Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-10-17
RICH AND PROSPEROUS IS
ELIZABETH CITY COUNTY
Next to Smallest Subdivision in Vir-
ginia, Is One OF the Best In
Which to Live.
PEOPLE WHO NEVER MOVE
Farming and Trucking on Rich Lands
Pay Big Proflts-Fish, Oysters and
Crabs Make Immense Industries.
Schools and Churches Plentiful,

According to the report of the tax
assessor. Just filed with the proper off,
cials. Elizabeth City County, includ-
Ing Hampton. increased In tax values
sfoS'oe9 IN the last five years On the
race OF 1t this does not look very large.
but he 1t remembered that with the
exception of Alexandria County Eliza
beth City is the smallest county in
Virginia. 1t is n little piece of land on
the southeastern extremity OF Vir.
peake Bay, and at the mouth of James
River. bordering upon the historic
Hampton Roads.
The county forms almost a perfect
square. seven miles on a side. the area
being little less than fifty SQUARE
miles. but there are perhaps no ffty
square miles in Virginia of richer and
more productive soil than these miles
that make up Elizabeth City County.
Ten years ago not over so per cent OF
the land was in cultivation. but II IL
probable that fully as per cent Is now
receiving the attention OF the plows,
the harrows, the hoes. and the reapers
The farm products are corn, wheat
oats, hay. potatoes and all kinds Of
vegetables. trucking on a large scale
being one among the most important
industrieA The large markets Of Nor
folk, Newport News, Richmond, Bal
timore. Washington. Philadelphia and
New York being convenient and all
trucking business has prospered Won
dcrfuliy In Elizabeth City County
Fruits, especially the smaller fruits
and berries, are also profitable crops,
but after all the best hold of the
county is in the way Of a profitable
industry Is it's fish, oyster and crab
business. These abound in inexhausti-
BILE quantities. and Of the very fnest
quality. In tho surrounding waters, and
the county is almost entirely surround
ed by water. This industry gives en-
ploymcnt to large number Of the In
habitants both in the strictly business
town of Hampton and in the county
outside of the town. These waters also
abound in wild fowl of all kinds, and
the gunner who guns for profit as we'll
as the sportsman finds this county q
paradise.
Up TO half n decade ago there was
very little stock, other than that FOR
home dairy purposes, raised in the
county. but In very recent years the
people have been hnding out how to
grow the grass and the forage general
", and they are beginning to give con-
siderable attention to the raising of
cattle. sheep and hogs.
! The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway.
which cuts through the county. and
electric railway lines afford ample ia
| c!lities for travel and freight transpor-
| ton by rail-; but IL there was not a
! line OF railway in the county, there
would be nQ lack Of transportation ia
| cilities for Elizabeth City. as already
| intimatcd. liz almost entirely sur
! rounded by navigable waters and is
| therefore in daily communication by
steamers with Richmond. Norfolk.
and New York. and even Providence
: Washington. Baltimore. Philadelphia.
aud Boston.
| Perhaps no county in the State has
| more good schools In proportion to
| 1.,f l. Il
| of churches of all denominations. The
! schools and churches are not crowded
| into one section, but are we'll distrib-
! uted all over tho little county. The
| mail and telephone facilities enjoyed
! by the people are superior. 1t Is hard
to find house in Elizabeth City. oo-
| cupied by n white family, that is with
out tho telephone service. The coun-
try roads are all good, and these, with
| the good mail and teleph one service.
put the people so close together and
in such quick communication that 1t
is more like village or town life in
the county than country life: and II
| il certain that there are no people in
| Virginia or any other state who are
better satisfied with their county
their surroundings and the happy and
prosperous life they lead than are the
folks who have homea--be they OF
farms or in the towns-in the good
little County of Elizabeth City. The
proof OF this Is the fact that one very
rarely meets n citizen OF other parts
who come from this little county. They
never emigrate.
Hampton, the county seat, is one OF
the loveliest little cities on the map
1t is q town-or city II Is now-witf
u thrilling history that is familiar tC
most readers OF this paper. It's TWEEN
tieth-century industrial history ha:
been written for these columns here
tofore, but 1t will bear repetition and
addition, for Hampton is making new
Industrial history every day However
that story is reserved for another
time.