Amelia County, Virginia

Amelia County
County
Amelia County Court House
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°20′N77°59′W / 37.34°N 77.98°W / 37.34; -77.98
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1735
Named for	Princess Amelia
Seat	Amelia Court House
Area
• Total	359 sq mi (930 km2)
• Land	355 sq mi (920 km2)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	13,265
• Density	37/sq mi (14/km2)
Demonym(s)	Amelian, Amellianaire
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes	23002, 23083, 23105
Congressional district	5th
Website	va-ameliacounty.civicplus.com

Amelia County is a county located just southwest of Richmond in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. The county is located in Central Virginia and is included in the Greater Richmond Region. Its county seat is Amelia Court House. ^[1]

Amelia County was created in 1735 from parts of Prince George and Brunswick counties and was named in honor of Princess Amelia of Great Britain. Parts of the county were later carved out to create Prince Edward and Nottoway counties.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 13,265. ^[2]

History

Princess Amelia of Great Britain, for whom the county is named

Amelia County was created by legislative act in 1734 and 1735 ^[3] from parts of Prince George and Brunswick counties. The county is named for Princess Amelia of Great Britain, daughter of King George II. As was customary, Amelia County was reduced by the division of territory to form newer counties as the population increased in the region; in 1754, Prince Edward County was formed from parts of Amelia County, and in 1789, Nottoway County was formed. The area was developed for plantation agriculture dependent on slave labor.

During the Civil War, Confederate general Robert E. Lee and his army spent April 4 and 5, 1865, at Amelia Court House before his surrender on April 9 to General Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox. The last major battle of his army was fought at Sayler's Creek, on the border of Amelia and Prince Edward counties, on April 6.

Amelia is known for its minerals, including the nation's best supply of amazonite, a green feldspar found at the Morefield mine. In the 19th century, spas were developed around its mineral springs, which were destinations for travelers.

In 1986 the Amelia County Fair sponsored a competition for the world's largest potato pancake (with apple sauce). It was constructed to raise money that year for the German American National Scholarship Fund. The pancake weighed more than two and one-quarter tons and used four truckloads of potatoes.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 359 square miles (930 km²), of which 355 square miles (920 km²) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) (0.9%) is water. ^[4]

Amelia County lies in the Piedmont region of Virginia, known for rolling hills and small ridges that lie between the Blue Ridge Mountains and Coastal Plain of Virginia. The county is bordered by the Appomattox River to the north and west, and Namozine Creek to the east.

Amelia County is drained by tributaries of the Appomattox. The lowest elevation in the county is 158 feet (48 m), on Lake Chesdin on the Appomattox at the eastern extremity of the county. The highest elevation is 525 feet (160 m), on SR 616 (S. Genito Road) at the community of Gills in the southwest corner of the county. ^[5]

Adjacent counties

• Powhatan County – north
• Chesterfield County – east
• Dinwiddie County – southeast
• Nottoway County – south
• Prince Edward County – southwest
• Cumberland County – west

Transportation

Air

• Richmond International Airport is located 51 miles (82 km) northeast of Amelia County.

US Highways

• US 360 (Patrick Henry Highway. Eastbound to Richmond. Westbound to Burkeville and Danville.)

State Routes

• SR 38 (In Amelia Court House: Virginia Street, Court Street, Washington Street, Church Street, Five Forks Road. In Amelia County: N. Five Forks Road, to SR 153.)
• SR 153 (Military Road. To US 460 and Blackstone.)
• SR 307 (Holly Farms Road. To US 460 and Farmville.)

Secondary Routes

• SR 604 (Chula Rd and Genito Rd. To Powhatan and Chesterfield Counties.)
• SR 609 (Grub Hill Church Rd and Royalton Rd. To US 60 and Powhatan Court House.)
• SR 614 (Dennisville Rd. To Blackstone.)
• SR 616 (Genito Rd. Serves the northwest and southwest area of Amelia County. To SR 307 near Rice.)

Rail

• Norfolk Southern – freight rail service

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	18,097		—
1800	9,432		−47.9%
1810	10,594		12.3%
1820	11,104		4.8%
1830	11,036		−0.6%
1840	10,320		−6.5%
1850	9,770		−5.3%
1860	10,741		9.9%
1870	9,878		−8.0%
1880	10,377		5.1%
1890	9,068		−12.6%
1900	9,037		−0.3%
1910	8,720		−3.5%
1920	9,800		12.4%
1930	8,799		−10.2%
1940	8,495		−3.5%
1950	7,908		−6.9%
1960	7,815		−1.2%
1970	7,592		−2.9%
1980	8,405		10.7%
1990	8,787		4.5%
2000	11,400		29.7%
2010	12,690		11.3%
2020	13,265		4.5%
2021 (est.)	13,268	[6]	0.0%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 1790-1960 [8] 1900-1990 [9] 1990-2000 [10] 2010 [11] 2020 [12]

2020 census

Amelia 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 [11]	Pop 2020 [12]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	9,233	9,687	72.76%	73.03%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,925	2,546	23.05%	19.19%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	39	18	0.31%	0.14%
Asian alone (NH)	27	63	0.21%	0.47%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	10	50	0.08%	0.38%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	166	476	1.31%	3.59%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	290	425	2.29%	3.20%
Total	12,690	13,265	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km²). There were 4,609 housing units, at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 70.57% White, 28.05% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.25% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,240 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.

