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.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.Since 1974, the Virginia Pork Festival has been a major attraction to Emporia. 15,000 people partake in 20 tons of pork served 30 different ways each year on the second Wednesday in June. The Great Peanut Tour draws 1,500 annually to bike various routes of 13 to 125 miles in length from Thursday through Saturday after Labor Day. The Virginia Peanut Festival draws 12,000 to the City each year during the last weekend in September for the Parade, Fireworks, Car Show, carnival, and craft fair.