Editing Stuart, Virginia (section)

===Civil War, reconstruction and growth (1860–1916)===
[[File:Danville and Western Railway.jpg|thumb|left|175px|Engine, Danville and Western Railway, ca. 1900]]
Following the economic difficulties of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the residents of Taylorsville focused their energies on expanding [[railroad]]s to connect to markets and boost the economy. The [[Danville and New River Railroad]] was chartered in 1873, with the line completed to [[Martinsville, Virginia]] in nearby Henry County by 1881. In 1883, citizens of Patrick County approved a bond of $150,000 to expand the line. The first train pulled into Taylorsville in August 1884. With the growth associated with the railroad, Taylorsville was incorporated as a town in 1884 and was renamed Stuart in honor of Confederate [[Major General]] [[J.E.B. Stuart]], who was born 20 miles west of town in [[Ararat, Virginia]].

Following the completion of the railroad, the town of Stuart continued to grow steadily. The population increased 25% from 300 in 1884 to 371 in 1900. While occupations continued to center around the courthouse functions and the typical needs of a trading center, the [[1900 United States census|1900 census]] reflects the influence of the railroad by recording four railroad employees, eight salesmen, one [[insurance agent]], one [[mining engineer]], and one timber dealer. Five teachers, three hotels, two druggists, and two bartenders also indicate the growth of the town. The construction of the railroad led to the distinction of "uptown" and "downtown" Stuart. The original courthouse village was situated at the crest of a hill. An industrial and commercial area developed adjacent to the railroad, which was located further downhill along the flats of the [[Mayo River (Dan River)|Mayo River]]. "Uptown" continued to serve as the center of the town with the courthouse, churches, school, attorneys' offices, banks, hotels, and stores. The two areas, however, were closely related and interdependent; the town's first [[telephone]] line at the turn of the twentieth century was run between the railroad depot downtown and the Hotel Perkins uptown.
[[File:J. Gurney & Son - J.E.B. Stuart.jpg|thumb|right|175px|General J. E. B. Stuart, namesake of Stuart, Virginia]]