Amelia Court House, Virginia

Last updated

Amelia Court House
Census-designated place (CDP)
Amelia VA - county courthouse.jpg
County courthouse in Amelia
USA Virginia location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Amelia Court House
Location within the Commonwealth of Virginia
Usa edcp location map.svg
Red pog.svg
Amelia Court House
Amelia Court House (the United States)
Coordinates: 37°20′32″N77°58′52″W / 37.34222°N 77.98111°W / 37.34222; -77.98111
CountryUnited States
State Virginia
County Amelia
Area
 (as defined by U.S. Census Bureau) [1]
 • Total3.78 sq mi (9.8 km2)
 • Land3.77 sq mi (9.8 km2)
 • Water0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2)
Elevation
380 ft (120 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total1,099
 • Density290/sq mi (110/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
23002
Area code 804
GNIS feature ID1498446

Amelia Court House (also known as Amelia Courthouse and Amelia) is the county seat of Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia [2] [3] and a census-designated place (CDP). [4] The population as of the 2010 census was 1,099. [5] The town was named for Princess Amelia of Great Britain, the second daughter of Great Britain's King George II, in 1735.

Contents

History

Amelia Court House was founded in a rural area of the Virginia Piedmont developed for plantations of mixed crops. In the 19th century, spas were developed around nearby mineral springs, which served as vacation destinations for travelers. Visitors arrived by railroad after one was built to serve the area. Among the planters who came to the spas with their families was Robert E. Lee, the future Confederate general.

By the 1850s, the new Richmond and Danville Railroad (later the Southern Railway) had been extended to the village. [6] The R&D was a crucial supply line for the Confederacy during the Civil War. After General Robert E. Lee retreated from Petersburg in 1865, he spent April 4 and 5 in Amelia Court House waiting for desperately needed supplies from Richmond. Those supplies never arrived. Instead, a train came through carrying government documents. The last major engagement of Lee's army with Union forces occurred April 6, 1865, on the border of Amelia County at the Battle of Sayler's Creek. Lee surrendered at Appomattox Court House on April 9, 1865.

The offices of Amelia's court clerks contain records dating before the Civil War, unlike many other Virginia courthouses, which lost such records in wartime destruction. The Union forces were rushing to catch up to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia and did not ensure that the courthouse records were burned. The iron shutters and brick construction of the courthouse protected its contents [ citation needed ].

In the 20th century, the area was still known for the amazonite produced at the Morefield Mine. [7] Amazonite is a crystallized stone, a green variety of microcline feldspar. [8] [9]

A countywide festival called Amelia Day is held each May on the Saturday before Mother's Day. 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, 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.

Tornadoes

In 2003, Amelia Day was cancelled after the courthouse green was struck by an F1 tornado [10] on Friday, May 8, the day before the festival. The tornado destroyed most of the trees on the green.

A small Virginia tornado alley exists in Central Virginia, and Amelia County has had numerous tornado touchdowns. Tornadoes of note include the April 30, 1924, twister that passed east of the courthouse area, traveling from Jetersville to Chula, killing one person and injuring seven others. [10] A tornado hit Amelia County on October 13, 1983, one of a family of tornadoes that affected much of Central and Northern Virginia. [10] Other strong tornadoes have affected the county, especially to the east.

Transportation

View east along U.S. 360 Business at Virginia St (Route 1009) 2017-06-26 19 19 17 View east along U.S. Route 360 Business (Goodes Bridge Road) at Virginia Street (Virginia State Secondary Route 1009) in Amelia Courthouse, Amelia County, Virginia.jpg
View east along U.S. 360 Business at Virginia St (Route 1009)

Business Routes

Business plate.svg
US 360.svg US 360 Bus. ( Goode's Bridge Rd. )

State Routes

Virginia 38.svg SR 38 (Five Forks Rd., N. Five Forks Rd., and Virginia, Court, Washington, & Church Streets)

Climate

Like much of the South, the area is characterized by long, hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Amelia Court House has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. [11]

