Accomack County, Virginia

Accomack County is a United States county located in the eastern edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Together, Accomack and Northampton counties make up the Eastern Shore of Virginia, which in turn is part of the Delmarva Peninsula, bordered by the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. The Accomack county seat is the town of Accomac.[2]

Accomack County
U.S. county
Accomack County Courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°46′N 75°46′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1671
SeatAccomac
Largest townChincoteague
Area
 • Total1,310 sq mi (3,400 km2)
 • Land450 sq mi (1,200 km2)
 • Water861 sq mi (2,230 km2)  65.7%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total33,164
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
32,412
 • Density25/sq mi (9.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.accomack.va.us

The Virginia Delmarva peninsula of Accawmacke, Virginia is the Indigenous homeland of the American Accawmacke Indians. It was also known as the Kingdome of the Accawmackes. It borders on the homeland of the Accohannock Indians their sister tribe.

The Eastern Shore of Virginia was known as "Accomac Shire," until it was renamed Northampton County in 1642. The present Accomack County was created from Northampton County in 1663. The county and the original shire were named for the Accawmack Indians, who resided in the area when the English first explored it in 1603.

As of the 2010 census, the total population was 33,164 people.[3] The population of Accomack has remained relatively stable over the last century, though Accomack is one of the poorest parts of Virginia.[4]

History
Notice to persons "desiring to establish supply stores" in Accomac and Northampton Counties, Virginia, September 19, 1864

Members of an English voyage of exploration landed in the area in 1603, four years before the founding of the Jamestown Colony. Captain John Smith visited the region in 1608. The Accawmacke nation at the time numbered around 6000, and were governed by Debedeavon, a paramount chief called by the English the "Laughing King". He became a staunch ally of the English newcomers, granting them several large areas for their own use.

Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the eight original shires of Virginia. The name comes from the native word Accawmacke, which meant "on the other side".[5] In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton, following a policy of eliminating "heathen names". Northampton was divided into two counties in 1663. The northern adopted the original name, while the south remained Northampton. In 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling. The name of "Accomack County" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.[6]

In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,310 square miles (3,400 km2), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km2) is land and 861 square miles (2,230 km2) (65.7%) is water.[8] It is the largest county in Virginia by total area.

The state of Delaware is roughly 36 miles (58 km) away from the Virginia and Maryland state-line in Greenbackville.

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179013,959—
180015,69312.4%
181015,7430.3%
182015,9661.4%
183016,6564.3%
184017,0962.6%
185017,8904.6%
186018,5863.9%
187020,4099.8%
188024,40819.6%
189027,27711.8%
190032,57019.4%
191036,65012.5%
192034,795−5.1%
193035,8543.0%
194033,030−7.9%
195033,8322.4%
196030,635−9.4%
197029,004−5.3%
198031,2687.8%
199031,7031.4%
200038,30520.8%
201033,164−13.4%
Est. 201832,412[9]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[3]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 28.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Black or African American (28%), English American (15%), German (9%), Irish (9%) and Mexican (4%).

There were 15,299 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.[4]

Government and politics

Board of Supervisors
Board of County Supervisors
Name Party District
  William J. "Billy Joe" Tarr Ind 1
  Ron Wolff Dem 2
  Vanessa Johnson Dem 3
  Paul E.J. Muhly Ind 4
  Harrison W. Phillips, III Ind 5
  Robert Crockett Ind 6
  Jackie Phillips Ind 7
  Donald Hart, Jr. Dem 8
  C. Reneta Major Dem 9

Constitutional officers
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Samuel H. Cooper, Jr. (D)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Deborah Midgett (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Junius S. Morgan (I)
  • Sheriff: W. Todd Wessells (I)
  • Treasurer: James Lilliston, Sr. (I)

