Bassett, Virginia

Bassett, Virginia
CDP
Fairystone Park Highway; John D. Bassett High School in the background
Location of Bassett, Virginia
Coordinates: 36°45′36″N79°59′12″W / 36.76000°N 79.98667°W / 36.76000; -79.98667
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Henry
Area
• Total	3.5 sq mi (9.1 km2)
• Land	3.5 sq mi (9.1 km2)
• Water	0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation	774 ft (236 m)
Population  (2010)
• Total	1,100
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24055
Area code	276
FIPS code	51-04872 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1488909 [2]

Bassett is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,100 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. The town was founded along a rail line by the same family that later started Bassett Furniture. Bassett Furniture's headquarters have remained in Bassett since it began in 1902. ^[3]

Contents

• History
• Geography
• Demographics
• Education
• Climate
• Points of interest
• Notable people
• References
• Bibliography
• External links

History

The John D. Bassett High School, Eltham Manor, and R.L. Stone House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[4]

The town of Bassett was originally part of Horsepasture, Virginia. After John D. Bassett started a general store on his families land, the population started to grow around it and eventually his store incorporated a postal service. When the federal post office regulators asked John D. Bassett what they should call the area, he said "Well, how about Bassetts"? The "S" at the end was later dropped.

The train depot in Bassett was originally a combination station and had three trains a day picking up products from the company and providing railcar service to passengers. Its last passenger pickup was on February 18th, 1961. Today it is used as a seasonal community market. ^[5]

The Bassett Historical Center is located in the town. "The Bassett Historical Center is the repository for all genealogical research and local history for the counties of Henry and Patrick County, Virginia and the City of Martinsville, Virginia." ^[6] Now operated as part of the Blue Ridge Regional Library. "Henry County is one of the seven counties in Virginia that has a Cohabitation List. Slaves were not permitted to marry legally but did have families, with the counties keeping records of which slaves were cohabitating. Also available is the "Afro-American Marriages of Henry County, Virginia", by Harris and Millner, which would be helpful to find an ancestor dating back to the early or mid-1800s."

Geography

Bassett is located at 36°45′36″N79°59′12″W / 36.76000°N 79.98667°W / 36.76000; -79.98667 (36.759905, −79.986763). ^[7]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km²), all of it land.

Bassett is located along the Smith River (Virginia), which flooded in 1937. "Flood of Oct. 19, 1937, reached a stage of about 22.9 ft, from information by local residents, discharge, 38,000 ft³/s, from rating curve extended above 23,000 ft³/s on basis of backwater studies and records for station at Martinsville." Since August 1950, the water flow of the river in Bassett has been regulated by the Philpott Dam, 6.2 miles upstream. ^[8]

Demographics

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 1,338 people, 530 households, and 338 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 379.5 people per square mile (146.3/km²). There were 601 housing units at an average density of 170.5/sq mi (65.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 72.94% White, 24.14% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.93% of the population.

There were 530 households, out of which 22.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 13.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.7% 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 2.93.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 25.0% from 45 to 64, and 25.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 years. For every 100 females there were 92.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $28,359, and the median income for a family was $34,940. Males had a median income of $23,125 versus $17,868 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $17,651. About 13.3% of families and 17.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.2% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.

Education

• Bassett High School

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen climate classification system, Bassett has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[9]

Points of interest

• Philpott Dam and lake
• Historic John D. Bassett High School and venue

Notable people

• Ward Armstrong – former minority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates
• John D. Bassett – primary founder of Bassett Furniture Company
• Sherman Dillard – former American basketball player and coach
• Michael C. Maxey – former president of Roanoke College
• A. L. Philpott – former Speaker of the House of Virginia Delegates
• Harry M. Philpott – former president of Auburn University
• Harvey Cloyd Philpott – American businessman and 24th Lieutenant Governor of North Carolina
• Philip C. Stone – former president of Bridgewater College and Sweet Briar College

Related Research Articles

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,948. The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville; however, the administration building, county courthouse, and Henry County Sheriff's Office are located on Kings Mountain Road in Collinsville.The Henry County Adult Detention Center is located on DuPont Road in Henry County, just south of Martinsville.

Galax is an independent city in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,720.

East Whittier is an unincorporated community in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 9,757 at the 2010 census, up from 9,538 at the 2000 census. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined this community as a census-designated place (CDP). The name was changed from East La Mirada in 2012, likely due to its precise location in relation to the city of Whittier. The previous delineation of East Whittier CDP occurred during the 1960 census, when the area recorded a population of 19,884.

Martinsville is a city in Washington Township, Morgan County, in the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 14,980 at the 2023 United States Census. The city is the county seat of Morgan County.

Fairdale is a former census-designated place in southern Jefferson County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 7,658 at the 2000 census. In 2003, the area was annexed to the city of Louisville due to a merger between the city and Jefferson County's unincorporated community. Fairdale is now a neighborhood within the city limits of Louisville. The ZIP Code for Fairdale is 40118.

Newington is a census-designated place (CDP) in Fairfax County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,223. The population was 12,943 at the 2010 census. The 2010 census showed a significant decrease after half the population was split off to the newly created Newington Forest CDP.

Rocky Mount is a town in and the county seat of Franklin County, Virginia, United States. The town is part of the Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area, and had a population of 4,903 as of the 2020 census. It is located in the Roanoke Region of Virginia.

Chatmoss is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,698 at the 2010 census, down slightly from the 1,742 reported in 2000. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Collinsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 7,335 at the 2010 census, which was down from the 7,777 reported in 2000. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. Collinsville is also where the administration building and county courthouse of Henry County are located.

Fieldale is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 879 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Horsepasture is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,227 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Laurel Park is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 675 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Oak Level is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 857 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Ridgeway is a town in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 742 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area. Martinsville Speedway, a NASCAR racetrack, is located between Ridgeway and the Martinsville city limits.

Sandy Level is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 484 at the 2010 census, which was a significant decrease from the 689 reported in 2000. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Stanleytown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,422 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Villa Heights is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. The population was 717 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Rose Hill is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Lee County, Virginia, United States. The population was 799 at the 2010 census, up from 714 at the 2000 census.

Boaz is a census-designated place (CDP) in Wood County, West Virginia, United States. It is part of the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2020 census, the CDP population was 1,321.

The Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Micropolitan Statistical Area (USA) in Virginia, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) as of June, 2003. As of the 2000 census, the μSA had a population of 73,346.

References

Bibliography

• Fussell, Fred C. (2003). Blue Ridge Music Trails: Finding a Place in the Circle. North Carolina Folklife Institute. 080785459X.
• Henika, W.S., 1971, Geology of the Bassett quadrangle, Virginia: Virginia Division of Mineral Resources, Report of Investigations 26, scale 1:24,000.

External links

Media related to Bassett, Virginia at Wikimedia Commons