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Richlands, Virginia

Town of Richlands, Virginia
Town
Miners at the Virginia-Pocahontas Coal Company Mine #4 near Richlands, 1974
Miners at the Virginia-Pocahontas Coal Company Mine #4 near Richlands, 1974
Official seal of Town of Richlands, Virginia
Seal
Motto: The Center of a Friendly Circle
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Coordinates: 37°5′40″N 81°48′22″W / 37.09444°N 81.80611°W / 37.09444; -81.80611Coordinates: 37°5′40″N 81°48′22″W / 37.09444°N 81.80611°W / 37.09444; -81.80611
Country United States
State Virginia
County Tazewell
Incorporated 1892
Government
 • Mayor Jan White
Area
 • Total 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2)
 • Land 2.7 sq mi (6.9 km2)
 • Water 0.0 sq mi (0.0 km2)
Elevation 1,932 ft (589 m)
Population (2000)
 • Total 4,144
 • Density 1,566/sq mi (604.5/km2)
  U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Population Estimates
Time zone EST (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 24641
Area code(s) 276
FIPS code 51-66928
GNIS feature ID 1473194
Website http://town.richlands.va.us/

Richlands is a town in Tazewell County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,823 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578.

Located along the banks of the Clinch River, Richlands began as a farming community and was named for its fertile "rich lands."

The Clinch Valley Coal & Iron Company began to develop Richlands in 1890, and company officials hoped Richlands' readily available coal, iron, and timber might make it the "Pittsburgh of the South." The company abandoned its plans following the stock market crash of 1893.

Richlands was incorporated in 1892.

In February 1893, Richlands was the site of a mass lynching of five black railroad workers after it was alleged some of the men had robbed and beat a white man. Four of the railroad workers were arrested and held in the Richlands jail, but the jailor was overpowered by a mob of white townspeople, including James Hurt, a magistrate and member of Richlands' town council, and James Crabtree, a prominent businessman, who removed the four men and hanged them from the same tree. A fifth black railroad worker was later found and lynched.

The Richlands Historic District encompasses much of downtown Richlands, and the Tazewell Avenue Historic District, and Williams House, are both listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.7 square miles (6.9 km²), all land.

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,144 people, 1,882 households, and 1,223 families residing in the town. The population density was 1,565.7 people per square mile (603.8/km²). There were 2,137 housing units at an average density of 807.4 per square mile (311.4/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.75% White, 0.05% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.39% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.


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