Accomack County, Virginia

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Accomack County
County
Accomack County Courthouse (Built 1899), Accomac ( Accomack County, Virginia).jpg
Accomack County Courthouse
Accomack.jpg
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Accomack County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia in United States.svg
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°46′N75°46′W / 37.76°N 75.76°W / 37.76; -75.76
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Virginia.svg  Virginia
Founded1671
Seat Accomac
Largest town Chincoteague
Area
 • Total1,310 sq mi (3,400 km2)
 • Land450 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water861 sq mi (2,230 km2)  65.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,413
 • Density26/sq mi (9.8/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd
Website www.co.accomack.va.us

Accomack County is a United States county located in the eastern edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Together, Accomack and Northampton counties make up the Eastern Shore of Virginia, which in turn is part of the Delmarva Peninsula, bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Accomac is the county seat. [1]

Contents

The Eastern Shore of Virginia was known as "Accomac Shire," until it was renamed Northampton County in 1642. The present Accomack County was created from Northampton County in 1663. The county and the original shire were named for the Accawmack Indians, who resided in the area when the English first explored it in 1603.

As of the 2020 census, the total population was 33,413 people. [2] The population of Accomack has remained relatively stable over the 20th century, though Accomack is one of the poorest parts of Virginia. [3]

History

Notice to persons "desiring to establish supply stores" in Accomac and Northampton Counties, Virginia, September 19, 1864 Notice! Persons desiring to establish Supply Stores in the Counties of Accomac and Northampton, Va. Drummondtown, Virginia, 1864.png
Notice to persons "desiring to establish supply stores" in Accomac and Northampton Counties, Virginia, September 19, 1864

The county was named for its original residents, the Accomac people, an Eastern Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe.

Members of an English voyage of exploration landed in the area in 1603, four years before the founding of the Jamestown Colony. Captain John Smith visited the region in 1608. The Accomac people at the time numbered around 6,000 and was led by Debedeavon, a paramount chief, whom the English colonists called the "Laughing King." He became a staunch ally of the colonists, granting them several large areas for their own use.

Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the eight original shires of Virginia. The name comes from the native word Accawmacke, which meant "on the other side". [4] In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton by the colonists. Northampton was divided into two counties in 1663. The northern adopted the original name, while the south remained Northampton.

In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671. [5]

In 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling. The name of "Accomack County" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943. [6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,310 square miles (3,400 km2), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 861 square miles (2,230 km2) (65.7%) is water. [7] It is the largest county in Virginia by total area.

The state of Delaware is roughly 36 miles (58 km) away from the Virginia and Maryland state-line in Greenbackville.

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 13,959—
1800 15,69312.4%
1810 15,7430.3%
1820 15,9661.4%
1830 16,6564.3%
1840 17,0962.6%
1850 17,8904.6%
1860 18,5863.9%
1870 20,4099.8%
1880 24,40819.6%
1890 27,27711.8%
1900 32,57019.4%
1910 36,65012.5%
1920 34,795−5.1%
1930 35,8543.0%
1940 33,030−7.9%
1950 33,8322.4%
1960 30,635−9.4%
1970 29,004−5.3%
1980 31,2687.8%
1990 31,7031.4%
2000 38,30520.8%
2010 33,164−13.4%
2020 33,4130.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [8]
1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10]
1990-2000 [11] 2010 [12] 2020 [13]

2020 census

Accomack County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2010 [12] Pop 2020 [13] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)20,26619,82561.11%59.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)9,2538,63927.90%25.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)97650.29%0.19%
Asian alone (NH)1772490.53%0.75%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)3410.10%0.00%
Other race alone (NH)44990.13%0.30%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)4431,1051.34%3.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2,8503,4308.59%10.27%
Total33,16433,413100.00%100.00%

As of 2022, the median household income in the county is $50,601 and the per capita income is $29,202. [14]

2010 Census

As of the census [15] of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32 people/km2). There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 units per square mile (17 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 28.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Black or African American (28%), English American (15%), German (9%), Irish (9%) and Mexican (4%)[ citation needed ].

There were 15,299 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. [3]

Government and politics

Board of Supervisors

Board of County Supervisors
NamePartyDistrict
 William J. "Billy Joe" TarrInd1
 Ron WolffDem2
 Vanessa JohnsonDem3
 Paul E.J. MuhlyInd4
 Harrison W. Phillips, IIIInd5
 Robert CrockettInd6
 Jackie PhillipsInd7
 Donald Hart, Jr.Dem8
 C. Reneta MajorDem9

Constitutional officers

Accomack County is represented by Republican William “Bill” DeSteph, Jr in the Virginia Senate, Republican Robert Bloxom in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Jen Kiggans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presidential politics

