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Henry County, Virginia
Beaver Creek Plantation house
Beaver Creek Plantation
Seal of Henry County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Henry County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1777
Named for Patrick Henry
Seat Martinsville
Largest town Ridgeway
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

384 sq mi (995 km²)
382 sq mi (989 km²)
2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.5
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

50,948
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.co.henry.va.us
Virginia state historical marker Henry County Virginia

Virginia state historical marker for Henry County

Henry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 50,948.[1] The county seat is usually identified as Martinsville;[2] however, the administration building (where county offices are located and where the board of supervisors holds meetings), county courthouse, Henry County Sheriff's Office and its jail are located on Kings Mountain Road (SR 174) in Collinsville.

Henry County is part of the Martinsville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History[]

Major John Redd

Major John Redd, Continental Army, pioneer settler of Henry County

The county was established in 1777 when it was carved from Pittsylvania County. The new county was initially named Patrick Henry County in honor of Patrick Henry, who was then serving as the first Governor of Virginia, and some of whose relatives had settled in the area. Governor Henry also had a 10,000-acre (40 km2) plantation called "Leatherwood plantation" (for Leatherwood Creek) in the newly named county (where he ended up spending 5 years between his third and fourth gubernatorial terms).[3][4][5][6]

In 1785 the northern part of Patrick Henry County was combined with part of Bedford County to form Franklin County. In 1790, Patrick Henry County was split again: the western part became Patrick County and the rest remained Henry County.

Other notable early settlers included: George Waller,[7] Captain George Hairston and Major John Redd,[8] all of whom were present at the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown; Col. Abram Penn, a native of Amherst County, Virginia, who led his Henry County militia troops with the intention of joining General Nathanael Greene at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse during the Revolutionary War;[9] and Brigadier General Joseph Martin, for whom Martinsville is named.[10] Also prominent were Mordecai Hord, a native of Louisa County and explorer, who lived on his plantation called Hordsville;[11] and Col. John Dillard, born in Amherst County, Virginia in 1751, wounded at the Battle of Princeton during the Revolution, and later a member of the Committee of Safety. Captain Robert Hairston, a noted politician in the Colony of Virginia, owned Marrowbone plantation, commanded a militia company and served as Henry County's first high sheriff.

During the War of 1812, the 64th Virginia Militia, under Captain Graves, was formed in 1815 from Henry County. Benjamin Dyer was a lieutenant, then later a captain, of the 5th company of the 64th Virginia Militia.Private Alexander Hunter Bassett would later work large tobacco plantations in the county, and Wyatt Jarrett. Tavner Hailey (b.1793) of Martinsville became an early pioneer in Tennessee and served in the War of 1812. He was 1st Cpl. in Captain Brice Edward's Company, 64th Regiment, Virginia Militia."[12]

During the American Civil War, the 42nd Virginia Infantry was formed in part from Henry County volunteers. Its state senator, Christopher Y. Thomas, owned Henry's former Leatherwood plantation and would later briefly serve in the U.S. House of Representatives after the war. He was succeeded by George Cabell, a Confederate army veteran (38th Virginia Infantry) born in nearby Danville and from a family long prominent in the area.[13]

In 1902, the Henry County Historical Society was incorporated at Martinsville with its first officers being John W. Carter, J. Harrison Spencer and C. B. Bryant.[14]

Geography[]

Colonel Joseph Martin Greenwood

Greenwood, built by Col. Joseph Martin, son of General Joseph Martin, namesake of Martinsville, at Axton, Henry County, 1808–1810

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 384 square miles (990 km2), of which 382 square miles (990 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.[15]

Districts[]

The county's six districts are as follows, in alphabetical order: Axton, Bassett, Collinsville, Horsepasture, Reed Creek, and Ridgeway.

