Rappahannock County, Virginia
Rappahannock County, Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
Rappahannock County Courthouse in Washington, Virginia | ||
| ||
Location in the U.S. state of Virginia | ||
Virginia's location in the U.S. | ||
Founded | 1833 | |
Named for | Rappahannock River | |
Seat | Washington | |
Largest town | Washington | |
Area | ||
• Total | 267 sq mi (692 km2) | |
• Land | 266 sq mi (689 km2) | |
• Water | 0.8 sq mi (2 km2), 0.3% | |
Population (est.) | ||
• (2017) | 7,321 | |
• Density | 28/sq mi (11/km2) | |
Congressional district | 5th | |
Time zone | Eastern: UTC−5/−4 | |
Website |
rappahannockcountyva |
Rappahannock County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, US. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,373.[1] Its county seat is Washington.[2] The name "Rappahannock" comes from the Algonquian word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning "river of quick, rising water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows."
Rappahannock County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
Rappahannock County was founded by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1833, based on the growing population's need to have better access to a county seat. The county's land was carved from Culpeper County. Rappahannock county was named for the river that separates it from Fauquier County.
Early History of Amissville
by Rappahannock Historical Society
The land on which the village of Amissville, Virginia, is now sited was owned in the early 1700s by Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax. It was part of the Northern Neck Proprietary, which consisted of 5.3 million acres of land located between the Rappahannock River and the Potomac River, from their headwaters to the Chesapeake Bay. In 1649 King Charles II of England, then in exile in France after the execution of his father, Charles I, had given this unmapped and unsettled region to seven loyal supporters. By 1688 the proprietary was owned solely by Thomas Lord Culpeper. Lord Culpeper's only child, a daughter, married Thomas 5th Lord Fairfax in 1690. They acquired the proprietary on the death of Lord Culpeper and the region became synonymous with the Fairfax name. In 1719, Thomas 6th Lord Fairfax inherited the land.
Land grants issued by the agents of King Charles II and by agents of the Northern Neck (Fairfax) Proprietary are housed in the archives of the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia, and are now available online at the Library of Virginia website.[1]
During 1747 to 1766, Lord Fairfax granted land that encompassed the area of today’s Amissville to five individuals: Thomas Burk received 200 acres,[2] Samuel Scott received 270 acres and 470 acres,[3] James Genn received two grants of 400 acres each,[4] Gabriel Jones received 380 acres,[5] and Philip Edward Jones received 452 acres.[6]
It is widely believed that individuals with surnames Amiss and Bayse received land grants from Lord Fairfax in the Amissville area. However, there are no grants to anyone with these surnames recorded in the Virginia Colonial land grant books maintained by the Library of Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. Rather, Joseph Amiss and Edmond Bayse purchased existing land grants. On 14 July 1766, Joseph Amiss purchased the 380 acres that had been granted to Gabriel Jones for 40 pounds.[7] On 15 October 1770, Edmond Bayse purchased the 800 acres that had been granted to James Genn for 90 pounds.[8]
On 1 July 1794, Joseph Amiss distributed his land and slaves as gifts to his three living sons William, Philip, and Thomas, and his grandsons William (son of William) and John (son of Thomas).[9] In return, Joseph and his wife Constant were given a life estate to the property.[1] The sons and grandsons and their children purchased additional land in the Amissville area.
On 20 April 1778, Edmond Bayse gave his son Elijamon 190 acres of the 800 acres that Edmond had acquired in 1770.[2] This was the northern part of the 800 acres, located adjacent to today’s Route 211. Although Elijamon sold this land in 1789,[3] he and his children acquired other land in the Amissville area and became major landowners.
[1] Culpeper County Deed Book R, page 556; Constant is believed to be a daughter of Gabriel Jones
[2] Culpeper County Deed Book H, page 627
[3] Culpeper County Deed Book R, page 347
[1] www.lva.virginia.gov
[2] Library of Virginia, Richmond. Northern Neck Grants Book G, page 37
[3] Library of Virginia, Richmond. Northern Neck Grants Book G, page 38 and Book H, page 152
[4] Library of Virginia, Richmond. Northern Neck Grants Book G, pages 94 and 95
[5] Library of Virginia, Richmond. Northern Neck Grants Book M, page 186
[6] Library of Virginia, Richmond. Northern Neck Grants Book N, page 60
[7] Culpeper County Deed Book E, page 166-169
[8] Culpeper County Deed Book F, page 142
[9] Culpeper County Deed Book R, pages 508-517
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 267.2 square miles (692.0 km2), of which 266.4 sq mi (690.0 km2) is land and 0.8 sq mi (2.1 km2) (0.3%) is water.[3]
The Rappahannock River forms the northeastern boundary and separates Rappahannock County from Fauquier County. Rappahannock County is bounded on the southeast by Culpeper County and on the southwest by Madison County. The Blue Ridge Mountains occupy much of the western portion of the county.
