Haysi, VA
| Haysi, Virginia | |
|---|---|
| Town | |
Main Street in Haysi
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| Motto: "Where Your Break Begins" | |
 Haysi, Virginia
Haysi, Virginia
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| Coordinates: 37°12′20″N 82°17′41″W / 37.20556°N 82.29472°WCoordinates: 37°12′20″N 82°17′41″W / 37.20556°N 82.29472°W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Dickenson |
| Incorporated | February 17, 1936 |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Larry Yates |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.7 sq mi (9.5 km2) |
| • Land | 3.6 sq mi (9.2 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.3 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,270 ft (387 m) |
| Population (2010) | |
| • Total | 498 |
| • Density | 140/sq mi (54.0/km2) |
| Time zone | Eastern (EST) (UTC-5) |
| • Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) |
| ZIP code | 24256 |
| Area code(s) | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-36008 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1483995 |
| Website | www |
Haysi is a town in Dickenson County, Virginia, United States. The population was 498 at the 2010 census, up from 186 at the 2000 census, over which time period the town's area tripled. The pronunciation of the final syllable is that of "sigh".
Haysi is located at the confluence of Russell Prater Creek, the McClure River, and the Russell Fork river. The area where Haysi is located used to be known as "The Mouth of McClure". As late as 1911, Haysi was only sparsely populated and was often referred to as a laurel bed.
The first store was constructed within the present town limits of Haysi by Paris Charles for workers of the Yellow Popular Lumber Company. Haysi began to grow with the construction of the Clinchfield Railroad between 1912 and 1915 as stores sprang up to serve the railroad workers. The railroad was constructed to export natural resources such as timber and coal from the area, and thus later growth of the town centered on workers for the coal mines which began operating around 1916. However, businesses in the town also accommodated travelers, as the rail system was a popular form of transportation at the time, and Haysi was located on a line of the Clinchfield that linked eastern Kentucky with northeast Tennessee, western North Carolina, and South Carolina. Notable early businesses included the McClure Bottling Company, Inc. (established 1914) and the Haysi Supply Company (established 1916). By 1920 Haysi businesses included a hotel, bank, hardware store, and various other retail merchants. By 1930 Main Street was lined with businesses, and the town was incorporated on February 17, 1936.
Local folklore says that in the pioneer days, prior to the establishment of bridges, a ferry boat operator named Si (Silas) shuttled people across the water in that area. It is said that when one arrived at the river and found the ferry on the opposite bank, it was common to shout "Hey Si!" to capture his attention and request passage. Thus, the town which grew around the location of this ferry service became known as "Haysi".
The myth concerning the town's origins is popular and widely accepted among area residents, but local historians dispute this explanation. The name "Haysi" is said to have originated from a post office established at a general store owned by Otis L. Sifers and Charles M. Hayter. The owners chose Haysi as a blend of their own surnames when it was necessary to provide a name to the U.S. Post Office.
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