New Kent County, Virginia

New Kent County is a county in the eastern part the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 18,429.[1] Its county seat is New Kent.[2]

New Kent County
U.S. county
County courthouse
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°31′N 77°00′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1654
Named forKent, England
SeatNew Kent
Area
 • Total222 sq mi (570 km2)
 • Land210 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Water14 sq mi (40 km2)  6.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total18,429
 • Estimate 
(2018)
22,391
 • Density83/sq mi (32/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.new-kent.va.us

New Kent County is included in the Greater Richmond Region.

History

New Kent County was established in 1654, using territory annexed from York County[3] and was organized and settled by William Claiborne. The county's name originated because several prominent inhabitants, including William Claiborne, recently had been forced from their settlement at Kent Island, Maryland by Lord Baltimore upon the formation of Maryland.[4] Claiborne had named the island for his birthplace in Kent, England.

New Kent County is the birthplace of two US presidents' wives - Martha Washington and Letitia Christian Tyler. The church where George and Martha Washington are believed to have been wed, St. Peter's, still holds services today. The Chickahominy Indians frequented this area as well as nearby Charles City County, and two tribes are still well-established in this area.

Among the earliest settlers of New Kent County was Nicholas Gentry, who settled in New Kent in 1684. The parish register books of St. Peter's Parish show that Nicholas Gentry's daughter was baptized in the church in 1687. The records also reflect other Gentrys, probably Nicholas Gentry's relations, Peter and Samuel Gentry.[5] As the result of arson confessed to by John Price Posey and Tho Green, and, allegedly, involving "a negro boy belonging to W. Chamberlayne" on July 15, 1787, many later county records were burned, making identifying relationships between family members difficult.[6]

Due to the "many Inconveniencys" suffered by the "Upper Inhabitants by reason of their Great distance from the Court house and other places usually appointed for publick meetings", New Kent County was divided "into Two distinct Countys and that that part of the County lyeing below the parish of Saint Paul shall for Ever thereafter be called and knowne by the Name of New Kent County And that that part of the County which lyeth in the parish of Saint Paul Shall be called and knowne by the Name of Hannover County". In 1720, a portion of New Kent County known then as St. Paul's Parish was formed into a separate county, now Hanover County.[7][8]

In 2006, the US Census Bureau rated New Kent County among the top 100 fastest-growing counties in the U.S.[9]

Geography

The northeast border of the county is defined by the meanderings of the Pamunkey River, and the southwest county border is similarly defined by the Chickahominy River. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, either wooded or devoted to agriculture, and carved by drainages.[10] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on the west border at 174' (53m) ASL.[11] The county has a total area of 223 square miles (579 km²), of which 210 square miles (543 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (6.23%) is water.

The Chickahominy River borders the county to the south, the Pamunkey and York rivers border it to the north and east.

Quinton, VA[12]
Climate chart (explanation)
J
F
M
A
M
J
J
A
S
O
N
D
 
 
3.3
 
 
48
27
 
 
2.9
 
 
51
29
 
 
4
 
 
60
36
 
 
3.3
 
 
71
45
 
 
3.9
 
 
78
54
 
 
3.4
 
 
86
64
 
 
4.5
 
 
89
68
 
 
4.3
 
 
88
66
 
 
3.9
 
 
81
59
 
 
3.2
 
 
71
47
 
 
3.5
 
 
62
39
 
 
3.4
 
 
51
30
Average max. and min. temperatures in °F
Precipitation totals in inches

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[10]

Lakes[10]
  • Cooks Millpond
  • Davis Pond
  • Davis Pond North
  • Diascund Creek Reservoir
  • Goddins Pond
  • Kent Lake
  • Old Forge Pond
  • Richardson Millpond (part)
  • Taylor Pond

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17906,239—
18006,3632.0%
18106,4781.8%
18206,6302.3%
18306,458−2.6%
18406,230−3.5%
18506,064−2.7%
18605,884−3.0%
18704,381−25.5%
18805,51525.9%
18905,511−0.1%
19004,865−11.7%
19104,682−3.8%
19204,541−3.0%
19304,300−5.3%
19404,092−4.8%
19503,995−2.4%
19604,50412.7%
19705,30017.7%
19808,78165.7%
199010,44519.0%
200013,46228.9%
201018,42936.9%
Est. 201822,391[13]21.5%
US Decennial Census[14]
1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16]
1990-2000[17] 2010-2012[1]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 18,429 people in the county. 81.7% were White, 13.5% Black or African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% of some other race and 2.3% of two or more races. 2.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 15.2% were of English, 11.7% American, 10.6% German and 9.4% Irish ancestry.[18]

At the 2000 United States Census, there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families in the county. The population density was 64.1/sqmi (24.8/km²). There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 24.8/sqmi (9.57/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.26% White, 16.20% Black or African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,925 households of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were non-families. 16.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.97.

The county population contained 25.00% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median household income was $53,595, and the median family income was $60,678. Males had a median income of $40,005 versus $28,894 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,893. 4.90% of the population and 3.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.40% are under the age of 18 and 7.00% are 65 or older.

Education

New Kent County has four schools within the school system.[19] There are two elementary schools, New Kent Elementary, and George W. Watkins Elementary. The school system also includes New Kent Middle School and New Kent High School. All four schools are fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. At the high school level various honors and advanced placement courses are available along with dual enrollment through Rappahannock Community College. Gifted and enrichment programs are offered in all grades K-12.[20]

There are over 430 employees including 220 licensed teachers, seven guidance counselors, four media specialists, four principals, five assistant principals, and a central office staff composed of 1 Superintendent and 5 Directors.[21] The current superintendent is Brian Nichols,[22] and the assistant superintendent is Ed Smith.

