Life in Farmville

The Quintessential College Town

America’s first two-college town offers much more than the campuses of Longwood and nearby Hampden-Sydney College. Outdoor adventures, a bustling Main Street that features several new hotels and restaurants, and quintessential town activities make Farmville a home for families, young employees and seasoned professionals alike.

Recreation

Whether your idea of outdoor recreation is a 30-mile bike ride, or taking your pup with you to the local coffee shop, or anything in between, Farmville has something for everyone. Learn more at: https://visitfarmville.com/outdoor-adventures/

Kayaking on Wilck's Lake - Colorful kayaks are lined up along the shore of a lake. A small sailboat sits among the boats in the foreground. Paddlers in kayaks are spread out across the water in the distance. Two people stand on the bank near the launch area on a sunny day.

Woman at the Sandy River Ropes Course - A student crosses a suspended log bridge on a ropes course high in the trees. She wears a safety harness and uses the overhead ropes for balance. Other participants watch from a wooden platform behind her. Sunlight filters through the green canopy around the course.
Horse Riding on High Bridge Trail - Two people ride white horses along a wide gravel trail. One rider leads while the other follows several yards behind. Leafless trees and late-fall foliage line the path under a pale sky. Grass and fallen leaves border the trail.
Woman walking a dog on High Bridge Trail - A woman walks a German shepherd on a purple leash along a gravel trail. She wears a blue T-shirt, athletic shorts, and sneakers. Two people walk farther down the trail near a yellow gate. Bare trees and fallen leaves line the path in late autumn.
Two people biking across High Bridge - Two people ride bicycles on a wooden bridge on a sunny day. They wear navy Longwood T-shirts and smile as they cycle toward the camera. One rider wears a teal helmet, while the other wears sunglasses. Trees and the long trail stretch into the distance behind them.
Three people running on High Bridge Trail - Three people jog side by side on a gravel path. They wear bright green athletic tops and running shoes. A wooden trail bridge and metal-roofed buildings sit behind them. Trees and grass line the path on a clear day.

Farmville for Families

Farmville is a great place to raise a family. The town has a strong sense of community, offers the resources of a two-college town, and is located within easy visiting distance of communities like Richmond and Charlottesville.

Pre-school options include the Andy Taylor Center, Longwood’s early childhood development center for children ages 2-5, as well as other child care options with connections to the Longwood community.

The greater community’s K-12 options include Prince Edward County, Cumberland County and Buckingham County public schools, as well as some private schools. Learn more here.

Other family resources on the Longwood campus include the Longwood Center for Community Music, summer camps, and a range of children’s activities organized by the Moton Museum and the Longwood Center for the Visual Arts.

Teacher reading to three children at the Andy Taylor Center - A woman wearing glasses reads a children’s book while seated on a couch. Three young children sit close beside her and look toward the open book. A girl with a purple bow and two small boys listen during story time. A lamp, houseplant, and teal curtains create a cozy indoor setting.

Dining & Entertainment

The historic downtown has been designated a Virginia Main Street community, and has plenty of dining and shopping options for visitors. Farmville is booming. At least a half-dozen new restaurants, boutiques and shops have been developed in recent years, all expanding on the broad audience Green Front Furniture has already built for Farmville.

Many of the local spots offer a variety of live music. With everything from open mic nights showcasing local amateur talent to concerts featuring professional musicians to choose from, you're sure to find something to suit your taste. Learn more at: https://visitfarmville.com/live-music-in-farmville/

Evening patrons in the beer garden of Three Roads brewing.

