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Farmville Area Information
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Emergency Phone Numbers
Fire..............................................................................................
911
Police..........................................................................................
911
Rescue
Squad.............................................................................
911
Blue Ridge Poison Control Center
...........................1-800-451-1428
FBI.......................................................(Richmond)...1-804-261-1044
National Response Center, Oil & Chemical
Spills.....1-800-424-8802
Virginia Missing Children Clearing House
................1-800-822-4453
State
Police...............................................................1-800-552-0962
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Non-Emergency
Town Fire
Department......................................................
392-6643
Town
Police......................................................................
392-3332
Rescue Squad
..................................................................
392-6973
Sheriffs
Department..........................................................
392-8101
State Police
(Appomattox)................................................
352-7128
MADD (Mothers Against Drunk
Driving).................... 1-800-533-6233
Virginia Legal
Aid...........................................................
392-8108
Commonwealth Girl Scout
Council................................. 223-1040
Better Business
Bureau...........................................1-800-955-5100
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Hospital
& Medical
Prince Edward County Health
Department....................... 392-8187
Southside Community
Hospital........................................ 392-8811
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Administration
Chamber of
Commerce....................................................
392-3939
County Administrator's
Office........................................... 392-8837
County Treasurer's
Office................................................. 392-3454
Commissioner of Revenue
............................................... 392-3231
Department of Motor
Vehicles.......................................... 392-9488
Office of Economic
Development...................................... 392-1482
Town Manager's Office
..................................................... 392-5686
Town
Shop........................................................................
392-3331
Town Treasurer's
Office.................................................... 392-3333
Social Security
Administration.......................................... 392-8121
Virginia Employment
Commission..................................... 392-8871
Voter Registrar's
Office......................................................
392-4767
Prince Edward County Dog
Warden.................................. 392-8837
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Utilities
Sprint................................................................................
392-3121
Town Water & Sewer
Service........................................... 392-3333
Dominion Virginia
Power..........................................1-888-667-3000
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Guide to
Farmville, Virginia.
Through strong leadership and
vision, the officials of Prince Edward County, Cumberland County and
the Town of Farmville have enriched the quality of the lives of
their citizens. By carefully developing the local economy, while
preserving their heritage, the people have created a community with
a very promising future.
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History
Prince Edward County was formed in 1764
from Amelia County and named for Edward Augustus, son of Frederick,
Prince of Wales. For over 100 years, the county courthouse was
located at Worsham.
Formed in 1748 from Goochland and named for
the Duke of Cumberland, second eon of King George II, the earliest
call for independence came from Cumberland County. April 22, 1776.
Over 200 years ago, there was only a ford
across the Appomattox River between Prince Edward and Cumberland
Counties, but this was the beginning of the future Town of
Farmville. In February 1762, a bridge was completed across
Rutledge's crossing; the settlement which grew up around the bridge
was later founded as the Town of Farmville in 1798- The Town of
Farmville was incorporated in 1912, and has served as the county
seat since 1872.
The Farmville area forms a part of
America's proudest and greatest past. Patrick Henry, five-time
Governor of Virginia, lived in Prince Edward County from 1786 to
1794 and served as Prince Edward's representative in the Virginia
General Assembly. It was during that time that he delivered his
famous "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech.
Hampden-Sydney College
(Read More),
located five miles south of Farmville, was founded on January 1,
1776. Hampden-Sydney College is the tenth oldest institution of
higher learning in the United States.
Chartered in 1839, Farmville Female
Seminary, presently Longwood College
(Read More),
was established in Farmville. Longwood was the first state teacher
training college in Virginia.
The Civil War
(Read More),
during its final stages was very close to Farmville. The last major
battle of the war was on April 6, 1865, at Sayler's Creek, located
on the Prince Edward and,
Amelia County lines. General Joseph E.
Johnston, a noted Confederate, was born at Longwood House in
Farmville, which is currently the home of the President of Longwood
College.
Navigation of the
Appomattox River and the expansion of the railroad contributed to
the early growth and prosperity of Farmville and surrounding
counties and to its establishment as a retail, agricultural and
industrial center for Southside Virginia.
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Location
Located in the south-central section of
Virginia, Prince Edward County is generally referred to as being in
Southside Virginia. Four major cities (Richmond,
Charlottesville, Lynchburg and Petersburg) are about one hour's
driving time away.
