Emporia is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, surrounded by Greensville County, United States.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Emporia with surrounding Greensville County for statistical purposes.

The Town of Hicksford (originally Hicks'[7] Ford) was settled by Captain Robert Hicks (1658-1739) in the Virginia Colony, where the Fort Road of eastern Virginia crossed the Meherrin River en route to Fort Christanna.

Captain Hicks was an Indian trader who resided in Prince George Co. prior to moving his family to Hicksford upon becoming the Commander of Fort Christanna.

In 1709, Hicks purchased a land tract of 1280 acres along the northside of the Meherrin River that was previously surveyed by Arthur Kavanaugh.

In May 1781, British Col. Banastre Tarleton's cavalry crossed at Hicksford while raiding Greensville and Southampton counties.

[10] During the American Civil War, the Petersburg Railroad (to Weldon), built in 1830, was a tactical prize as Union troops sought to isolate the confederate capital.

On December 7, 1864, 28,000 Union troops led by Major General Gouverneur K. Warren tried to sever that key supply route further south by uprooting tracks, and managed to stop Confederate troops under Major General Wade Hampton from destroying the Meherrin River bridge.

Benjamin D. Tillar Jr. (1855-1887), a Greensville County native and state delegate, received a charter for the Atlantic and Danville Railway.

He planned for it to go from Portsmouth as had the Weldon railroad, but with a more westward route through the Meherrin River towns.

[12] In 1887, Hicksford and Belfield merged, forming the newly incorporated town of Emporia.

However, the railroad boom proved short-lived, as poor farm conditions and the Panic of 1893 caused the county's population to decrease between 1880 and 1890.

The town issued its first bonds in 1900 (to establish a water plant, and fund lighting and street improvements).

[19] The City of Emporia is also served by its own Treasurer, Commissioner of the Revenue, Sheriff and General Registrar.

Over 40,000 pounds of pork is served alongside alcoholic beverages, hushpuppies and sweet potato french fries.

On June 22, 1972, the United States Supreme Court denied the creation of the district on a 5-4 basis, with the four dissenters having been appointed by U.S. president Richard Nixon.