Emporia

Emporia is an independent city in Southside Virginia situated along the Meherrin River. The city functions as a regional hub for commerce and community services in this rural area.

European settlement of the area began in the early 1700s with the founding of Hicksford as a town. The city became known as Emporia after two communities merged in the late 1800s.

Each year, the Emporia Bicycling Club organizes the Great Peanut ride, taking participants through local peanut farms across the Virginia countryside.

The city is accessible via major transportation corridors, making it easy to reach by car or bus. The flat terrain and direct road connections simplify navigation and exploration of the surrounding area.

The city took its name from Emporia, Kansas, chosen when local leaders renamed the combined towns in the 1880s. This choice reflects how communities borrowed names from distant places during that era.

Location: Virginia

Inception: 1967

Elevation above the sea: 39 m

Shares border with: Greensville County

Website: http://ci.emporia.va.us

GPS coordinates: 36.69302,-77.53809

Latest update: December 6, 2025 22:03