Blackstone Virginia (Richmond, Farmville: crime rate, house prices, utilities)

[wrich]

My closest friends moved to a village in the midst of timberland. They want me to move there too. I took the drive and it's not an hour west of Richmond. I can't believe the house prices and the crime rate is non existent. Why haven't I heard about this place? Does anyone know what's wrong with Blackstone?

[droseflowers]

It is a small town that is really on the edge. What I mean by this is it could faulter or boom in the next few years. There aren't any medical facilities, cultural events, or decent restaurants... but wait... that could change. There is talk of building a health care facility (a location already proposed), an antique shop recently opened and a cafe and catering business is planned. The town received a grant for facades in the historic business district. A number of buildings are available and rents for buildings are relatively inexpensive. I am betting on the town to Boom rather than Bust, but it will come with growing pains, such as upgrades to town water and utilities.

[TRobin]

Avoid Blackstone at all costs. The locals are the most hateful backstabbing people you will encounter anywhere. Do not, under any circumstance think about opening a business there. You will not get business from the locals, and they all delight in calling you things such as "G*d Damn outsiders" or "Damn Yankee".
The whites of Blackstone do whatever is necessary to keep the wages for blacks low. I lived there for several years until I just couldn't take it any longer.

[WillV]

chekc out the local newspaper, might give some insight...I'm from the general area, and I would give Blackston a big "no"...To me, Farmville, about 45 minutes to the west is a better option...

Welcome to The Courier-Record Newspaper

[htlong]

I can give you this advice...dont speed in Blackstone not even 3 mph over the limit! there isn't to much crime so the police need something to do and it creates revenue for their wages.....but hey I may be wrong.......again

[kathyarlene]

I live in blackstone andits aggravating how there are absolutely no job opportunities. Being a mother of two and the economy like it is. Blackstone is a piece!

[RobinD69]

I would say Farmville would be your better bet.

[TyberZann]

I would agree that Farmville is a much better place to move to. I live in Crewe, between Blackstone and Farmville. Amelia County which is about 20-30 mins to the east also has options, it is a really big county.

[slowlane]

I have long had relatives in Blackstone, Crewe and Farmville, and have frequently visited all 3 towns. I personally wrote most of the 3 articles on Wikipedia, describing each town. BLACKSTONE opened a new outpatient medical facility this year. It has a Wal-Mart, "Fort Pickett" a National Guard camp, and a Methodist conference center. Oddly, Blackstone's Wal-Mart is filled with Mexican customers who are otherwise not much visible around town. CREWE used to have the old repair shops for steam locomotives, which closed long ago. Crewe's main street has lost a lot of business to neighboring towns; it no longer has any supermarket. FARMVILLE is a larger town than the others, with a University plus another private college, and more department stores and restaurants, a hospital, a new YMCA, and a gigantic and rather famous antique furniture store; a Holiday Inn is coming soon. Farmville is definitely more cosmopolitan than Blackstone or Crewe, and more comfortable for "Liberals" - although Farmville's 1950s Jim Crow racial history was shameful. The public school systems are mediocre in all 3 towns. Farmville has a well-endowed private school "Fuqua", and Blackstone a smaller private school. All 3 towns have lovely old Victorian homes on shady streets. All 3 towns have crime - a highly-publicized murder occurred in Farmville just this Summer, and Blackstone has had occasional murders over the years - one victim was my distant cousin.