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Amherst County, Virginia
Amherst County Courthouse
Amherst County Courthouse
Seal of Amherst County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Amherst County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1761
Named for Jeffery Amherst
Seat Amherst
Largest town Amherst
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

479 sq mi (1,241 km²)
474 sq mi (1,228 km²)
4.9 sq mi (13 km²), 1.0
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

31,307
Congressional district 6th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.countyofamherst.com

Amherst County is a county, located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The county is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is also named Amherst.[1]

Amherst County was created in 1761 out of Albemarle County, and it was named in honor of Lord Jeffery Amherst, the so-called "Conqueror of Canada". In 1807 as population increased, the county was reduced in size in order to form Nelson County. Tobacco was the major cash crop of the county during its early years. The labor-intensive crop was worked and processed by enslaved Africans and African Americans before the American Civil War.

As of the 2020 census, the population of the county was 31,307.[2]

History[]

Amherst

Jeffery Amherst, called the "Conqueror of Canada", for whom the county was named

Beginning thousands of years in the past, Native Americans were the first humans to populate the area. They hunted and fished mainly along the countless rivers and streams in the county. With the establishment of the Virginia Colony in 1607, English emigrants arrived in North America. By the late 17th century English explorers and traders had traveled up the James River to this area. Early trading posts were established between 1710 and 1720. By 1730, many new English colonial families moved into the area currently known as Amherst County, drawn by the desire for land and the good tobacco-growing soil.

Amherst County was formed in 1761, from part of southwestern Albemarle County. The original county seat had been in Cabelsville, now Colleen, in what would later become Nelson County. The county was named for Lord Amherst, known as the "Conqueror of Canada", who commanded the British forces that successfully secured Canada from the French during the Seven Years' War. Jeffery Amherst had previously been named as Governor of Virginia, although he never came to this colony.

In 1806 the county took its present proportions, when Nelson County was formed from its northern half. At that point, the county seat was moved to the village of Five Oaks, later renamed Amherst. The present county courthouse was built in 1870 and has served the county ever since. Amherst County produced more Confederate soldiers per capita than anywhere else in the Confederate States of America.

In the early days, the major crop raised in Amherst County was tobacco. Apple orchards were part of mixed farming that replaced tobacco, especially in the late 19th century. Timber, mining and milling were also important industries. The introduction of the railroad in the late 19th century greatly influenced the county's growth. The county contains many good examples of 18th, 19th and early 20th century rural and small town architecture. The downtown area of Amherst is a classic example of early 20th century commercial architecture.

Recreation and attractions[]

Recreational attractions are located throughout the county. There are four recreational and public lakes, namely Mill Creek, Thrashers Lake, Otter Lake and Stonehouse Lake, which offer opportunities to fish, canoe or kayak.[3] There are many parks and trails in the county, including about 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the George Washington National Forest.[4] Offshoot trails lead to peaks in Amherst, such at Mount Pleasant, Cole Mountain, and Tar Jacket Ridge.[4]

Festivals in the area[]

  • Rebec Vineyard's Garlic Festival
  • Lazy Days Vineyard's Summer Solstice Festival
  • Amherst County Sorghum Festival
  • The Batteau Festival

Geography[]

U.S

Looking toward U.S. 29 in Madison Heights

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 479 square miles (1,240 km2), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (1.0%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties / Independent city[]

National protected areas[]

  • Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
  • George Washington National Forest (part)

Major highways[]

  • US 29 US 29 (N & S Amherst Hwy, S. Amherst Hwy is US BUS 29 south of Amherst and then turns into the Lynchburg Expressway in Madison Heights; Monacan Trail)
  • US 60 US 60 (Lexington Turnpike; Richmond Hwy)
  • US 501 US 501 (joins SR 130 and becomes Elon Rd.)
  • Virginia 130 SR 130 (Elon Rd; Amelon Hwy)
  • Virginia 151 SR 151 (Patrick Henry Hwy)
  • Virginia 163 SR 163 (S Amherst Hwy)
  • Virginia 210 SR 210 (Old Town Connector)