The median age was 38 years, with 25.30% under 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.

The median household income was $40,252, and the median family income was $47,157. Males had a median income of $32,315, versus $23,102 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,858. 8.40% of the population and 6.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.10% were under the age of 18 and 11.70% were 65 or older.

Culture

Seasonal Events

• A countywide festival called Amelia Day is held each May on the Saturday before Mother's Day in Amelia Court House. The festival started in the 1980s to celebrate the town's founding. Vendors, local clubs, and citizens organize to enjoy music, dancing, and socializing. At the first Amelia Day in 1985, residents signed a long roll that, along with other items, was put in a time capsule and buried in the courthouse green near the Confederate War Memorial. The capsule is scheduled to be opened in 2035.
• The Amelia County Fair is held in late summer or early fall each year at the Joe Paulette Memorial Park in Amelia Court House. ^[14]
• Each October, the Amelia Frightfest, a trail haunt, opens at Tom Scott Park in Amelia Court House.
• Every year from April to October, on the second Saturday of every month, The Time Bandits car club hosts a car show at the Truist Bank parking lot on Patrick Henry Highway. ^[15]

Attractions

• Sayler's Creek Battlefield State Park
• Lake Chesdin
• Amelia Wildlife Management Area
• Amelia Country Club

Government

Board of Supervisors

• District 1: David M. Felts Jr. (Chairman)
• District 2: Dexter Jones
• District 3: Shaun Weyant, Vice Chairman (I)
• District 4: H. Joseph Easter IV, Chairman (I)
• District 5: Todd Robinson

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Marilyn L. Wilson (D)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Laura Walsh (I)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Lee R. Harrison (I)
• Sheriff: Rick Walker (I)
• Treasurer: Stephanie Coleman (I)

Amelia County is represented by Republican John McGuire in the Virginia Senate, Republican Lee Ware in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Bob Good in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Amelia County, Virginia ^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	5,390	68.29%	2,411	30.55%	92	1.17%
2016	4,708	66.88%	2,128	30.23%	204	2.90%
2012	4,331	62.63%	2,490	36.01%	94	1.36%
2008	3,970	60.81%	2,488	38.11%	71	1.09%
2004	3,499	64.83%	1,862	34.50%	36	0.67%
2000	2,947	61.55%	1,754	36.63%	87	1.82%
1996	2,119	51.13%	1,625	39.21%	400	9.65%
1992	2,062	48.82%	1,534	36.32%	628	14.87%
1988	2,187	60.85%	1,359	37.81%	48	1.34%
1984	2,336	61.41%	1,432	37.64%	36	0.95%
1980	1,969	53.20%	1,643	44.39%	89	2.40%
1976	1,634	47.25%	1,715	49.60%	109	3.15%
1972	1,606	64.99%	778	31.49%	87	3.52%
1968	857	33.90%	830	32.83%	841	33.27%
1964	1,348	60.21%	884	39.48%	7	0.31%
1960	784	51.44%	708	46.46%	32	2.10%
1956	745	43.11%	403	23.32%	580	33.56%
1952	832	53.64%	703	45.33%	16	1.03%
1948	372	35.16%	443	41.87%	243	22.97%
1944	295	34.67%	553	64.98%	3	0.35%
1940	267	32.13%	562	67.63%	2	0.24%
1936	239	23.97%	753	75.53%	5	0.50%
1932	142	16.63%	701	82.08%	11	1.29%
1928	277	35.74%	498	64.26%	0	0.00%
1924	153	28.33%	372	68.89%	15	2.78%
1920	179	31.18%	389	67.77%	6	1.05%
1916	80	16.39%	403	82.58%	5	1.02%
1912	32	7.82%	325	79.46%	52	12.71%

Media

The Amelia Bulletin Monitor , a weekly newspaper, has covered the county since 1973.

Education

Public Primary and secondary schools

Amelia County is served by the Amelia County Public Schools.

• Amelia County High School
• Amelia County Middle School
• Amelia County Elementary School

Private Primary and secondary Schools

• Amelia Academy

Communities

There are no incorporated communities in Amelia County.

