroad. This railroad was called the Sussex, Surry and Southampton Railway. It carried logs to the sawmill in Dendron. It also took lumber to a dock on the James River.

The railroad even offered rides for people to Dendron and other small towns. One of its old steam trains, built in 1891, was sold in 1926. It was later bought by the Midwest Central Railroad in 1960. This train has been fully fixed up and is still used today!

The Decline of Dendron

The sawmill's busiest time was around 1920. However, the company did not plant new trees after cutting down old ones. By 1925, most of the very old, large trees in the area were gone.

The Surry Lumber Company closed its sawmills in Dendron on October 27, 1927. When the main employer left, many people moved away. The town's population quickly dropped.

The next year, the company started selling its equipment and buildings. Dendron was left without its railroad, water system, or electricity.

A Fire and New Beginnings

In February 1931, a big fire swept through Dendron. It destroyed 21 buildings along Main Street. This fire erased much of what was left of the once busy town.

About ten years later, another company, Gray Lumber Company, bought 15,000 acres of land from the Surry Lumber Company. Gray Lumber Company had a practice of planting new trees. The old Surry Lumber Company headquarters in Dendron was torn down in 1970. The former company store also burned down in 1989.

Population Changes

The population of Dendron has changed over the years. Here is a look at how many people have lived in the town during different census years:

As you can see, the population was highest in the early 1900s when the lumber company was active. After the company closed, the number of people living in Dendron decreased.

See also

In Spanish: Dendron para niños