From Farmville to: Miles
Atlanta 480
Baltimore 220
Charlottesville 65
Lynchburg 49
New York 403
Norfolk 148
Philadelphia 329
Richmond 68
Roanoke 102
Washington 171
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Climate
The climate in the Farmville area is
relatively mild and temperate with short periods of high
temperatures in the summer and occasional low temperatures in the
winter. Snowfalls are infrequent and generally of overnight
duration. The spring and fall seasons provide extremely pleasant
weather.
Annual Average
Rainfall 43.2"
Snowfall 16.1"
Temperature 56.7°F
January 37.7°F
July 77.7°F
Prevailing Winds
Southwest
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Area &.
Population
Town of Farmville
Area ................................6.6 Sq.
Miles
Population ......................6,845
(2000)
Cumberland County
Area ...............................292
Sq. Miles
Population......................7,825 (2000)
Prince Edward County
Area ...............................357
Sq. Miles
Population .....................19,720 (2000)
(U.S. Census Data 2000)
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Local
Economy
The Farmville area has a strong,
diversified economy. Manufacturing industries include carbon
brushes, shoes, felt textiles, wood products and apparel.
The Town of Farmville serves as the hub of
retail and commercial activity for an eight-county region in central
Virginia and has a service market area in excess of 100,000 people.
Total taxable retail sales in the town of Farmville in 2000 were
$322million.
The market value of agricultural products
sold in 1993 was an estimated $10 million, with tobacco, dairy,
beef, grains and forest products being the major agricultural
components of the county's economy.
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Finance
There are six banks with branches in Farmville. Prince Edward County, Cumberland County and the Town of
Farmville all have industrial development authorities which issue
revenue bonds.
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Chamber of Commerce
The Farmville Area Chamber of Commerce
exists to improve the quality of life of those living and doing
business in the community by working in partnership with its members
and local government. Focusing leadership on challenges and
opportunities, the chamber strives to empower individual business
and the collective entrepreneurial community to fulfill their
financial and human potential. The Farmville Area Chamber of
Commerce strives to be an advocate for the community's best
interests and a catalyst for achieving those goals which are best
for its members and the greater community.
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Government Information
Prince Edward County and Cumberland County
operate under the traditional form of county government with an
elected Board of Supervisors, which employs a county administrator.
The Administrator is directly responsible for the execution of
County functions in the interim between meetings of the Board.
Prince Edward is divided into eight districts with one Board member
elected from each district. Cumberland has five districts with one
member from each.
The Town of Farmville, like all towns in
Virginia, is a semi-independent political unit and it is a part of
Prince Edward County and Cumberland County. Farmville operates under
the direction of a Mayor, a seven-member council, and a Town
Manager, who is appointed yearly by the Council. The Mayor is
elected at-large and serves a term of four years. The Town is
divided into five wards, with one council member elected per ward
and two council members elected at-large.
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Voting
A
United States citizen, 18 years of age or older, may vote in all
election provided they are a duly registered voter in their county. For
further information, please contact: General Voter Register.
Courthouse Building, Farmville, Virginia 23901, (434) -392-4767.
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Newspapers
The Farmville
Herald, founded in 1890, has a circulation of about 9,000. Serving
the Town of Farmville and the Counties of Prince Edward, Cumberland
and Buckingham. The Farmville Herald is published two times a week.
The community is indeed fortunate to have a newspaper with the
quality of reporting and publishing of The Farmville Herald.
One daily Richmond newspaper is also available, The Richmond Times
Dispatch.
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Radio
WFLO is located on the Cumberland Road just north of the Town of
Farmville. WFLO FM operates 24 hours a day on a frequency of 95.7
megacycles with an effective radiated power of 50,000 watts. WFLO AM
has been on the air since 1947 broadcasting during daylight hours on
a frequency of 870 kilocycles with a power of 1,000 watts.
WPAK, with offices and broadcast facilities on the Old Plank Road in
Jackson Heights, is an AM station operating at 1490 kilocycles, with
1,000 watts daytime power and 250 watts for nighttime broadcasts.
Founded in 1992, WXJK-FM is located
just north of Farmville in Cumberland County- With a format of
classic and new rock the station serves a large portion of the
area's population. Located at 101,3 on the FM Dial WXJK is owned and
operated by David Layne. WXJK is on the air 24 hours per day with
6,000 watts of power.
