Hillsville, Virginia
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Hillsville is a town located in Carroll County, Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the town had a total population of 2,607. It is the county seat of Carroll CountyTemplate:GR.
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Geography
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Location of Hillsville, Virginia
Hillsville is located at Template:Coor dms (36.758814, -80.734510)Template:GR.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²). 14.8 km² (5.7 mi²) of it is land and none of the area is covered with water.
Demographics
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As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there are 2,607 people, 1,207 households, and 731 families residing in the town. The population density is 176.6/km² (457.6/mi²). There are 1,352 housing units at an average density of 91.6/km² (237.3/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 96.39% White, 0.19% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.42% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 1.76% from other races, and 1.07% from two or more races. 3.34% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 1,207 households out of which 23.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% are married couples living together, 13.5% have a female householder with no husband present, and 39.4% are non-families. 35.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 18.2% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.11 and the average family size is 2.71.
In the town the population is spread out with 18.8% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 23.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 43 years. For every 100 females there are 84.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 78.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town is $27,148, and the median income for a family is $36,117. Males have a median income of $26,625 versus $18,194 for females. The per capita income for the town is $16,633. 16.4% of the population and 12.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 26.3% of those under the age of 18 and 11.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
According to the Modern Language Association, there are (in descending order) 2,372 English speakers, 55 Spanish speakers, 9 Chinese speakers, 9 Vietnamese speakers, 5 German speakers, 4 Italian speakers, 3 Portuguese speakers, and 3 Russian speakers. Thus, less than 4% of the town of Hillsville speaks a non-English language at home.
Hillsville Flea Market
The town's primary claim to fame is its Hillsville Flea Market (more properly known as the VFW Flea Market & Gun Show), which has been called the largest American flea market to the east of the Mississippi River. It is held twice a year; in 2004, the Labor Day show attracted 650,000 visitors, and the Memorial Day show attracted 250,000 visitors. Vendors and customers have arrived from as far away as Germany, Africa, and South Korea.
In 2004, there was a minor fracas when a booth selling Ku Klux Klan, White Power, and Neonazi memerobilia was within shouting distance of the Democratic Party booth.
Carroll County Courthouse Shooting
Hillsville is the town in which the infamous "Carroll County Courthouse Shooting" took place. On March 12, 1912, Floyd Allen exchanged somewhat over 50 shots with lawmen in a crowded courtroom; out of the 200 there that day, five died and seven were wounded. He was in court for rescuing prisoners, and ordered to one year in prison. However, he refused to go. (Floyd believed himself to be the subject of political persecution, being one of the few Democrats in a county that has been to this day Republican.)
The story made national headlines, and remained there until the sinking of the RMS Titanic took its place.
The courthouse, which still stands and which still has the bulletholes, is now disused except as a historical landmark; it was replaced in the 1990s.
Current (2004) Government Elected Officials
- Mayor: Ivan Taylor
- Vice-Mayor: Orba Alderman
- Councilmen: Greg Yonce, Bill Tate, Randall Gravley
Trivia
- In August 1930, the two year old Hillsville High School burned to the ground. Only a few months later, on January 28, 1931, the business district (with the exception of the courthouse) burned to the ground, decimating the town's economy.
- Hillsville is unusual in that it is one of the few planned communities in the United States.
- Late in the American Civil War, it is said that local milita skirmished with Union troops marching to Saltville. The local milita lost.
- Virginia Tech Head Football Coach, Frank Beamer is an alumni of Hillsville High
External links
- Official town website (http://www.chillsnet.org/)
- Alternate official town website (http://www.hillsville.com/)
- The story of the Carroll County Courthouse Shooting (http://www.appalachianpower.com/Hillsville,%20Virginia,%20Allen%20Feud.htm)