Brookneal, Virginia

Last updated

Brookneal, Virginia
Rush east from Foundry, Brookneal.jpg
Rush Street downtown
VAMap-doton-Brookneal.PNG
Location of Brookneal, Virginia
Coordinates: 37°3′7″N78°56′42″W / 37.05194°N 78.94500°W / 37.05194; -78.94500
Country United States
State Virginia
County Campbell
Area
[1]
  Total3.59 sq mi (9.30 km2)
  Land3.50 sq mi (9.05 km2)
  Water0.10 sq mi (0.25 km2)
Elevation
568 ft (173 m)
Population
 (2010)
  Total1,112
  Estimate 
(2019) [2]
1,098
  Density314.16/sq mi (121.31/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24528
Area code 434
FIPS code 51-10296 [3]
GNIS feature ID1463884 [4]
Website Official website

Brookneal is an incorporated town in Campbell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,090 as of the 2020 census. [5] It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Contents

History

On January 14, 1802, "Brooke Neal" was established by the Commonwealth of Virginia in Chapter 65 of the Acts of Assembly. [6] It was named after John Brooke and his wife, Sarah (née Neal) Brooke, who established a tobacco warehouse which became known as "Brooke's Warehouse". [7] It was located near the boat landing and ferry crossing on the Staunton River. [8]

The "Town of Brookneal" was incorporated and a charter issued in 1908. [6] Later to become the smallest incorporated town in the Central Virginia region, [9] Brookneal served as the closest center of commerce for portions of Campbell, Charlotte, and Halifax counties. [9] As transportation modes developed, Brookneal's location offered proximity to waterways, roads and railroads.

From the earliest days of settlement of the area by Europeans in the Colony of Virginia, through the Revolutionary War era, and extending through most of the first half of the 19th century in Virginia, waterways were a major transportation resource for commerce. Roads were primitive and poorly maintained. Upstream from the fall line, which marked the western reaches of the coastal plain of Virginia (and adjacent areas of North Carolina), canals and other improvements were constructed to aid navigation upriver by batteaux and other watercraft. In the later 19th century, railroads supplanted river transportation in the Piedmont region east of the mountains.

Just south of Brookneal lies the Roanoke River (also known as the Staunton River), which flows east to its mouth at Plymouth, North Carolina, and the Atlantic Ocean via the sounds in eastern North Carolina. Through the efforts of the Roanoke Navigation Company, established with the assistance of both states in 1815, [10] passage was made possible to as far west as Salem in Roanoke County. [10] By 1828, boats were traversing 124 miles (200 km) of "tolerable good and safe navigation" of the Roanoke River between Brookneal and Salem. [11]

Patrick Henry, the first Governor of Virginia after statehood, was an early advocate of the waterway. In 1794 he retired to the 520-acre Red Hill Plantation, located near Brookneal in rural Charlotte County. [10] [12] (The plantation is now operated as a historic museum known as the Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial). He established a ferry on the Staunton River to connect Red Hill Plantation with Campbell and Halifax counties on the other side. [7]

By the 1850s, the new technology of railroads was rapidly overtaking the canal systems in many areas; it provided access to additional places. [13] In 1887 the construction of the Lynchburg and Durham Railroad began at Lynchburg, passing south through Brookneal. Just south of town, the railroad crossed the Staunton River into Halifax County. It was completed in 1892, and almost immediately was leased to the Norfolk and Western Railway, and merged into it in 1896. [14] In 1904, the Tidewater Railway was formed by the industrialist financier Henry Huttleston Rogers, to transport bituminous coal from southern West Virginia to coal piers on the ice-free harbor of Hampton Roads. Planned by William Nelson Page of Campbell County, the right-of-way selected for favorable grades passed along the north bank of the river, crossing the L&D track. In 1907, the Tidewater Railway was combined with the Deepwater Railway (initially a West Virginia short line railroad) to form the new Virginian Railway. By 1908, construction was nearing completion, and the new line officially began service on July 1, 1909. In 1959, the Virginia Railway was merged with the Norfolk and Western. Each later became part of the modern Norfolk Southern system in the early 1980s.

In the late 19th century, Brookneal became the site of textile mills that used the water power of the river. These were important to the Piedmont economy for decades. The town of Brookneal suffered a series of disasters in 1912, culminating in a fire that destroyed much of the town. When residents rebuilt, they constructed substantial brick houses to replace many of the old wooden structures. [15] Soon, the small town resumed its growth. [7]

Served for many years by passenger trains and freight service on both railroad lines, and later by U.S. Highway 501 and State Route 40, Brookneal developed a diverse economy with manufacturing, agriculture, service firms and retail offerings. The proximity to the river enhanced its recreational opportunities for residents and visitors as well. [16]

Brookneal has suffered an economic downturn due largely to the dissolution of the Virginia Tobacco Co-Op, which made tobacco warehouses defunct, and the late-20th century decline of the American textile industry, which resulted in the closing of the Dan River mill in Brookneal. The Dan River textile mill employed nearly 400 workers.