WVHL is the area's newest FM station, featuring a country music
format. Operating 24 hours per day at 92.9 megacycles, the 6,000
watt station covers a 60 mile radius, the rural area between
Richmond and Lynchburg. The office studio is located next the The
Farmville Herald on North Street in downtown Farmville.
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Television
Good reception is received in the Farmville area from TV stations
located in Richmond, Petersburg, Lynchburg and Roanoke. The three
major networks (ABC, NEC, CBS), public broadcasting and cable
channels are also available through a cable TV system franchised by
the Town of Farmville.
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Churches
Over forty churches, located throughout the Town and County,
represent most denominations. Protestant, Catholic and Evangelical
congregations all have places of worship and Jewish synagogues are
available in nearby metropolitan area.
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Hospital
Southside Community Hospital Association, chartered in 1925, is a
not-for-profit, charitable organization. The hospital, established
in 1927, serves the residents of Amelia, Appomattox, Buckingham,
Charlotte, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward
Counties, As the only full-service medical facility in an
eight-county area, the hospital plays a significant role in South
Central Virginia by providing quality, affordable health care to all
residents. SCH's mission is to improve the quality of life in the
communities served by improving the health status of the community
and each individual.
Southside Community Hospital in Farmville is a 116-bed, full service
acute care hospital which provides 24 hour emergency service, an
intensive-coronary care unit, Same Day Surgery Center, The Birthing
Center for obstetrics, pediatrics, physical/speech/occupational
therapy, radiology, pathology and home health care.
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Rescue
Squad
The Prince Edward County Volunteer Rescue
Squad operates from its new permanent building on Doswell Street-
This all volunteer organization answers some 60 calls a month and
travels about 20,000 miles annually. Cumberland County also has two
Volunteer Rescue Squads, serving the central and northern portions
of the county.
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Fire
Protection
The Farmville area has have excellent fire
protection with active departments in the Town of Farmville,
Meherrin, Hampden-Sydney, Prospect, Rice and Cumberland Court House.
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Town
Water & Sewer
For service/information call the Treasurer
of Farmville; 392-3333.
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Trash
Collection
The Town of Farmville maintains a trash and
garbage collection service for residents within the town limits. To
determine the days for your particular location, we recommend that
you call the Town Shop at 392-3331.
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Telephone
Service in Farmville, Prince Edward County,
Buckingham County, an area in the Abilene section of Charlotte
County, and the Southern portion of Cumberland County is provided by
Sprint. The Farmville toll-free calling area includes the
communities of Hampden-Sydney, Prospect, Cumberland, Arvonia,
Buckingham, Dillwyn, Burkeville, Cartersville and Keysville.
The service includes five exchanges for the
Farmville area - 392/315/395/390/391. For information call 392-3121.
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Electricity
Electricity is furnished in the town and
much of the county by Dominion Virginia Power- For service or
information call 888-667-3000.
Much of the rural area is served by
Southside Electric Cooperative whose main office is located in Crewe
For information call 1-800-552-2118.
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Transportation -
Bus
The Farmville Area Bus makes daily
scheduled stops at designated areas all around the Town of Farmville
and Longwood College. For more information, please call (434)
392-7433.
Greyhound Bus Lines schedules daily runs
through the county with inter connections to all points. Greyhound
also offers charter, freight, and express package service. The
station is located at 204 East Third Street in downtown Farmville.
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Transportation -
Air
The Farmville Regional Airport is located
approximately 4.5 miles north of Farmville in Cumberland County.
Farmville Regional enjoys a paved 4400-foot by 75 foot runway, and
facilities which include runway lights, a service hanger,
administration building and parking lot. Farmville Regional has NDB
and GPS approaches and pilot controlled lighting sunset to dawn. The
airport is operated by Heart of Virginia Aviation and is a full
service fixed base operator. Computerized weather is available
and AWOS on the field.
Charter flights, air freight, air
ambulance, flight instruction and plane rentals are among the
services offered.
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Highways
Three U.S. Highways serve Prince Edward
County. U. S. Highway 460 is a major traffic artery traversing the
entire northern portion of the county from east to west. North-south
U. S. Highway 15 passes through Farmville and the center of the
county. U. S. Highway 360 passes through the extreme southeastern
part of the county and serves as a major access route to the State
Capital. Route 45 connects Farmville to Cumberland C. H. and U. S.
