Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Last updated

Spotsylvania County
County
St. Julien (Spotsylvania County, Virginia).png
Historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania County
Flag of Spotsylvania County, VA.jpg
Flag
Seal of Spotsylvania County, VA.jpg
Seal
Coat of arms of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.png
Logo
Motto(s): 
Patior Ut Potiar
(Latin for 'I suffer to obtain') [1] [2] [3] [4]
Map of Virginia highlighting Spotsylvania County.svg
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia in United States.svg
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°11′N77°39′W / 38.18°N 77.65°W / 38.18; -77.65
CountryFlag of the United States.svg United States
StateFlag of Virginia.svg Virginia
Founded1721
Named after Alexander Spotswood
Seat Spotsylvania Courthouse
Largest community Spotsylvania
Area
 • Total
414 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Land401 sq mi (1,040 km2)
 • Water13 sq mi (30 km2)  3.1%
Population
 (2020) [5]
 • Total
140,092
 • Estimate 
(July 2023) [6]
149,588
 • Density340/sq mi (130/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP Codes
22407, 22408, 22551, 22553, 22534, 22508, 22580, 23024
Congressional district 7th
Website www.spotsylvania.va.us

Spotsylvania County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a part of the Northern Virginia region. As of 2024, Spotsylvania County is the 14th most populated county in Virginia with 149,588 residents. [7] Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse. [8]

Contents

Located along the Rappahannock River bordering the City of Fredericksburg and Stafford County, Spotsylvania County is part of the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. Since 2010, the population has increased by 19.3%; for comparison, Virginia's population has only increased 7.7% in that time period. Spotsylvania County is currently the 74th highest-income county in America. [9]

History

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Spotsylvania County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Manahoac. [10]

As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood, later the great-great-grandfather of Robert E. Lee. [11]

Many major battles were fought in this county during the Civil War, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river. [12]

General Stonewall Jackson was shot and seriously wounded by friendly fire in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.

Geography

Southern.northern.virginia.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Red pog.svg
Spotsylvania
Red pog.svg

It is bounded on the north by the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, the independent city of Fredericksburg (all of which were part of the area's early history), and the counties of Stafford and Culpeper; on the south by the North Anna River and its impoundment, Lake Anna, and by the counties of Hanover and Louisa; on the west by Orange County and Culpeper County; and on the east by Caroline County.

Adjacent counties and independent city

National protected area

Points of interest

Communities

There are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Spotsylvania Towne Centre Spotsylvania Towne Centre Main Entrance.jpg
Spotsylvania Towne Centre

Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.

Major highways

I-95 northbound in Spotsylvania County 2019-06-24 10 14 32 View north along Interstate 95 from the overpass for U.S. Route 17 (Mills Drive) in Fourmile Fork, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.jpg
I-95 northbound in Spotsylvania County

Governance

County government

Spotsylvania County's highest level of management is that of County Administrator. This post oversees all county departments and agencies and serves as the Spotsylvania County's Board of Supervisors' liaison to state and regional agencies.

Board of Supervisors

Spotsylvania is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The board consists of seven members (one from each district within the county). The Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, appropriates funds, approves land rezoning and special exceptions to the zoning ordinance, and carries out other responsibilities set forth by the county code. [13]

The following is the current list of supervisors and districts which they represent: [14]

PositionNameAffiliationDistrict
 ChairChris Yakabouski Republican Battlefield
 Vice-ChairLori Hayes Independent Lee Hill
 MemberKevin Marshall Independent Berkeley
 MemberGerald Childress Republican Chancellor
 MemberDrew Mullins Republican Courtland
 MemberJacob Lane Republican Livingston
 MemberDeborah H. Frazier Independent Salem

County wide offices

OfficeNameAffiliation
 Commonwealth's AttorneyRyan Mehaffey Republican
 Commissioner of the RevenueDeborah F Williams Independent
 SheriffRoger Harris Independent
 TreasurerLarry Keith Pritchett Independent
 Clerk of Circuit CourtChristalyn Mitchell Jett Republican

State representation

Virginia House of Delegates
OfficeNamePartyDistrict
Delegate Phillip Scott Republican 63
Delegate Joshua G. Cole Democratic 65
Delegate Bobby Orrock Republican 66
Virginia State Senate
OfficeNamePartyDistrict
Senator Richard Stuart Republican 25
Senator Tara Durant Republican 27
Senator Bryce Reeves Republican 28

Federal representation

Spotsylvania residents are represented by Eugene Vindman (D-7th District) in the House of Representatives. The current U.S. senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia are Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D).

