Pittsville, Virginia facts for kids
Pittsville is a small, quiet place located in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, in the United States. It's called an "unincorporated community" because it doesn't have its own local government like a city or town. Instead, it's part of the larger county.
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What People Do in Pittsville
Pittsville has a few local spots, like Woody's Country Store, where people can buy everyday things. There's also a Post Office for sending mail.
Most jobs in Pittsville are connected to the land. This includes agriculture (farming), forest resources (things from forests like wood), and real estate (buying and selling land and homes).
The area is also known for its beautiful views. You can see mountains like Smith Mountain, the Peaks of Otter, and parts of the famous Blue Ridge Mountains.
Recently, more people have become interested in buying land and homes here. This is because of new building projects near two lakes, Leesville Lake and Smith Mountain Lake.
Pittsville's Past
Pittsville played a small but interesting part in the early history of Virginia.
Discovering Iron Ore
In the 1860s, people looking for valuable minerals found iron ore near Pittsville. Iron ore is a rock from which we can get iron, a strong metal used for many things. They found two types: Brown Hematite and magnetic ore.
The Railroads Arrive
To move this iron ore to places where it could be used, a railroad was needed. So, in 1878, the Franklin and Pittsylvania Railroad was created. It was meant to carry the ore to markets.
Around the same time, another railroad, the Washington City, Virginia Midland & Great Southern Railroad, built a 7-mile section of track. This track connected Pittsville to a place called Franklin Junction (Gretna). This part was known as the Pittsylvania Railroad. It then linked up with the Franklin and Pittsylvania Railroad, which went west from Pittsville to Rocky Mount.
At this time, about 80 people lived in Pittsville.
End of the Railroad Era
By about 1888, most of the iron ore was gone. The railroads then mostly carried lumber (wood from trees). Eventually, the railroad company ran into money problems and went out of business. By 1932, the railway was no longer used.
Pittsville Today
Today, Pittsville is still a small community. As of 2008, the area served by its post office included about 220 homes. It also includes several newer housing developments near Leesville Lake, such as Mountain View Shores, Leesville Landing, Parker's Landing, and Eagle Point Shores. Part of the nearby community of Brights is also included in Pittsville's postal area.