Highway 60, which is a major east-west route through Richmond. With
four primary state highways and numerous secondary highways, there
are over 500 miles of paved or improved roads service Prince Edward
County.
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Licenses
Drivers permits, Virginia automobile
licenses, and automobile registration forms may be obtained from the
DMV office at 300 Virginia Street in Farmville. It is open Monday
through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Town of Farmville or County license tags
are required for each automobile owned by a resident. These must be
obtained by April 15th of each year, or within 60 days of becoming a
resident, from the Town Treasurer on the first floor of the
Municipal Building or the County Treasurer's office in the
Courthouse.
Dog licenses may be obtained from the
Treasurer of the County.
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Social Security
The regional Social Security office in the
Longwood Village Shopping Center on South Main Street in Farmville
is open Monday through Friday, except national holidays, from 9 a.m.
to 4:30 p.m. They offer a full range of service for Social Security,
Medicare, and supplemental security income.
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State
Lottery Office
One of the seven statewide regional
lottery offices is located in Farmville, in the Longwood Village
Shopping Center. The Farmville office serves an area of 17 counties
and four cities, from Amherst to Petersburg and south to Halifax
County, The lottery office validates large winners and serves the
merchants who are authorized to sell lottery tickets.
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Virginia Employment Commission
The Virginia Employment Commission office
is located in Farmville at 1705 East Third Street, with telephone
392-8871, and hours, 8:30 - 4:30, Monday-Friday. The office serves
Farmville and the seven county area that is known as the Piedmont
Planning District. The employment office is instrumental in matching
people with jobs, and jobs with people. It also processes
unemployment benefits.
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Educational Facilities
The influence of education is a dominant
factor in the lives of everyone in the Farmville community. From
pre school to college, the opportunities exist for residents to
achieve the highest degree of academic accomplishment.
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Prince Edward County Public School System
The Prince Edward County Public Schools are
committed to providing varied experiences and activities that will
enhance each student's opportunities to develop the ideas, skills,
and abilities that will make him or her a productive member of
society, The school system prides itself in these high standards of
education as well as in increased modernization, and in serving the
many needs of this still largely rural community.
Prince Edward County Public Schools consist
of three schools which occupy 10 buildings. Each school, Prince
Edward County Elementary School, Prince Edward County Middle School,
and Prince Edward County High School is fully accredited by the
Virginia State Department of Education, and the Southern Association
of Colleges and Schools.
The Prince Edward County Public Schools
enjoy community involvement and support. Active parent-teacher
organizations work closely within the system, advising
administrators on various phases of school operation to maintain
open lines of communication. Parents and other patrons serve on
many committees, advisory councils, and task forces.
Community businessmen and industrialists,
as well as private individuals and social agencies, regularly make
monetary, product, and service contributions aimed at helping the
Prince Edward County Public School System achieve its potential.
Most of all, the community lends its support as the system rapidly
climbs the ladder toward being one of the best school divisions in
the state. Grades Kindergarten through four are housed at
Prince Edward County Elementary School, a campus style climate controlled
facility that readily lends itself to a comprehensive educational
program. A rich and varied curriculum is offered, with students
assigned to classes based on their academic, social, and emotional
needs. A philosophy of continuous progress instruction, combined
with adherence to minimum promotion standards, insures that all
students acquire basic skills.
The completion of an addition to the
elementary school in the Fall 1995 has enlarged the facility to
accommodate over 1,140 students. New classrooms, an expanded
cafeteria and library, a new art room, rooms designed as computer
centers, special facilities for the handicapped, additional
conference rooms, additional storage space, upgrading the
playgrounds, and an amphitheater for assemblies have enhanced the
learning environment of the school.
The different grade levels at the Middle
School are organized to best meet the needs of their students. Fifth
grade students work with two teachers in a team who teach the basic
skills in language arts, math, social studies, and science.
The students attend special classes for
keyboarding, music, library, physical education, chorus, and band,
with instruction from specialists. Grades six, seven, and eight
Operate on a bell schedule and change classes each 50-minute
period.
They, too, are in elective classes but have
a much broader range of classes from which to choose, such as Work
and Family Studies, Industrial Technology, and foreign language.
