South Hill, Virginia
Encyclopedia
South Hill is a town in Mecklenburg County
, Virginia
, United States
. As of the 2006 census
, the town population was 4,608. Located on major Interstate
and U.S.
highways, it has a full service hospital (serving patients from several rural counties), a tobacco market, and several hotels. South Hill has a close relationship with the neighboring town of La Crosse
. Lake Gaston
, a large reservoir popular with boaters and fishermen, is a short distance to the southwest.
The town has a total area of 9.31 square miles (16.4 km²), of which, 9.27 square miles (16.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.47%) is water.
of 2006, there were 4,608 people, 1,809 households, and 1,190 families residing in the town. The population density
was 696.2 people per square mile (269.0/km²). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 314.4 per square mile (121.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 58.37% White, 39.43% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.39% from other races
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.
There were 1,809 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples
living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,078, and the median income for a family was $38,156. Males had a median income of $30,128 versus $21,996 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $19,319. About 14.3% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
In previous years, election returns have shown that South Hill citizens favored Republican candidates (more often at 60% or above) in state and national elections since 1996.
In the 2006 election cycle, while donations from residents to Democratic and Republican candidates and organizations were almost evenly divided, citizens favored Republican candidate George Allen over Democratic candidate Jim Webb. Webb eventually went on to win the election.
In 2007-2008, contributions to presidential campaigns favored Republican candidates overall, although the top single recipient as of March was Democratic Senator Barack Obama. The 283 South Hill voters who participated in the state's February 12 Democratic primary also favored Obama over Senator Hillary Clinton, 58% to 41%; the 244 Republican primary voters supported Senator John McCain (62.3%) over Governor Mike Huckabee (34.8%).
more specifically the weak mayoral system
with an eight member town council and a mayor.
'Weak' is not a derogatory term here. In this form of the mayor-council government, the council possess both legislative and executive authority. The council may appoint officials and must approve of mayoral nominations. The council also exercises primary control over the municipal budget. It comes from the belief that if politicians have few powers and many checks, then they can do relatively little damage." This form of government is most commonly used in small towns like South Hill.
Members of the South Hill Town Council:
Chad J. Barbour
Lillie Feggins-Boone
M.B. "Millie" Bracey
Gregg Harper
J. Woodrow "Woody" Kidd
Mike Moody
C. Leroy Sasser
Mayor: Earl O. Horne
The daily operation of South Hill is overseen by a town manager, Kim Callis.
The town council and mayor seats are non-partisan, and elections are held every four years.
Mecklenburg County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile . There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. As of the 2006 census
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town population was 4,608. Located on major Interstate
Interstate Highway System
The Dwight D. Eisenhower National System of Interstate and Defense Highways, , is a network of limited-access roads including freeways, highways, and expressways forming part of the National Highway System of the United States of America...
and U.S.
United States Numbered Highways
The system of United States Numbered Highways is an integrated system of roads and highways in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid...
highways, it has a full service hospital (serving patients from several rural counties), a tobacco market, and several hotels. South Hill has a close relationship with the neighboring town of La Crosse
La Crosse, Virginia
La Crosse is a town in Mecklenburg County, Virginia, United States. Its name is derived from the fact that it was a place where railroads once crossed, and there is still a caboose in the center of the town...
. Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston
Lake Gaston is a hydroelectric reservoir in east United States of America. Part of the lake is in the North Carolina counties of Halifax, Northampton, and Warren. The part extending into Virginia lies in Brunswick and Mecklenburg counties...
, a large reservoir popular with boaters and fishermen, is a short distance to the southwest.
Geography
South Hill is located at 36°43′36"N 78°7′50"W (36.726759, -78.130597).The town has a total area of 9.31 square miles (16.4 km²), of which, 9.27 square miles (16.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.47%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2006, there were 4,608 people, 1,809 households, and 1,190 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 696.2 people per square mile (269.0/km²). There were 1,988 housing units at an average density of 314.4 per square mile (121.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 58.37% White, 39.43% African American, 0.30% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.39% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.52% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.57% of the population.
There were 1,809 households out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.7% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 18.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.2% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.2% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 19.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 77.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 70.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,078, and the median income for a family was $38,156. Males had a median income of $30,128 versus $21,996 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $19,319. About 14.3% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
Political Trends
| 2008 Presidential Candidates Contributions from South Hill, VA | ||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Party | Total Contributions |
| Obama, Barack | Dem | $62,311 |
| McCain, John | Rep | $59,990 |
| Paul, Ron | Rep | $39,257 |
| Clinton, Hillary | Dem | $34,777 |
| Huckabee, Mike | Rep | $23,650 |
| Keyes, Alan | Rep | $550 |
In previous years, election returns have shown that South Hill citizens favored Republican candidates (more often at 60% or above) in state and national elections since 1996.
In the 2006 election cycle, while donations from residents to Democratic and Republican candidates and organizations were almost evenly divided, citizens favored Republican candidate George Allen over Democratic candidate Jim Webb. Webb eventually went on to win the election.
In 2007-2008, contributions to presidential campaigns favored Republican candidates overall, although the top single recipient as of March was Democratic Senator Barack Obama. The 283 South Hill voters who participated in the state's February 12 Democratic primary also favored Obama over Senator Hillary Clinton, 58% to 41%; the 244 Republican primary voters supported Senator John McCain (62.3%) over Governor Mike Huckabee (34.8%).
Local government
South Hill is governed by a council-manager governmentCouncil-manager government
The council–manager government form is one of two predominant forms of municipal government in the United States; the other common form of local government is the mayor-council government form, which characteristically occurs in large cities...
more specifically the weak mayoral system
Mayor-council government
The mayor–council government system, sometimes called the mayor–commission government system, is one of the two most common forms of local government for municipalities...
with an eight member town council and a mayor.
'Weak' is not a derogatory term here. In this form of the mayor-council government, the council possess both legislative and executive authority. The council may appoint officials and must approve of mayoral nominations. The council also exercises primary control over the municipal budget. It comes from the belief that if politicians have few powers and many checks, then they can do relatively little damage." This form of government is most commonly used in small towns like South Hill.
Members of the South Hill Town Council:
Chad J. Barbour
Lillie Feggins-Boone
M.B. "Millie" Bracey
Gregg Harper
J. Woodrow "Woody" Kidd
Mike Moody
C. Leroy Sasser
Mayor: Earl O. Horne
The daily operation of South Hill is overseen by a town manager, Kim Callis.
The town council and mayor seats are non-partisan, and elections are held every four years.