New Kent County received a new site for Rappahannock Community College in 2015,[23] located at the renovated "historic" New Kent High School site. The site offers engineering, nursing and basic college-level courses in New Kent.

Transportation

Highways
  • Interstate 64 traverses the county, with four exits (205, 211, 214 and 220), roughly paralleling U.S. 60.
  • Major state highways include State Routes 30, 33, 106, 155, 249, and 273.

Railroads

There are no passenger rail stations in New Kent County. The nearest Amtrak service is at stations in Williamsburg and Richmond.

Air

Attractions

New Kent Winery & Vineyards opened on May 31, 2008 and is located just off Interstate 64.

New Kent County is the hub of Golf in central Virginia. Three courses are available:

  • The Golf Club at Brickshire[25]
  • The Club at Viniterra[26]
  • Royal New Kent Golf Club

Communities

There are no incorporated towns in New Kent County. Unincorporated towns and communities include:

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities[10]

Media

Politics

New Kent County is traditionally Republican. In only one national election since 1968 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[27]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 66.4% 8,118 29.0% 3,546 4.7% 569
2012 66.2% 7,246 32.5% 3,555 1.4% 152
2008 63.9% 6,385 35.0% 3,493 1.1% 113
2004 68.1% 5,414 30.8% 2,443 1.1% 89
2000 64.3% 3,934 33.6% 2,055 2.0% 125
1996 54.2% 2,852 35.3% 1,859 10.6% 556
1992 49.4% 2,708 31.7% 1,738 18.9% 1,037
1988 66.5% 2,917 32.6% 1,427 0.9% 40
1984 68.7% 2,679 30.9% 1,204 0.4% 16
1980 57.3% 1,739 39.7% 1,204 3.0% 92
1976 47.6% 1,259 50.6% 1,338 1.8% 47
1972 67.5% 1,370 31.2% 633 1.3% 26
1968 27.6% 526 40.2% 765 32.2% 613
1964 49.6% 677 50.1% 684 0.3% 4
1960 51.7% 526 47.3% 481 1.1% 11
1956 58.0% 510 20.2% 178 21.8% 192
1952 52.8% 455 46.4% 400 0.8% 7
1948 27.2% 140 53.9% 277 18.9% 97
1944 32.4% 158 67.6% 329
1940 31.7% 133 68.3% 286
1936 28.1% 120 71.9% 307
1932 28.3% 115 70.4% 286 1.2% 5
1928 54.9% 217 45.1% 178
1924 30.8% 86 63.8% 178 5.4% 15
1920 36.5% 109 63.6% 190
1916 26.1% 69 72.7% 192 1.1% 3
1912 12.7% 30 67.5% 160 19.8% 47

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Notes from the Records of York County". The William and Mary Quarterly. 22 (2): 73–89. April 5, 2018. doi:10.2307/1914974. JSTOR 1914974.
  4. Claiborne, J. Herbert (April 5, 2018). "William Claiborne of Kent Island". The William and Mary Quarterly. 1 (2): 74–99. doi:10.2307/1923023. JSTOR 1923023.
  5. Gentry, Richard (April 5, 2018). "The Gentry family in America: 1676 to 1909, including notes on the following families related to the Gentrys: Claiborne, Harris, Hawkins, Robinson, Smith, Wyatt, Sharp, Fulkerson, Butler, Bush, Blythe, Pabody, Noble, Haggard, and Tindall". Printed for the author by the Grafton press. Retrieved April 5, 2018 – via Google Books.
  6. "New Kent County". The William and Mary Quarterly. 4 (2): 115–116. April 5, 1895. doi:10.2307/1915053. JSTOR 1915053.
  7. "OUR HISTORY". St. Paul's Episcopal Church. Retrieved March 11, 2018.
  8. St. Paul's parish, Hanover co., Va.St. Paul's parish, Hanover co., Va. The vestry book of St. Paul's parish, Hanover county, Virginia, 1706-1786. https://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015011026666: Richmond,Division of purchase and printing, 1940. p. 595.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: location (link)
  9. "100 Fastest Growing Counties". US Census Bureau.
  10. New Kent County VA Google Maps (accessed 4 April 2019)
  11. ""Find an Altitude/New Kent County VA" Google Maps (accessed 4 April 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 4, 2019.
  12. http://www.usa.com/quinton-va-weather.htm#HistoricalTemperature
  13. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  14. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  15. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  16. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  17. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  18. Bureau, US Census. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  19. "New Kent County Schools". schoolwebpages.com. Archived from the original on March 31, 2017. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  20. Education, Virginia Department of. "VDOE :: Gifted Education". www.doe.virginia.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  21. "NK Educational Foundation". nkeducationalfoundation.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  22. "New Kent County Schools". schoolwebpages.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  23. "Open House and Fair launch RCC's New Kent County site - Rappahannock Community College". Rappahannock Community College. Archived from the original on February 6, 2016. Retrieved January 29, 2016.
  24. "AirNav: W96 - New Kent County Airport". www.airnav.com. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  25. "The Golf Club at Brickshire – Providence Forge VA". www.brickshiregolfclub.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  26. "Club at Viniterra – New Kent VA". www.viniterragolf.com. Retrieved December 21, 2018.
  27. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.

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