Each year, the administration, faculty, and
students of Prince Edward County High School seek to improve upon
the goals of the previous years in order to create a more
disciplined learning environment, better home-community relations,
improvement of standardized test scores, and all-around academic
excellence.
The high school endeavors to prepare
students through its academic and vocational programs for post high
school studies and the world of work. The academic program consists
of the following departments: English, Foreign Languages, Social
Studies, Mathematics, Science, Health and Physical Education, Art
and Music.
Prince Edward County High School has a
complete athletic program for all students. The "Eagles" have won
numerous championships in district, regional and state
competitions. Other activities include choir, band, speech and
drama.
The Vocational Technical Center of Prince
Edward County High School offers courses in Vocational Business,
Vocational Home Economics, Trade and Industrial Education,
Distributive Education and Industrial Arts. The school system also
has an Adult Education Program, offering a wide range of courses for
those wishing to complete a high school education or develop
vocational or technical skills.
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Fuqua School
Fuqua School is a college preparatory,
pre-kindergarten through grade 12, independent day school,
enrolling and transporting students from 13 counties in south
central Virginia.
A strong curriculum and student centered
instruction ensure the highest quality education and foster
individual development and self worth. Students are encouraged to
put forth their best effort, show respect for one another, give
service to the community, and take pride in themselves.
With an average class size of 18 students,
Fuqua School has been able to implement individualized courses of
study. School-wide "continuous progress" instruction makes it
possible for students to advance at their own pace without
limitation. Lower School students (grades pre-kindergarten- 5)
learn in a multi age setting. Middle School students (grades 6-8)
benefit from a true middle school concept with emphasis on academic,
emotional, and social growth. Upper School students (grades 9-12)
attend classes in a 4 x 4 block schedule which allows for more
comprehensive instruction within each discipline.
Technology plays a vital role in
instruction and communication and is integrated into all curricular
areas. Every classroom at Fuqua School is equipped with at least 5
computers, a TV/VCR, and a laserdisc player. Through a network
system, students can access word processing programs, reference
materials, and the World Wide Web. These resources, along with
distance learning, help Fuqua students develop the skills necessary
for success in a global and technologically advanced society.
For further information, please telephone
392-4131 or come by for a school tour. Fuqua School is located at
Church and Catlin Street.
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Prospect Christian Academy
The Prospect Christian Academy is located
about 12 miles west of Farmville near the village of Prospect.
PCA is a Christian School that utilizes the
School of Tomorrow Program. This program includes all core
subjects, i.e., Math, English, Science, Social Studies, Word
Building, and computer as well as several electives, thus providing
a well-rounded Christian education for all of our students. Our
program provides an education from Preschool through Grade Level 12
(including college preparatory). Extra curricular activities, such
as educational field trips, athletic events, and State and
International Student Competition are included in the Educational
Program.
PCA has been in operation since 1979 as a
ministry of Prospect Gospel Tabernacle. It is the oldest existing
Christian School in the area. Pastor Gary L. Stoots serves as
Principal and upper level supervisor. He and his staff work together
to provide a high quality education based on Biblical principles.
PCA's theme is Providing a Biblical
education. Teaching young people how to live, as well as how to make
a living.
PCA looks forward to the opportunity to
provide a quality Christian education to the children in the Central
Virginia area.
For further information or a school visit,
call 574-6674.
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New Life Christian Academy
New Life Christian Academy, founded in
1985, as a ministry of New Life Assembly of God, has recognized the
community's need for a wholesome, well balanced, educational program
founded on the person and work of Christ.
The Academy is situated on a spacious 20
acre campus. Facilities include a gymnasium, cafeteria,
soccer/softball field, school offices, a preschool, library and
classrooms.
NLCA has six multi-grade classes and uses
both Abeka and Bob Jones curricula. The average number of students
per grade is five (1.0 per multi-grade). For the year 2001-2002, the
Academy will offer Kindergarten through ninth grade with all teacher
taught classes. Plans are to offer a tenth grade in 2002-2003, an
eleventh grade 2003-2004 and a twelfth grade 2004-2005.
Sports teams at the Academy play
volleyball, soccer and basketball in a Christian Conference that
includes schools in Charlottesville, Halifax and the Piedmont area.
The school plans to add Band as one of its
electives in the fall of 2002. It already offers music and art on a
weekly basis.