Along with Red Hill, the Brookneal Historic District, Cat Rock Sluice of the Roanoke Navigation, Staunton Hill, and Westview are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. [17]

Geography

Brookneal is located at 37°3′7″N78°56′42″W / 37.05194°N 78.94500°W / 37.05194; -78.94500 (37.052001, -78.944958). [18]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.4 km2), of which 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2) is land and 0.12 square miles (0.3 km2), or 3.31%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1910 504
1920 58315.7%
1930 69218.7%
1940 7366.4%
1950 88320.0%
1960 1,07021.2%
1970 1,037−3.1%
1980 1,45440.2%
1990 1,344−7.6%
2000 1,259−6.3%
2010 1,112−11.7%
2020 1,090−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [19]

As of the census [3] of 2000, there were 1,259 people, 509 households, and 325 families residing in the town. The population density was 360.0 people per square mile (138.9/km2). There were 580 housing units at an average density of 165.8 per square mile (64.0/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 63.78% White, 34.71% African American, 0.56% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.59% of the population.

There were 509 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.8% were married couples living together, 16.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.9% under the age of 18, 5.6% from 18 to 24, 24.4% from 25 to 44, 21.9% from 45 to 64, and 23.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 79.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.0 males.

From the 2009 census data, the median income for a household in the town was $31,824, and the median income for a family was $42,779. The per capita income for the town was $17,248. About 15.2% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.5% of those under age 18 and 11.5% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Mayor: Kenneth J. Jennings

Vice-Mayor: Richard Adams

Council members: Richard Adams, Joseph "Benny" David, Robert Jean, Barbara Laprade, Mark Wilkes

Town Manager: Russell B. Thurston [20]

Federally, Brookneal is part of Virginia's 5th congressional district.

The state's senior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Mark Warner, elected in 2008. The state's junior member of the United States Senate is Democrat Timothy Kaine, elected in 2013. The Governor of Virginia is Republican Glen Youngkin, elected in 2021.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Brookneal has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [21]

Climate data for Brookneal, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1953–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)74
(23)
82
(28)
88
(31)
94
(34)
94
(34)
103
(39)
103
(39)
105
(41)
99
(37)
97
(36)
83
(28)
77
(25)
105
(41)
Average high °F (°C)47.6
(8.7)
51.6
(10.9)
59.9
(15.5)
70.9
(21.6)
78.2
(25.7)
85.5
(29.7)
88.3
(31.3)
87.2
(30.7)
80.9
(27.2)
70.5
(21.4)
59.9
(15.5)
51.0
(10.6)
69.3
(20.7)
Daily mean °F (°C)35.9
(2.2)
38.9
(3.8)
45.9
(7.7)
56.2
(13.4)
64.9
(18.3)
72.9
(22.7)
76.6
(24.8)
75.5
(24.2)
68.6
(20.3)
56.9
(13.8)
46.1
(7.8)
39.0
(3.9)
56.4
(13.6)
Average low °F (°C)24.2
(−4.3)
26.2
(−3.2)
31.9
(−0.1)
41.5
(5.3)
51.6
(10.9)
60.3
(15.7)
65.0
(18.3)
63.8
(17.7)
56.4
(13.6)
43.2
(6.2)
32.2
(0.1)
27.1
(−2.7)
43.6
(6.4)
Record low °F (°C)−7
(−22)
−9
(−23)
8
(−13)
15
(−9)
28
(−2)
37
(3)
45
(7)
38
(3)
31
(−1)
19
(−7)
9
(−13)
0
(−18)
−9
(−23)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.73
(95)
2.77
(70)
4.03
(102)
3.39
(86)
4.76
(121)
4.13
(105)
4.29
(109)
3.51
(89)
4.27
(108)
3.82
(97)
3.64
(92)
3.66
(93)
46.00
(1,168)
Average snowfall inches (cm)3.1
(7.9)
2.3
(5.8)
0.5
(1.3)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
0.0
(0.0)
1.5
(3.8)
7.4
(19)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)9.99.210.610.712.010.610.810.28.89.38.610.1120.8
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)1.81.10.60.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.84.3
Source: NOAA [22] [23]

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford, Virginia</span> Incorporated town in Virginia, United States

Bedford is an incorporated town and former independent city located within Bedford County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It serves as the county seat of Bedford County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,657. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Radford, Virginia</span> Independent city in Virginia, United States

