Editing South Boston, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name                   = South Boston, Virginia
| settlement_type                 = Town
| nickname                        = SoBo
| motto                           = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline                   = SouthBostonVirginia.jpg
| imagesize                       = 
| image_caption                   = [[South Boston Historic District]]
| image_flag                      = 
| image_seal                      = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map                       = SouthBostonMap.svg
| mapsize                         = 250px
| map_caption                     = Location of South Boston in Halifax County, Virginia
| image_map1                      = 
| mapsize1                        = 
| map_caption1                    = <!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type                = Country
| subdivision_name                = United States
| subdivision_type1               = State
| subdivision_name1               = [[Virginia]]
| subdivision_type2               = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
| subdivision_name2               = [[Halifax County, Virginia|Halifax]]

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes            = 
| government_type                 = 
| leader_title                    = Mayor
| leader_name                     = Edward Owens
| leader_name1                    = 
| established_title               = 
| established_date                = <!-- Area -->
| 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                = 13.15
| area_land_sq_mi                 = 13.06
| area_water_sq_mi                = 0.09

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of                = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes            = 
| population_total                = 7966
| population_density_sq_mi        = 605.57

<!-- General information -->| timezone                        = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset                      = −5
| timezone_DST                    = EDT
| utc_offset_DST                  = −4
| elevation_footnotes             = 
| elevation_ft                    = 430
| coordinates                     = {{coord|36|42|28|N|78|54|12|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type                = [[ZIP Code]]
| postal_code                     = 24592
| area_code                       = [[Area code 434|434]]
| blank_name                      = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info                      = 51-73712<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>
| blank1_name                     = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info                     = 1501641<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>
| website                         = {{URL|www.southboston.com}}
| footnotes                       = 
| area_total_km2                  = 34.07
| area_land_km2                   = 33.83
| area_water_km2                  = 0.24
| name                            = 
}}

'''South Boston''', formerly '''Boyd's Ferry''',<ref>{{cite web |title=Encyclopedia of Virginia: Cities of Virginia |url=http://encyclopediavirginia.org/Cities_of_Virginia |quote=South Boston, in Halifax County, was named for Boston, Massachusetts. The town was originally located on the south side of the Dan River and called Boyd's Ferry.}}</ref> is a town in [[Halifax County, Virginia|Halifax County]], [[Virginia]], United States. The population was 8,142 at the 2010 census,<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web |url=https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5173712| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): South Boston town, Virginia| work=American Factfinder| publisher=U.S. Census Bureau| access-date=March 20, 2018| archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213092624/https://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5173712| archive-date=February 13, 2020| url-status=dead}}</ref> down from 8,491 at the 2000 census. It is the most populous town in Halifax County.

== History ==
{{PresHead|place=South Boston, Virginia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=https://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS/|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|website=Uselectionatlas.org|access-date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|1,435|1,051|271|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,694|936|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,899|974|20|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|1,615|971|63|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|1,389|1,001|48|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,865|709|31|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,298|620|669|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|1,206|636|1|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1960|Republican|807|477|3|Virginia}}

On December 8, 1796, the [[Virginia General Assembly]] authorized eight commissioners to establish at Boyd's Ferry on the south side of the [[Dan River (Virginia)|Dan River]] the town of South Boston, named for [[Boston]], [[Massachusetts]]. Because this site proved vulnerable to flooding, it was eventually abandoned in favor of a new settlement on the north side. By the 1850s the [[Richmond and Danville Railroad]] passed through South Boston, which eventually developed into an important market for brightleaf tobacco. In 1884 it was incorporated as a town; in 1960 it became an [[independent city]]; and in 1995 it made history by being the first city in Virginia to revert to town status and rejoined Halifax County.

Within the town limits [[Berry Hill Plantation]], [[E. L. Evans House]], [[Reedy Creek Site]], [[South Boston Historic District]], are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref> [[Fourqurean House]], [[Glennmary]], [[Glenwood (South Boston, Virginia)|Glenwood]], [[Tarover]], and [[Seaton (South Boston, Virginia)|Seaton]] are nearby.

South Boston was home to the National Tobacco Festival (a typically three day annual festival held every fall) from its inception in 1935 to 1941, when it was suspended during [[World War II]]. In 1948, the festival was moved to [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] when it outgrew the town. It was held in Richmond until 1984, when it was canceled due to rising production costs and decreased interest.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Heatwole|first=Anne-Ryan|date=July 21, 2010|title=New Looks for the Old Belt|url=http://www.virginialiving.com/articles/new-looks-for-the-old-belt/|access-date=January 9, 2021|website=VirginiaLiving.com|language=en-us}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Tobacco Festival Unfiltered|url=https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/726b285c003b45bfb92bb94174ef4ac5|access-date=January 9, 2021|website=ArcGIS StoryMaps|date=May 6, 2020 |language=en}}</ref> South Boston was the second largest producer of tobacco in the United States until the [[Great Depression in the United States|Great Depression]].

