Halifax County, Virginia

Halifax County
County
Halifax County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′N78°56′W / 36.77°N 78.94°W / 36.77; -78.94
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1752
Named for	George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax
Seat	Halifax
Largest town	South Boston
Area
• Total	830 sq mi (2,100 km2)
• Land	818 sq mi (2,120 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  1.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	34,022
• Density	41/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.halifaxcountyva.gov

Halifax County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,022. ^[1] Its county seat is Halifax. ^[2]

History

Tobacco barn, Edgewood Farm, Halifax County

Occupied by varying cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years, in historic times English colonists encountered Siouan language Native Americans. Halifax County was established in 1752 by English colonists from Lunenburg County. The county was named for George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

Through the 1990 Census, South Boston was an independent city, but it became a town again and rejoined Halifax County in 1995.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 830 square miles (2,100 km²), of which 818 square miles (2,120 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (1.4%) is water. ^[3]

Adjacent counties

• Campbell County - northwest
• Charlotte County - northeast
• Mecklenburg County - east
• Granville County, North Carolina - southeast
• Person County, North Carolina - south
• Caswell County, North Carolina - southwest
• Pittsylvania County - west

Major highways

• US 58
• US 360
• US 501
• SR 34
• SR 40
• SR 49
• SR 57
• SR 92
• SR 96
• SR 119
• SR 129
• SR 304
• SR 344
• SR 349
• SR 360

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	14,722		—
1800	19,377		31.6%
1810	22,133		14.2%
1820	19,060		−13.9%
1830	28,034		47.1%
1840	25,936		−7.5%
1850	25,962		0.1%
1860	26,520		2.1%
1870	27,828		4.9%
1880	33,588		20.7%
1890	34,424		2.5%
1900	37,197		8.1%
1910	40,044		7.7%
1920	41,374		3.3%
1930	41,283		−0.2%
1940	41,271		0.0%
1950	41,442		0.4%
1960	33,637		−18.8%
1970	30,076		−10.6%
1980	30,599		1.7%
1990	29,033		−5.1%
2000	37,355		28.7%
2010	36,241		−3.0%
2020	34,022		−6.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [4] 1790-1960 [5] 1900-1990 [6] 1990-2000 [7] 2010 [8] 2020 [9]

Hog Killing on Milton Puryear Place, Dennison, Halifax County, Marion Post Wolcott, 1939

2020 census

Halifax 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 [8]	Pop 2020 [9]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	21,804	20,250	60.16%	59.52%
Black or African American alone (NH)	13,224	11,738	36.49%	34.50%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	97	77	0.27%	0.23%
Asian alone (NH)	132	218	0.36%	0.64%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	4	3	0.01%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	37	112	0.10%	0.33%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	356	864	0.98%	2.54%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	587	760	1.62%	2.23%
Total	36,241	34,022	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census ^[10] of 2000, there were 37,355 people, 15,018 households, and 10,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 people per square mile (18 people/km²). There were 16,953 housing units at an average density of 21 units per square mile (8.1 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.32% White, 38.02% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,018 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,929, and the median income for a family was $37,845. Males had a median income of $27,498 versus $20,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,353. About 11.50% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 19.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of Supervisors

• District 1: Ricky Short
• District 2: Larry D Roller
• District 3: Hubert Pannell
• District 4: Ronnie E Duffey
• District 5: Dean E Throckmorton
• District 6: Stanley Brandon
• District 7: Garland B Ricketts
• District 8: William Bryant Claiborne
• Tie Breaker: Wayne Smith

^[11]

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Cathy M. Cosby (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Brenda P. Powell (I)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Tracy Quackenbush Martin (I)
• Sheriff: Fred S. Clark (I)
• Treasurer: Ruth Ann Oakes (I)

Halifax is represented by Republicans Frank Ruff and Bill Stanley in the Virginia Senate, Republican James E. Edmunds in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Bob Good in the U.S. House of Representatives. Halifax is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

United States presidential election results for Halifax County, Virginia ^[12]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	10,741	60.10%	6,984	39.08%	146	0.82%
2020	10,418	57.09%	7,666	42.01%	164	0.90%
2016	9,704	57.10%	6,897	40.58%	393	2.31%
2012	8,694	52.08%	7,766	46.53%	232	1.39%
2008	8,600	51.04%	8,126	48.23%	124	0.74%
2004	8,363	57.06%	6,220	42.44%	73	0.50%
2000	7,732	54.95%	5,963	42.37%	377	2.68%
1996	6,490	49.07%	5,599	42.33%	1,137	8.60%
1992	5,199	46.16%	4,752	42.19%	1,311	11.64%
1988	5,671	56.02%	4,282	42.30%	171	1.69%
1984	6,726	60.58%	4,231	38.11%	146	1.31%
1980	5,088	51.73%	4,528	46.03%	220	2.24%
1976	4,045	46.51%	4,352	50.04%	300	3.45%
1972	5,469	68.71%	2,384	29.95%	106	1.33%
1968	2,634	28.94%	2,199	24.16%	4,269	46.90%
1964	3,928	63.93%	2,198	35.77%	18	0.29%
1960	1,784	39.57%	2,676	59.36%	48	1.06%
1956	1,782	30.73%	2,470	42.59%	1,547	26.68%
1952	2,274	40.70%	3,296	58.99%	17	0.30%
1948	521	13.46%	1,323	34.19%	2,026	52.35%
1944	512	13.23%	3,351	86.59%	7	0.18%
1940	373	9.75%	3,441	89.94%	12	0.31%
1936	302	6.51%	4,331	93.30%	9	0.19%
1932	275	7.05%	3,583	91.85%	43	1.10%
1928	1,091	28.46%	2,742	71.54%	0	0.00%
1924	374	14.03%	2,245	84.24%	46	1.73%
1920	586	21.73%	2,103	77.98%	8	0.30%
1916	493	21.52%	1,781	77.74%	17	0.74%
1912	426	23.20%	1,260	68.63%	150	8.17%
1908	650	33.64%	1,268	65.63%	14	0.72%
1904	594	32.60%	1,198	65.75%	30	1.65%
1900	1,632	35.90%	2,864	63.00%	50	1.10%
1896	2,050	38.43%	3,231	60.57%	53	0.99%
1892	1,937	33.80%	3,133	54.68%	660	11.52%
1888	2,473	40.69%	3,570	58.74%	35	0.58%
1884	2,954	46.54%	3,393	53.46%	0	0.00%
1880	1,987	48.49%	2,111	51.51%	0	0.00%

Communities

Towns

• Halifax
• Scottsburg
• South Boston
• Virgilina

Census-designated places

• Clover
• Cluster Springs
• Mountain Road
• Nathalie
• Riverdale

Other unincorporated communities

• Alton
• Cody
• Crystal Hill
• Delila
• Ingram
• Midway (near Scottsburg)
• Turbeville
• Vernon Hill

Notable people

• Clement Comer Clay, Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama, U.S. House of Representatives, and the United States Senate
• Adam Page, professional wrestler known for tenure in All Elite Wrestling
• Carrie Sutherlin, college president

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Halifax County, Virginia

References

1. "Halifax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
4. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
7. "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 January 3, 2014.
8. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Halifax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Halifax County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
11. "Board of Supervisors - Halifax County, VA". Halifax County. Retrieved November 2, 2022.
12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

External links

• Official site of Halifax County & South Boston, Virginia
• History of Halifax County and South Boston, Virginia
• Official site of Town of South Boston - largest town within the County
• Official site of the County Museum
• Halifax County South Boston Public Library System

36°46′N78°56′W / 36.77°N 78.94°W / 36.77; -78.94