Altavista, Virginia, United States [Town]; population was 3,686 in 1990; housing units was 1,618 in 1990; location is 37°7'N 79°17'W; land area is 4.89 square miles (3,132 acres); water area is 0.02 square miles (15 acres); FIPS code is 1528 [SourceCBP]