Editing Pearisburg, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Pearisburg, Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    = 
|website                  = {{URL|www.pearisburg.org}}
|image_skyline            = Giles courthouse, Pearisburg.jpg
|imagesize                = 175px
|image_caption            = Giles County Courthouse, Confederate Memorial and cupola in Pearisburg
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Pearisburg_Seal.PNG
|pushpin_map = Shenandoah Valley#USA Virginia#USA
|pushpin_label = Pearisburg
| subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Giles County, Virginia|Giles]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Robert Dickerson
|established_date         = 
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.20
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.19
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.00
|area_total_km2           = 8.28
|area_land_km2            = 8.27
|area_water_km2           = 0.01
|area_water_percent       = 0.15
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total         = 2909
|population_metro         = 
|population_footnotes     = <ref name="Census 2020">{{Cite web |url=https://data.census.gov/table/DECENNIALDP2020.DP1?g=160XX00US5161208 |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Pearisburg town, Virginia |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref>
|pop_est_as_of            = 
|pop_est_footnotes        = 
|population_est           = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 911.3
|population_density_km2   = 351.9
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;4
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|19|45|N|80|43|57|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_ft             = 1808
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24134
|area_code                = [[Area code 540|540]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-61208<ref name="GR2" />
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1498527<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007}}</ref>
|footnotes                = 
}}
'''Pearisburg''' is a town in and the county seat of [[Giles County, Virginia]], United States.<ref name="NACO">{{cite web|url=http://explorer.naco.org/index.html|title=NACo County Explorer|author=National Association of Counties|access-date=March 19, 2024}}</ref> The population was 2,909 at the time of the 2020 census.<ref name="Census 2020"/> Pearisburg is part of the [[Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area]].

==History==
Pearisburg was founded in 1808 when Giles County was established.<ref>[http://pearisburg.org/noteaboutourTown.htm History of Pearisburg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126024400/http://www.pearisburg.org/noteaboutourTown.htm |date=November 26, 2011 }}, Pearisburg Town website, accessed December 6, 2011</ref> It was named after George Pearis, a local landowner who donated a {{convert|50|acre|adj=on}} tract to be used for a town that would grow up around the county courthouse. Pearis had operated a [[ferry]] on the New River at a settlement called "Bluff City", which is incorporated into the present boundaries of the town of Pearisburg.

==Geography==
Pearisburg is located slightly west of the center of Giles County at {{coord|37|19|45|N|80|43|57|W|type:city}} (37.329184, &minus;80.732490).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> It is south of the [[New River (Kanawha River)|New River]] at the foot of Pearis Mountain, which rises to {{convert|3700|ft}} to the southwest of town. The [[Appalachian Trail]] descends Pearis Mountain and passes through the western limit of the town before crossing the New River.

[[U.S. Route 460]] passes through the north side of town, leading southeast {{convert|24|mi}} to [[Blacksburg, Virginia|Blacksburg]] and west {{convert|27|mi}} to [[Princeton, West Virginia]]. [[Virginia Route 100]] passes through the center of Pearisburg, leading south {{Convert|20|mi}} to [[Dublin, Virginia|Dublin]] near [[Interstate 81]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], Pearisburg has a total area of {{convert|8.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{Convert|0.01|sqkm|order=flip|3}}, or 0.15%, are water.<ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019"/>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 285
|1890= 341
|1900= 464
|1910= 470
|1920= 537
|1930= 668
|1940= 987
|1950= 2005
|1960= 2268
|1970= 2169
|1980= 2128
|1990= 2064
|2000= 2729
|2010= 2786
|2020= 2909
|estyear= 
|estimate= 
|estref= 
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 2,729 people, 1,219 households, and 789 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 890.7 people per square mile (344.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,279 housing units at an average density of 417.5 per square mile (161.4/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 96.12% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 2.02% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.07% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.51% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.44% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.84% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 1,219 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,720, and the median income for a family was $39,938. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $23,482 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $17,412. About 11.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==
The climate in this area features moderate differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Pearisburg has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=220844&cityname=Pearisburg%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Pearisburg, Virginia]</ref>