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 13,703
1800 16,801 22.6%
1810 10,548 −37.2%
1820 10,423 −1.2%
1830 12,071 15.8%
1840 12,576 4.2%
1850 12,699 1.0%
1860 13,742 8.2%
1870 14,900 8.4%
1880 18,709 25.6%
1890 17,551 −6.2%
1900 17,864 1.8%
1910 18,932 6.0%
1920 19,771 4.4%
1930 19,020 −3.8%
1940 20,273 6.6%
1950 20,332 0.3%
1960 22,953 12.9%
1970 26,072 13.6%
1980 29,122 11.7%
1990 28,578 −1.9%
2000 31,894 11.6%
2010 32,353 1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census[]

Amherst County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 24,491 22,967 75.70% 73.36%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6,104 5,346 18.87% 17.08%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 296 243 0.91% 0.78%
Asian alone (NH) 153 182 0.47% 0.58%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 25 0.02% 0.08%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 44 145 0.14% 0.46%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 633 1,561 1.96% 4.99%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 625 838 1.93% 2.68%
Total 32,353 31,307 100.00% 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 31,894 people, 11,941 households, and 8,645 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile (26/km2). There were 12,958 housing units at an average density of 27 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 77.67% White, 19.79% Black or African American, 0.81% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,941 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 12.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.50% under the age of 18, 9.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,393, and the median income for a family was $42,876. Males had a median income of $31,493 versus $22,155 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,952. About 8.00% of families and 10.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 11.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

The Board of Supervisors are elected from single-member districts.

Board of Supervisors[]

  • District 1: Tom Martin
  • District 2: Claudia D. Tucker (R)
  • District 3: L. J. "Jimmy" Ayers
  • District 4: David Pugh, Jr.
  • District 5: Drew Wade (R)

Constitutional officers[]

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Deborah C. Mozingo[13]
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Jane Irby (I)[13]
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: W. Lyle Carver[14]
  • Sheriff: E.W. Viar Jr. (I)[15]
  • Treasurer: Joanne Carden[14]

Amherst County is represented by Republican Tom A. Garrett, Jr. in the Virginia Senate, Republican T. Scott Garrett and Republican Ronnie R. Campbell in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Ben Cline in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Amherst County, Virginia[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 11,041 64.93% 5,672 33.35% 292 1.72%
2016 9,719 63.13% 5,057 32.85% 620 4.03%
2012 8,876 59.29% 5,900 39.41% 194 1.30%
2008 8,470 57.62% 6,094 41.46% 136 0.93%
2004 7,758 61.11% 4,866 38.33% 71 0.56%
2000 6,660 56.86% 4,812 41.09% 240 2.05%
1996 5,094 46.63% 4,864 44.53% 966 8.84%
1992 5,482 50.26% 4,101 37.60% 1,325 12.15%
1988 6,507 64.10% 3,567 35.14% 77 0.76%
1984 7,004 66.51% 3,409 32.37% 117 1.11%
1980 5,088 57.56% 3,476 39.32% 276 3.12%
1976 3,956 50.87% 3,675 47.26% 145 1.86%
1972 4,909 73.94% 1,512 22.77% 218 3.28%
1968 2,656 39.80% 1,543 23.12% 2,475 37.08%
1964 2,675 49.45% 2,730 50.46% 5 0.09%
1960 1,455 38.83% 2,280 60.85% 12 0.32%
1956 1,529 42.59% 1,933 53.84% 128 3.57%
1952 1,407 40.20% 2,078 59.37% 15 0.43%
1948 460 18.65% 1,481 60.06% 525 21.29%
1944 442 14.54% 2,585 85.06% 12 0.39%
1940 292 12.44% 2,048 87.26% 7 0.30%
1936 236 11.94% 1,734 87.75% 6 0.30%
1932 195 9.85% 1,764 89.09% 21 1.06%
1928 447 23.66% 1,442 76.34% 0 0.00%
1924 129 9.72% 1,092 82.29% 106 7.99%
1920 168 13.23% 1,094 86.14% 8 0.63%
1916 93 7.46% 1,142 91.58% 12 0.96%
1912 64 7.13% 765 85.28% 68 7.58%
1908 164 16.16% 849 83.65% 2 0.20%
1904 177 16.71% 878 82.91% 4 0.38%
1900 990 39.16% 1,516 59.97% 22 0.87%
1896 1,190 40.27% 1,751 59.26% 14 0.47%
1892 1,190 40.03% 1,666 56.04% 117 3.94%
1888 1,411 44.26% 1,777 55.74% 0 0.00%
1884 1,363 40.91% 1,969 59.09% 0 0.00%
1880 1,058 35.21% 1,938 64.49% 9 0.30%