Accomack County is represented by Democrat Lynwood W. Lewis, Jr. in the Virginia Senate, Republican Robert Bloxom in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Democrat Elaine Luria in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presidential politics
Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 54.3% 8,583 42.6% 6,740 3.1% 495
2012 51.2% 8,213 47.7% 7,655 1.1% 183
2008 50.1% 7,833 48.7% 7,607 1.2% 183
2004 57.9% 7,726 41.3% 5,518 0.8% 112
2000 53.3% 6,352 42.7% 5,092 4.0% 481
1996 43.0% 5,013 44.8% 5,220 12.2% 1,421
1992 43.2% 5,666 37.7% 4,950 19.1% 2,509
1988 60.0% 6,926 38.5% 4,443 1.5% 173
1984 64.6% 8,047 34.9% 4,355 0.5% 64
1980 50.2% 5,371 45.5% 4,872 4.3% 455
1976 47.1% 4,494 50.4% 4,807 2.5% 235
1972 72.0% 6,496 26.7% 2,406 1.4% 124
1968 35.2% 3,231 26.9% 2,467 37.9% 3,483
1964 47.1% 3,145 52.8% 3,528 0.2% 10
1960 48.0% 2,676 51.7% 2,884 0.4% 21
1956 54.3% 2,823 42.5% 2,213 3.2% 168
1952 54.0% 2,626 45.6% 2,220 0.4% 18
1948 35.1% 1,088 53.8% 1,669 11.2% 347
1944 37.4% 1,045 62.5% 1,747 0.1% 3
1940 37.3% 882 62.4% 1,476 0.3% 8
1936 29.7% 670 70.1% 1,583 0.3% 6
1932 17.5% 527 81.7% 2,458 0.7% 22
1928 42.8% 1,367 57.2% 1,826
1924 12.6% 307 85.9% 2,087 1.4% 35
1920 16.5% 409 81.7% 2,026 1.8% 45
1916 14.4% 299 84.3% 1,745 1.3% 26
1912 7.2% 153 86.3% 1,825 6.4% 136

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Transportation

Airport

Major highways

Education

The county is served by Accomack County Public Schools.[16]

High schools and K-12 schools in this district are:[17]

Eastern Shore Community College is located in Melfa.

Media

The county maintains and is the licensee of six television translator stations on two towers, with four located on a tower off US 13 in unincorporated Mappsville licensed to Onancock, and the other two licensed to unincorporated Craddockville on a tower near Route 178. Each translator tower has four signals to relay the signals of Hampton Roads's major network affiliates to the county, including WAVY, WHRO, WTKR, and WVEC. Meanwhile, Fox programming via WVBT is provided by WPMC-CA (Channel 36) from the Mappsville tower, a station owned by Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of WAVY/WVBT.

Additionally, Salisbury, Maryland CBS / Fox affiliate WBOC-TV has long claimed Accomack County as part of its coverage area.

Call letters City of license Channel Station relayed (Network)
W14DY-DOnancock14WAVY (NBC)
W42DPCraddockville42WAVY (NBC)
W25AA-DOnancock25WHRO (PBS)
W18EG-DOnancock18WAVY (NBC), 18.1
WVEC (ABC), 18.2
WTKR (CBS), 18.3
WHRO (PBS), 18.4
W22DNCraddockville22WTKR (CBS)
W34DNOnancock34WVEC (ABC)

Communities

Towns

Census Designated Places

Notable people
  • William Anderson, born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania[18]
  • Thomas Evans, (c.1755–1815), born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Virginia[18]
  • Lucy Virginia French (1825-1881), writer
  • George T. Garrison, (1835–1889), born in Accomack County, member of Virginia state legislature and United States Congressman from Virginia[18]
  • James Hamilton, (c.1710–1783), born in Accomack County, lawyer and mayor of Philadelphia[18]
  • James Henry, (1731–1804), born in Accomack County, lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress[18]
  • Ralph Northam, (1957-), born and raised in Accomack County, 73rd Governor of Virginia
  • Henry A. Wise, (1806–1876), Minister to Brazil, Governor of Virginia and Confederate General [18]

Music

In Sydney Brown's lyrics for the Maple Leaf Rag, the first line states "I come from ol' Virginny, from de County Accomack"

See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". U.S. Census Bureau. August 15, 2017. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  4. Accomack and Northampton County EC Archived July 8, 2010, at the Wayback Machine on USDA Rural Development
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 23.
  6. Topping, Mary, comp., Approved Place Names in Virginia: An Index to Virginia Names Approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names through 1969 (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1971), 1.
  7. Accomack County, Virginia Genealogy, History and Records
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-08-17.
  16. Education, Virginia Department of (2009). "Virginia Public School Division Staff". Virginia Department of Education. Archived from the original on 2011-07-28. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  17. Accomack County Public Schools (2008). "Accomack County Public Schools - Eastern Shore of Virginia". Accomack County Public Schools. Retrieved 2009-12-19.
  18. Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.

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