Adjacent counties[]

Major highways[]

  • I-73 I-73 (future)
  • US 58 US 58
  • US 220 US 220
  • Virginia 57 SR 57
  • Virginia 87 SR 87
  • Virginia 108 SR 108
  • Virginia 174 SR 174
  • Virginia 457 SR 457

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 8,479
1800 5,259 −38.0%
1810 5,611 6.7%
1820 5,624 0.2%
1830 7,100 26.2%
1840 7,335 3.3%
1850 8,872 21.0%
1860 12,105 36.4%
1870 12,303 1.6%
1880 16,009 30.1%
1890 18,208 13.7%
1900 19,265 5.8%
1910 18,459 −4.2%
1920 20,238 9.6%
1930 20,088 −0.7%
1940 26,481 31.8%
1950 31,219 17.9%
1960 40,335 29.2%
1970 50,901 26.2%
1980 57,654 13.3%
1990 56,942 −1.2%
2000 57,930 1.7%
2010 54,151 −6.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[16]
1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18]
1990-2000[19] 2010[20] 2020[21]

2020 census[]

Henry County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[20] Pop 2020[21] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 38,737 34,307 71.54% 67.34%
Black or African American alone (NH) 11,786 11,062 21.77% 21.71%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 78 68 0.14% 0.13%
Asian alone (NH) 236 284 0.44% 0.56%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 6 0.00% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 43 153 0.08% 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 724 1,767 1.34% 3.47%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,545 3,301 4.70% 6.48%
Total 54,151 50,948 100.00% 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[22] of 2000, there were 57,930 people, 23,910 households, and 16,952 families residing in the county. The population density was 152 people per square mile (58/km2). There were 25,921 housing units at an average density of 68 per square mile (26/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.47% White, 10% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.39% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 3.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,910 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 29.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,816, and the median income for a family was $38,649. Males had a median income of $26,660 versus $20,766 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,110. About 8.80% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government[]

View Smith River Fieldale Virginia

View of the Smith River from bridge at Fieldale, Henry County

Board of supervisors[]

  • Blackberry District: Jimmie L. "Jim" Adams (I)
  • Collinsville District: Joe Bryant (I)
  • Horsepasture District: Debra Parsons Buchanan (I)
  • Iriswood District: Dr. David Martin (I)
  • Reed Creek District: T.J. "Tommy" Slaughter (I)
  • Ridgeway District: Ryan Zehr (I)

Constitutional officers[]

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Jennifer Ashworth (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Linda N. Love (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Andrew Nester (I)
  • Sheriff: Lane A. Perry (I)
  • Treasurer: Scott B. Grindstaff (I)

Henry County is represented by Republican William M. "Bill" Stanley in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Charles D. Poindexter, D.W. "Danny" Marshall III, and Les R. Adams in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republicans Bob Good and H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Henry County, Virginia[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,725 64.07% 9,127 34.96% 253 0.97%
2016 15,208 63.13% 8,198 34.03% 685 2.84%
2012 13,984 56.02% 10,317 41.33% 662 2.65%
2008 13,758 54.56% 11,118 44.09% 339 1.34%
2004 13,358 56.94% 9,851 41.99% 249 1.06%
2000 11,870 55.30% 8,898 41.46% 695 3.24%
1996 9,110 43.64% 9,061 43.41% 2,703 12.95%
1992 9,005 41.26% 9,296 42.59% 3,524 16.15%
1988 10,871 58.04% 7,536 40.24% 322 1.72%
1984 12,693 63.76% 6,976 35.04% 237 1.19%
1980 8,258 46.44% 8,800 49.49% 725 4.08%
1976 5,612 35.02% 9,680 60.41% 732 4.57%
1972 7,556 62.84% 4,042 33.62% 426 3.54%
1968 3,946 25.92% 4,175 27.42% 7,103 46.66%
1964 2,844 34.75% 5,295 64.70% 45 0.55%
1960 2,323 41.17% 3,306 58.59% 14 0.25%
1956 2,436 47.75% 2,582 50.61% 84 1.65%
1952 1,871 44.34% 2,323 55.05% 26 0.62%
1948 730 28.77% 1,318 51.95% 489 19.27%
1944 727 32.03% 1,538 67.75% 5 0.22%
1940 474 20.79% 1,795 78.73% 11 0.48%
1936 458 20.34% 1,790 79.48% 4 0.18%
1932 342 22.75% 1,146 76.25% 15 1.00%
1928 1,139 47.34% 1,267 52.66% 0 0.00%
1924 565 33.29% 1,097 64.64% 35 2.06%
1920 698 44.04% 871 54.95% 16 1.01%
1916 567 39.68% 851 59.55% 11 0.77%
1912 216 16.58% 707 54.26% 380 29.16%
1908 716 48.09% 761 51.11% 12 0.81%
1904 422 36.57% 718 62.22% 14 1.21%
1900 1,367 49.89% 1,356 49.49% 17 0.62%
1896 1,783 55.61% 1,409 43.95% 14 0.44%
1892 1,459 49.04% 1,317 44.27% 199 6.69%
1888 1,608 53.12% 1,409 46.55% 10 0.33%
1884 1,411 50.99% 1,356 49.01% 0 0.00%
1880 938 42.21% 1,284 57.79% 0 0.00%