{{Weather box
|location =Pearisburg, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 77
|Feb record high F = 80
|Mar record high F = 88
|Apr record high F = 90
|May record high F = 90
|Jun record high F = 97
|Jul record high F = 100
|Aug record high F = 100
|Sep record high F = 95
|Oct record high F = 95
|Nov record high F = 82
|Dec record high F = 75
|year record high F = 100
|Jan high F = 42.5
|Feb high F = 46.3
|Mar high F = 54.6
|Apr high F = 65.3
|May high F = 72.6
|Jun high F = 79.6
|Jul high F = 82.8
|Aug high F = 81.4
|Sep high F = 76.2
|Oct high F = 66.3
|Nov high F = 55.4
|Dec high F = 45.9
|year high F = 64.1
|Jan mean F = 32.7
|Feb mean F = 35.6
|Mar mean F = 42.7
|Apr mean F = 52.2
|May mean F = 60.4
|Jun mean F = 68.0
|Jul mean F = 71.7
|Aug mean F = 70.4
|Sep mean F = 64.6
|Oct mean F = 53.8
|Nov mean F = 43.2
|Dec mean F = 35.9
|year mean F = 52.6
|Jan low F = 22.9
|Feb low F = 25.0
|Mar low F = 30.7
|Apr low F = 39.1
|May low F = 48.2
|Jun low F = 56.5
|Jul low F = 60.6
|Aug low F = 59.5
|Sep low F = 53.1
|Oct low F = 41.3
|Nov low F = 31.1
|Dec low F = 25.9
|year low F = 41.2
|Jan record low F = −18
|Feb record low F = −13
|Mar record low F = -5
|Apr record low F = 15
|May record low F = 26
|Jun record low F = 34
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 37
|Sep record low F = 29
|Oct record low F = 16
|Nov record low F = 8
|Dec record low F = −12
|year record low F = -18
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 3.14
|Feb precipitation inch = 2.63
|Mar precipitation inch = 3.65
|Apr precipitation inch = 3.70
|May precipitation inch = 4.69
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.00
|Jul precipitation inch = 4.70
|Aug precipitation inch = 3.46
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.35
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.89
|Nov precipitation inch = 2.70
|Dec precipitation inch = 3.26
|year precipitation inch = 42.17
|Jan snow inch = 6.5
|Feb snow inch = 6.6
|Mar snow inch = 4.0
|Apr snow inch = 0.7
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.0
|Nov snow inch = 0.3
|Dec snow inch = 4.6
|year snow inch = 22.7
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 10.7
|Feb precipitation days = 9.4
|Mar precipitation days = 11.6
|Apr precipitation days = 12.1
|May precipitation days = 13.9
|Jun precipitation days = 12.5
|Jul precipitation days = 13.1
|Aug precipitation days = 12.2
|Sep precipitation days = 9.5
|Oct precipitation days = 8.3
|Nov precipitation days = 8.8
|Dec precipitation days = 10.7
|year precipitation days = 132.8
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 3.6
|Feb snow days = 3.3
|Mar snow days = 2.2
|Apr snow days = 0.5
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.0
|Nov snow days = 0.5
|Dec snow days = 2.6
|year snow days = 12.7
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=rnk
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 1, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00448022&format=pdf
| title = Station: Pearisburg, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 1, 2021}}</ref>
}}

== Notable people ==
*[[Jason Ballard]], member of the [[Virginia House of Delegates]]
*[[Walter C. Caudill]], former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and [[Senate of Virginia]]
*[[James M. French]], member of the Virginia Senate
*[[Sally Miller Gearhart]], author and political activist
*[[David Emmons Johnston]], congressman
*[[Rick Kingrea]], former NFL linebacker
*[[Burgess Macneal]], engineer and inventor
*[[William McComas]], congressman
*[[Marty Smith (reporter)|Marty Smith]], sports journalist
*[[Randall Lee Smith]], convicted murderer
*[[Jefferson Stafford]], member of the Virginia House of Delegates
*[[James F. Strother (West Virginia politician)|James F. Strother]], congressman
*[[Creed Taylor]], jazz record producer
*[[John W. Williams (Virginia politician)|John W. Williams]], clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates
*[[Joseph R. Yost]], former member of the Virginia House of Delegates

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[http://www.pearisburg.org/ Town of Pearisburg official website]

{{Giles County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Giles County, Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:Blacksburg–Christiansburg metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1808]]
[[Category:1808 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Virginia populated places on the New River]]