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Alleghany County, Virginia
Covington, Va - Allegheny General District Court
The Alleghany Courthouse in Covington.
Flag of Alleghany County, Virginia
Flag
Seal of Alleghany County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Alleghany County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1822
Named for Alleghany Mountains
Seat Covington
Largest town Clifton Forge
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

449 sq mi (1,163 km²)
445 sq mi (1,153 km²)
3.3 sq mi (9 km²), 0.7
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

15,223
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://www.co.alleghany.va.us/

Alleghany County is an American county located on the far western edge of Commonwealth of Virginia. It is bordered by the Allegheny Mountains, from which the county derives its name, and it is the northernmost part of the Roanoke Region. The county seat is Covington.[1] As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,223.[2]

The county was created in 1822 from parts of Botetourt County, Bath County, and Monroe County (now in West Virginia). At the time, the majority of the population lived around Covington, and the primary cash crop then was hemp, which was used for rope production.

History[]

Alleghany County was established on January 5, 1822, by an act of the Virginia General Assembly. The new county was formed from parts of Botetourt, Bath, and Monroe (now West Virginia) counties, with most of the population centered in the new county seat in Covington.[3] Alleghany County was named for the Allegheny Mountains, which border the western edge of the county.[4]

When the county was established, the principal export was hemp, used for rope production in Richmond. However, as hemp demand and prices declined, the farmers of Alleghany switched to grain, hay and livestock production.[3]

During the American Civil War, the iron for the CSS Virginia (Merrimac) came from Longdale Furnace in the county. Regiments from Alleghany County were at the surrender at Appomattox.

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 449 square miles (1,160 km2), of which 445 square miles (1,150 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (0.7%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

  • George Washington National Forest (part)
  • United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1830 2,816
1840 2,749 −2.4%
1850 3,515 27.9%
1860 6,765 92.5%
1870 3,674 −45.7%
1880 5,586 52.0%
1890 9,283 66.2%
1900 16,330 75.9%
1910 14,173 −13.2%
1920 15,332 8.2%
1930 20,188 31.7%
1940 22,688 12.4%
1950 23,139 2.0%
1960 12,128 −47.6%
1970 12,461 2.7%
1980 14,333 15.0%
1990 13,176 −8.1%
2000 12,926 −1.9%
2010 16,250 25.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census[]

Alleghany County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15,040 13,754 92.55% 90.35%
Black or African American alone (NH) 751 676 4.62% 4.44%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 25 22 0.15% 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) 37 59 0.23% 0.39%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 11 7 0.07% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 6 24 0.04% 0.16%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 204 503 1.26% 3.30%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 176 178 1.08% 1.17%
Total 16,250 15,223 100.00% 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.

2000 Census[]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km2). There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.35% White, 2.45% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of American, 11.6% German, 11.0% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,149 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution is 22.80% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,545, and the median income for a family was $45,843. Males had a median income of $35,120 versus $20,855 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,635. About 4.90% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

In 2000, Clifton Forge was an independent city separate from the county. However, in 2001, Clifton Forge relinquished its city charter and reincorporated as a town; as a town, it is now a part of Alleghany County. The 2000 population of what is now Alleghany County (including Clifton Forge) was 17,215. The article includes geographic data from before and after the reincorporation of Clifton Forge into the county.

Government[]

Board of Supervisors[]

  • Boiling Springs district: Shannon P. Cox (I)
  • Clifton Forge East district: Dr. Ronald Goings (I)
  • Clifton Forge West district: Gregory Dodd (I)
  • Covington district: James M. Griffith (I)
  • Falling Spring district: G. Matt Garten (I)
  • Jackson River district: Stephen A. Bennett (I)
  • Sharon district: Cletus W. Nicely (I)

Constitutional officers[]

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Debra N. Byer (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Valerie N. Bruffey (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Ann Gardner(I)
  • Sheriff: Kevin W. Hall (I)
  • Treasurer: Teresa Brown (I)

Alleghany County is represented by Democrat R. Creigh Deeds in the Virginia Senate, Republican Terry Austin in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Economy[]

The county economy is dominated by WestRock, which operates a paperboard mill in Covington, the second largest on the East Coast and an extrusion and converting facility in Low Moor. Alleghany County is within close proximity to The Homestead in Bath County and The Greenbrier in White Sulfur Springs. Residents also commute to Lewisburg, Lexington, and Roanoke for employment. Covington has a team in the Valley Baseball League called the Lumberjacks.

Transportation[]

Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides service to the Clifton Forge station (12 miles (19 km) away from Covington) with the Cardinal route. Clifton Forge serves a major locomotive fuel facility for CSX Transportation.

The area is served by Interstate 64 (east-west) and U.S. 220 (north-south), offering interstate truck access to the area.