People eating outside at Uptown Coffee Cafe - Two people sit at a sidewalk café table outside a brick storefront. One woman smiles as she reaches toward a plate of food on the table. A woman walks by carrying drinks, with café chairs and a chalkboard sign nearby. Downtown storefronts and outdoor seating line the sunny sidewalk.
Two ladies shopping in Downtown Farmville - Two people walk along a sunny downtown sidewalk lined with storefronts. One person carries an orange shopping bag as they pass shop windows and benches. Streetlamps, crosswalk signals, and hanging business signs line the street. Cars and trees appear in the background along the brick-lined walkway.
Alums at Catbird Rooftop Bar - People sit and chat at outdoor tables on a rooftop patio. String lights hang above a bar where patrons sit on stools. Drinks rest on the table as a group talks in the foreground. Trees and rooftops are visible in the distance beyond the railing.
Ladies walking downtown in Farmville - Two women walk and talk along a sunny downtown sidewalk. They smile at each other while wearing sunglasses and crossbody bags. The Farmville train depot canopy stands behind them. A brick building with painted signage fills the background.
Patrons in Effinghams - People gather and chat inside a bright, modern café with tall windows. Guests sit at high-top tables beneath large black pendant lights. A bartender serves customers at a bar along the left side of the room. Green plants and clean white columns create an airy, welcoming space.

Arts & Culture

Also located in town are two nationally accredited museums, along with art galleries, theatres and more.

The Longwood Center for the Visual Arts (LCVA) provides full access to the visual arts in the region. The Robert Russa Moton Museum, a National Historic Landmark, is the student birthplace of America's civil rights revolution. The museum's mission is to preserve and constructively interpret the history of civil rights in education.

Mainly Clay and Red Door 104 showcase local artistic talent in their galleries as well as provide a place to explore your own creative side through workshops and classes. The LCVA provides similar opportunities with workshops for adults, and seasonal workshops and summer-long studio sessions for children. You'll also see evidence of love of art in the numerous murals around the downtown area.

Love the performing arts? There are plenty of opportunities to catch a show or release your inner performer. Waterworks Players, Longwood University theatre and Hampden-Sydney College theatre stage performances year-round in their venues, while Unified Theatre Company uses various locations in the area for productions. Just 30 minutes away in Appomattox, Wolfbane Productions mixes local talent and professionals from New York to stage live entertainment experiences in their outdoor and indoor venues. All offer open auditions for community members to get involved!

LCVA Valentines Family Workshop - Longwood students and community members work together at a Valentine’s-themed craft table. A woman in a Longwood Global Learning shirt helps a child with a pink paper craft. Art supplies, markers, and decorations are spread across a purple tablecloth. A decorated backdrop with hearts and flowers fills the room behind them.

Stained glass instructor at Mainly Clay - A man wearing glasses and gloves works on a stained-glass panel at a table. He holds the square panel upright, adjusting a circular patterned design in the center. Art supplies and tools sit on the work surface in front of him. Posters featuring ceramics and artwork hang on the wall behind him.
Waterworks production of Rapunzel - Four people in costume rehearse on stage in front of a hanging curtain backdrop. Two performers wear green monster onesies while another wears a floral dress and shawl. A woman with curly hair gestures animatedly as she speaks to the group. Stage lighting highlights the actors during the scene.
LCVA Art After Dark workshop - A group of students and faculty stand in a gallery viewing a large black-and-white installation. Two people gesture while leading a discussion in front of a graffiti-covered mural wall. The installation includes striped objects, a scooter, and sculptural forms spread across the floor. Overhead lights illuminate the gallery space as the group looks on.
Longwood production of Macbeth - An actor in medieval costume performs under stage lighting. He wears a quilted tunic with a cape and sword at his side. Another costumed performer stands blurred in the background. The scene is set against a dark stage backdrop.
Audrey Sullivan painting Troll Mural - A woman paints a large mural portrait on a concrete wall beneath a bridge. She holds a paintbrush up to the artwork while standing beside the unfinished figure. The mural shows a close-up face and upper body with soft, shaded features. A brick building and metal beams are visible in the background.

