Tightsqueeze is an unincorporated community in the center of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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The community of Tightsqueeze got its name due to the construction of two buildings close to a road that connected Chatham and Danville during the 19th century. In 1870, W. H. Colbert built his general store close enough to the road that women could go straight from their carriages to the store without getting muddy or dusty. [1]
Soon, another merchant, Isaiah Giles, built a blacksmith-wheelwright shop directly across the road from the general store. It, too, was on the road's edge. Due to the closeness of the two buildings, buggies and wagons had to slow down as they passed between the two buildings. Thus, individuals were told to slow down for the "tight squeeze" where the two stores were located.
As related by Virginia journalist Guy Friddell in his book What Is It About Virginia?, at one point, the Pittsylania County Board of Supervisors changed the name of Tightsqueeze to "Fairview." However, after public protest, the name of Tightsqueeze was restored.
Time magazine ran a feature story about Tightsqueeze and the name controversy. [2] Next American City magazine named it to a List of U.S. Cities with names that make 13-year-olds laugh. [3]
The community in recent years has seen significant growth coming from businesses that would otherwise have located themselves within the nearby Chatham. For many years, Virginia Department of Transportation signs with the community's name on them were frequently stolen by pranksters.