The Administrator holds a Master of Arts
degree from Longwood College and is currently working on her
doctorate. Teachers hired by the school are either state licensed or
are working towards state certification in their areas of teaching.
The Mission Statement of the school is to
provide opportunity for students to maximize their full potential in
a Christ-centered environment, causing them to understand that they
are unique beings created by God, born to be children of God, and
called to be effective contributors in the home, church and
community.
For information, call 392-6236 between 9-"
3 or write 9 Mahan Road, Farmville, VA 23901.
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Longwood
(College)
University
Longwood College, founded in 1839, is a
coeducational state college with a collegial atmosphere and a proud
tradition of academic excellence. The College is listed in the top
tier of public universities in the South in US News & World Report.
The Schools of Business & Economics and Education & Human Services
are nationally accredited as well as the programs in Theatre and
Music.
With 3,900 students, the College is large
enough to offer diverse programs, yet small enough to respond to
each student's needs. Longwood offers 100 majors, minors, and
concentrations, and Master's Degree programs in Education, English,
Environmental Studies, and Sociology.
Longwood's evening and summer programs are
being expanded to provide educational opportunities for working
adults- In addition, the Longwood Small Business Development Center
and the Division of Continuing Education are working with area
businesses and communities to provide specialized courses,
workshops, seminars and distance learning programs, to meet their
needs.
Various college facilities, such as the golf
course, swimming pool, athletic fields, gymnasium, auditorium and
meeting rooms are available to the public during certain hours.
Plays, concerts, and art exhibits serve
77,000 citizens annually.
Longwood's new state-of-the-art library has
more than 900,000 holdings, as well as technology for obtaining
information from worldwide sources. The library is open to community
residents.
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts,
located in downtown Farmville, is renowned for its collections of
Virginia artists and presents exhibits and workshops for the local
community and school children.
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Hampden-Sydney
College
Hampden-Sydney College, founded in 1776, is
an independent liberal arts college for men. The College is
committed to the belief, that a liberal arts education provides the
best foundation, not only for a professional career but also for the
great moral and intellectual challenges of life.
Hampden-Sydney offers 27 academic majors
with programs for Pre-Law, Pre-Medicine and Dual Degree Programs in
engineering with Georgia Technical Institute and Virginia
Polytechnic Institute.
The
Fuqua International Communications Center provides
state-of-the-art contact with worldwide TV transmissions, as well
as computer and laser disc archives of great films, ballets, operas
and reference works.
Eggleston Library offers over 155,000
volumes and publications for students' research needs, and the
Gilmer Science Laboratory is one of the South's finest centers,
allowing students to participate in sophisticated research.
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Southside Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College,
located in Keysville (20 miles south of Farmville) offers a
university parallel college transfer program, numerous associate
degree programs, including engineering technology, health and public
service technology, business and data processing. In addition, the
College offers customized academic and vocational training programs
for business, industry and public agencies.
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Recreation
Recreational activities of a remarkably
wide selection are available in Prince Edward county and surrounding
Southside Virginia. Every season offers a selection of enjoyable
choices for individuals of all age groups.
The Farmville and Prince Edward County
Recreation Departments offer a wide variety of recreational
programs, to include adult volleyball; adult basketball; men's,
women's, and coed softball; youth football and numerous seasonal
arts and crafts programs for adults and youth. Summer programs are
offered cooperatively with numerous agencies within the county. Call
392-5054 for more information about these programs.
The Prince Edward/Farmville Youth
Association has recently completed their "Field of Dreams" complex
just west of Farmville. This complex features five lighted playing
fields and parking for 250 cars. The PEFYA provides sports programs
to over 700 area youngsters including spring and fall soccer, girls'
softball. baseball and basket-ball.
Grove Street Park has a summer program
sponsored by the Farmville Junior Women's Club with some financial
assistance by local civic clubs. The program is open to the public
for children ages four through nine, during the month of July. Under
supervision of a director and four assistants, the children are
engaged in arts and crafts, social activities, and picnics.
The Prince Edward Recreation Center also
has a supervised summer program on South Main Street in Farmville.
It is supported by public and private donations. The program is open
to all children from ages seven to sixteen and provides many
activities ranging from organized games to athletics and with focus
on learning situations.
Longwood and Hampden-Sydney athletic
facilities are available to the community when it does not conflict
with a scheduled school activity. The facilities include tennis
courts, soccer fields, gymnasiums, swimming pools, golf courses,
etc.
