Boydton, Virginia

Boydton, Virginia
Town
Street scene in Boydton
Flag Seal Logo
Boydton, Virginia Location within the state of Virginia Boydton, Virginia Boydton, Virginia (the United States)
Coordinates:36°40′5″N78°23′20″W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Mecklenburg
Area
• Total	0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
• Land	0.82 sq mi (2.13 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	354 ft (108 m)
Population (2020)
• Total	302
• Density	368.3/sq mi (142.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5(Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4(EDT)
ZIP code	23917
Area code	434
FIPS code	51-09016
GNISfeature ID	1498456
Website	https://boydton.org/

Boydtonis atowninMecklenburg County,Virginia,United States. The population was 302 at the 2020 census.It is thecounty seatofMecklenburg County,and it is nearKerr Lake.

Geography

Boydton is located at36°40′05″N78°23′20″W(36.667997, −78.389001).According to theUnited States Census Bureau,the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1870	261		—
1880	382		46.4%
1900	527		—
1910	421		−20.1%
1920	457		8.6%
1930	492		7.7%
1940	424		−13.8%
1950	501		18.2%
1960	449		−10.4%
1970	541		20.5%
1980	486		−10.2%
1990	453		−6.8%
2000	454		0.2%
2010	431		−5.1%
2020	302		−29.9%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of thecensusof 2000, there were 454 people, 134 households, and 95 families residing in the town. Thepopulation densitywas 553.0 people per square mile (213.8/km²). There were 165 housing units at an average density of 201.0 per square mile (77.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 58.15%White,39.21%African American,1.54% fromother races,and 1.10% from two or more races.HispanicorLatinoof any race were 2.42% of the population.

There were 134 households, out of which 23.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.2% weremarried couplesliving together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.4% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out, with 15.4% under the age of 18, 13.4% from 18 to 24, 28.4% from 25 to 44, 22.2% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 121.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 132.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,063, and the median income for a family was $38,125. Males had a median income of $25,417 versus $25,208 for females. Theper capita incomefor the town was $14,034. About 6.0% of families and 13.3% of the population were below thepoverty line,including 12.1% of those under age 18 and 17.9% of those age 65 or over.

History

Boyd Tavern in Boydton, built 1790 and open for tours

Mecklenburg County Courthousein Boydton, completed in 1842

Boydton was founded in 1812. It was home the original campus ofRandolph-Macon CollegeandBoydton Academic and Bible Institutewhich succeeded it after its move toAshland, Virginia.The school was small and barely stayed in operation during theAmerican Civil Waras its focus abruptly changed from aMethodistseminary to military cadet training. In the difficult post-warReconstructionyears the trustees relocated the remote and struggling school to its present location inAshland, Virginia,closer torailroadservice.

Boydton/Clarksville was the terminus of the 19th-century "Boydton and Petersburg Plank Road"leading toPetersburg.This 80-mile (130-km)Plank roadwas covered with wooden planks, making it superior to other roads which were just unpaved dirt and rutted.

Boyd's Tavernis an early 19th-century structure originally operated by merchant Alexander Boyd, a Scottish immigrant, which in recent years has been restored by his descendants and opened to public tours.

In 1952 the largeKerr Lakewas created nearby, drawing many boaters, campers, and fishermen to the local area (seeClarksville, Virginia).

In addition to Boyd's Tavern, theBoydton Historic Districtand theMecklenburg County Courthouseare listed on theNational Register of Historic Placesin 2002.

Government and infrastructure

TheUnited States Postal Serviceoperates the Boydton Post Office in Boydton.

TheVirginia Department of Correctionsformerly operated theMecklenburg Correctional CenterinunincorporatedMecklenburg County,near Boydton.In 2012, Mecklenburg Correctional Center was closed and subsequently demolished.

Public school education is provided byMecklenburg County Public Schoolswhich is headquartered in the city.

In 2010, Microsoft began construction of a $500 million data center in Boydton. In 2014, $350 million was spent on its expansion.

Notable people

• Mark Alexander(1792–1883), born near Boydton,United States Congressmanfrom Virginia
• William A. Burwell(1780–1821), born near Boydton,State LegislatorandUnited States Congressmanfrom Virginia, private secretary forPresidentThomas Jefferson.
• Henry Johnson(1850–1904) born in Boydton,Buffalo Soldier,US Army,Medal of Honorrecipient.
• Nancy Byrd Turner(poet, editor and lecturer) (1880-1971) born in Boydton.
• Odicci Alexander(1998-)James Madison Universitysoftball pitcher

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classificationsystem, Boydton has ahumid subtropical climate,abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.