United States presidential election results for Spotsylvania County, Virginia [15] [16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No. %No. %No. %
1880 57642.76%77157.24%00.00%
1884 82049.28%84450.72%00.00%
1888 92251.22%87648.67%20.11%
1892 67942.62%84953.30%654.08%
1896 90350.50%87749.05%80.45%
1900 81751.19%77448.50%50.31%
1904 23740.79%33056.80%142.41%
1908 28243.93%34653.89%142.18%
1912 589.40%39063.21%16927.39%
1916 24938.37%39861.33%20.31%
1920 38045.56%44052.76%141.68%
1924 25534.65%44860.87%334.48%
1928 65459.84%43940.16%00.00%
1932 34630.17%78468.35%171.48%
1936 45335.01%83664.61%50.39%
1940 36531.63%78568.02%40.35%
1944 50440.29%74459.47%30.24%
1948 51734.24%81854.17%17511.59%
1952 1,17448.98%1,19449.81%291.21%
1956 1,24451.94%99341.46%1586.60%
1960 1,28846.02%1,48252.95%291.04%
1964 1,26137.45%2,09762.28%90.27%
1968 1,67534.00%1,64733.43%1,60432.56%
1972 3,57765.73%1,77532.62%901.65%
1976 3,21042.46%4,21055.69%1401.85%
1980 5,38553.82%4,03940.37%5815.81%
1984 8,20766.74%4,01232.63%780.63%
1988 10,97866.16%5,48633.06%1290.78%
1992 11,82949.26%8,13333.87%4,05216.87%
1996 13,78652.62%10,34239.48%2,0697.90%
2000 20,73959.22%13,45538.42%8272.36%
2004 28,52762.77%16,62336.58%2950.65%
2008 28,61052.91%24,89746.05%5621.04%
2012 31,84454.93%25,16543.41%9651.66%
2016 34,62355.35%24,20738.70%3,7195.95%
2020 39,41152.33%34,30745.55%1,5992.12%
2024 42,53153.49%35,74744.96%1,2361.55%

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1790 11,252—
1800 13,00215.6%
1810 13,2962.3%
1820 14,2547.2%
1830 15,1346.2%
1840 15,1610.2%
1850 14,911−1.6%
1860 16,0767.8%
1870 11,728−27.0%
1880 14,82826.4%
1890 14,233−4.0%
1900 9,239−35.1%
1910 9,9357.5%
1920 10,5716.4%
1930 10,056−4.9%
1940 9,905−1.5%
1950 11,92020.3%
1960 13,81915.9%
1970 16,42418.9%
1980 34,435109.7%
1990 57,40366.7%
2000 90,39557.5%
2010 122,39735.4%
2020 140,03214.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [17]
1790–1960 [18] 1900–1990 [19]
1990–2000 [20] 2010 [21] 2020 [22]

2020 census

Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / EthnicityPop 2010 [21] Pop 2020 [22] % 2010% 2020
White alone (NH)88,07787,27871.96%62.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)18,29822,43614.95%16.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3233750.26%0.27%
Asian alone (NH)2,7683,9332.26%2.81%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)1351220.11%0.09%
Some Other Race alone (NH)2728450.22%0.60%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)3,2468,3892.65%5.99%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)9,27816,6547.58%11.89%
Total122,397140,032100.00%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 [23] of 2010, there were 122,397 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 inhabitants per square mile (87/km2). There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 units per square mile (32 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was:

7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,308 households, out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were non-families. 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The 2021 median income for a household in the county was $98,973 compared to $69,021 for the United States; the median income for a family was $87,922. Males had a median income of $49,166 versus $38,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,212. 6.6% of the population lives below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over. [24]

