A Community Profile
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A Community Profile
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| Location The Town of South Boston lies in Halifax County, Virginia in South Central Piedmont Virginia, contiguous to the state of North Carolina. Nearby cities include:
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Manufacturing is the dominant industry in South Boston and Halifax County and is strategically located for transportation and distribution. South Boston and Halifax County have a diversified manufacturing base including textiles, wood, furniture, electronics, metalworking, plastics, pet food, and technology companies. Second largest of Virginia's tobacco markets, South Boston is situated in a prosperous farming region. The agricultural industry in South Boston and Halifax County produces approximately $40 million dollars income annually from sales of tobacco, livestock, grain crops, vegetables, and forest products. The Industrial Development Authority of the Town of South Boston and Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County have three industrial parks to accommodate small and large industry. South Boston and Halifax County also have a joint Enterprise Zone where special tax incentives and regulatory relief are offered to encourage new and expanded businesses. South Boston/Halifax County is indeed a community on the move. Economic prospects are bright, thanks to a favorable labor market, a cooperative, informed local government, and good transportation facilities readily at hand. The Town of South Boston has a council/manager form of government. There are six council members and one mayor elected at large. Council elections are held every two years in May. The governing body appoints a town manager to manage daily operations of the town. There are 6 banks locally: Wachovia, SunTrust Bank, Bank of America, Community National Bank, American National Bank and Trust Company and BB&T with assets ranging from $148 million dollars to $310 billion dollars as of March 31, 1998. Electricity - supplied and distributed by Va Power. Natural Gas - Supplied and distributed by Commonwealth Gas.(industry only) Water - The Town of South Boston has a water production capability of 3.0 million gallons per day and a storage capacity of 2.95 million gallons Sewerage - The Town of South Boston has a design treatment capacity of 2.0 million gallons. Solid Waste Disposal - South Boston operates a landfill which accepts non-hazardous solid waste. Residential refuse collection services are provided by the town. Telephone - Sprint Cellular - Alltel, U.S. Cellular, One-Stop Cellular Telegraph - Western Union Newspaper - The Gazette-Virginian, 3 days weekly, published in South Boston; The News and Record, 2 days weekly, South Boston; Richmond Times-Dispatch, daily. Radio - WHLF 95.3-FM, WSBV 1560-AM Television - WSET-13, Lynchburg (ABC); WDBJ-7 Roanoke (CBS); WSLS-10 Roanoke (NBC); WRAL-5, Raleigh (CBS); WTVD-11, Durham (ABC) Cable service provided by Adelphia Cablevision Communications with 43 channels. Parcel Service - UPS, Federal Express, U.S. Postal Express Mail, Airborne, Emory, DHL. Local Internet Access & Service Providers - GCR Online (http://www.gcronline.com), Pure Internet, Inc. (http://www.pure.net) & (ntelos) (http://www.ntelos.net) Roads - Interstate 85 is accessible by highways 501 and 58 (60 and 55 miles respectively); U.S. primary routes 501 and 360 bisect the area along with state primary route 58. U.S. 29 lies 29 miles to the west. Click here for a map. Rail - Norfolk - Southern Corporation offers freight and piggyback service. Air - Danville Regional Airport (25 miles). Raleigh-Durham International Airport (75 miles). Piedmont Triad International Airport in Greensboro (90 miles). William M. Tuck Airport in South Boston has a 4,000 foot paved, lighted runway with fuel available. (Click here for airport directions.) Bus - Greyhound Waterways - The port complex at Hampton roads is 165 miles east; Richmond Deepwater Port 113 miles northeast. Motor Freight Carriers - Over 30 trucking firms serve the area including six with local terminals in South Boston. There are about ten terminals in Danville. South Boston and the surrounding area offer many opportunities to sample its history, culture, and fun throughout the year! We have something for everyone! Come join us....you’re guaranteed to have a good time!
The historic downtown and business district of South Boston has many exciting shops and offices and other architectural gems. South Boston features some of the richest collection of original Victorian architecture in the country. Gargoyles and flourishes still decorate some of the wonderful old buildings and several old tobacco warehouses still conduct the century-old sales of tobacco each summer and fall. For Historic Downtown South Boston Walking Tour brochures, call (434) 575-4209. Lodging - Seven motels with 299 rooms, four bed and breakfasts with 15 rooms, and one campground with 48 campsites and 7 cabins. Recreation - Public recreational programs available. Public and private facilities include a bowling alley, two movie theaters, a YMCA, a skating rink, swimming pools, ball fields, tennis courts and golf courses. Our area has access to a recreational wonderland with Kerr / Buggs Island Lake nearby (20 miles). Buggs Island is the largest lake in Virginia (48,900 acres), surrounded by 800 miles of shoreline and is the state's top lake for citation crappie. Boat rentals, boat launches, and day use areas are available. It is the home of many national fishing tournaments. Also largemouth bass, walleyes, white bass and striped bass. State parks include:
Staunton River State Park - With acres of woods, broad meadows, and a lengthy shoreline on Buggs Island Lake, Staunton River State Park has much to offer. Try your luck at water skiing, boating, sailing and fishing for citation crappie on the largest lake in Virginia. Encompasses 1300 acres at the junction of the Dan and Staunton Rivers. Amenities include swimming and wading pools, camping, cabins, fishing, tennis courts, children’s playground, hiking, picnicking, boat launching. 18 miles east of South Boston. Take U.S. 360, then Route 344 for 10 miles. (434) 572-4623
Staunton River Battlefield State Park - Relive the Battle of Old Men and Young Boys at this 300-acre Civil War historic site of the Battle of Staunton River Bridge of June 25, 1864. Battlefield, earthworks, nature walking trail, wildlife observation tower, and a visitor center that features displays on the history of the area. There are also artifacts on display from a prehistoric native American village found at the park. Near Clover, Virginia 18 miles east of South Boston. Take Route 92 to Clover. Go approximately five miles to Route 600 and turn left. Go approximately three miles and turn right on Route 855. (434) 454-4312. Oconeechee State Park - named for Native Americans who lived in the area for hundreds of years and is located on Buggs Island Lake. The Native American Heritage Festival and Powwow is held on the second weekend in May.