Education[]

Amherst County is served by Amherst County Public Schools, which operates one central high school, two middle schools, and several elementary schools.[17] Temple Christian School is a private school located on the grounds of Temple Baptist Church.[18] Sweet Briar College is also located in Amherst County, just south of the town of Amherst.

Communities[]

Town[]

Census-designated place[]

  • Madison Heights

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Clifford
  • Elon
  • Sweet Briar
  • Monroe
  • Riverville
  • Stapleton

Notable residents[]

  • James John Floyd (1750-1783), born in Amherst County. co-founder of Louisville, KY and early settler in that area. Kentucky Colonel and pioneer judge. Among several places named for him is Floyd Street in Louisville.
  • William Barnett (1761–1834), born in Amherst County, United States Congressman[19]
  • William Becknell, born in Amherst County, first white man to open what would become the Santa Fe Trail[19]
  • Samuel Jordan Cabell (1756–1818), born in Amherst County, United States Congressman[19]
  • Peter Cartwright (1785–1872), born in Amherst County, noted "hellfire and brimstone" preacher[19]
  • Powhatan Ellis, (1790–1863), born in Amherst County, justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, United States Senator from Mississippi, and minister to Mexico. Ellisville, Mississippi, is named in his honor.[19]
  • David S. Garland (1769–1841), Congressman, master of the Brick House (Clifford, Virginia), founder of the New Glasgow Academy.
  • Ottie Cline Powell (1890–1894), born in Amherst County four-year-old boy who died after getting lost collecting firewood outside his schoolhouse. Reportedly haunts the area where he died.[20][21][22]

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  2. ^ "Amherst County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51009. Retrieved January 30, 2022. 
  3. ^ "Lakes" (in en). Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. https://www.dgif.virginia.gov/lakes/. 
  4. ^ a b "Trails". Amherst County, Virginia. https://www.countyofamherst.com/department/division.php?fDD=23-94. 
  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. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.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) - Amherst County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51009&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  11. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Amherst County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51009&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  13. ^ a b "Staff Directory / Browse Staff / / Amherst County, VA". https://www.countyofamherst.com/egov/apps/staff/directory.egov. 
  14. ^ a b "Staff Directory / Browse Staff / / Amherst County, VA". https://www.countyofamherst.com/egov/apps/staff/directory.egov. 
  15. ^ "Staff Directory / Details / / Amherst County, VA" (in en). http://www.countyofamherst.com/egov/apps/staff/directory.egov?path=pro&usr=335. 
  16. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  17. ^ "Schools". Amherst County Public Schools. http://www.amherst.k12.va.us/schools. 
  18. ^ "About Our School". Temple Christian School. https://mytemplechristianschool.com/about-our-school/. 
  19. ^ a b c d e Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  20. ^ "10 Great Places To Go On A Haunted Hike". USA Today. July 28, 2006. https://www.usatoday.com/travel/destinations/10great/2006-07-27-10-great-haunted-hikes_x.htm. 
  21. ^ "AllTrails: Trail Guides & Maps for Hiking, Camping, and Running". http://www.trails.com/list_12425_haunted-forests-north-america.html. 
  22. ^ Perry, Tristan. Ghostly Legends of the Appalachian Trail. Wever, Iowa: Quixote Press, 2008. Pages 93-102.


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Amherst 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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