King William County, Virginia

Not to be confused with Prince William County, Virginia.

King William County
County
King William County Courthouse, the oldest in continuous use in the United States
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N77°05′W / 37.71°N 77.09°W / 37.71; -77.09
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1702
Named for	William III
Seat	King William
Largest town	West Point
Area
• Total	286 sq mi (740 km2)
• Land	274 sq mi (710 km2)
• Water	12 sq mi (30 km2)  4.1%
Population  (2020)
• Total	17,810
• Density	62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.kingwilliamcounty.us

King William County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,810. ^[1] Its county seat is King William. ^[2] King William County is located in the Middle Peninsula and is included in the Greater Richmond Region.

History

For thousands of years before European contact, indigenous peoples of North America lived in the Tidewater area of present-day Virginia. At the time of the founding of Jamestown, 30 Virginia Native American tribes comprised the Powhatan paramountcy, numbering 14,000-21,000 people. The Algonquian-speaking Mattaponi Indian Tribe and Upper Mattaponi tribe, among the 11 tribes recognized by the state of Virginia, are located in the county. The Mattaponi are one of two Virginia Indian tribes who still occupy reservation land first allocated by the English under treaty in the 17th century.

One prominent family during Colonial Virginia times was that of William Aylett. The Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730 established a tobacco inspection warehouse at Aylett's. Aylett's daughters intermarried with other Northern Neck families.

English colonists formed King William County in 1702 out of King and Queen County. The county is named for William of Orange, King of England. ^[3] The courthouse, built in 1725, is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km²), of which 274 square miles (710 km²) is land and 12 square miles (31 km²) (4.1%) is water. ^[4] King William County is bounded by the Mattaponi River to the north and the Pamunkey River to the south. The two rivers combine to form the York River, at West Point, the county's largest town.

Adjacent counties

• Caroline County - northwest
• King and Queen County - northeast
• New Kent County - south
• Hanover County - southwest

Major highways

• US 360
• SR 30
• SR 33
• SR 296
• SR 298

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	8,128		—
1800	9,055		11.4%
1810	9,285		2.5%
1820	9,697		4.4%
1830	9,812		1.2%
1840	9,258		−5.6%
1850	8,779		−5.2%
1860	8,530		−2.8%
1870	7,515		−11.9%
1880	8,751		16.4%
1890	9,605		9.8%
1900	8,380		−12.8%
1910	8,547		2.0%
1920	8,739		2.2%
1930	7,929		−9.3%
1940	7,855		−0.9%
1950	7,589		−3.4%
1960	7,563		−0.3%
1970	7,497		−0.9%
1980	9,334		24.5%
1990	10,913		16.9%
2000	13,146		20.5%
2010	15,935		21.2%
2020	17,810		11.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [5] 1790-1960 [6] 1900-1990 [7] 1990-2000 [8] 2010 [9] 2020 [10]

2020 census

King William 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 [9]	Pop 2020 [10]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	12,107	13,499	75.98%	75.79%
Black or African American alone (NH)	2,806	2,585	17.61%	14.51%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	223	277	1.40%	1.56%
Asian alone (NH)	118	129	0.74%	0.72%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	3	9	0.02%	0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	12	76	0.08%	0.43%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	342	759	2.15%	4.26%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	324	476	2.03%	2.67%
Total	15,935	17,810	100.00%	100.00%

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,935 people living in the county. 77.2% were White, 17.7% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 2.3% of two or more races. 2.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 18.6% were of English, 16.5% American, 8.7% German and 7.6% Irish ancestry. ^[11]

2000 Census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,846 households, and 3,784 families living in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 5,189 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 73.81% White, 22.81% Black or African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,846 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.90% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,876, and the median income for a family was $54,037. Males had a median income of $34,616 versus $25,578 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,928. About 4.40% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Town