Adjacent counties
- Warren County, Virginia – northwest
- Fauquier County, Virginia – northeast
- Culpeper County, Virginia – southeast
- Madison County, Virginia – southwest
- Page County, Virginia – west
National protected area
- Shenandoah National Park (part)
Mountains
The summits of the following mountains are located within Rappahannock County:
- Pignut Mountain
- Hogback Mountain
- Castleton Mountain
- Jenkins Mountain
- Jefferson Mountain
- Meetinghouse Mountain
- Little Mulky Mountain
- Little Jenkins Mountain
- Googe Mountain
- Round Mountain
- Hickerson Mountain
- Fork Mountain
- Battle Mountain [4]
- Little Battle Mountain
- Piney Ridge
- Pickerel Ridge
- Poes Mountain
- Turkey Mountain
- Aaron Mountain
- Red Oak Mountain
Major highways
Demographics
Historical population | |||
---|---|---|---|
Census | Pop. | %± | |
1840 | 9,257 | — | |
1850 | 9,782 | 5.7% | |
1860 | 8,850 | −9.5% | |
1870 | 8,261 | −6.7% | |
1880 | 9,291 | 12.5% | |
1890 | 8,678 | −6.6% | |
1900 | 8,843 | 1.9% | |
1910 | 8,044 | −9.0% | |
1920 | 8,070 | 0.3% | |
1930 | 7,717 | −4.4% | |
1940 | 7,208 | −6.6% | |
1950 | 6,112 | −15.2% | |
1960 | 5,368 | −12.2% | |
1970 | 5,199 | −3.1% | |
1980 | 6,093 | 17.2% | |
1990 | 6,622 | 8.7% | |
2000 | 6,983 | 5.5% | |
2010 | 7,373 | 5.6% | |
Est. 2017 | 7,321 | [5] | −0.7% |
Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] |
As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 7,373 people, 2,788 households, and 2,004 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km2). There were 3,303 housing units, at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.64% White, 5.44% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.21% Asian, 0.40% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 1.30% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,788 households, out of which 27.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.50% were married couples living together, 7.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.10% were non-families. 23.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50, and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 5.60% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 31.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,943, and the median income for a family was $51,848. Males had a median income of $32,725 versus $22,950 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,863. About 5.20% of families and 7.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.80% of those under age 18 and 3.20% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Board Of Supervisors
- Roger Welch (R) – Chairman (Wakefield District)
- Chris Parrish (R) – Vice-Chairman (Stonewall-Hawthorne District)
- Christine Smith (D) – Piedmont District
- John Lesinski (D) – (Hampton District)
- Ron Frazier (R) – (Jackson District)
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third parties |
---|---|---|---|
2016 | 56.6% 2,539 | 39.0% 1,747 | 4.4% 197 |
2012 | 53.0% 2,311 | 45.4% 1,980 | 1.5% 66 |
2008 | 50.6% 2,227 | 47.8% 2,105 | 1.7% 73 |
2004 | 53.6% 2,172 | 45.4% 1,837 | 1.0% 41 |
2000 | 52.7% 1,850 | 41.6% 1,462 | 5.7% 201 |
1996 | 47.3% 1,505 | 44.2% 1,405 | 8.5% 271 |
1992 | 44.3% 1,410 | 40.0% 1,273 | 15.7% 498 |
1988 | 61.7% 1,657 | 37.3% 1,003 | 1.0% 26 |
1984 | 62.7% 1,696 | 36.9% 999 | 0.4% 12 |
1980 | 49.8% 1,179 | 44.6% 1,055 | 5.6% 133 |
1976 | 44.5% 881 | 54.1% 1,071 | 1.5% 29 |
1972 | 68.2% 1,055 | 30.5% 471 | 1.4% 21 |
1968 | 43.6% 594 | 28.9% 394 | 27.5% 375 |
1964 | 39.8% 449 | 59.9% 675 | 0.3% 3 |
1960 | 43.7% 426 | 55.8% 544 | 0.5% 5 |
1956 | 47.8% 514 | 48.7% 523 | 3.5% 38 |
1952 | 54.4% 619 | 45.5% 518 | 0.2% 2 |
1948 | 30.1% 311 | 59.7% 617 | 10.3% 106 |
1944 | 37.3% 297 | 62.4% 497 | 0.4% 3 |
1940 | 27.6% 225 | 72.1% 588 | 0.4% 3 |
1936 | 26.0% 241 | 73.9% 686 | 0.1% 1 |
1932 | 17.2% 124 | 81.9% 590 | 0.8% 6 |
1928 | 39.1% 329 | 60.9% 513 | |
1924 | 17.6% 89 | 78.2% 395 | 4.2% 21 |
1920 | 33.3% 210 | 66.4% 418 | 0.3% 2 |
1916 | 17.1% 84 | 81.5% 401 | 1.4% 7 |
1912 | 19.8% 94 | 75.1% 356 | 5.1% 24 |
Education
The Rappahannock County Public Schools School District is located in Washington, VA and includes two schools that serve 921 students county-wide in grades PK through 12.
Among the private schools in the county are two pre-K thru 12 schools, Hearthstone School , and Wakefield Country Day School.there is one 6 thru 12 school, Belle Meade Farm School.
Communities
Town
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
See also
References
- ↑ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ↑ "A Gallium Anomaly Utilized in Palaeogeographic Reconstruction of Battle Mountain, Rappahannock County, Virginia". Kansas Academy of Science. 2016-04-01. Retrieved 2016-07-14.
- ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 30, 2018.
- ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 12, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. 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. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rappahannock County, Virginia. |
- Rappahannock County, Virginia, the county government homepage
- Rappahannock News, a print and online newspaper
- Memorial Foundation of the Germanna Colonies in Virginia, Inc.
- Rappahannock Historical Society, 328 Gay Street, Washington, VA 22747