Louisa County, Virginia

Louisa County
County
Louisa County Courthouse
Flag Seal Logo
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°59′N77°58′W / 37.99°N 77.96°W / 37.99; -77.96
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1742
Named for	Louise of Great Britain
Seat	Louisa
Largest town	Louisa
Area
• Total	511 sq mi (1,320 km2)
• Land	496 sq mi (1,280 km2)
• Water	15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	37,596
• Density	74/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.louisacounty.com

Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,596. ^[1] The county seat is Louisa. ^[2]

History

St. John's Chapel, near Boswells Tavern, Louisa County, Historic American Buildings Survey

Prior to colonial settlement, the area comprising Louisa County was occupied by several indigenous peoples including the Tutelo, the Monacan, and the Manahoac peoples, who eventually fled to join the Cayuga Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) people in New York state under pressure from English settlers.

Louisa County was established in 1742 from Hanover County. The county is named for Princess Louise of Great Britain, youngest daughter of King George II, and wife of King Frederick V of Denmark. ^[3]

Patrick Henry lived for some time in Louisa County on Roundabout Creek in 1764. Henry was being mentored at that time by the Louisa County magnate Thomas Johnson the representative of Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. In 1765, Patrick Henry won his first election to represent Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. At the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, numerous free mixed-race families migrated together from here to Kentucky, where neighbors began to identify them as Melungeon. ^{[ citation needed ]}

The Virginia Central Railroad was completed through Louisa County in 1838–1840. During the Civil War, it was an important supply line for the Confederate armies. As a result, several significant cavalry actions took place in the county, particularly one fought at Trevilians in 1864.

20th century to present

Cooper Vineyards in Louisa is the first winery on the East Coast and the second in the country to be awarded the fourth and highest, Platinum certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

The Twin Oaks Community is one of the country's oldest secular communes, established by its first eight members in 1967. This was part of a national movement among numerous young people to "get back to the land" and live in more simple ways based in community. Louisa is also home to the Acorn Community, a rural, cooperative, income sharing community on about 80 acres, founded in 1993 by one of the founding members of Twin Oaks, Kat Kincade. Another newly forming community as of 2011 is the Living Energy Farm, a 'neo-Amish' farm, where no fossil fuels will be used but new technologies such as solar will be embraced.

Lake Anna, a 13,000-acre (53 km²) artificial lake, and the associated North Anna Nuclear Generating Station were built by Virginia Power in the 1970s. In recent years the predominantly rural county has grown because of retirees' settling near Lake Anna, and because of its convenient location for commuters. It is an hour's drive or less from Richmond, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville. ^[4]

For a discussion and additional information on Louisa County history, see: Louisa County Historical Notes. ^[5]

2011 earthquake

Main article: 2011 Virginia earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EST. The quake occurred at an approximate depth of 3.7 miles and was centered in Louisa County (location at 37.944°N, 77.942°W), 5 miles SSW of Mineral and 38 miles NW of Richmond. ^[6] According to Associated Press, "Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Charleston, S.C. Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated." ^[7] It was also felt in parts of Canada. ^[8]

Damage totals in Louisa County totaled over $70 million: ^[9]

• $57.5 million in damage to public school structures
• $11.5 million in damage to residential structures
• $400,000 in damage to religious structures
• $400,000 in damage to commercial structures
• $500,000 in damage to government structures

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km²), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km²) is land and 15 square miles (39 km²) (2.9%) is water. ^[10]

Adjacent counties

• Orange County – north
• Spotsylvania County – northeast
• Hanover County – east
• Goochland County – south
• Fluvanna County – southwest
• Albemarle County – west

Major highways

• I-64
• US 15
• US 33
• US 250
• US 522
• SR 22
• SR 208
• SR 231

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	8,467		—
1800	11,892		40.5%
1810	11,900		0.1%
1820	13,746		15.5%
1830	16,151		17.5%
1840	15,433		−4.4%
1850	16,691		8.2%
1860	16,701		0.1%
1870	16,332		−2.2%
1880	18,942		16.0%
1890	16,997		−10.3%
1900	16,517		−2.8%
1910	16,578		0.4%
1920	17,089		3.1%
1930	14,309		−16.3%
1940	13,665		−4.5%
1950	12,826		−6.1%
1960	12,959		1.0%
1970	14,004		8.1%
1980	17,825		27.3%
1990	20,325		14.0%
2000	25,627		26.1%
2010	33,153		29.4%
2020	37,596		13.4%
2021 (est.)	38,848	[11]	3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [12] 1790–1960 [13] 1900–1990 [14] 1990–2000 [15] 2010 [16] 2020 [17]

2020 census

Louisa 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 [16]	Pop 2020 [17]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	25,562	28,535	77.10%	75.90%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,832	5,365	17.59%	14.27%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	106	93	0.32%	0.25%
Asian alone (NH)	158	251	0.48%	0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	15	18	0.05%	0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	41	155	0.12%	0.41%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	677	1,814	2.04%	4.82%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	762	1,365	2.30%	3.63%
Total	33,153	37,596	100.00%	100.00%

2000 census

As of the census ^[18] of 2000, there were 25,627 people, 9,945 households, and 7,259 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km²). There were 11,855 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 50.96% White, 46.58% Black ^{[ dubious – discuss ]} or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,945 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,402, and the median income for a family was $44,722. Males had a median income of $31,764 versus $24,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,479. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Although the county's 2008 population is only 31,000, it is one of the fastest-growing in Virginia, as people have moved near Lake Anna. At least 15 new housing developments have sprouted in five years. ^[4]

Communities

Towns

• Louisa
• Mineral

Census-designated place

• Blue Ridge Shores

Other unincorporated communities

• Apple Grove
• Bumpass
• Cuckoo
• Ferncliff
• Gum Spring
• Holly Grove
• Orchid
• Twin Oaks Community
• Trevilians
• Yanceyville ^[19]
• Zion Crossroads

A local train of the Buckingham Branch railroad passes the C&O Depot and water tower in Louisa.

