Pearisburg, Virginia

Pearisburg was founded in 1808 when Giles County was established.[http://pearisburg.org/noteaboutourTown.htm History of Pearisburg] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111126024400/http://www.pearisburg.org/noteaboutourTown.htm |date=November 26, 2011 }}, Pearisburg Town website, accessed December 6, 2011 It was named after George Pearis, a local landowner who donated a {{convert|50|acre|adj=on}} tract to be used for a town that would grow up around the county courthouse. Pearis had operated a ferry on the New River at a settlement called "Bluff City", which is incorporated into the present boundaries of the town of Pearisburg.

Pearisburg is located slightly west of the center of Giles County at {{coord|37|19|45|N|80|43|57|W|type:city}} (37.329184, −80.732490).{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} It is south of the New River at the foot of Pearis Mountain, which rises to {{convert|3700|ft}} to the southwest of town. The Appalachian Trail descends Pearis Mountain and passes through the western limit of the town before crossing the New River.

U.S. Route 460 passes through the north side of town, leading southeast {{convert|24|mi}} to Blacksburg and west {{convert|27|mi}} to Princeton, West Virginia. Virginia Route 100 passes through the center of Pearisburg, leading south {{Convert|20|mi}} to Dublin near Interstate 81.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Pearisburg has a total area of {{convert|8.2|sqkm|order=flip}}, of which {{Convert|0.01|sqkm|order=flip|3}}, or 0.15%, are water.

{{US Census population

|1880= 285

|1890= 341

|1900= 464

|1910= 470

|1920= 537

|1930= 668

|1940= 987

|1950= 2005

|1960= 2268

|1970= 2169

|1980= 2128

|1990= 2064

|2000= 2729

|2010= 2786

|2020= 2909

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}

}}

As of the census{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=U.S. Census website}} of 2000, there were 2,729 people, 1,219 households, and 789 families residing in the town. The population density was 890.7 people per square mile (344.3/km²). There were 1,279 housing units at an average density of 417.5 per square mile (161.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.12% White, 2.02% African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.44% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.70% of the population.

There were 1,219 households, out of which 27.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.0% were married couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.77.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.1% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.7% from 25 to 44, 24.7% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 81.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,720, and the median income for a family was $39,938. Males had a median income of $30,347 versus $23,482 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,412. About 11.5% of families and 15.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.1% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.

The climate in this area features moderate differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Pearisburg has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=220844&cityname=Pearisburg%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Pearisburg, Virginia]

{{Weather box

|location =Pearisburg, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present)

