One of America’s original two-college towns.
Farmville, Virginia, has no shortage of small-town charm. But there’s something else – a certain energy and cosmopolitan spirit that comes as a surprise to some. The reason, of course, is the presence of Longwood University, in the heart of Downtown Farmville, and nearby Hampden-Sydney College. In short, Farmville is a dynamic, two-college town with a hometown appeal.
Longwood University
Founded in 1839 as the Farmville Female Academy in the heart of Downtown Farmville, Longwood is among the nation’s 100 oldest institutions of higher learning and the third-oldest public institution in Virginia behind William & Mary and the University of Virginia. With an enrollment of around 5,000, Longwood is a mid-sized university with a wide array of undergraduate and graduate programs. Longwood hosted the 2016 Vice Presidential Debate on October 4, 2016.
Photo courtesy of Hampden-Sydney College
In continuous operation since November 10, 1775, Hampden-Sydney College is one of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. A college for men, Hampden-Sydney enrolls over 1,000 students from 31 states and the District of Columbia and 13 foreign countries. At the core of the liberal arts program is the nationally recognized Rhetoric Program, which assures that every graduate can write clearly and cogently. The Honor Code sustains a community of trust and mutual respect. Hampden-Sydney was founded “to form good men and good citizens” and continues to do so.