The western sentinel. [volume] (Winston-Salem, N.C.) 1887-1926, 1893-10-12
HENRY COUNTY, VIRGINIA.

Henry county, Virginia, the neigh
Dor of Stokes county in this state,
which is the neighbor of Forsyth
county, is famous for it's tobacco. 1t
lies in that famous belt which in
cIudes the above named counties to-
gether with Surry, Rockingham anG
a few others. L. was formed from
Pittsylvania county in 1776 and it
contains $685. 99 acres. The popu-
lation is IS, 2OS of which 1928 are
white and s ,2S3 are colored.
We take the following from the
new handbook of Virginia:
1.-THE surface is undulating-l In
parts billy, and there are some COLI
siderable mountains. Smiths river
flows through the middle of the
county, ard Mayo through the
southwest. These, with their num-
erous branches afford ample water
power. The soil of Henry is very
fertile and the climate salubrious. A
correspondent well says: In this
county we have comparatively warm
| winters and cool summers; and there
is scarcely a county in the State 1reer
| rom malaria than this. Perennial
| streams of fine freestone water are
found in all parts" Tobacco, corn,
wheat, oats and grass are it's princi
pal productions.
1.-The tobacco of Henry is celebrat-
ed for it's fine quality, and the pro-
duction is rapidly increasing. Henry
county ''filIers' are known wherever
tobacco is used. Sweet potatoes dc
we'll here. From two to three hun
dred bushels can be raised per acre
under good cultivation.
This is a fine grass county. clover
blue grass, timothy, orchard, Ran
dali, tall meadow oat grass and red
top, all grow remarkably well here
as do all the cereals grown in VIZ
ginia.
LIVE SToCK.--IIorses and mule
2,219, valued at $1OS, S31; cattl
4497, valued at $50. 3S9; sheel
l1,199, valued at 81 ,629; and hog
3,739, valued at $6,4F9.
The grape is at home here, as ar
the apple and peach. Nectarlne
filbert, apricot and fig have bee
grown The caly canthus grows viii
in the sheltered dales of this pictu
5 rescue region.
The county of Henry has as fin
and as great a variety OF tlmbe
trees as nearly any county I
Virginia, with rich land, suited to
kinds of farming and planting. or tn
raising of cattle or sheep. The cour
ty is improving, and is perhaps tn
2 | finest tobacco county lii America
: | There are a number of successful tC
bacco factories at different places
the county, and the brands of tues
l factories are recognized in tn
markets of the world. This county
by it's location, has all the adVan1
yantages of Piedmont in it's soil an
exposure, and all OF the bright tC
+ | bacco belt OF Southside in its ten
: perature. Iron ore in immense bed:
mica, soapstone, chalybeate an
: alum water are found in Henry.
e schools and churches in varlou
parts of the county; graded schot
at Martinsville. Number of publ
t schools. S2-white, 81; colored, u
# The rate of county taxation is 10
: cents on the 500 value of propert.
l LII c6ulS III OChOOao eNA--
cents for district schools.
!, Since the Danville and New Rive
t Railroad was constructed throu2
Henry the town of Martinsville. tt
county seat, has grown withphenon
h email rapidity. Within five years
II has increased from population
three hundred to about three thou
and at the present time. 1t is li'
S town, having ten tobacco factors
s aud nearly a halt million of dolia
invested in manufacturing ente
prises of various sorts as ire
foundries, machine shops, etc.
aas four large warehouses Tor Il
sale of leaf tobacco. The Norfo
aud Western Railroad from Roano
5 to Winston, n. c., traversing tt
il county, has given new impetus
its agriculture and trade.