Crewe, Virginia

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Coordinates: 37°10′46″N 78°7′39″W / 37.17944, -78.1275
Crewe, Virginia
Location of Crewe, Virginia
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Nottoway
Area
- Total	2.0 sq mi (5.3 km²)
- Land	2.0 sq mi (5.3 km²)
- Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km²)
Elevation	531 ft (162 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,378
- Density	1,171.6/sq mi (452.4/km²)
Time zone	Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	23930
Area code(s)	434
FIPS code	51-20160^[1]
GNIS feature ID	1492824^[2]

Crewe is a town in Nottoway County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,378 at the 2000 census. It was founded in 1888 as a central location to house steam locomotive repair shops for the Norfolk and Western Railroad (now called Norfolk Southern) which has a rail yard there for east-west trains carrying Appalachian coal to Hampton Roads for export abroad, and the street pattern was laid out at that time. It was named for the large railroad town of Crewe, England.

The railroad repair facility's importance diminished sharply in the 1950's, as the switch to diesel-electric locomotives required less labor and equipment. Crewe has a small railroad museum. Lottie Moon, a noted Baptist missionary to China, is buried in the town cemetery.

The Battle of Sayler's Creek, the last American Civil War engagement before the official surrender, occurred nearby. The Southside Electric Cooperative and the Piedmont Geriatric Hospital are in the vicinity as well.

1 Economy
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Economy

In recent years retail business in Crewe has declined. This decline is often attributed to the presence of chain stores in nearby Blackstone and Farmville, Virginia. The Star Value grocery store in Crewe closed its doors in 2005, leaving the town without a grocer. Several attempts to open new grocery stores in the town have not met with much success, and have closed. In November, 2005, the Virginia Department of Rail and Public transportation provided an emergency funding for a bus route between Crewe and Blackstone in order to provide access to the Walmart, Food Lion, and other shops in Blackstone to those without other means of transportation.

[edit] Geography

Crewe is located at 37°10′46″N, 78°7′39″W (37.179316, -78.127549)^[3].

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all of it land.

Cities nearby include:

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,378 people, 971 households, and 645 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,171.6 people per square mile (452.3/km²). There were 1,074 housing units at an average density of 529.1/sq mi (204.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 77.04% White, 21.15% African American, 0.34% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.08% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 971 households out of which 34.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.9% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.5% were non-families. 28.7% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.98.

In the town the population was spread out with 29.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 18.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 86.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,828, and the median income for a family was $40,625. Males had a median income of $35,350 versus $20,819 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,826. About 14.6% of families and 16.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.5% of those under age 18 and 9.7% of those age 65 or over.