|single line = Y

|width = auto

|Jan record high F = 77

|Feb record high F = 80

|Mar record high F = 88

|Apr record high F = 90

|May record high F = 90

|Jun record high F = 97

|Jul record high F = 100

|Aug record high F = 100

|Sep record high F = 95

|Oct record high F = 95

|Nov record high F = 82

|Dec record high F = 75

|year record high F = 100

|Jan high F = 42.5

|Feb high F = 46.3

|Mar high F = 54.6

|Apr high F = 65.3

|May high F = 72.6

|Jun high F = 79.6

|Jul high F = 82.8

|Aug high F = 81.4

|Sep high F = 76.2

|Oct high F = 66.3

|Nov high F = 55.4

|Dec high F = 45.9

|year high F = 64.1

|Jan mean F = 32.7

|Feb mean F = 35.6

|Mar mean F = 42.7

|Apr mean F = 52.2

|May mean F = 60.4

|Jun mean F = 68.0

|Jul mean F = 71.7

|Aug mean F = 70.4

|Sep mean F = 64.6

|Oct mean F = 53.8

|Nov mean F = 43.2

|Dec mean F = 35.9

|year mean F = 52.6

|Jan low F = 22.9

|Feb low F = 25.0

|Mar low F = 30.7

|Apr low F = 39.1

|May low F = 48.2

|Jun low F = 56.5

|Jul low F = 60.6

|Aug low F = 59.5

|Sep low F = 53.1

|Oct low F = 41.3

|Nov low F = 31.1

|Dec low F = 25.9

|year low F = 41.2

|Jan record low F = −18

|Feb record low F = −13

|Mar record low F = -5

|Apr record low F = 15

|May record low F = 26

|Jun record low F = 34

|Jul record low F = 40

|Aug record low F = 37

|Sep record low F = 29

|Oct record low F = 16

|Nov record low F = 8

|Dec record low F = −12

|year record low F = -18

|precipitation colour = green

|Jan precipitation inch = 3.14

|Feb precipitation inch = 2.63

|Mar precipitation inch = 3.65

|Apr precipitation inch = 3.70

|May precipitation inch = 4.69

|Jun precipitation inch = 4.00

|Jul precipitation inch = 4.70

|Aug precipitation inch = 3.46

|Sep precipitation inch = 3.35

|Oct precipitation inch = 2.89

|Nov precipitation inch = 2.70

|Dec precipitation inch = 3.26

|year precipitation inch = 42.17

|Jan snow inch = 6.5

|Feb snow inch = 6.6

|Mar snow inch = 4.0

|Apr snow inch = 0.7

|May snow inch = 0.0

|Jun snow inch = 0.0

|Jul snow inch = 0.0

|Aug snow inch = 0.0

|Sep snow inch = 0.0

|Oct snow inch = 0.0

|Nov snow inch = 0.3

|Dec snow inch = 4.6

|year snow inch = 22.7

|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in

|Jan precipitation days = 10.7

|Feb precipitation days = 9.4

|Mar precipitation days = 11.6

|Apr precipitation days = 12.1

|May precipitation days = 13.9

|Jun precipitation days = 12.5

|Jul precipitation days = 13.1

|Aug precipitation days = 12.2

|Sep precipitation days = 9.5

|Oct precipitation days = 8.3

|Nov precipitation days = 8.8

|Dec precipitation days = 10.7

|year precipitation days = 132.8

|unit snow days = 0.1 in

|Jan snow days = 3.6

|Feb snow days = 3.3

|Mar snow days = 2.2

|Apr snow days = 0.5

|May snow days = 0.0

|Jun snow days = 0.0

|Jul snow days = 0.0

|Aug snow days = 0.0

|Sep snow days = 0.0

|Oct snow days = 0.0

|Nov snow days = 0.5

|Dec snow days = 2.6

|year snow days = 12.7

| source 1 = NOAA

{{cite web

| url = https://www.weather.gov/wrh/climate?wfo=rnk

| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 1, 2021}}

{{cite web

| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00448022&format=pdf

| title = Station: Pearisburg, VA

| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)

| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

| access-date = July 1, 2021}}

}}

• Jason Ballard, member of the Virginia House of Delegates
• Walter C. Caudill, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate of Virginia
• James M. French, member of the Virginia Senate
• Sally Miller Gearhart, author and political activist
• David Emmons Johnston, congressman
• Rick Kingrea, former NFL linebacker
• Burgess Macneal, engineer and inventor
• William McComas, congressman
• Marty Smith, sports journalist
• Randall Lee Smith, convicted murderer
• Jefferson Stafford, member of the Virginia House of Delegates
• James F. Strother, congressman
• Creed Taylor, jazz record producer
• John W. Williams, clerk of the Virginia House of Delegates
• Joseph R. Yost, former member of the Virginia House of Delegates

{{reflist|30em}}

{{commons category}}

• [http://www.pearisburg.org/ Town of Pearisburg official website]

{{Giles County, Virginia}}

{{Virginia towns}}

{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Towns in Virginia

Category:Towns in Giles County, Virginia

Category:County seats in Virginia

Category:Blacksburg–Christiansburg metropolitan area

Category:Populated places established in 1808

Category:1808 establishments in Virginia

Category:Virginia populated places on the New River