PITTSYLVANIA.
Pittsylvania was formed in 1767, from Halifax. It is 35 miles
long and 26 broad. It is watered by the Staunton on the N., the
Dan on its S., and Banister River in the centre. Much of the
soil is excellent, and produces annually over six millions of pounds
of tobacco, besides heavy crops of grain. Pop. in 1840, whites
14,283, slaves 11,558, free colored 557; total, 26,398.
Competition, the seat of justice for the county, is situated on a
branch of Banister River, 162 miles southwesterly from Richmond.
The surrounding country is healthy and fertile, and the
town itself contains a population of about 300. Danville is a
large village on the Dan River, 5 miles from the North Carolina
line, and 15 south of Competition. It was established by law
in 1793, on the land of "John Barnett, adjoining Winn's Falls."
By the provisions of the act, Thomas Tunstale, Matthew Clay,
William Harrison, John Wilson, Thomas Fearne, George Adams,
Thomas Worsham, Robert Payne, James Dix, John Southerland,
John Call, and Thomas Smith, were appointed trustees to lay off
the town into lots of half an acre each, with convenient streets.
Danville contains 7 mercantile stores, 2 tobacco inspections and
warehouses, 4 tobacco factories, 2 banks, 1 male, 1 public, and 1
private female academy, 1 oil, 2 flour, and 2 saw-mills, 2 iron
foundries, 1 newspaper printing-office, 18 mechanic shops, 1 Presbyterian,
1 Baptist, 1 Episcopal, and 1 Methodist church, and a
population of about 1500. The canal of the Roanoke Company,
around the falls of the Dan River, is about one mile long, which
affords eligible sites for manufactories to almost any extent, with
abundance of water-power at all seasons. The river is navigable
for batteaux carrying from 7,000 to 10,000 pounds, as far up as
Madison, in North Carolina, 40 miles distant. With some slight
improvements, the river is supposed to be susceptible of steamboat
navigation to the town.
