Southampton County, Virginia

Last updated

Southampton County
County
Southampton VA courthouse.JPG
Southampton County Courthouse
Southampton Seal.gif
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Southampton County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia in United States.svg
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′15″N77°09′38″W / 36.7708°N 77.1606°W / 36.7708; -77.1606
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Virginia.svg Virginia
Founded1749
Named after either Southampton, England, or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
Seat Courtland
Largest townCourtland
Area
 • Total
602 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land599 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
17,996 Decrease2.svg
 • Density30/sq mi (10/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts 4th, 2nd
Website southamptoncounty.org

Southampton County is a county located on the southern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. North Carolina is to the south. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 17,996. [1] Its county seat is Courtland. [2]

Contents

History

In the early 17th century, the explorer Captain John Smith founded the settlement of Jamestown; in the next decades of the colony's history, Jamestown settlers explored and began settling the regions adjacent to Hampton Roads. The Virginia Colony was divided into eight shires (or counties) with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants in 1634. Most of Southampton County was originally part of Warrosquyoake Shire. The shires were soon to be called counties. In 1637 Warrosquyoake Shire was renamed Isle of Wight County. [3]

In 1749, the portion of Isle of Wight County west of the Blackwater River was organized as Southampton County. Later, part of Nansemond County, which is now the Independent City of Suffolk, was added to Southampton County. This area was cultivated for tobacco and later for mixed crops, dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans after a relatively short period when many white indentured servants came to the colony.[ citation needed ]

In August 1831, an enslaved preacher named Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Southampton County against local white residents, killing about 60 people (mainly women and children). The rebellion was crushed, and Turner and his rebels were tried, convicted, and executed. Meanwhile, white mobs had seized and lynched nearly 200 black residents of Southampton County, most of them enslaved. [4]

Southampton County may have been named by Virginian settlers for Southampton, a major port city in Hampshire. Alternatively, it may have been named for Henry Wriothesley, one of the founders of the Virginia Company. [5]

Geography

Southampton County from 1895 map of Virginia Southampton County VA 1895.jpg
Southampton County from 1895 map of Virginia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 602 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 599 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.5%) is water. [6]

Southampton County is bounded by the Blackwater River on the east and the Meherrin River on the west. The Nottoway River flows through the center of the county. All three rivers are tributaries of the Chowan River, which flows south into Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. The Blackwater River separates Southampton County from Isle of Wight County, and the Meherrin River separates it from Greensville County.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 12,864—
1800 13,9258.2%
1810 13,497−3.1%
1820 14,1705.0%
1830 16,07413.4%
1840 14,525−9.6%
1850 13,521−6.9%
1860 12,915−4.5%
1870 12,285−4.9%
1880 18,01246.6%
1890 20,07811.5%
1900 22,84813.8%
1910 26,30215.1%
1920 27,5554.8%
1930 26,870−2.5%
1940 26,442−1.6%
1950 26,5220.3%
1960 27,1952.5%
1970 18,582−31.7%
1980 18,7310.8%
1990 17,550−6.3%
2000 17,482−0.4%
2010 18,5706.2%
2020 17,996−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census [7]
1790–1960 [8] 1900–1990 [9]
1990–2000 [10] 2010–2020 [11]

2020 census

Southampton County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / EthnicityPop 2010 [12] Pop 2020 [11] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)11,13810,95959.98%60.90%
Black or African American alone (NH)6,8935,90837.12%32.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)52560.28%0.31%
Asian alone (NH)46670.25%0.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)5200.03%0.11%
Some Other Race alone (NH)13500.07%0.28%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)2206041.18%3.36%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)2033321.09%1.84%
Total18,57017,996100.00%100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2010 Census

As of the census [13] of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 37.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,279 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 111.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,995, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $32,436 versus $20,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,930. About 11.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

Southampton County is Virginia's largest producer of peanuts and cotton. [14] The county includes The Southampton Business Park and Southampton Commerce and Logistics Center. [14] Its main employer is manufacturing, representing 51 percent of the county's workforce. [14] Its main employers include Birdsong Peanuts, Envira, Hampton Farms, Paul D. Camp Community College, and Southampton Memorial Hospital. [14]

Arts and culture

Blackwater Regional Library is the regional library system that provides services to the citizens of Southampton. [14] The Salty Southern Route is a driving tour to peanut and salt-cured ham related sites and includes Southampton County. [15]

Architecture

Parks and recreation

The county operates public parks. [14] The Nottoway River also provides recreational opportunities. [14]

Government

Education

Educational opportunities in the county includes the Paul D. Camp Community College in adjacent Franklin, Virginia. [14] The county is also served by Southampton High School, part of the Southampton County Public Schools. Southampton Academy, a private school for pre-kindergarten through the 12th grades.

Infrastructure

Major highways

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Southampton County, Virginia [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1912 959.38%86185.00%575.63%
1916 12810.91%1,04589.09%00.00%
1920 25015.80%1,31483.06%181.14%
1924 20314.46%1,11979.70%825.84%
1928 64843.43%84456.57%00.00%
1932 18211.69%1,35787.15%181.16%
1936 1488.11%1,67391.62%50.27%
1940 21312.29%1,50887.02%120.69%
1944 28414.99%1,59984.38%120.63%
1948 33916.14%1,46269.62%29914.24%
1952 1,16636.70%2,00062.95%110.35%
1956 1,29035.29%2,03955.79%3268.92%
1960 1,26330.62%2,80467.98%581.41%
1964 1,52037.16%2,56662.74%40.10%
1968 1,37626.15%1,80334.26%2,08339.59%
1972 3,22567.09%1,49831.16%841.75%
1976 2,36640.18%3,39957.72%1242.11%
1980 2,99745.50%3,34750.81%2433.69%
1984 4,66957.99%3,30040.99%821.02%
1988 3,43952.96%3,00046.20%540.83%
1992 2,84441.37%3,19946.54%83112.09%
1996 2,27533.88%3,45451.44%98614.68%
2000 3,29349.05%3,35950.03%620.92%
2004 4,01853.63%3,43145.80%430.57%
2008 4,58350.55%4,40248.55%820.90%
2012 4,73351.09%4,43747.90%941.01%
2016 5,03556.75%3,59540.52%2422.73%
2020 5,73058.55%3,96940.56%870.89%
2024 6,13362.23%3,62636.79%970.98%

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Isle of Wight County". www.lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  4. ↑ Oates, Stephen B. (1990) [1975]. The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion . New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. p.  126. ISBN   0-06-091670-2.
  5. ↑ Parramore, Thomas C. (1978). Southampton County, Virginia. Charlottesville: Southampton County Historical Society. p. 29. ISBN   978-0-81390-754-3.
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ "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 5, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  12. ↑ "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Southampton". Hampton Roads Alliance. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Home". Salty Southern Route. Retrieved July 5, 2025.
  16. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

36°46′15″N77°09′38″W / 36.77083°N 77.16056°W / 36.77083; -77.16056

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