Communities[]

Patrick Henry's Leatherwood Home Henry County Virginia

Virginia state historic marker for plantation of Patrick Henry, county's namesake, Leatherwood, Henry County

As an independent city since 1928, Martinsville is not part of Henry County, but exists as an enclave, surrounded by the county.

Town[]

  • Ridgeway

Census-designated places[]

  • Bassett
  • Chatmoss
  • Collinsville
  • Fieldale
  • Horsepasture
  • Laurel Park
  • Oak Level
  • Sandy Level
  • Stanleytown
  • Villa Heights

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Axton
  • Preston
  • Spencer

Notable people[]

  • Ward Armstrong
  • Alexander Hunter Bassett
  • John D. Bassett
  • John Breathitt
  • Thomas G. Burch
  • H. Clay Earles
  • Patrick Henry
  • Jeff Hensley
  • Jimmy Hensley
  • J. C. Martin
  • Joseph Martin (general)
  • Otis Martin
  • Barry Michaels
  • Shawn Moore
  • Abram Penn
  • A. L. Philpott
  • Carr Waller Pritchett Sr.
  • Robert Hairston
  • Rodney Sawyers
  • Jessamine Shumate
  • Thomas B. Stanley
  • John H. Traylor
  • Christopher Thomas
  • Anne Spencer

See also[]

  • Henry County Sheriff's Office
  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Henry County, Virginia

References[]

  1. ^ "Henry County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51089. Retrieved January 30, 2022. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ "Patrick Henry Leatherwood Plantation". http://www.myhenrycounty.com/leatherwood/patrickhenryleatherwood.php. 
  4. ^ Places Associated with Patrick Henry, virginiaplaces.org
  5. ^ National Register of Historic Places Form, dhr.virginia.gov
  6. ^ History, Martinsville and Henry County, Virginia, martinsville.com
  7. ^ born in Stafford County, Virginia, George Waller lived on his plantation at what was once known as Waller's Ford, today's Fieldale. He married to Ann Winston (Carr) Waller, Patrick Henry's first cousin. Col. Waller's wife's sister was married to Col. Mordecai Hord. [1] Col. George Waller's daughter, Mary Winston Carr Waller, married Major John Redd of the Continental Army.
  8. ^ General Joseph Martin, by John Redd, Publications of the Southern History Association, Vol. VII, No. 1, January 1903, Washington, D.C.
  9. ^ Lord Dunmore's Little War of 1774, Warren Skidmore, Donna Kaminsky, Heritage Books, 2002
  10. ^ Henry County, The Carolina Road, virginia.org Archived 2009-08-13 at the Wayback Machine
  11. ^ Thomas Hord, Gentleman, Arnold Harris Hord, Thomas Hord, Philadelphia, 1903
  12. ^ Hailey Family
  13. ^ History of Henry County, pp. 598-599 available at https://books.google.com/books?id=fJJLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA599&lpg=PA599&dq=john+w.+carter+virginia&source=bl&ots=342eZu58AP&sig=5AjxMIZ7TW0UbjPU4isytcI-s2o&hl=en&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj87eyPwM7RAhXps1QKHTzqAt44ChDoAQguMAg#v=onepage&q=john%20w.%20carter%20virginia&f=false
  14. ^ Acts and Joint Resolutions , Passed by the General Assembly, of the State of Virginia, During the Session of 1901–2, J. H. O'Hannon, Superintendent of Public Printing, Richmond, 1902
  15. ^ "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. 
  16. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  17. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  18. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt. 
  19. ^ "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. 
  20. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Henry County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51089&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  21. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Henry County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51089&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  22. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  23. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 

External links[]

Template:Henry County, Virginia

Coordinates: 36°40′N 79°53′W / 36.67, -79.88


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