Climate data for Amelia Court House, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1970–present)
MonthJanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDecYear
Record high °F (°C)82
(28)		82
(28)		90
(32)		96
(36)		96
(36)		104
(40)		106
(41)		102
(39)		99
(37)		99
(37)		87
(31)		82
(28)		106
(41)
Mean maximum °F (°C)67.8
(19.9)		72.4
(22.4)		80.4
(26.9)		86.6
(30.3)		90.9
(32.7)		95.0
(35.0)		98.0
(36.7)		98.2
(36.8)		92.6
(33.7)		86.1
(30.1)		76.5
(24.7)		71.3
(21.8)		98.5
(36.9)
Average high °F (°C)48.6
(9.2)		52.3
(11.3)		59.9
(15.5)		71.1
(21.7)		77.4
(25.2)		85.2
(29.6)		89.2
(31.8)		87.2
(30.7)		81.3
(27.4)		71.0
(21.7)		60.9
(16.1)		52.1
(11.2)		69.7
(20.9)
Daily mean °F (°C)38.1
(3.4)		40.6
(4.8)		47.8
(8.8)		58.1
(14.5)		66.1
(18.9)		74.4
(23.6)		78.5
(25.8)		76.7
(24.8)		70.4
(21.3)		59.2
(15.1)		49.2
(9.6)		41.4
(5.2)		58.4
(14.7)
Average low °F (°C)27.7
(−2.4)		28.9
(−1.7)		35.7
(2.1)		45.1
(7.3)		54.8
(12.7)		63.7
(17.6)		67.9
(19.9)		66.2
(19.0)		59.4
(15.2)		47.5
(8.6)		37.4
(3.0)		30.6
(−0.8)		47.1
(8.4)
Mean minimum °F (°C)8.0
(−13.3)		13.2
(−10.4)		18.4
(−7.6)		28.7
(−1.8)		39.6
(4.2)		49.4
(9.7)		57.9
(14.4)		56.0
(13.3)		45.8
(7.7)		32.1
(0.1)		21.1
(−6.1)		16.3
(−8.7)		6.1
(−14.4)
Record low °F (°C)−11
(−24)		−12
(−24)		10
(−12)		17
(−8)		30
(−1)		38
(3)		45
(7)		41
(5)		32
(0)		23
(−5)		10
(−12)		−1
(−18)		−12
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm)3.66
(93)		2.89
(73)		4.44
(113)		3.41
(87)		4.33
(110)		3.60
(91)		3.90
(99)		4.03
(102)		4.08
(104)		3.79
(96)		3.38
(86)		3.91
(99)		45.42
(1,154)
Average snowfall inches (cm)3.3
(8.4)		2.3
(5.8)		1.1
(2.8)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		0.0
(0.0)		1.6
(4.1)		8.3
(21)
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)11.29.711.210.711.810.210.18.99.49.08.210.8121.2
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)1.61.40.50.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.00.74.2
Source: NOAA [12] [13]

Points of interest

Notable people

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amazonite</span> Green silicate mineral

Amazonite, also known as Amazonstone, is a green tectosilicate mineral, a variety of the potassium feldspar called microcline. Its chemical formula is KAlSi3O8, which is polymorphic to orthoclase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microcline</span> Igneous rock-forming tectosilicate mineral

Microcline (KAlSi3O8) is an important igneous rock-forming tectosilicate mineral. It is a potassium-rich alkali feldspar. Microcline typically contains minor amounts of sodium. It is common in granite and pegmatites. Microcline forms during slow cooling of orthoclase; it is more stable at lower temperatures than orthoclase. Sanidine is a polymorph of alkali feldspar stable at yet higher temperature. Microcline may be clear, white, pale-yellow, brick-red, or green; it is generally characterized by cross-hatch twinning that forms as a result of the transformation of monoclinic orthoclase into triclinic microcline.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Buena Vista, Virginia</span> Independent city in Virginia, United States

Buena Vista is an independent city located in the Blue Ridge Mountains region of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,641. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington, along with surrounding Rockbridge County, for statistical purposes.