Community Activities & Festivals

While strategically managing growth, Farmville retains some small-town fun. Events throughout the year bring the community together. Here are just a few examples:

The Virginia Children's Book Festival, a free festival held on Longwood's campus each October, brings the top names in children's literature to Farmville.
The Heart of Virginia Festival celebrates the arts, crafts, food and music of Southside Virginia. The festival takes over Farmville's downtown on the first Saturday of May every year.
The Summer Garden Opera brings classic opera to the backyard of an elegant Colonial-style home open for one evening to local opera-lovers.
The Farmville Wine Festival brings together selections from Virginia's best wineries with entertainment and good food. The event raises money for the local Meals on Wheels service.

Other events include First Fridays concerts by the river, an outdoor film festival, a community dinner held downtown on the High Bridge Trail and a parade of costumed children celebrating Halloween. If sports are your thing, Longwood athletics offers NCAA Division I competition with plenty of home games. If you like to tailgate, head over to Hampden-Sydney College pregame and stay for the football. Whatever you enjoy, you'll find something to do year-round in Farmville.

Marc Brown at the Virginia Childrens Book Festival - A speaker stands onstage in front of a large projected illustration. The projection shows characters from the children’s book series Arthur. The presenter holds a microphone while addressing the audience. Colorful storybook art fills the screen behind him.

Heart of Virginia Festival - Crowds fill a street lined with tents and vendor booths during a festival. Longwood University banners hang from lampposts along the sidewalk. People walk between rows of white and blue canopies under cloudy skies. Green trees and neighborhood buildings frame the busy street scene.
Longwood vs Radford Men's Basketball Game - Longwood and Radford players jump for the opening tip at center court. The Longwood player in a white No. 23 jersey reaches for the ball. A Radford player in red contests the tip while the referee watches below. Fans fill the bleachers in the background of the arena.
Downtown Halloween Parade - Four children in costume smile for a photo on a downtown sidewalk. They wear princess and storybook outfits and hold treat bags and baskets. Adults and other children stand behind them along the street. Storefront windows and signs line the background.
Summer Garden Opera - Audience watches an outdoor stage performance at night. Performers stand beneath arched doorways of a brick building. Purple and pink lighting washes the facade and surrounding trees. Silhouetted heads and raised phones frame the scene in the foreground.
Stars Under the Stars Summer Film Series - Crowd sits in folding chairs for an outdoor movie night. A film plays on a large screen set into a brick building. Streetlights and a bright moon illuminate the neighborhood beyond. Viewers fill the lot under a clear, dark blue sky.
Interfaith Dinner - People sit at round tables for an outdoor dinner on a paved courtyard. String lights hang overhead, creating a warm glow at dusk. Guests talk and eat while candlelit centerpieces light the tables. Buildings and a railcar form the backdrop under a cloudy evening sky.
Prince Edward County High School Football - A football player in a purple uniform runs with the ball during a game. Two teammates in matching purple and yellow helmets move alongside to block. Players and coaches line the sideline behind the play. Fans watch from the bleachers in the background.

History

Farmville is a deeply consequential place in American history, witnessing the final days of the Civil War as well as key events during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and '60s. The Farmville Freedom Monument, constructed by Longwood in 2018, honors the full range of that history, from Patrick Henry to Barbara Johns.

The R.R. Moton Museum, on the south end of Longwood’s campus, is the site of the 1951 student strike led by the 16-year-old Johns, which helped launch the modern civil rights movement, and eventually became part of the Brown vs. Board of Education lawsuit that struck down school segregation. A National Historic Landmark and Virginia’s only civil rights museum, the Moton Museum works closely with Longwood faculty, staff and students to share the story of Prince Edward County’s civil rights history.

Visitors at the Moton Museum - Two people stand in a museum gallery looking at a civil rights exhibit. Large black-and-white photos and protest signs cover the wall display. The exhibit includes panels titled “Preparing for the Free Schools.” Wood floors and bright lighting frame the exhibit space.

Contact

Human Resources

Eason Hall, Room 109

201 High Street

Farmville, VA 23909

(434) 395-2074

Fax: (434) 395-2666

humres@longwood.edu