Spotsylvania County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. It is a suburb approximately 60 miles (90km) south of D.C. It is a part of the Northern Virginia region and the D.C. area. As of 2024, Spotsylvania County is the 14th most populated county in Virginia with 149,588 residences.[7] Its county seat is Spotsylvania.[8]
Spotsylvania County | |
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![]() Historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania County | |
Motto(s): | |
![]() Location within the U.S. state of Virginia | |
![]() Virginia's location within the U.S. | |
Coordinates: 38°11′N 77°39′W / 38.18°N 77.65°W | |
Country | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
Founded | 1721 |
Named for | Alexander Spotswood |
Seat | Spotsylvania |
Largest community | Spotsylvania |
Area | |
• Total | 414 sq mi (1,070 km2) |
• Land | 401 sq mi (1,040 km2) |
• Water | 13 sq mi (30 km2) 3.1% |
Population | |
• Total | 140,092 |
• Estimate (July 2023)[6] | 149,588 |
• Density | 340/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 |
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
editAt 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 who incidentally was also the second 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
editIt 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
edit- Culpeper County, Virginia – north
- Stafford County, Virginia – northeast
- City of Fredericksburg, Virginia – northeast
- Caroline County, Virginia – southeast
- Hanover County, Virginia – south
- Louisa County, Virginia – southwest
- Orange County, Virginia – west and northwest
National protected area
editPoints of interest
edit- Lake Anna State Park
- Spotsylvania County Public Schools
- Spotsylvania Courthouse
- Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
- Spotsylvania Towne Centre
- Central Rappahannock Regional Library
- Dominion Raceway
Communities
editThere are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:
Census-designated places
editOther unincorporated communities
edit- Alsop
- Arcadia
- Artillery Ridge
- Bells Crossroad
- Belmont
- Blades Corner
- Brandon
- Brockroad
- Brokenburg
- Carters Store
- Chancellor
- Chancellor Green, a local Hispanic enclave
- Chancellorsville
- Chewnings Corner
- Cookstown
- Cosner's Corner
- Dunavant
- Five Mile Fork
- Four Mile Fork
- Granite Springs
- Lanes Corner
- Leavells
- Lewiston
- Margo
- Marye
- Massaponax
- McHenry
- Old Trap
- Olivers Corner
- Partlow
- Paytes
- Post Oak
- Shady Grove Corner
- Snell
- Stubbs
- Thornburg
- Todds Tavern
Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.
Major highways
editGovernance
editCounty government
editSpotsylvania 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
editSpotsylvania 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]
Position | Name | Affiliation | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Chairman | Jacob Lane | Republican | Livingston | |
Vice Chairman | Chris Yakabouski | Republican | Battlefield | |
Member | Kevin Marshall | Independent | Berkeley | |
Member | Gerald Childress | Republican | Chancellor | |
Member | Drew Mullins | Republican | Courtland | |
Member | Lori Hayes | Independent | Lee Hill | |
Member | Deborah H. Frazier | Independent | Salem |
County wide offices
editOffice | Name | Affiliation | |
---|---|---|---|
Commonwealth's Attorney | Ryan Mehaffey | Republican | |
Commissioner of the Revenue | Deborah F Williams | Independent | |
Sheriff | Roger Harris | Independent | |
Treasurer | Larry Keith Pritchett | Independent | |
Clerk of Circuit Court | Christalyn Mitchell Jett | Republican |
State representation
editOffice | Name | Party | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Delegate | Phillip Scott | Republican | 63 | |
Delegate | Joshua G. Cole | Democratic | 65 | |
Delegate | Bobby Orrock | Republican | 66 |
Office | Name | Party | District | |
---|---|---|---|---|
Senator | Richard Stuart | Republican | 25 | |
Senator | Tara Durant | Republican | 27 | |
Senator | Bryce Reeves | Republican | 28 |
Federal representation
editSpotsylvania residents are represented by Abigail Spanberger (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).
