Hillsville, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hillsville, Virginia
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Business along Main Street (US 52)
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Location in Virginia
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Carroll |
| Founded | 1842 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 9.75 sq mi (25.25 km2) |
| • Land | 9.74 sq mi (25.22 km2) |
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,516 ft (767 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,897  |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,876 |
| • Density | 273.26/sq mi (105.51/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
24343
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| Area code(s) | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-37336 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498493 |
Hillsville is a town in Carroll County, Virginia, United States. It is the main town, or "county seat," of Carroll County. In 2020, about 2,897 people lived there.
Contents
Geography and Climate
Hillsville is located in the middle of Carroll County. Important roads like US 52, US 221, and US 58 meet right in the center of town. These roads connect Hillsville to other towns like Wytheville, Mount Airy, Roanoke, and Galax.
The town is about 2.5 miles (4 km) from Interstate 77, a big highway. Hillsville covers about 9.75 square miles (25.25 square kilometers) of land. Only a tiny bit of this area is water.
Carroll County is part of the Blue Ridge Mountain range, which is a section of the Appalachian Mountains. The famous Blue Ridge Parkway is about 9 miles (14 km) south of Hillsville.
Hillsville's Weather
Hillsville has a climate where the temperatures don't change too much between hot and cold. It also gets enough rain all year long. This type of weather is called a marine west coast climate.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 181 | — | |
| 1870 | 268 | — | |
| 1930 | 485 | — | |
| 1940 | 656 | 35.3% | |
| 1950 | 764 | 16.5% | |
| 1960 | 905 | 18.5% | |
| 1970 | 1,149 | 27.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,123 | 84.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,008 | −5.4% | |
| 2000 | 2,607 | 29.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,681 | 2.8% | |
| 2020 | 2,897 | 8.1% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,876 | 7.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2000, there were 2,607 people living in Hillsville. The town had 1,207 households, which are groups of people living together in one home. About 23% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in Hillsville was 43 years old.
Most people in Hillsville speak English at home. A small number of people, less than 4%, speak other languages like Spanish, Vietnamese, or German.
Hillsville Flea Markets
Hillsville is well-known for its large flea markets. These events happen twice a year: once on Memorial Day weekend and again on Labor Day weekend. The Labor Day market is considered one of the biggest flea markets east of the Mississippi River in the United States.
In 2004, the Labor Day market brought in over 650,000 visitors! The Memorial Day market had over 250,000 visitors. People come from all over the world, even from places like Germany, Africa, and South Korea, to visit these markets.
Places to Visit
Hillsville has several interesting places to explore:
- Hale-Wilkinson-Carter Home: Locals call this the "Carter Home." It's a huge house with 5 stories and 34 rooms! It used to belong to George Lafayette Carter, who was important in building up Southwest Virginia. You can take tours of the house, rent it for events, and it's also home to the Carroll County Creative Arts Center.
- Historic Carroll County Courthouse & Museum: This old courthouse was built in 1873. It's famous for a sad event that happened there in 1912. Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the history of Carroll County. It has old records, exhibits, and items that show the area's heritage.
- Hillsville Diner: This is the oldest diner in Virginia that still operates out of a streetcar!
- Town of Hillsville Farmers Market (TOHFM): This market is open during the warmer months, from June to October. It's located in the historic part of town, behind the Carter Home. You can find local produce, meats, crafts, honey, baked goods, and plants there.
- Sidna Allen House: Another historic home in the area.
Fun Events
Hillsville hosts many fun events throughout the year:
- Second Saturday Concerts and Classic Car Cruise-In: Enjoy free concerts at Courthouse Square on the second Saturday of each month, from May to September. You can also see cool classic cars.
- Independence Day Parade & Celebration: This event features one of the biggest fireworks shows in southwest Virginia! It takes place at the Grover King VFW.
- Historic Hillsville Chili Shootout: A chili cooking competition held every fall.
- Safe Halloween: On October 31st, North Main Street becomes a safe place for trick-or-treating. There's also a costume contest for all ages and fun games.
- Christmas Celebration & Parade: Held on the first Saturday of December. This festive event includes stocking giveaways, bonfires, caroling, Santa Claus visiting the Carter Home porch, a tree lighting ceremony, and a parade.
Famous People from Hillsville
- Kylene Barker: She was crowned Miss America in 1979. Kylene graduated from Hillsville's Carroll County High School.
- Frank Beamer: He was a very successful head football coach for Virginia Tech. Frank also went to Hillsville High.
- George Lafayette Carter: An important businessman who worked with land and railroads. He helped create East Tennessee State University.
- Elizabeth Fry Page: (1865–1943) An author and editor.
See also
In Spanish: Hillsville (Virginia) para niños