Historical places and points of interest

• Green Springs Historic District
• Jerdone Castle
• Lake Anna
• Twin Oaks Community, a secular commune, is located in Louisa County.
• Acorn Community, another income sharing community in the county, which runs the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange business as its principal source of income.

Notable people

• James Waddel Alexander (1804–1859), born in Louisa County, noted Presbyterian minister and professor at Princeton Theological Seminary ^[20]
• Arthur P. Bagby (1794–1858), born in Louisa County, tenth Governor of Alabama from 1837 to 1841.
• Henry "Box" Brown (c.1816–after 1889), a slave who escaped to freedom by having himself mailed in a wooden crate to Pennsylvanian abolitionists.
• Paxus Calta (b. 1957), anti-nuclear activist, blogger and member of Twin Oaks Community and Acorn Community.
• Dabney Carr (1743–1773), celebrated Louisa County patriot.
• Patrick Henry (1736–1799), at Roundabout Plantation, eight miles southwest of Louisa Court House, Patrick Henry lived in Louisa County from 1765 to 1768, when he sat for Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. This was the beginning of his political career. ^[21]
• Charles W. Kent (1860–1917), English scholar
• Charles Henry Langston (1817–1892), born free and of mixed racial ancestry, one of two men tried and convicted after Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, abolitionist and political activist in Ohio and Kansas.
• John Mercer Langston (1829–1899), abolitionist, activist, educator and politician; in 1855 first black person in Ohio elected to public office, first dean of Howard University law school, first president of Virginia State University, in 1888 first black person to be elected to the United States Congress from Virginia.
• Flora Molton (1908–1990), singer.
• John Overton (1766–1833), born in Louisa County, notable political leader who was an adviser to Andrew Jackson and co-founder of Memphis, Tennessee.
• James Waddel (1739–1805), celebrated Presbyterian preacher

Politics

United States presidential election results for Louisa County, Virginia ^[22]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	15,084	62.48%	8,779	36.36%	281	1.16%
2020	13,294	60.66%	8,269	37.73%	352	1.61%
2016	10,528	59.78%	6,212	35.27%	872	4.95%
2012	9,215	56.01%	6,953	42.26%	284	1.73%
2008	8,182	53.29%	6,978	45.45%	193	1.26%
2004	7,083	58.85%	4,844	40.25%	108	0.90%
2000	5,461	54.09%	4,309	42.68%	326	3.23%
1996	3,768	45.27%	3,761	45.19%	794	9.54%
1992	3,461	41.66%	3,399	40.92%	1,447	17.42%
1988	3,831	57.16%	2,789	41.61%	82	1.22%
1984	3,789	57.91%	2,703	41.31%	51	0.78%
1980	2,633	46.14%	2,809	49.23%	264	4.63%
1976	2,151	41.89%	2,857	55.64%	127	2.47%
1972	2,545	63.55%	1,338	33.41%	122	3.05%
1968	1,510	38.09%	1,290	32.54%	1,164	29.36%
1964	1,369	44.12%	1,731	55.78%	3	0.10%
1960	1,170	47.60%	1,244	50.61%	44	1.79%
1956	1,152	47.43%	795	32.73%	482	19.84%
1952	1,135	52.26%	1,025	47.19%	12	0.55%
1948	701	41.45%	782	46.24%	208	12.30%
1944	634	40.33%	930	59.16%	8	0.51%
1940	573	38.66%	896	60.46%	13	0.88%
1936	486	30.41%	1,100	68.84%	12	0.75%
1932	366	28.57%	879	68.62%	36	2.81%
1928	772	51.26%	734	48.74%	0	0.00%
1924	282	26.96%	707	67.59%	57	5.45%
1920	312	31.11%	684	68.20%	7	0.70%
1916	263	26.70%	710	72.08%	12	1.22%
1912	91	11.10%	578	70.49%	151	18.41%

See also

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

References

1. "Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p.  191.
4. Merida, Kevin (June 7, 2008). "The 'Obama Before Obama'". The Washington Post. p. A01.
5. Pattie Cooke, "Louisa County Historical Notes" Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine , Excerpt from Louisa & Louisa County, Dover, New Hampshire: Arcadia Publishing, 1997
6. Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
7. "Quake rocks Washington area, felt on East Coast". Associated Press (AP). August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
8. "Strong earthquake hits Canada, U.S. East Coast". The Vancouver Sun. August 23, 2011.^{[ permanent dead link ‍]}
9. "Louisa Updates Earthquake Damage Estimates". Gray Television, Inc. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021" . Retrieved April 6, 2022.
12. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
15. "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.
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
17. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
18. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
19. Google Maps: Yanceyville, Virginia, accessed March 13, 2022.
20. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
21. Virginia Historical Markers Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine , Virginia Historical Marker W-211: Patrick Henry's Home
22. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

External links

• Official Louisa County Website
• The Healthy Living Directory
• Louisa County VAGenWeb Genealogy Project
• 2014 Fresh Air piece (audio here) and Atlantic article on a sexting scandal in Louisa County

37°59′N77°58′W / 37.99°N 77.96°W / 37.99; -77.96