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 39,411 | 52.33% | 34,307 | 45.55% | 1,599 | 2.12% |
2016 | 34,623 | 55.35% | 24,207 | 38.70% | 3,719 | 5.95% |
2012 | 31,844 | 54.93% | 25,165 | 43.41% | 965 | 1.66% |
2008 | 28,610 | 52.91% | 24,897 | 46.05% | 562 | 1.04% |
2004 | 28,527 | 62.77% | 16,623 | 36.58% | 295 | 0.65% |
2000 | 20,739 | 59.22% | 13,455 | 38.42% | 827 | 2.36% |
1996 | 13,786 | 52.62% | 10,342 | 39.48% | 2,069 | 7.90% |
1992 | 11,829 | 49.26% | 8,133 | 33.87% | 4,052 | 16.87% |
1988 | 10,978 | 66.16% | 5,486 | 33.06% | 129 | 0.78% |
1984 | 8,207 | 66.74% | 4,012 | 32.63% | 78 | 0.63% |
1980 | 5,385 | 53.82% | 4,039 | 40.37% | 581 | 5.81% |
1976 | 3,210 | 42.46% | 4,210 | 55.69% | 140 | 1.85% |
1972 | 3,577 | 65.73% | 1,775 | 32.62% | 90 | 1.65% |
1968 | 1,675 | 34.00% | 1,647 | 33.43% | 1,604 | 32.56% |
1964 | 1,261 | 37.45% | 2,097 | 62.28% | 9 | 0.27% |
1960 | 1,288 | 46.02% | 1,482 | 52.95% | 29 | 1.04% |
1956 | 1,244 | 51.94% | 993 | 41.46% | 158 | 6.60% |
1952 | 1,174 | 48.98% | 1,194 | 49.81% | 29 | 1.21% |
1948 | 517 | 34.24% | 818 | 54.17% | 175 | 11.59% |
1944 | 504 | 40.29% | 744 | 59.47% | 3 | 0.24% |
1940 | 365 | 31.63% | 785 | 68.02% | 4 | 0.35% |
1936 | 453 | 35.01% | 836 | 64.61% | 5 | 0.39% |
1932 | 346 | 30.17% | 784 | 68.35% | 17 | 1.48% |
1928 | 654 | 59.84% | 439 | 40.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 255 | 34.65% | 448 | 60.87% | 33 | 4.48% |
1920 | 380 | 45.56% | 440 | 52.76% | 14 | 1.68% |
1916 | 249 | 38.37% | 398 | 61.33% | 2 | 0.31% |
1912 | 58 | 9.40% | 390 | 63.21% | 169 | 27.39% |
1908 | 282 | 43.93% | 346 | 53.89% | 14 | 2.18% |
1904 | 237 | 40.79% | 330 | 56.80% | 14 | 2.41% |
1900 | 817 | 51.19% | 774 | 48.50% | 5 | 0.31% |
1896 | 903 | 50.50% | 877 | 49.05% | 8 | 0.45% |
1892 | 679 | 42.62% | 849 | 53.30% | 65 | 4.08% |
1888 | 922 | 51.22% | 876 | 48.67% | 2 | 0.11% |
1884 | 820 | 49.28% | 844 | 50.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
1880 | 576 | 42.76% | 771 | 57.24% | 0 | 0.00% |
Demographics
editCensus | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 11,252 | — | |
1800 | 13,002 | 15.6% | |
1810 | 13,296 | 2.3% | |
1820 | 14,254 | 7.2% | |
1830 | 15,134 | 6.2% | |
1840 | 15,161 | 0.2% | |
1850 | 14,911 | −1.6% | |
1860 | 16,076 | 7.8% | |
1870 | 11,728 | −27.0% | |
1880 | 14,828 | 26.4% | |
1890 | 14,233 | −4.0% | |
1900 | 9,239 | −35.1% | |
1910 | 9,935 | 7.5% | |
1920 | 10,571 | 6.4% | |
1930 | 10,056 | −4.9% | |
1940 | 9,905 | −1.5% | |
1950 | 11,920 | 20.3% | |
1960 | 13,819 | 15.9% | |
1970 | 16,424 | 18.9% | |
1980 | 34,435 | 109.7% | |
1990 | 57,403 | 66.7% | |
2000 | 90,395 | 57.5% | |
2010 | 122,397 | 35.4% | |
2020 | 140,032 | 14.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[17] 1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19] 1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[22] |
2020 census
editRace / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[21] | Pop 2020[22] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 88,077 | 87,278 | 71.96% | 62.33% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 18,298 | 22,436 | 14.95% | 16.02% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 323 | 375 | 0.26% | 0.27% |
Asian alone (NH) | 2,768 | 3,933 | 2.26% | 2.81% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 135 | 122 | 0.11% | 0.09% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 272 | 845 | 0.22% | 0.60% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 3,246 | 8,389 | 2.65% | 5.99% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 9,278 | 16,654 | 7.58% | 11.89% |
Total | 122,397 | 140,032 | 100.00% | 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
editAs 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:
- 78.4% White
- 15.8% Black or African American
- 0.4% Native American
- 2.4% Asian
- 0.05% Pacific Islander
- 2.8% from other races, and
- 1.88% from two or more races.