==Geography==
South Boston is located south of the center of Halifax County at {{coord|36|42|28|N|78|54|12|W|type:city}} (36.707722, −78.903388).<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 bordered to the south by the unincorporated community of [[Riverdale, Halifax County, Virginia|Riverdale]]. [[U.S. Route 501 in Virginia|U.S. Route 501]] passes through the center of the town, leading north {{convert|5|mi|0}} to [[Halifax, Virginia|Halifax]], the [[county seat]], and south {{convert|23|mi}} to [[Roxboro, North Carolina]]. [[U.S. Route 360 in Virginia|U.S. Route 360]] crosses the southeastern corner of the town limits, leading northeast {{convert|37|mi}} to [[Keysville, Virginia|Keysville]] and west {{convert|31|mi}} to [[Danville, Virginia|Danville]]. [[U.S. Route 58 in Virginia|U.S. Route 58]] passes through the southernmost part of South Boston with US 360, leading west with it to Danville but running east {{convert|48|mi}} to [[South Hill, Virginia|South Hill]].

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], South Boston has a total area of {{convert|34.1|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{convert|33.8|sqkm|order=flip}} are land and {{convert|0.3|sqkm|order=flip|1}}, or 0.74%, are water.<ref name="Census 2010"/> The [[Dan River (Virginia)|Dan River]], a tributary of the [[Roanoke River]], flows to the east along the southern edge of the town.

==Climate==

{{Weather box
|location = South Boston, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1977–present)
|single line = Y
| Jan record high F = 80
| Feb record high F = 83
| Mar record high F = 89
| Apr record high F = 95
| May record high F = 98
| Jun record high F = 103
| Jul record high F = 104
| Aug record high F = 104
| Sep record high F = 103
| Oct record high F = 102
| Nov record high F = 87
| Dec record high F = 80
| year record high F = 104
| Jan high F = 50.7
| Feb high F = 54.0
| Mar high F = 61.9
| Apr high F = 71.8
| May high F = 78.7
| Jun high F = 86.2
| Jul high F = 90.0
| Aug high F = 88.3
| Sep high F = 82.6
| Oct high F = 72.8
| Nov high F = 62.6
| Dec high F = 53.8
| year high F = 71.1
| Jan mean F = 38.6
| Feb mean F = 41.1
| Mar mean F = 48.1
| Apr mean F = 57.5
| May mean F = 66.0
| Jun mean F = 74.3
| Jul mean F = 78.7
| Aug mean F = 77.1
| Sep mean F = 70.8
| Oct mean F = 59.3
| Nov mean F = 48.6
| Dec mean F = 41.6
| year mean F = 58.5
| Jan low F = 26.5
| Feb low F = 28.2
| Mar low F = 34.2
| Apr low F = 43.3
| May low F = 53.4
| Jun low F = 62.5
| Jul low F = 67.4
| Aug low F = 65.9
| Sep low F = 59.0
| Oct low F = 45.7
| Nov low F = 34.7
| Dec low F = 29.3
| year low F = 45.8
| Jan record low F = −7
| Feb record low F = 1
| Mar record low F = 9
| Apr record low F = 18
| May record low F = 28
| Jun record low F = 38
| Jul record low F = 42
| Aug record low F = 39
| Sep record low F = 29
| Oct record low F = 21
| Nov record low F = 10
| Dec record low F = -4
| year record low F = -7
 |precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation inch = 3.56
| Feb precipitation inch = 2.95
| Mar precipitation inch = 4.03
| Apr precipitation inch = 3.67
| May precipitation inch = 4.35
| Jun precipitation inch = 4.88
| Jul precipitation inch = 4.01
| Aug precipitation inch = 3.82
| Sep precipitation inch = 4.69
| Oct precipitation inch = 3.43
| Nov precipitation inch = 3.40
| Dec precipitation inch = 3.58
| year precipitation inch = 46.37
| Jan snow inch = 3.0
| Feb snow inch = 1.1
| Mar snow inch = 0.4
| Apr snow inch = 0.0
| 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 = 0.0
| Dec snow inch = 1.0
| year snow inch = 5.5
| unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
| Jan precipitation days = 10.4
| Feb precipitation days = 9.4
| Mar precipitation days = 10.2
| Apr precipitation days = 10.1
| May precipitation days = 10.9
| Jun precipitation days = 9.8
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 9.3
| Sep precipitation days = 9.0
| Oct precipitation days = 8.7
| Nov precipitation days = 8.4
| Dec precipitation days = 10.3
| year precipitation days = 116.8
| unit snow days = 0.1 in
| Jan snow days = 0.9
| Feb snow days = 0.5
| Mar snow days = 0.3
| Apr snow days = 0.0
| 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 = 0.0
| Dec snow days = 0.4
| year snow days = 2.1
| 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 2, 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=USC00447925&format=pdf
| title = Station: S Boston, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = July 2, 2021}}</ref>
}}
 