United States presidential election results for Accomack County, Virginia [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
2024 9,65956.24%7,37442.93%1430.83%
2020 9,17254.07%7,57844.68%2121.25%
2016 8,58354.26%6,74042.61%4953.13%
2012 8,21351.17%7,65547.69%1831.14%
2008 7,83350.14%7,60748.69%1831.17%
2004 7,72657.85%5,51841.31%1120.84%
2000 6,35253.27%5,09242.70%4814.03%
1996 5,01343.02%5,22044.79%1,42112.19%
1992 5,66643.17%4,95037.71%2,50919.12%
1988 6,92660.01%4,44338.49%1731.50%
1984 8,04764.55%4,35534.94%640.51%
1980 5,37150.21%4,87245.54%4554.25%
1976 4,49447.13%4,80750.41%2352.46%
1972 6,49671.97%2,40626.66%1241.37%
1968 3,23135.19%2,46726.87%3,48337.94%
1964 3,14547.06%3,52852.79%100.15%
1960 2,67647.95%2,88451.68%210.38%
1956 2,82354.25%2,21342.52%1683.23%
1952 2,62653.99%2,22045.64%180.37%
1948 1,08835.05%1,66953.77%34711.18%
1944 1,04537.39%1,74762.50%30.11%
1940 88237.28%1,47662.38%80.34%
1936 67029.66%1,58370.08%60.27%
1932 52717.53%2,45881.74%220.73%
1928 1,36742.81%1,82657.19%00.00%
1924 30712.64%2,08785.92%351.44%
1920 40916.49%2,02681.69%451.81%
1916 29914.44%1,74584.30%261.26%
1912 1537.24%1,82586.33%1366.43%

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Economy

Accomack County is home to large chicken processing facilities owned by Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods. [17]

Transportation

Airport

Major highways

Public transportation

STAR Transit provides public transit services for both Accomack and Northampton counties and is headquartered in Tasley.

Education

The county is served by Accomack County Public Schools. [19] It is the only school district in the county. [20]

High schools and K-12 schools in this district are: [21]

Eastern Shore Community College is located near Melfa. [22]

Media

The county maintains and is the licensee of six television translator stations on two towers, with four located on a tower off US 13 in unincorporated Mappsville licensed to Onancock, and the other two licensed to unincorporated Craddockville on a tower near Route 178. Each translator tower has four signals to relay the signals of Hampton Roads's major network affiliates to the county, including WAVY, WHRO, WTKR, and WVEC. Meanwhile, Fox programming via WVBT is provided by WPMC-CA (Channel 36) from the Mappsville tower, a station owned by Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of WAVY/WVBT.

Additionally, Salisbury, Maryland CBS / Fox affiliate WBOC-TV has long claimed Accomack County as part of its coverage area.

Call lettersCity of licenseChannelStation relayed (Network)
W14DY-D Onancock14WAVY (NBC)
W42DP Craddockville42WAVY (NBC)
W25AA-D Onancock25WHRO (PBS)
W18EG-D Onancock18WAVY (NBC), 18.1
WVEC (ABC), 18.2
WTKR (CBS), 18.3
WHRO (PBS), 18.4
W22DN Craddockville22WTKR (CBS)
W34DN Onancock34WVEC (ABC)

Communities

Towns

Census Designated Places

Notable people

Music

In Sydney Brown's lyrics for the Maple Leaf Rag, the first line states, "I come from ol' Virginny, from de County Accomack"

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Somerset County, Maryland</span> County in Maryland, United States

Somerset County is the southernmost county in the U.S. state of Maryland. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,620, making it the second-least populous county in Maryland. The county seat is Princess Anne. The county is part of the Lower Eastern Shore region of the state.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northampton County, Virginia</span> County in Virginia, United States

Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,282. Its county seat is Eastville. Northampton and Accomack Counties are a part of the larger Eastern Shore of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Accomac, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Accomac is a town in and the county seat of Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 526 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bloxom, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Bloxom is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 387 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chincoteague, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Chincoteague is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, U.S. The town includes the whole of Chincoteague Island and an area of adjacent water. The population was 3,344 at the 2020 census. The town is a tourist gateway to the Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge on adjacent Assateague Island, the location of a popular recreational beach and home of the Virginia herd of Chincoteague Ponies. These ponies and the annual Pony Swim are the subject of Marguerite Henry's 1947 children's book Misty of Chincoteague, which was made into the 1961 family film Misty, filmed on location.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Melfa, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Melfa is a town in Accomack County on the Eastern Shore of Virginia in the United States. The population was 396 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Onancock, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Onancock is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,263 at the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parksley, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Parksley is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. The population was 842 at the 2010 census. It is home to the Eastern Shore Railway Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nassawadox, Virginia</span> Town in Virginia, United States

Nassawadox is a town in Northampton County, Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 533. The town, with an area of 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2), is located on U.S. Route 13 on Virginia's Eastern Shore, approximately five miles south of Exmore and 25 miles (40 km) north of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Shore of Virginia</span> Region of Accomack and Northampton counties, Virginia, United States