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
editEmergency services
editFire 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
editPublic schools
editPrivate schools
edit- Fredericksburg Academy
- Fredericksburg Christian School
- The Summit Academy
- Odyssey Montessori School
- Saint Patrick School
- Saint Michael the Archangel High School
- Faith Baptist Christian School
- Mount Hope Academy
Colleges and universities
editGermanna 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
edit- John Day Andrews (1795–1882), Mayor of Houston[26]
- Thomas Dickens Arnold, United States Congressman from Virginia[27]
- Francis Asbury (1745–1816), one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church[28]
- Caressa Cameron, Miss Virginia 2009 and Miss America 2010[29]
- Elijah Craig, Baptist minister arrested in Fredericksburg for preaching without a license from the Anglican Church before the American Revolution[30]
- Evelyn Magruder DeJarnette (1842–1914), author[31][32]
- Joe Gibbs, former Washington Redskins coach[33]
- Rahman "Rock" Harper, chef, television personality, and restaurateur[34]
- Alexander Holladay (1811–1877), U. S. Representative[citation needed]
- Danny McBride, actor[35]
- Phil Short, former member of the Louisiana State Senate and United States Marine Corps officer[36]
- Matthew Fontaine Maury, father of modern oceanography[37]: 452 [38]: 2318
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ "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) - ^ "motto". www.jsasoc.com.
- ^ "Clan Spottiswood - ScotClans - Scottish Clans".
- ^ "Surname Database: Spens Last Name Origin". The Internet Surname Database.
- ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Estimate2023
was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Spotsylvania County, VA population by year, race, & more". USAFacts. June 22, 2024. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/social/table?socialtopic=030&socialtopic_options=social_6&demo=00011&demo_options=income_3&race=00&race_options=race_7&sex=0&sex_options=sexboth_1&age=001&age_options=ageall_1&statefips=51&statefips_options=area_states. Retrieved July 3, 2024.
{{cite web}}
: Missing or empty|title=
(help) - ^ Swanton, John R. (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. Smithsonian Institution. pp. 61–62. ISBN 0-8063-1730-2. OCLC 52230544.
- ^ "Family relationship of General Robert e. Lee and Alexander Spotswood via Alexander Spotswood".
- ^ "Trail of Freedom", Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, University of Mary Washington blog
- ^ "Spotsylvania County Home : Departments: Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.va.us. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Members of the Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.ua.us. Retrieved January 14, 2021.
- ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ "Élections présidentielles aux États-Unis 1788-2004" [United States presidential elections 1788-2004] (in French). Retrieved November 10, 2021.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ a b "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.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ Census Bureau Median Income Figures Archived February 10, 2020, at archive.today, census.gov.
- ^ Spotsylvania County Fire;Rescue and Emergency Services Volunteer Agencies Archived October 14, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Benham, Priscilla Myers. "Andrews, John Day". Texas Handbook Online. Texas State Historical Association. Retrieved January 7, 2023.
- ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
- ^ now the United Methodist Church in the United States
- ^ Gross, Edie. "Covering Caressa Cameron". www.fredericksburg.com. Archived from the original on January 23, 2013.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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–.
- ^ Frost, May (Miller) (1954). De Jarnette and Allied Families in America (1699-1954). San Bernardino, Calif. [1954].
- ^ Couloumbis, Angela E. (March 2, 1996). "Fawn Lake: On The Water In Spotsylvania". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "A Virginian in Short". enlou.com. Retrieved November 3, 2009.
- ^ 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.
- ^ 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.
External links
edit- Spotsylvania County Official Website
- Spotsylvania County Department of Economic Development
- Fredericksburg.com, site of The Free Lance-Star
- Spotsylvania County Virginia Zip Codes
- Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office