Lovingston, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lovingston, Virginia
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Front Street in Lovingston
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| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Nelson County, Virginia |
| Founded | 1809 |
| Area | |
| • Total | 4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2) |
| • Land | 4.03 sq mi (10.44 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0 km2) |
| Elevation | 817 ft (249 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 520 |
| • Density | 129.03/sq mi (49.81/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
22949
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| Area code(s) | 434 |
| FIPS code | 51-47224 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498508 |
Lovingston is a small town in Nelson County, Virginia, USA. It's the main town where the county government is located. In 2010, about 520 people lived there. Its ZIP Code is 22949.
Lovingston was badly hit by a big flood from Hurricane Camille in 1969. It is also part of the larger Charlottesville area.
Some important places in Lovingston are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include Lovingston High School, the Lovingston Historic District, and the Nelson County Courthouse.
Contents
History of Lovingston
Lovingston was started in 1807. It became the main town for Nelson County in 1809. This was when the courthouse was built in the middle of town.
The Loving family gave the land for the town. They were a very important family in the town's early days. The town is built around the courthouse. Its streets are laid out in a grid pattern.
Front, Second, and Spring streets go north and south. Main and Pleasant streets go east and west. George W. Varnum designed the town. His original plan is still mostly the same today.
The Courthouse Square
The courthouse is a very important part of Lovingston's history. It was the first public building built after the town started in 1807. The courthouse has been expanded over time and is still used today.
Other important buildings in the square include the Whitehead Law office. There is also the First Clerk's office. The original jail was designed based on ideas from Thomas Jefferson.
Many taverns and hotels were along Court Street. People would gather there to eat and rest on court days. Court days happened every week. People from all over the county would come to town. The whole square would be full of people. They would have picnics and visit with each other.
The courthouse was designed by Shelton Crosthwait. It looks like an English town hall. It has a two-story front with an open piazza on the ground floor. This design connects older colonial styles with newer designs.
Hurricane Camille's Impact
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The hurricane in 1969 was a huge event for Lovingston. Dr. Robert H. Simpson called Hurricane Camille "the greatest recorded storm ever." It rained 33 inches in just five hours in town. The day before, five inches fell in half an hour.
Sadly, 153 people in Virginia died, including three from Lovingston. Many buildings were destroyed or damaged. Lovingston itself was built to avoid bad flooding. However, nearby areas were hit much harder.
Lovingston became the center for rescue and recovery after the storm. Many miles of roads were badly damaged or washed away.
A monument stands in the Courthouse Square today. It honors the 153 Nelson County residents who died in the tragedy.
Lovingston's Historic District
The town's historic area has been recognized since 2005. It is on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places. This area covers 225 acres. It includes 134 important buildings and sites.
You can see many different building styles here. These include Federal, Greek Revival, and Gothic Revival. There are also Italianate, Colonial Revival, and Craftsman styles.
Geography and Climate
Lovingston is in Nelson County, in the middle of Virginia. It is located along U.S. 29, west of Peebles Mountain. The town covers about 4.03 square miles (10.44 km2) of land.
Lovingston is 147 miles (237 km) from Washington, D.C. It is also 102 miles (164 km) from Richmond.
Lovingston's Weather
Lovingston has a humid subtropical climate. This means it has four distinct seasons. All months get a good amount of rain. The time from May to September is the wettest.
Winters are cool, with January averaging about 34.5 °F (1.4 °C). Spring and autumn are pleasant transition seasons. Summers are hot and humid. July averages about 75.6 °F (24.2 °C). Snowfall changes a lot each year. It is usually light and does not stay long. The average snowfall is 17.1 inches (43.4 cm).
Population Information
In 2010, there were 520 people living in Lovingston. There were 231 households and 114 families. About 21.6% of households had children under 18.
The average age of people in Lovingston was 53.5 years. About 16.5% of the population was under 18. About 20.4% were 65 or older.
The average income for a household was $26,964. For families, it was $70,486. About 6% of the people lived below the poverty line.
Interesting Places to Visit
Kilmartin's Pharmacy Building
The white building at 622 Front Street has a long history. It started as a place for horses and travelers in the early 1800s. The bottom part was changed for shops in the 1930s.
During the American Civil War, it was used as a hospital for soldiers. The apartments upstairs have been home to many families. This includes pastors of local churches.
The building is best known as a pharmacy. Dr. E.B. Rowan opened it in 1932. Later, Dr. Joseph Kilmartin ran it. Kilmartin's Pharmacy was a popular spot. They made some of the best milkshakes in Nelson County! The drug store closed in 1980.
The Orchard House
The Orchard House was built in 1874. It was the second home of Judge John D. Horsley. His son, Thomas M. Horsley, lived here next. He started a successful orchard business called Village View.
After Thomas passed away, his wife let the orchard decline. But then she worked hard to save it. The orchard continued to operate until 1962. Today, it is a bed and breakfast.
The Mountain Cove Vineyard
The vineyard was started in 1973 by AI Weed. He was the second president of the Virginia Winery Association. It covers 600 acres outside Lovingston's historic area.
The land was once used for growing apples, corn, and tobacco. It was also used for raising cattle. The original buildings from around 1860 are still used for storage today.
Nelson Hall Movie Theater
Lovingston used to have its own movie theater called Nelson Hall. It was moved to Front Street in the 1920s. The manager, J. H. McClellan, bought the theater in 1945. He added a brick lobby and an upstairs apartment.
The theater could seat 300 people on the first floor. There was also a balcony for 99 people. During segregation, African American moviegoers could only sit in the balcony.
At its busiest, the theater showed movies on weeknights and weekends. On Thursday nights, there were live stage shows. These often featured local musicians or traveling Vaudeville acts. Nelson Hall closed in 1973. The building is now sometimes used for performances or as a church.
Bright Hope Baptist Church
Bright Hope Baptist Church is a very old and important African-American landmark in Lovingston. It sits on a hill overlooking the town. The church and a school (which is no longer there) were built around 1870. They were built by the American Missionary Association. They served the freedmen and women of Nelson County. The church cemetery has over 100 marked graves.
Famous People from Lovingston
A few famous people were born in or near Lovingston. They have helped make Lovingston known.
- Leslie Bibb, an actress
- DeLane Fitzgerald, a college football coach
- Jimmy Fortune, a country singer and tenor for The Statler Brothers
- W. A. R. Goodwin, a pastor and known as the "Father of Colonial Williamsburg"
- Walter Loving
- Thomas Whitehead, a politician, lawyer, and newspaper editor
Images for kids
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Front Street in Lovingston
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Damage from Hurricane Camille on the outskirts of Lovingston
See also
In Spanish: Lovingston (Virginia) para niños