For the "spectator athlete", Longwood and
Hampden-Sydney have gained national reputations in basketball,
baseball and football in their divisions. Only a short distance away
are the universities of the Atlantic Coast and Sunbelt Conferences.
Prince Edward County is situated in the
center of an area served by three of Virginia's State Parks. Twin
Lakes State Parka is located in the eastern part of the county, and
Bear Creek Lake, in Cumberland County, and Holliday Lake State Park,
in Buckingham-Appomattox Counties, are located within 25 miles of
Farmville. Swimming, boating, fishing and camping are available at
all of the parks.
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Briery Creek Lake,
and Wildlife Area is located in Prince Edward
County about 8 miles south of Farmville. The 845-acre lake is
managed by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and
stocked with largemouth bass, catfish, sunfish, crappie and
bluegill.
Wilck's Lake,
located within the town, is also a popular site for fishing, boating
and picnicking. Approximately 50 miles south of Farmville is Buggs
Island Lake (Kerr Reservoir) covering 49,800 acres with 800 miles of
shoreline.
Other recreational facilities include
Landing View and Briery Country Clubs.
Both of these private clubs have nine-hole golf courses, swimming
pools, tennis courts and clubhouse facilities.
Of historical interest,
Sayler's Creek Battlefield Park, Patrick Henry's home and the
Appomattox Surrender Grounds are within 30 minutes of Farmville.
Within one hour of Farmville, located in Charlottesville, are James
Monroe's home, Ash Lawn Plantation, and Thomas Jefferson's home,
Monticello. Also located in Charlottesville is the historic
University of Virginia. Colonial Williamsburg is only a two hour
drive from Farmville.
Other recreational attractions within two
hours of Farmville are King's Dominion Amusement Park, Wintergreen
Ski Resort, Busch Gardens Theme Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Virginia Beach Resort and Washington D.C. are only three hours from
Farmville.
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Lee's
Retreat
Farmville is at the center of 26 stop
driving tour connecting Petersburg to Appomattox and following
the route of Genera! Lee's Retreat at the end of the Civil War.
Visitors can tune their radios to AM 1610 at each stop and hear an
interpretive radio message highlighting the events that happened at
that site during Lee's retreat.
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Sandy
River Reservoir
The Sandy River Reservoir, the Farmville
area's newest lake, is a 740-acre impoundment stocked and managed
by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. The sport
fishery includes largemouth bass, bluegill, redear sunfish, and
channel catfish. Public facilities at the reservoir include a double
boat ramp with courtesy pier and a 150-foot fishing pier. Both of
these facilities are handicapped accessible and plenty of paved
parking is available.
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Cultural Activities
One is surrounded by many cultural
amenities within the Prince Edward Farmville community. Outstanding
college activities contribute greatly, as do local festivals and
community events. All of these play an integral part in the rich
quality of life, that is available to residents of this community.
Longwood College sponsors a variety of
programs each year in the performing arts including The Christmas
Dinner and Concert and the Chamber Music Series, which are very
special events and unique to the area. Roy dark, country music
superstar, performs two benefit concerts every fall on the Longwood
campus. Throughout the academic year, the Longwood Players present
a series of plays, and performances by the College Concert Choir,
the Camerata Singers, the Jazz Band and The Longwood College Company
of Dancers are presented for the pleasure of the student body and
the members of the community.
Lectures by well-known figures and a
variety of educational programs arc sponsored by academic
departments and student organizations throughout the year to which
the public is cordially invited.
The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts
offers a wide variety of quality exhibitions accompanied by
educational programs such as lectures, gallery talks, workshops,
seminars, and docent led tours. The permanent Collection features
19th century American paintings, work by 20th century Virginia
artists, contemporary crafts, and a study collection of paintings
and decorative arts.
Art exhibits in the Bedford Gallery,
Bedford Art Building, feature the work of contemporary artists as
well as work by Longwood students.
Hampden-Sydney College also regularly
sponsors a great variety of cultural and academic programs- The
nationally recognized " Hampden-Sydney Music Festival" brings
musicians, students and audiences together for two weeks of
concerts, each June.
The student dramatics group, the Jongleurs,
stages plays at regular intervals during the school year.
Politicians, corporate executives, authors and other well-known
public figures give lectures at Hampden-Sydney throughout the year.
