Perched on the fall line of the Coastal Plain, the City of Emporia has historically been a commercial hub in Southside Virginia. The area along the Meherrin River was first explored in 1670. The Town of Hicksford was settled in 1710 where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christianna. The Town of Belfield was established in 1798 on the north bank of the river. The two Greensville County towns merged in 1887 to form Emporia, which was chartered as a City in 1967.
Once strategically located on an important north-south Confederate States railroad and supply line, Emporia today has a similar advantage of another transportation crossroads: Interstate 95 and US 58. The City is an ideal stop-over point for thousands of travelers on Interstate 95, as well for those heading to the coast on US 58. Much of the local retail economy is therefore strongly tied to the travel industry. It has recently ranked among the top five cities in the nation for retail sales per capita.
Emporia is also at the crossroads of two key railroads, CSX running north-to-south and Norfolk-Southern going east-to-west. The accessibility to major rail and highway routes contributes to a growing industrial base. The growth of the industrial base in Emporia and surrounding Greensville County in recent years has helped solidify a low unemployment rate.
Like the rest of Virginia, the city is also rich in history. The recently renovated 1781 Greensville County Courthouse, located in the 300 block of South Main Street is the focal point of downtown Emporia. One block east of South Main Street is Village View (ca. 1795), a federal style home with significance in the War Between the States. Directions to tours of these and other historic sites and markers can be arranged at the Greensville-Emporia Historical Museum at 419 S. Main Street or through the Chamber of Commerce.
The Town of Emporia was chartered as the City of the Second Class by an act of the General Assembly on July 31, 1967. At this time, it became a separate political entity from Greensville County. The Town of Jarratt, located in northern Greensville County and partly located in southern Sussex County, was incorporated by order of the Circuit Court of Sussex County on June 20, 1938.