Major highways[]

  • I-64 I-64
  • US 60 US 60
  • US 220 US 220
  • Virginia 18 SR 18
  • Virginia 42 SR 42
  • Virginia 159 SR 159
  • Virginia 311 SR 311

Education[]

Alleghany County is serviced by one high school, Alleghany High School (grades 9–12); one middle school, Clifton Middle School (grades 6–8), and three pre-kindergarten to grade 5 elementary schools: Callaghan Elementary, Mountain View Elementary and Sharon Elementary. The county also contains one Virginia state governors school, the Jackson River Governor's School; one technical center, the Jackson River Technical Center; and the Mountain Gateway Community College.

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Alleghany County, Virginia[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 5,859 71.43% 2,243 27.34% 101 1.23%
2016 4,874 66.54% 2,166 29.57% 285 3.89%
2012 3,595 50.12% 3,403 47.44% 175 2.44%
2008 3,715 50.41% 3,553 48.22% 101 1.37%
2004 3,962 55.07% 3,203 44.52% 30 0.42%
2000 2,808 54.81% 2,214 43.22% 101 1.97%
1996 2,015 39.71% 2,398 47.26% 661 13.03%
1992 2,294 40.55% 2,396 42.35% 967 17.09%
1988 2,555 51.87% 2,316 47.02% 55 1.12%
1984 3,067 60.89% 1,932 38.36% 38 0.75%
1980 2,185 45.94% 2,411 50.69% 160 3.36%
1976 1,756 41.17% 2,462 57.73% 47 1.10%
1972 2,584 67.47% 1,069 27.91% 177 4.62%
1968 1,649 43.47% 988 26.05% 1,156 30.48%
1964 1,104 41.12% 1,580 58.85% 1 0.04%
1960 1,214 48.79% 1,265 50.84% 9 0.36%
1956 1,135 55.26% 822 40.02% 97 4.72%
1952 2,564 52.88% 2,274 46.90% 11 0.23%
1948 1,425 37.01% 2,253 58.52% 172 4.47%
1944 1,308 39.64% 1,985 60.15% 7 0.21%
1940 1,164 34.97% 2,153 64.67% 12 0.36%
1936 1,319 39.43% 2,013 60.18% 13 0.39%
1932 1,095 45.30% 1,293 53.50% 29 1.20%
1928 1,642 72.53% 622 27.47% 0 0.00%
1924 856 52.48% 589 36.11% 186 11.40%
1920 736 51.94% 663 46.79% 18 1.27%
1916 432 43.50% 544 54.78% 17 1.71%
1912 125 15.45% 394 48.70% 290 35.85%
1908 483 49.95% 422 43.64% 62 6.41%
1904 665 44.66% 782 52.52% 42 2.82%
1900 1,451 62.30% 841 36.11% 37 1.59%
1896 1,711 67.84% 720 28.55% 91 3.61%
1892 340 40.52% 499 59.48% 0 0.00%
1888 995 56.53% 759 43.13% 6 0.34%
1884 932 56.04% 731 43.96% 0 0.00%
1880 146 30.67% 330 69.33% 0 0.00%



Communities[]

Though it is the county seat, Covington is an independent city, and thus is not part of Alleghany County.

Towns[]

Census-designated places[]

  • Callaghan
  • Low Moor
  • Selma

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Alleghany
  • Backbone
  • Boiling Spring
  • Clearwater Park
  • Clifdale
  • Cliftondale Park
  • Crows
  • Earlehurst
  • Fairview Heights
  • Falling Spring
  • Griffith
  • Harrington
  • Hematite
  • Intervale
  • Iron Hill Springs
  • Jordan Mines
  • Kincaid
  • Longdale
  • Longdale Furnace
  • Mallow
  • Moss Run
  • Nicelytown
  • Oakwood Forest
  • Potts Creek
  • Rayon Terrace
  • Rich Patch
  • Rich Patch Mines
  • Stonewall
  • Sweet Chalybeate
  • Valley View
  • Westwood Place

See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Alleghany County, Virginia

References[]

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  2. ^ "Alleghany County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51005. Retrieved January 30, 2022. 
  3. ^ a b "Alleghany County; a Concise History". The County of Alleghany, Virginia.. http://www.alleghanycounty.us/history.htm. 
  4. ^ Salmon, Edited by Emily J.; Campbell, Edward D.C. Jr. (1994). The hornbook of Virginia history : a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. p. 159. ISBN 0884901777. 
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html. 
  6. ^ "Decennial Census by Decade". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html. 
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt. 
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  10. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Alleghany County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51005&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  11. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Alleghany County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51005&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Coordinates: 37°47′N 80°01′W / 37.78, -80.01


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Alleghany County, Virginia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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