South Boston is proud of its racing heritage and future. We are a part of Virginia's Racing Region and the home of Winston Cup drivers, Ward Burton and Jeff Burton. South Boston Speedway - a NASCAR-sanctioned, 4/10 mile asphalt oval track, host of Busch Series Grand National Racing Division since 1982. Racing most every weekend May through September. Recognized as the world's fastest short track. (434) 572-4947
Virginia International Raceway (VIR) Motorsports Country Club - Cradled in a bend of the Dan River, the VIR is the world's only all-inclusive year-round high performance driving venue that also offers extensive resort facilities. South Boston - Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History - Civil War artifacts, Glassware, Hummels, Indian Artifacts, Military Uniforms, Collections from Halifax County founding families. (434)572-9200. Retreat to the Dan - (A historic military action during the American Revolution - February 1781 - regarded by most historians to have been the real turning point in the war.) It was a race to the Dan destined to change American history, a pivotal sprint into Halifax County by Gen. Nathanael Greene's exhausted colonial troops outsmarting the pursuing British and leaving them stranded on the opposite banks of a winter-filled Dan River near present day South Boston. Today many historians consider the Southern battles the turning point in the young nation's fight for independence, and Greene's crossing of the Dan a pivotal event in the Campaign of the South which ultimately lead to British defeat at Yorktown. World of Sports Complex - Bowling center, skating rink, 2 movie theaters, and fitness center. Located on Hwy 58 East. (434) 572-6924. Halifax County Little Theatre - a 45 year old organization committed to quality theatrical entertainment, locally within our community and regionally across Southside Virginia. The Prizery - An intriguing 19th century converted tobacco factory showcases local artists. Community, fine arts, and welcome center. (434) 572-8339. Historic Sites in Halifax County Noland Village in the Providence area near Clover, VA. Restorations of an early crossroads community. (434)454-6962. Bob Cage's Sculpture Farm, Cage's Trail, South Boston - Drive by display of numerous metal sculpture items made by internationally recognized local sculptor, Bob Cage. Farmer's Market - Located on Broad Street in Downtown South Boston. Open on Saturdays starting at 7:30 a.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays starting at 2:30 p.m. Open May through October. Green's Folly Country Club - Located on Sinai Rd., Centerville. 140 acre / 18 hold golf course, driving range. (434) 572-4998. Halifax Country Club - 5136 Halifax Road. (434) 476-2940. The Day Complex. Houghton Boulevard, South Boston. A Dixie Youth Ballfield located next to J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park. Virginia Cantaloupe Festival - Rediscover your tastebuds at the Virginia Cantaloupe Festival the fourth Wednesday in July, featuring the nationally famous Halifax County Cantaloupe. Sponsored by the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce. A sample of fun events and festivals
throughout the year:
South Boston has an excellent regional healthcare facility located right in the heart of town as well as specialty hospitals within two hours. Halifax Regional Health System is a multi-divisional system providing acute, long term, intermediate, skilled and subacute care, home health and hospice, rehabilitation, outpatient psychiatric services and Alzheimer’s care. A board of directors, comprised of 36 members who volunteer their services, serves as the governing body. Members include physicians and community leaders from throughout the region. Halifax Regional Hospital , a part of the Health System, is a 192-bed facility that offers 24-hour physician-staffed emergency services, intensive care/cardiac care, cardiac catheterization, maternity and newborn services, ADA-recognized diabetes patient education program, radiology and nuclear medicine, including CT, MRI, and mobile PET scanning. Other hospital services include general and orthopedic surgery, outpatient surgery, physical, speech and occupational therapy, respiratory therapy, dialysis, cardiopulmonary rehabilitation, clinical lab, pharmacy and business health services. Approximately one hundred and twenty-five physicians are on Halifax Regional Hospital’s medical staff and represent thirty medical specialties. Halifax Regional Hospital recently partnered with Centra Health in Lynchburg to provide additional cardiology services for citizens in the region and will begin construction on The Heart Pavilion at Halifax Regional in early 2004. Halifax Regional Long-Term Care includes The Woodview, a 180-bed nursing home, and Seasons at The Woodview, an 18-bed Alzheimer’s Special Care facility, both of which are located in South Boston. MeadowView Terrace, a 120-bed nursing home, is located in Clarksville , Virginia. The Health System is also affiliated with several physician practices in Mecklenburg and Halifax Counties. Halifax Regional Hospital, Halifax Home Health & Hospice and Center for Behavioral Health are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations. There are three long-term care facilities for the elderly, Berry Hill Nursing Home, Twin Oakes Convalescent Home and The Woodview, and two assisted living residences, Boston Commons and Somerset Court. Seasons at The Woodview is an Alzheimer’s Special Care facility. Healthcare Facilities within Three-Hour Driving Times:
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Copyright 2006 by the Town of South Boston, Virginia