For over 25 years, the Waterworks Players
have brought the magic of live theatre to area audiences and
provided an artistic outlet for local actors, singers, designers and
technicians.
The Waterworks Players are happy to
continue providing the best in community theatre from their new home
on the outskirts of town, with plenty of safe, free parking and an
adaptable multiuse facility.
The "Heart of
Virginia Festival" is an annual
celebration, held in Farmville, each May. It is the site of one of
the largest arts and crafts shows in Southside Virginia.
Paintings and educational exhibits are
displayed on the lawn of Longwood College, just one block from the
downtown area, where the arts and crafts are presented.
A 10-K race opens the festivities on
Saturday morning, and an outdoor concert and fireworks show wind up
the events on Saturday evening. The Heart of Virginia Festival, a
non-profit, community sponsored celebration was first held in 1978
and has become one of the most popular attractions in the area, with
crowds estimated at more than 25,000.
Rose Bower Vineyard and Winery, located
near Hampden-Sydney is open for tours and wine tasting, and
celebrates the vineyard year with a series of festivals.
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Libraries
Prince Edward County has an abundance of
library facilities available to the members of the community.
The Farmville Prince Edward Community
Library is a combination of the old Farmville Public Library and the
Farmville Reading Room. The purchase of the library building and its
renovation originated through community efforts and financing. The
library was dedicated in September, 1987 and has approximately 8,000
volumes.
The Prince Edward County Public School
Library has over 10,000 volumes of books, plus numerous periodicals,
newspapers, and an extensive collection of film strips. A complete
audio-visual department is available.
The new $6.8 million Longwood College
Library, with a two-story entrance hall flanked by columns, provides
computer technology for information retrieval from libraries
through out the world, as well as satellite reception of foreign
programs. The Library has an online catalog and an online
circulation system. It houses a collection of 900,000 print and
non-print materials, the largest holdings available to the public in
the Southside area. During the regular session the Library is open
for scheduled periods totaling 100 hours a week.
Eggleston Library at Hampden-Sydney College
has over 150,000 volumes and periodicals specifically selected for
undergraduate research. The Fuqua International Communications
Center features shortwave radio, satellite television reception.
video tape and laser disc television viewing, and a microcomputer
lab. The library also has a large collection of children's books
which are available to the community, as well as the Jones Rare Book
Room with manuscripts, books, and first editions.
The James J. Kilpatrick Library is
maintained by Fuqua School and has over 14,000 volumes and
periodicals. It is equipped with an audio-visual department to
supplement its library and to present various information to
classrooms.
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Local Points of Interest
Longwood House,
the birthplace of General Joseph E. Johnston,
a noted confederate general, has been reconstructed on its original
foundations and by the original plans. It now serves as the home of
the President of Longwood College.
Sayler's Creek Battlefield Park,
located on the eastern edge of the County,
was the site of the last, and for the Confederate Army, the most
disastrous battle of the Civil War. The Hillsman House, used by both
sides as a hospital during the war, has been restored and is open to
the public during the summer months.
Slate Hill, home
of Nathaniel Venable, was raided by Tarleton's British Calvary in
1781. The Slate Hill law office, in which the plans for the founding
of Hampden-Sydney College were made, has been moved to the College's
campus.
Needham, home
of Chancellor Creed Taylor, who established Virginia's second law
school in 1821, is located in Cumberland County, one mile north of
Farmville on Route 45.
High Bridge, a
100-foot-high, half-mile-long span which carried the Southside
Railroad across the Appomattox River, was the scene during the Civil
War of an unsuccessful Federal attempt to cut Lee's retreat route.
The Confederates managed to cross it and then set it on fire in an
attempt to hold back the advancing Federals, but they succeeded in
extinguishing the blaze and pursued Lee's army.
The Debtor's Prison,
a log structure erected in 1755 and
still standing in its original location is located in old Prince
Edward Court House, now the village of Worsham, six miles south of
Farmville on Route 15. It is maintained by the Association for the
Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.
Briery Church,
founded in the 18th century, is one of the oldest churches in Prince
Edward County. The present building was built in 1845 in Carpenter
Gothic Style and is located near Meherrin in the southeastern
section of the County.
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Details
reprinted with the permission of The Farmville Herald © 2001 - 2002
Telephone Numbers