Census-designated places

• Amelia Court House

Unincorporated communities

• Ammon
• Chula
• Clementown Mills
• Coverly
• Deatonville
• Denaro
• Earls
• Fieldstown
• Giles Mill
• Gills
• Haw Branch
• Jetersville
• Little Patrick ^{[17] [18]}
• Lodore
• Mannboro
• Maplewood
• Masons Corner ^[19]
• Mattoax
• Morven
• Namozine
• Otterburn
• Paineville
• Pontons/Ponton's/Pointons ^[20] Store ^[21]
• Rodophil
• Scotts Fork
• Truxillo
• Winterham

Historic sites

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Amelia County, Virginia

The following sites in Amelia County are listed on the National Register of Historic Places:

• Barrett–Chumney House
• Dykeland
• Egglestetton
• Farmer House
• Haw Branch
• Ingleside
• St. John's Church (Grub Hill Church)
• Sayler's Creek Battlefield
• Wigwam
• Winterham Plantation

Notable people

• William S. Archer, born in Amelia County, United States Senator from Virginia ^[22]
• Van T. Barfoot (1919–2012), U.S. Army Colonel and a U.S. Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient
• William Wyatt Bibb, born in Amelia County, United States Senator from Georgia and first Governor of Alabama ^[22]
• Jesse Bragg, Negro-league baseball player
• William Cocke (1747–1828), born in Amelia County, first United States Senator from Tennessee ^[22]
• Henry William Connor (1793–1866), born near Amelia Court House, elected United States Congressman from North Carolina ^[22]
• Rosa Dixon Bowser (1855-1931), born in Amelia County, first African American Teacher hired in Richmond, Virginia. Established the Virginia Teacher's Reading Circle, which became the Virginia State Teachers Association,
• David Fanning, (1755–1825), born in Amelia County. A Loyalist officer during the American Revolutionary War, he captured Thomas Burke, a court-martial judge and Governor of North Carolina. One of only three individuals excluded from the amnesty after the Revolutionary War, Fanning moved to New Brunswick in present-day Canada for resettlement. ^[22]
• William Branch Giles, (1762–1830), born in Amelia County. Planter, United States Congressman, United States Senator, and Governor of Virginia ^[22]
• David Greenhill Member of the Colonial House of Burgesses
• Edmund Harrison (1764–1826), Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates (1802–1803)
• John Winston Jones, (1791–1848), born in Amelia County. Speaker of the United States House of Representatives ^[22]
• Nellie A. Ramsey Leslie (c.1840s–c.1920s), born into slavery in Amelia County. ^[23] She became a noted musician, teacher and composer, founding a musical conservatory in Corpus Christi, Texas.
• Robert Russa Moton (1867–1940), noted African American educator. He was born in Amelia County but was raised in Rice in nearby Prince Edward County, Virginia.
• Mary Virginia Terhune (1830–1922), born in Amelia County. A prolific and bestselling author in both fiction and non-fiction, the first woman elected to the Virginia Historical Society

References

1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
2. "Amelia County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
3. History of Amelia County Archived December 5, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Geographic Names Information System".
6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020, to July 1, 2021" . Retrieved April 6, 2022.
7. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
10. "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.
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Amelia County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
12. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Amelia County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. Amelia County Fair, official website. Retrieved July 18, 2021.
15. "Cruise-In hosted by the Time Bandits Car Club on April 10, 2021".
16. David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
17. Ralph H. Lutts. "Like Manna From God: The American Chestnut Trade in Southwestern Virginia", Environmental History 9, No. 3 (2004): 497–525. American Society for Environmental History, Chicago; and the Forest History Society, Durham, NC. Reprinted in Environmental History and the American South: A Reader, page 271. Paul Sutter, Christopher J. Manganiello, eds. University of Georgia Press, 2009. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
18. Beverly Belcher Woody. "Family | Patrick Pioneers – Mary Dunkley and friends", The [Stuart, VA] Enterprise, June 21, 2023. Mountain Media, LLC, Patrick County, VA. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
19. State road sign denoting Masons Corner, Google Street View, April 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
20. USGS Topographic Map for Amelia Court House, VA ("Topo Map" layer selected). TopoZone, Locality LLC. Retrieved June 19, 2023.
21. Convenience Centers, Amelia County, VA, official government website. Retrieved December 8, 2021.
22. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
23. Scruggs, Lawson Andrew (1893). Women of Distinction: Remarkable in Works and Invincible in Character. Raleigh, North Carolina: L. A. Scruggs. p. 247. OCLC   4255360.

External links

• https://va-ameliacounty.civicplus.com/ – Official Amelia County Government website
• https://web.archive.org/web/20191115180811/http://ameliabusinessdirectory.com/ – Amelia Business Directory
• Amelia Co. Christmas 1784
• The Amelia Bulletin Monitor – Amelia County's newspaper
• http://www.ameliadayfestival.com/ – Amelia Day website
• https://ameliacountyfair.com/ – Amelia County Fair website

37°20′N77°59′W / 37.34°N 77.98°W / 37.34; -77.98