The Eastern Shore of Virginia is the easternmost region of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. It consists of two counties on the Atlantic coast. It is detached from the mainland of Virginia by the Chesapeake Bay. The 70-mile-long (110 km) region is part of the Delmarva Peninsula. Its population was 45,695 as of 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">U.S. Route 13 in Virginia</span> Segment of American highway

U.S. Route 13 (US 13) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway established in 1926 that runs for 518 miles (834 km) from Interstate 95 (I-95) just north of Fayetteville, North Carolina, north to US 1 in Morrisville, Pennsylvania, a northeastern suburb of Philadelphia. In the U.S. state of Virginia, US 13 runs north–south through the Hampton Roads and Eastern Shore regions of the state, using the Chesapeake Bay Bridge–Tunnel to get between the two. In the Hampton Roads area, it uses Military Highway to bypass the city centers. It is most usually a four-lane highway, sometimes up to freeway or expressway standards with controlled access.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 126</span> State highway in Accomack County, Virginia, US

State Route 126 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known as Fairgrounds Road, the state highway runs 1.38 miles (2.22 km) from SR 179 in Onancock east to U.S. Route 13 Business and SR 316 at Tasley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 316</span> State highway in Accomack County, Virginia, US

State Route 316 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. The state highway runs 9.49 miles (15.27 km) from U.S. Route 13 Business at Tasley north to SR 187 in Bloxom. SR 316 parallels an inactive railroad line as it connects the central Accomack County towns of Accomac, Onley, and Onancock with the northern county towns of Parksley, Bloxom, and Hallwood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eastern Shore Community College</span> Public College in Melfa, Virginia, US

Eastern Shore Community College is a community college in unincorporated Accomack County, Virginia, with a Melfa postal address. It is a member of the Virginia Community College System and serves the residents of Accomack County and Northampton County as a two-year institution of higher learning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tasley, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Tasley is a census-designated place (CDP) in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in 2010. Per the 2020 census, the population was 222.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenbackville, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Greenbackville is a census-designated place (CDP) 4.5 miles (5 km) south of Stockton, Maryland in Accomack County, Virginia, located just south of the Maryland state line. Per the 2020 census, the population was 173.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mappsville, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Mappsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 311.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wattsville, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Wattsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Accomack County, Virginia, United States. It was first listed as a CDP in 2010. As of the 2020 census, it had a population of 1,341.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Captains Cove, Virginia</span> Census-designated place in Virginia, United States

Captains Cove is a census-designated place in Accomack County, Virginia. Per the 2020 census, the population was 1,544. Known as Captain's Cove Golf & Yacht Club, it is a recreational community located on the west shore of Chincoteague Bay, bordering Maryland to the north. While numerous families with children live here, it's largely a retirement community, with a median age of 51 and the largest age group being 60–64.

The Eastern Shore Public Library is a library system that serves counties of Accomack and Northampton counties in Virginia. The library system is within Region 3 of the Virginia Library Association (VLA).

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Accomack County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. 1 2 Accomack and Northampton County EC Archived July 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine on USDA Rural Development
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp.  23.
  5. ↑ Accomack County, Virginia Genealogy, History and Records
  6. ↑ Topping, Mary, comp., Approved Place Names in Virginia: An Index to Virginia Names Approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names through 1969 (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1971), 1.
  7. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. ↑ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Accomack County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  13. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Accomack County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  14. ↑ "U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Accomack County, Virginia". www.census.gov. Retrieved September 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved August 17, 2018.
  17. ↑ Dreier, Hannah (September 18, 2023). "The Kids on the Night Shift". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331.
  18. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Accomack County, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 17 (PDF p. 18/29). Retrieved December 24, 2023. Accomack County Arprt
  19. ↑ Education, Virginia Department of (2009). "Virginia Public School Division Staff". Virginia Department of Education. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved December 19, 2009.
  20. ↑ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Accomack County, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 24, 2023. - Text list
  21. ↑ Accomack County Public Schools (2008). "Accomack County Public Schools - Eastern Shore of Virginia". Accomack County Public Schools. Retrieved December 19, 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. ↑ "General Contact Information". Eastern Shore Community College . Retrieved December 24, 2023. Eastern Shore Community College 29316 Lankford Highway, Melfa, VA 23410
    Compare the address to the Melfa town limits. The college is outside of the Melfa town limits: "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Melfa town, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved December 24, 2023.
    The area around the college is shown here: "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: Accomack County, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. p. 17 (PDF p. 18/29). Retrieved December 24, 2023.
    The City of Houston stated: "The U.S. Postal Service establishes ZIP codes and mailing addresses in order to maximize the efficiency of their system, not to recognize jurisdictional boundaries."
  23. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

Further reading

37°46′N75°46′W / 37.76°N 75.76°W / 37.76; -75.76

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