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

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ashville, Alabama</span> City in and county seat of St. Clair County, Alabama

Ashville is a city in and one of the county seats of St. Clair County, Alabama, United States, other seat being Pell City. Its population was 2,212 at the 2010 census, down from 2,260, at which time it was a town. It incorporated in 1822.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harlan, Kentucky</span> City in Kentucky, United States

Harlan is a home rule-class city in and the county seat of Harlan County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,745 at the 2010 census, down from 2,081 at the 2000 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">La Plata, Maryland</span> Town in Maryland, United States

La Platalə-PLAY-tə) is a town in Charles County, Maryland, United States. The population was 10,159 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Charles County.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yanceyville, North Carolina</span> Town in North Carolina, United States

Yanceyville is a town in and the county seat of Caswell County, North Carolina, United States. Located in the Piedmont Triad region of the state, the town had a population of 1,937 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Manning, South Carolina</span> City in South Carolina, United States

Manning is a city in and the county seat of Clarendon County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 3,245 as of the 2010 census, with an estimated population in 2018 of 3,941. It was named after former South Carolina governor John Laurence Manning.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henderson, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Henderson is a city and the county seat of Rusk County, Texas, in Northeast Texas. Its population was 13,271 at the 2020 census. Henderson is named for James Pinckney Henderson, the first governor of Texas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Center, Texas</span> City in Texas, United States

Center is a city in Shelby County, Texas. The population was 5,221 at the 2020 U.S. census. It is the county seat of Shelby County located in deep East Texas. It was named for its location near the center of Shelby County, it is near the Louisiana border.

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

Appomattox is a town in Appomattox County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,733 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Appomattox County.

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

Grundy is a town in Buchanan County, Virginia, United States, an area located within the Appalachian Mountains region. It is the county seat of Buchanan County. The town is home to the Appalachian School of Law. The population was 875 as of the 2020 census.

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

Orange is a town and the county seat of Orange County, Virginia, United States. The population was 5,062 at the 2020 census, representing a 7.2% increase since the 2010 census. Orange is 28 miles (45 km) northeast of Charlottesville, 88 miles (142 km) southwest of Washington, D.C., and 4 miles (6 km) east of Founding Father and fourth U.S. president James Madison's plantation of Montpelier.

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

Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. It is the county seat of Pittsylvania County. Chatham's population was 1,232 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. The town was originally called Competition, but the name was changed to Chatham by the Virginia General Assembly on May 1, 1852.

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

Warsaw is an incorporated town in and the county seat of Richmond County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,637 at the 2020 census and is estimated to be 2,281 as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lewisburg, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Lewisburg is a city in and the county seat of Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,930 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Virginia State Route 38</span> State highway in Amelia County in Virginia, United States

State Route 38 is a primary state highway in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Five Forks Road, SR 38 runs 7.03 miles (11.31 km) from U.S. Route 360 Business in Amelia Court House east to SR 153 at Scotts Fork.

Jetersville is a mostly rural unincorporated community in southwestern Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia, just off US 360. The town is centered around the intersection of SR 671 and SR 640. The Norfolk Southern Railway runs along the main roads.

Maplewood is a mostly rural unincorporated community in southwest central Amelia County in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is located at the intersection of SR 640/SR 697 and SR 640, just off the four-lane current US 360. Maplewood straddles the border between ZIP codes 23002 and 23083 (Jetersville). The nearest volunteer fire station is Amelia County Volunteer Fire Department Co. 3, at Jetersville, just over 2 miles southwest.

References

  1. ↑ "2020 U.S. Gazetteer Files". U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2023.
  2. ↑ "Amelia Court House". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  3. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Amelia Court House Census Designated Place". Geographic Names Information System . United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior . Retrieved November 19, 2021.
  5. ↑ Virginia Trend Report 2: State and Complete Places (Sub-state 2010 Census Data). Archived 2012-07-11 at archive.today Missouri Census Data Center. Accessed July 8, 2011
  6. ↑ Henry Gannett. A Gazetteer of Virginia, USGS: 1904, page 15. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
  7. ↑ D. Allen Penick Jr. and Palmer C. Sweet, "Mineral Collecting Sites in Virginia," Virginia Minerals, May 1992, V. 38, No. 2, pp. 10–11 Archived 2012-04-24 at the Wayback Machine
  8. ↑ "amazonstone - mineral" . Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  9. ↑ Barthelmy, Dave. "Microcline Mineral Data". WebMineral.com. Retrieved April 13, 2017.
  10. 1 2 3 Bill Sammler (July 1, 2008). "Tornado History". Virginia Department of Emergency Management (VDEM)-Vaemergency.gov. Archived from the original on March 17, 2014. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Climate Summary – Amelia, Virginia". Weatherbase.com. Retrieved March 17, 2014.
  12. ↑ "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Station: Amelia Courthouse, VA". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991-2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved July 5, 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.