Victoria, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Victoria is an incorporated town in Lunenburg County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,821 at the 2000 census.

1 Geography
2 Demographics
3 History
4 References
- 4.1 Books
- 4.2 Periodical, business, and on-line publications
5 External links

[edit] Geography

Victoria is located at 36°59′36″N, 78°13′30″W (36.993365, -78.224891)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 7.4 km² (2.9 mi²). 7.3 km² (2.8 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (1.05%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 1,821 people, 803 households, and 517 families residing in the town. The population density was 248.4/km² (644.6/mi²). There were 903 housing units at an average density of 123.2/km² (319.6/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 76.22% White, 21.47% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 1.70% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.37% of the population.

There were 803 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 15.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.6% were non-families. 33.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.8% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $24,694, and the median income for a family was $32,311. Males had a median income of $26,797 versus $17,054 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,693. About 18.6% of families and 24.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.9% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

[edit] History

[edit] Born as a railroad town

This aerial shot of Victoria was taken in 1954 looking west. It shows the turntable and roundhouse in the lower left, and the passenger station and Norfolk division offices to the right of the tracks. Photo courtesy Town of Victoria

Victoria was founded in 1906 as a planned community on what had been largely undeveloped land in Lunenburg County, Virginia during the construction of the Tidewater Railway. This was a new railroad intended to transport coal to be originated by its sister Deepwater Railway operating in southern West Virginia. The Tidewater Railway was chartered to cross Virginia by way of Roanoke to port at Sewell's Point on Hampton Roads near Norfolk, Virginia.

In 1907, as they began nearing completion, the Tidewater and Deepwater Railways were combined to form the Virginian Railway(VGN). The low gradient VGN, built by William N. Page and Henry Huttleston Rogers, was considered an engineering marvel of the time when it was completed in 1909.

Queen Victoria of England was a favorite of Henry Rogers, and the new town was named in her honor. Victoria was the midpoint of the VGN's Norfolk Division, which extended from Sewell's Point to Roanoke. It was the location of a large equipment maintenance operation on the Virginian Railway, with roundhouse, turntable coaling and water facilities for servicing steam locomotives, and a large yard. Norfolk Division offices were on the second floor of the passenger station.

The Virginia General Assembly granted a charter and incorporated the Town of Victoria on March 11, 1916.

[edit] End of steam, mergers, abandonment

Victoria's importance as a rail point declined sharply in the 1950s when the change to diesel-electric locomotives greatly reduced the labor and facilities needed. The last Virginian passenger train served Victoria in January, 1956. VGN steam operations ended completely in June, 1957. Then, on December 1, 1959, the Virginian Railway merged with the larger Norfolk and Western Railway. Under combined operations, the through coal traffic was shifted from Victoria to the bigger road's main line through Crewe, Virginia, fortunately within commuting distance for N&W's Victoria-based employees. Local customers on the former VGN line through Victoria and nearby Kenbridge were few, and the portion of the line through Victoria and Kenbridge was eventually abandoned in the 1980s. All tracks and virtually all structures were removed, and a portion of the land donated to the community by N&W.

Much like many other communities all across the United States, the end of steam railroading and the era of mergers and consolidation in the second half of the 20th century reduced rail-oriented employment opportunities and had a generally negative impact upon Victoria and the surrounding area. However, the community and Lunenburg County proved resilient, and by the late 1990s, transportation employment represented only a minimal portion of the area's economy.

[edit] Remembering Victoria's rail heritage

In 2004, initials of VGN founders Henry Huttleston Rogers and William Nelson Page were engraved by volunteers in newly-laid rail at Victoria, Virginia, where former VGN caboose #342 is now displayed. Virginian Railway Cabooses photo by Tom Salmon, courtesy of Virginian Railway Enthusiasts on Yahoo

Early in the 21st century, work was begun to develop a rail heritage park and obtain a caboose to help present the town's rail heritage. After several years of work, one of the last C-10 cabooses built in-house by VGN employees at the company's massive shops complex in Princeton, West Virginia in the 1950s was located.

Rail preservationist, historian, and photographer Kenneth Miller had purchased Caboose 342 in the 1980s, and had carefully restored it over a period of years. Miller, a long-time VGN fan, agreed to let Victoria have what is considered by many to be the finest extant VGN caboose for the new rail heritage park.

To prepare an appropriate display area for Caboose 342, a short stretch of roadbed was prepared, ballasted, and ties and rail were laid by volunteers in Victoria. The initials "H.H.R." and "W.N.P." were engraved as a lasting tribute to the founders of the Virginian Railway, Henry Huttleston Rogers and William Nelson Page.

Late in 2004, Norfolk Southern carefully transported Caboose 342 from Roanoke to the NS rail yard at Crewe, Virginia by rail. From there, it traveled overland by truck and was placed on the new rails at Victoria on December 22, 2004.

[edit] References

[edit] Books

Lewis, Lloyd D. (1994) Norfolk & Western and Virginian Railways in Color by H. Reid. Lynchburg, Virginia: TLC Publishing Inc. ISBN 1-883089-09-3
Reid, H. (1961) The Virginian Railway. Milwaukee, WI: Kalmback Publishing
Reisweber, Kurt (1995) Virginian Rails 1953-1993 (1st ed.) Old Line Graphics. ISBN 1-879314-11-8
Striplin, E. F. Pat. (1981) The Norfolk & Western : a history Roanoke, Va. : Norfolk and Western Railway Co. ISBN 0-9633254-6-9
Traser, Donald R. (1998) Virginia Railway Depots. Old Dominion Chapter, National Railway Historical Society. ISBN 0-9669906-0-9
Wiley, Aubrey and Wallace, Conley (1985}. The Virginian Railway Handbook. Lynchburg, Virginia: W-W Publications.

[edit] Periodical, business, and on-line publications

Beale, Frank D. (1955) The Virginian Railway Company 45th Annual Report Year Ended December 31, 1954. published in-house
Cuthriell, N.L. (1956) Coal On The Move Via The Virginian Railway, reprinted with permission of Norfolk Southern Corporation in 1995 by Norfolk & Western Historical Society, Inc. ISBN 0-9633254-2-6
Reid, H. (1953) "Trains & Travel Magazine" December, 1953 "Some Fine Engines" Kalmbach Publishing Co.