Radford is an independent city in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of 2020, the population was 16,070 by the United States Census Bureau. For statistical purposes, the Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Radford with neighboring Montgomery County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lynchburg, Virginia</span> Independent city in Virginia, United States

Lynchburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. First settled in 1757 by ferry owner John Lynch, the city's population was 79,009 at the 2020 census, making Lynchburg the 11th most populous city in Virginia. Located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains along the banks of the James River, Lynchburg is known as the "City of Seven Hills" or the "Hill City". In the 1860s, Lynchburg was the only city in Virginia that was not recaptured by the Union before the end of the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Covington, Virginia</span> Independent city in Virginia, United States

Covington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,737, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. It is surrounded by Alleghany County, of which it is also the county seat. Located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek, Covington is one of three cities in the Roanoke Regional Partnership. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clifton Forge, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the greater Roanoke Region. The population was 3,555 at the 2020 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jackson's River Station.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campbell County, Virginia</span> County in Virginia, United States

Campbell County is a United States county situated in the south central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Located in the Piedmont region of Virginia, Campbell borders the Blue Ridge Mountains. The county seat is Rustburg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bedford County, Virginia</span> County in Virginia, United States

Bedford County is a United States county located in the Piedmont region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is the town of Bedford, which was an independent city from 1968 until rejoining the county in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Louisa, Kentucky</span> City in Kentucky, United States

Louisa is a home-rule class city located in eastern Kentucky at the merger of the Levisa and Tug Forks into the Big Sandy River, which forms part of the state's border with West Virginia. It is the seat of Lawrence County. The population was 2,467 at the 2010 census and an estimated 2,375 in 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Weldon, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Weldon is a town in Halifax County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 1,655 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appomattox, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia

Appomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altavista, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Altavista is an incorporated town in Campbell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 3,378 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rustburg, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Rustburg is a census-designated place (CDP) in and the county seat of Campbell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,431 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Halifax, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Halifax is a town in Halifax County, Virginia, United States, along the Banister River. The population was 1,309 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Halifax County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monterey, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Monterey is a town in Highland County, Virginia, United States. The population was 147 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Highland County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Victoria, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Victoria is an incorporated town in Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,725 at the 2010 census, which was down from the 1,821 reported in 2000.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sutton, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia

Sutton is a town in Braxton County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 876 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Braxton County. Sutton is situated at a center of transportation in West Virginia. Interstate 79, a major north–south route, connects with Appalachian Corridor L, another significant north–south route, passes several miles south of town.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princeton, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Princeton, is a city in and the county seat of Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 5,872 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Bluefield micropolitan area. The city hosts the Princeton WhistlePigs baseball club of the Appalachian League.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rowlesburg, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Rowlesburg is a town in southern Preston County, West Virginia, United States, along the Cheat River. The population was 438 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Morgantown metropolitan area. A former railroad town, it is home to the Downtown Rowlesburg Historic District, and was the site of action during the American Civil War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beverly, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Beverly is a town in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1787, it is the oldest settlement in the Tygart River Valley. It had a population of 628 at the 2020 census. Beverly was the county seat of Randolph County for over a century—from 1790 until 1899—after which the nearby settlement of Elkins assumed that role following an intense local political "war".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Clarksville, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Clarksville is a town in Mecklenburg county in the U.S. state of Virginia, near the southern border of the commonwealth. The population was 1,139 at the 2010 census. Since the town has numerous buildings of the 18th-, 19th-, and early 20th-century architecture, the downtown area of Clarksville has been designated a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and Virginia's Historic Register. Clarksville claims the title of Virginia's only Lakeside town. Nearby the town of Clarksville is Occoneechee State Park.

References

  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  3. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  4. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Brookneal town, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  5. 1 2 "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on September 26, 2012. Retrieved March 9, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. 1 2 3 "Legislative Information System" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. "Campbell County, Virginia - Historic Resources". Archived from the original on March 20, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2009.
  8. 1 2 "Home" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. 1 2 3 "Staunton River Tour" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. "Timeline" Archived 2008-12-12 at the Wayback Machine , Salem Museum
  11. "Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation - Red Hill" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  12. "Railroads of Virginia" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  13. "Nathalie, Virginia" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  14. "History" Archived 2009-08-29 at the Wayback Machine , Campbell County, US GenWeb Archives
  15. "Brookneal Information" Archived 2012-10-08 at the Wayback Machine , Campbell County
  16. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  17. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  18. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  19. "Town Council Members". Town of Brookneal, Virginia. Retrieved January 22, 2017.
  20. "Brookneal, Virginia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)" . Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  21. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 2, 2021.
  22. "Station: Brookneal, VA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 2, 2021.