FARMVILLE — The community’s population will double over the weekend as college students begin their return to campus at Longwood University and Hampden-Sydney College.

New students returned to Longwood this Thursday, with their classmates following on their heels in time for the beginning of classes Monday morning.

LU students, faculty and staff will have the day off on Labor Day.

Six miles to the south, freshmen and transfers are due to arrive today, Friday, at H-SC, with all other students returning on Monday to settle in before the start of classes on Tuesday.

The return of students is something the community looks forward to as the academic year brings added cultural and economic vitality for businesses and residents.

The population of the Town of Farmville literally doubles with the return of LU students, who are officially counted by the US Census as part of the town’s population.

The streets and sidewalks, and parking lots, reflect the returns of students to their “home” away from home.

In Farmville, in particular, motorists are reminded to observe pedestrian safety and yield at all designated crosswalks, per state law.