Infrastructure

Emergency services

Fire and rescue services in Spotsylvania County are provided by a combination of career and volunteer organizations. The career staff of the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management provide fire and rescue services 24/7/365 at all 11 stations, 1 (Courthouse), 2 (Brokenburg), 3 (Partlow), 4 (Four Mile Fork), 5 (Chancellor), 6 (Salem Church), 7 (Wilderness), 8 (Thornburg), 9 (Belmont), 10 (Salem Fields), 11 (Crossroads). Volunteers provide additional staffing nights and weekends at Stations 1, 2, 4, and 8. The volunteer organizations include The Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, and The Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad. [25]

Education

Public schools

Private schools

Colleges and universities

Germanna Community College is part of the Virginia Community College System and serves the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, and King George.

The University of Mary Washington located in neighboring Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a four-year university and graduate school that also serves the area.

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Latin Lovers". The Washington Times. November 4, 2002. Archived from the original on August 30, 2016. Retrieved August 30, 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  2. ↑ "motto". www.jsasoc.com.
  3. ↑ "Clan Spottiswood - ScotClans - Scottish Clans".
  4. ↑ "Surname Database: Spens Last Name Origin". The Internet Surname Database.
  5. ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  6. ↑
  7. ↑ "Spotsylvania County, VA population by year, race, & more". USAFacts. June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  9. ↑ "Income Table for Virginia Counties | HDPulse Data Portal". hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
  10. ↑ Swanton, John R. (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. Smithsonian Institution. pp. 61–62. ISBN   0-8063-1730-2. OCLC   52230544.{{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)
  11. ↑ "Family relationship of General Robert e. Lee and Alexander Spotswood via Alexander Spotswood".
  12. ↑ "Trail of Freedom", Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, University of Mary Washington blog
  13. ↑ "Spotsylvania County Home : Departments: Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.va.us. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  14. ↑ "Members of the Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.ua.us. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
  15. ↑ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  16. ↑ "Élections présidentielles aux États-Unis 1788-2004" [United States presidential elections 1788-2004] (in French). Retrieved November 10, 2021.
  17. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  18. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  20. ↑ "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.
  21. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  22. 1 2 "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
  23. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  24. ↑ Census Bureau Median Income Figures Archived February 10, 2020, at archive.today , census.gov.
  25. ↑ Spotsylvania County Fire;Rescue and Emergency Services Volunteer Agencies Archived October 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  26. ↑ Benham, Priscilla Myers. "Andrews, John Day". Texas Handbook Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
  27. ↑ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
  28. ↑ now the United Methodist Church in the United States
  29. ↑ Gross, Edie. "Covering Caressa Cameron". www.fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
  30. ↑ "Fredericksburg Baptist Church" Archived February 21, 2014, at the Wayback Machine , Nomination for National Register of Historic Places, State of Virginia; cf. "The First Hundred Years Were The Hardest". The Free Lance-Star. Fredericksburg, Virginia. November 18, 1967. p. 8.
  31. ↑ Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Moulton. pp.  237–.
  32. ↑ Frost, May (Miller) (1954). De Jarnette and Allied Families in America (1699-1954). San Bernardino, Calif. [1954].
  33. ↑ Couloumbis, Angela E. (March 2, 1996). "Fawn Lake: On The Water In Spotsylvania". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  34. ↑ Black, Jane (December 26, 2008). ""Hell's Kitchen" winner Rahman "Rock" Harper Readying Menu for New D.C. Eatery". The Washington Post . ISSN   0190-8286 . Retrieved February 17, 2018.
  35. ↑ "Movie, TV projects fall in line for local native". Fredericksburg.com. January 24, 2008. Archived from the original on January 24, 2013. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  36. ↑ "A Virginian in Short". enlou.com. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
  37. ↑ Birth: Stevens, J. A., DeCosta, B. F., Johnston, H. P., Lamb, M. J., & Pond, N. G. (1887). The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries. A. S. Barnes.
  38. ↑ Father of modern oceanography: Hager, W. H. (2015). Hydraulicians in the USA 1800-2000: A biographical dictionary of leaders in hydraulic engineering and fluid mechanics. CRC Press.

38°11′N77°39′W / 38.18°N 77.65°W / 38.18; -77.65

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.