Elkton, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Elkton, Virginia
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| Nickname(s):
Conrads Store
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| Motto(s):
The First Permanent Settlement West of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
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Location of Elkton within the Rockingham County
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 Elkton, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Elkton, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| County | Rockingham | ||
| Government | |||
| • Type | Council Manager | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.21 sq mi (8.31 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.16 sq mi (8.19 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 971 ft (296 m) | ||
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 2,726 | ||
| • Estimate
(2019)
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2,903 | ||
| • Density | 918.09/sq mi (354.44/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
22827
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| Area code(s) | 540 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-25408 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1494217 | ||
| Website | Official website: http://elktonva.gov/ | ||
Elkton is a town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. It used to be called Conrad's Store. Elkton is part of the Harrisonburg area. In 2020, about 2,941 people lived there. The town got its name from a stream called Elk Run.
Elkton is located near the south fork of the Shenandoah River. Important roads like U.S. Route 33 and U.S. Route 340 meet here. The town celebrated its 100th birthday in 2008.
Contents
History of Elkton
One of the first European settlers in the Elkton area was Adam Miller. He came from Germany. In 1741, Miller bought a large piece of land, about 820 acres (3.3 km²). This land included a special spring called a lithia spring. He lived there for the rest of his life. Today, a spring on his old land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring.
From Conrad's Store to Elkton
Around 1812, George Conrad built a general store here. This store became known as Conrads Store. George Conrad's father, Stephen Conrad, fought in the American Revolution. In 1816, Conrads Store became a United States post office. George Conrad was the first postmaster.
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Conrads Store was a Confederate post office. After the war, postal service stopped and started a few times. In 1881, a new train station for the Shenandoah Valley Railroad opened. It was named Elkton. So, the post office also changed its name to Elkton, Virginia. The Town of Elkton officially became a town on March 14, 1908.
Important Buildings in Elkton
The Jennings House is a very important building in Elkton's history. Dr. Samuel B. Jennings built it in 1840. During the Civil War, it was used as a hospital. Later, it became the home for the town's government offices. In 2016, the government offices moved out. But after a big restoration, the Jennings House reopened in 2020 as the Elkton Town Hall. It now has modern features like new electricity and plumbing.
The Miller-Kite House is another historic building on Rockingham Street. During the Civil War, General Stonewall Jackson used it as his headquarters. This was at the start of his famous Shenandoah Valley Campaign. Today, the Miller-Kite House is a museum. It shows many items from the Civil War and some of General Jackson's personal things. Some visitors even say they have experienced unusual things there!
Other historic places in Elkton listed on the National Register of Historic Places include Bon Air and the Kite Mansion.
Geography of Elkton
Elkton is located in the northeast part of Rockingham County, Virginia. To the north is Page County. To the east are the Blue Ridge Mountains. To the west is the Massanutten Mountain range. South of Elkton are large factories like Merck and MillerCoors.
The Shenandoah River's South Fork, Route 33, and a train line all pass through the town. The area around Elkton has many farms and rural scenes.
The town covers about 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Transportation
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The main roads that help people get to and from Elkton are U.S. Route 33 and U.S. Route 340. Part of US 33 that used to go through downtown Elkton is now called US 33 Business.
Population of Elkton
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 873 | — | |
| 1920 | 905 | 3.7% | |
| 1930 | 965 | 6.6% | |
| 1940 | 1,050 | 8.8% | |
| 1950 | 1,361 | 29.6% | |
| 1960 | 1,506 | 10.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,511 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,520 | 0.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,935 | 27.3% | |
| 2000 | 2,042 | 5.5% | |
| 2010 | 2,726 | 33.5% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 2,903 | 6.5% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 2,762 people living in Elkton. The town had 862 households. About 28.3% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in Elkton was 37 years old.
Education in Elkton
Even though Elkton is an incorporated town, its schools are run by Rockingham County Public Schools. This is a public school division in Virginia.
Elkton has three public schools:
- Elkton Elementary School
- Elkton Middle School
- East Rockingham High School
Elkton Elementary School was built in 1938. Elkton Middle School used to be Elkton High School, built in 1957. In 2010, a new high school, East Rockingham High School, opened. It serves students from Elkton and nearby areas.
Events in Elkton
Since 1908, Elkton has held a carnival called Elkton Field Day. It happens in early July. The event has rides, good food, yard sales, live bluegrass music, and fireworks. A fun tradition is the greased pole climbing contest. People try to climb a 25-foot pole covered in soap to get prize money at the top! The Junior Order of the United American Mechanics in Elkton sponsors this event. They also help the community by giving out scholarships.
Sports in Elkton
Elkton has a baseball team called the Elkton Blue Sox. They play in the Rockingham County Baseball League.
See also
In Spanish: Elkton (Virginia) para niños
