Ettrick, Virginia

Ettrick, Virginia
CDP
Ettick historic marker and steps to VSU, viewed from Campbell's Bridge over the Appomattox River
Location of Ettrick, Virginia
Coordinates: 37°14′34″N77°25′32″W / 37.24278°N 77.42556°W / 37.24278; -77.42556
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Chesterfield
Area
• Total	3.0 sq mi (7.8 km2)
• Land	2.9 sq mi (7.6 km2)
• Water	0.08 sq mi (0.2 km2)
Elevation	105 ft (32 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	7,241
• Density	2,400/sq mi (930/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
FIPS code	51-26128 [1]
GNIS feature ID	1496888 [2]

Ettrick is a census-designated place (CDP) in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. Per the 2020 census, the population was 7,241. ^[3] The town is home to Virginia State University and the Petersburg Amtrak train station.

Most of Ettrick has a Petersburg mailing address, ZIP code 23803, although the community is not part of the city of Petersburg.

History

'On Ettricks' Appomatox River, by Frances Benjamin Johnston, 1933

Ettrick was named around 1765 by the foreign merchant Neil Buchanan, who dubbed the eventual village Ettrick Banks for its similarities to his native Ettrick area of Selkirk, Scotland. ^[4]

Capt. Christopher Newport led expeditions in this area. Near Petersburg, which developed as an industrial city, Ettrick also developed industry. It had cotton mills, as it was on the Fall Line and could use water power.

During the American Civil War, the Confederate Army established a large hospital here. In the late nineteenth century, the biracial state legislature established the first state-supported black college, founded here in 1882 as Virginia Normal and Collegiate Institute (now Virginia State University). John Mercer Langston, who founded the Law School at Howard University, was its first president. He was elected as a US Congressman from Virginia from here. ^[4] Vawter Hall and Old President's House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. ^[5]

One of the longstanding landmarks is Campbell's Bridge, first built around 1810. It has been reconstructed several times and is the only direct thoroughfare from the village across the river into Petersburg.

Ettrick today

Currently there is an active Historical Society, gathering for many annual events including a "Burns Night", which celebrates the life's works of the Scottish poet Robert Burns. The evening includes a traditional dinner of haggis. Heritage Day is observed every second Saturday in April, complete with pipe and drums, food, clans, and Native American, Civil War, and pirate re-enactors.

Geography

Ettrick is located at 37°14′34″N77°25′32″W / 37.24278°N 77.42556°W / 37.24278; -77.42556 (37.242750, −77.425418). ^[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km²), of which 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²) is land and 0.08 square miles (0.2 km²), or 2.48%, is water.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1980	4,890		—
1990	5,290		8.2%
2000	5,627		6.4%
2010	6,682		18.7%
2020	7,241		8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [7] 2010 [8] 2020 [9]

2020 census

Ettrick CDP, 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 [8]	Pop 2020 [9]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	1,115	1,572	16.69%	21.71%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,160	4,957	77.22%	68.46%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	16	19	0.24%	0.26%
Asian alone (NH)	21	89	0.31%	1.23%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	2	0.00%	0.03%
Other race alone (NH)	13	31	0.19%	0.43%
Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)	164	299	2.45%	4.13%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	193	272	2.89%	3.76%
Total	6,682	7,241	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[1] of 2000, there were 5,627 people, 1,517 households, and 989 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 1,884.0 people per square mile (726.6/km²). There were 1,673 housing units at an average density of 560.1/sq mi (216.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 21.49% White, 75.14% African American, 0.32% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.09% Pacific Islander, 1.00% from other races, and 1.46% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.22% of the population.

There were 1,517 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.4% were married couples living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 17.6% under the age of 18, 40.1% from 18 to 24, 20.6% from 25 to 44, 13.0% from 45 to 64, and 8.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 22 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.2 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $38,470, and the median income for a family was $43,357. Males had a median income of $33,241 versus $28,134 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $13,251. About 6.7% of families and 11.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 6.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

• Robert Prentiss Daniel, born in Ettrick; African-American educator and college administrator, president of Virginia State University for 18 years ^[10]
• James Farrior, plays for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL and holds two Super Bowl rings ^[11]
• Rudi Johnson, former All Pro running back for the Cincinnati Bengals in the NFL ^[12]
• John Mercer Langston, first president of Virginia State University in 1882 and US Congressman from Virginia ^[13]
• Lennie Pond, NASCAR Rookie of the year was born in Ettrick ^[14]
• Robert 'Bob' Eanes, Chesterfield County's first Fire Chief. Born Ettrick.

References

1. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
2. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
3. "Ettrick CDP, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved December 25, 2022.
4. Jeffrey M. O'Dell, History of Chesterfield County
5. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
7. "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau.
8. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Ettrick CDP, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Ettrick CDP, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
10. "Robert Prentiss Daniel". Lewiston Morning Tribune - Google News Archive Search. November 2, 1953. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
11. "James Farrior". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on October 19, 2012. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
12. "Rudi Johnson". databaseFootball.com. Archived from the original on May 21, 2013. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
13. "LANGSTON, John Mercer | US House of Representatives: History, Art & Archives". history.house.gov. Retrieved December 12, 2019.
14. "Lennie Pond". www.legendsofnascar.com. Retrieved December 12, 2019.