• West Point

Census-designated places

• Central Garage
• King William

Other unincorporated communities

• Aylett
• Aylett Mill
• Beulahville
• Calno
• Chericoke
• Cohoke
• Corinth Fork
• Duane
• Duane Fork
• Elsing Green
• Enfield
• Epworth
• Etna Mills
• Globe
• Gordon Landing
• Horse Landing
• Horseshoe
• Johnson Landing
• Keith
• Lanesville
• Mangohick
• Manquin
• Midway
• Pointers Landing
• Pollards Corner
• Poplar Landing
• Port Richmond
• Riverview Landing
• Romancoke
• Rosespout
• Rumford
• Scotland Landing
• Tuck Fork
• Turpin
• Upshaw
• Venter
• Wakema
• White Oak Landing
• Whitebank

Two Indian reservations exist in the county. They are the only ones in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Government

Board of Supervisors

Source: ^[13]

• First District: William L. Hodges (I)
• Second District: Ben Edwards (I)
• Third District: Justin Catlett (I)
• Fourth District: Lindsay May Robinson (I)
• Fifth District: Mary Sue Bancroft (I)

Constitutional Officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Tina Glazebrook (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Karena Funkhouser (I)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Tiffany Webb (I)
• Sheriff: Thomas D. (Don) Lumpkin (I)
• Treasurer: Abbi N. Carlton (I)

Stacey Davenport serves as the County Administrator for King William, having been appointed in September 2024.>

King William is represented by Republican Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment, Jr. in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Scott A. Wyatt and M. Keith Hodges in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Robert J. 'Rob" Wittman in the US House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for King William County, Virginia ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,030	69.83%	3,388	29.46%	81	0.70%
2020	7,320	68.18%	3,260	30.37%	156	1.45%
2016	5,975	65.33%	2,760	30.18%	411	4.49%
2012	5,466	61.26%	3,344	37.48%	113	1.27%
2008	4,966	59.20%	3,344	39.87%	78	0.93%
2004	4,397	63.98%	2,436	35.45%	39	0.57%
2000	3,547	61.48%	2,125	36.83%	97	1.68%
1996	2,346	52.49%	1,765	39.49%	358	8.01%
1992	2,591	49.54%	1,822	34.84%	817	15.62%
1988	2,735	62.89%	1,561	35.89%	53	1.22%
1984	2,803	65.43%	1,448	33.80%	33	0.77%
1980	2,036	56.54%	1,446	40.16%	119	3.30%
1976	1,597	50.60%	1,501	47.56%	58	1.84%
1972	1,839	69.14%	797	29.96%	24	0.90%
1968	1,046	43.03%	764	31.43%	621	25.55%
1964	1,065	53.92%	904	45.77%	6	0.30%
1960	793	51.19%	745	48.10%	11	0.71%
1956	887	62.16%	357	25.02%	183	12.82%
1952	730	57.39%	533	41.90%	9	0.71%
1948	348	35.84%	476	49.02%	147	15.14%
1944	280	28.06%	718	71.94%	0	0.00%
1940	235	25.21%	697	74.79%	0	0.00%
1936	211	23.19%	696	76.48%	3	0.33%
1932	177	22.01%	612	76.12%	15	1.87%
1928	329	43.29%	431	56.71%	0	0.00%
1924	148	27.77%	372	69.79%	13	2.44%
1920	176	32.90%	353	65.98%	6	1.12%
1916	119	25.81%	342	74.19%	0	0.00%
1912	69	15.72%	305	69.48%	65	14.81%
1908	228	44.88%	276	54.33%	4	0.79%
1904	195	38.77%	304	60.44%	4	0.80%
1900	871	64.81%	462	34.38%	11	0.82%
1896	990	62.15%	592	37.16%	11	0.69%
1892	844	54.10%	672	43.08%	44	2.82%
1888	1,093	59.43%	746	40.57%	0	0.00%
1884	1,033	56.91%	782	43.09%	0	0.00%
1880	792	53.91%	677	46.09%	0	0.00%

Education

There are two school districts: King William County Public Schools (for all other areas), and West Point Town Public Schools (for areas in the Town of West Point). ^[15]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in King William County, Virginia

References

1. "King William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  176.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
6. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
7. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
8. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - King William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - King William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved March 19, 2018.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. "Board of Supervisors". July 1, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
15. "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: King William County, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau . Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list

37°42′N77°06′W / 37.70°N 77.10°W / 37.70; -77.10