Prince Edward County is a county in Virginia, United States, home to Longwood University and Hampden–Sydney College in the state’s Southside region. It had a population of 21,849 at the 2020 census and covers 354 square miles (920 km2) centred near 37°13′N 78°26′W.
Farmville is the county seat, and its postal code is 23901. The county has two incorporated towns (Farmville and Pamplin), one census-designated place (Hampden Sydney), and several unincorporated communities. It observes Eastern time and carries FIPS code 51147.
Towns & Villages in Prince Edward County
Prince Edward County has around 20 named places on record, from the two incorporated towns down to crossroads communities. CDP = census-designated place (unincorporated but tracked by the Census Bureau); Unincorp. covers the rest, most of which are too small for their own population count.
| Place | Type | Pop. | ZIP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmville | Town · seat | 7,473 | 23901 |
| Pamplin | Town | 138 | — |
| Hampden Sydney | CDP | — | 23943 |
| Green Bay | Unincorp. | — | 23942 |
| Meherrin | Unincorp. | — | 23954 |
| Prospect | Unincorp. | — | 23960 |
| Rice | Unincorp. | — | 23966 |
| Allens Mill | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Blake Village | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Briery | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Bruceville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Burkes Tavern | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Darlington Heights | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Elam | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Five Forks | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Kingsville | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Moran | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Scholfield | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Shields | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Tuggle | Unincorp. | — | — |
| Worsham | Unincorp. | — | — |
The old list also carried “Virso,” which turns up no independent trace in any current gazetteer or postal record for Prince Edward County — it has been dropped as unverifiable.
ZIP Codes
- 23901 — Farmville (also serves most of the county’s population, roughly six in ten residents)
- 23909 — Farmville (Longwood University unique ZIP)
- 23942 — Green Bay
- 23943 — Hampden Sydney (also serves Hampden-Sydney College)
- 23954 — Meherrin
- 23960 — Prospect
- 23966 — Rice
Smaller communities such as Darlington Heights and Worsham share a ZIP code with a neighboring post office town rather than having their own.
Geography
Prince Edward County sits in Virginia’s Southside, on the rolling piedmont between the Appomattox and Meherrin rivers. The Appomattox River forms part of the county’s northern edge, and the Sandy River and Bush River drain the interior. Of the county’s 354 square miles, 350 square miles are land and 3.9 square miles are water.
The county borders Cumberland County to the north, Buckingham County to the northwest, Amelia County to the northeast, Nottoway County to the east, Appomattox County to the west, Charlotte County to the southwest, and Lunenburg County to the southeast.
Demographics
Prince Edward County had 21,849 residents at the 2020 census, a density of about 62 people per square mile. Farmville is by far the largest community, followed by the Hampden Sydney CDP around the college campus. Median household income runs below the Virginia median of $89,931, reflecting the county’s mix of rural agriculture and lower-wage college-town service jobs.
Economy & Local Life
Education anchors the local economy: Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College together employ thousands and bring a large seasonal student population to a county whose year-round base is otherwise farming, forestry, and small manufacturing. Fuqua School, a private K-12 in Farmville, is another significant local institution. Downtown Farmville’s Main Street district, revitalized around the university, hosts most of the county’s retail and dining.
History
Prince Edward County was formed in 1754 from Amelia County, in the Virginia Colony, and named for Prince Edward, Duke of York and Albany, a son of King George II. The county is a landmark site of the American civil-rights era: local Black students’ 1951 walkout at Robert Russa Moton High School became one of the five cases combined into Brown v. Board of Education, and the county’s Board of Supervisors closed Prince Edward’s public schools from 1959 to 1964 rather than integrate them, a period known locally as “the lost generation.”
Getting There
U.S. Route 15 and U.S. Route 460 cross the county through Farmville; State Route 45 and State Route 133 provide north-south links to neighboring counties.
- Lynchburg — 40 miles southwest
- Petersburg — 45 miles east
- Richmond — 60 miles east
- Danville — 55 miles south
The nearest commercial airport is Lynchburg Regional Airport; Richmond International Airport offers a wider range of flights about an hour and a half away.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Prince Edward County?
It is in the Southside region of Virginia, about an hour southwest of Richmond.
What is the population of Prince Edward County?
21,849 people, per the 2020 census.
How big is Prince Edward County?
354 square miles (920 km2), of which 3.9 square miles is water.
What is the county seat of Prince Edward County?
Farmville is the county seat.
How many towns are in Prince Edward County?
Two incorporated towns, Farmville and Pamplin, plus the Hampden Sydney CDP and around a dozen unincorporated communities.
What ZIP codes are in Prince Edward County?
23901, 23909, 23942, 23943, 23954, 23960, and 23966.
What university is in Prince Edward County?
Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College are both based here, in Farmville and Hampden Sydney respectively.
More counties in this state: Towns and villages in Virginia.