===Major highways===
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|58}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|360}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|501}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|SR|34}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|SR|129}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|SR|304}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 328
|1890= 1789
|1900= 1851
|1910= 3516
|1920= 4338
|1930= 4841
|1940= 5252
|1950= 6057
|1960= 5974
|1970= 6889
|1980= 7093
|1990= 6997
|2000= 8491
|2010= 8142
|2020= 7966
|2020ref=<ref>{{cite web |title=South Boston, Virginia Population |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/southbostontownvirginia/POP010220 |access-date=16 May 2024 |website=U.S. Census}}</ref>
|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" /> of 2000, there were 8,491 people, 3,502 households, and 2,185 families residing in the town. The population density was 694.7 people per square mile (268.3/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 3,946 housing units at an average density of 322.8 per square mile (124.7/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 50.63% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 47.25% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.48% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.51% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.92% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.45% of the population.

There were 3,502 households, out of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.6% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.7% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 25.1% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 79.1 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 73.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $25,964, and the median income for a family was $34,848. Males had a median income of $28,212 versus $20,371 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,872. About 15.3% of families and 20.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.2% of those under age 18 and 23.9% of those age 65 or over.
== Notable Places ==
* [[Southern Virginia Higher Ed Center]]

== Notable people ==
* [[Jeremy Jeffress]], former pitcher for the [[Milwaukee Brewers]] and [[Toronto Blue Jays]]
* [[Michael Tucker (baseball)|Michael Tucker]], Major League Baseball player
* [[William M. Tuck]], 55th Governor of [[Virginia]], born in [[Halifax County, Virginia]] and rests in South Boston.
* [[Walter B. Scates]], Chief Justice of the [[Supreme Court of Illinois|Illinois Supreme Court]] and Illinois Attorney General, born in South Boston
* Burton Family of [[NASCAR]]. [[Ward Burton|Ward]] and [[Jeff Burton]], both brothers, are from South Boston and prepared for their racing career at [[South Boston Speedway]]. Their children [[Jeb Burton|Jeb]] (Ward) and [[Harrison Burton|Harrison]] (Jeff) are from the city as well.
* [[NFL]] player [[Tyrone Davis (American football)|Tyrone Davis]] of the [[New York Jets]] and [[Green Bay Packers]] is from South Boston.
* [[Robert Llewellyn (photographer)|Robert Llewellyn]], born December 29, 1945, in [[Roanoke, Virginia]], is a professional photographer who grew up in South Boston and now lives in [[Earlysville, Virginia]].
* [[Grandmaster Slice]], American hip-hop musician
* [[Greg Vanney]], former professional soccer player and head coach of the [[LA Galaxy]].
* [[G. C. Waldrep]], poet and historian, was born and raised in South Boston.
* Olympic high jumper [[Tisha Waller]] is from South Boston.
* [[Jay Blackton]], who won an Academy Award for [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture]] in ''[[Oklahoma! (film)|Oklahoma!]]'', is buried in South Boston.
* [[Colin Garrett]], racing driver

== See also ==
* [[List of former counties, cities, and towns of Virginia]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

== Further reading ==
* [https://www.census.gov/geo/reference/county-changes.html Substantial Changes to Counties and County Equivalent Entities: 1970–Present] United States Census Bureau

==External links==
* [http://www.southboston.com Town of South Boston official website]
* [http://www.gohalifaxva.com Halifax County Department of Tourism]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20080517134535/http://www.gohalifaxva.com/index.php/History.html History of Halifax County & South Boston]
* [http://www.sovanow.com/index.php? ''South Boston News & Record'']
* [http://www.yourgv.com? ''The Gazette-Virginian'']
* [http://www.footnote.com/browse.php#6702649 Town records 1905–1999] online at [[Footnote.com]]

{{Halifax County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Halifax County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1796]]
[[Category:1796 establishments in Virginia]]