Lancaster County, Virginia

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Lancaster County, Virginia
Central Lancaster, the county seat, with the county courthouse visible
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1651
Seat	Lancaster
Largest town	Kilmarnock
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	231 sq mi (598 km²) 133 sq mi (344 km²) 98 sq mi (254 km²), 42.4
Population  - (2020)  - Density	10,919
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website	www.lancova.com

Lancaster County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 10,919. Its county seat is Lancaster.

Located on the Northern Neck near the mouth of the Rappahannock River, Lancaster County is part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace wine-growing region recognized by the United States as an American Viticultural Area. Lancaster County is the most densely populated county in the Northern Neck. The largest town in Lancaster County is Kilmarnock, Virginia. The county's area code is 804.

History

The historic church of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, in Lancaster County, St. Mary's parish was the birthplace of Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington

Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties. It was home to Robert King Carter in the 18th century, and remaining buildings from that time include Christ Church and St. Mary's, Whitechapel. Other historic attractions open to the public include the Lancaster Courthouse Historic District including the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library, Belle Isle State Park, and the Village of Morattico Historic District.

In 1656 Lt. Col. Raeleigh Travers, who was born about 1622 in England and died before 14 May 1670 in Lancaster County, was Justice of the Peace for Lancaster County. In 1658 he appeared for the second time in the court records when he was a witness to a deed in the county; the first time he appeared in court records was in 1653 in Rappahannock County, VA. In 1661 the colonel and his wife executed a deed and on 29 Dec 1662 he received a land patent for 300 acres on the West Side of Morattico Cree in Lancaster County. In 1662 he was granted 3,650 acres of land on the south side of the Patomack Creek that were adjoining lands of a Captain Brent. He was a Member of the Virginia House of Burgesses for Lancaster County in 1651, 1661, 1665, 1666 and in 1669. On 12 Sep 1668 he was granted 500 acres in Rappahonnock County, VA. Lt. Col. Raeleigh Travers was the Lieutenant Colonel of the Lancaster County Militia.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 231 square miles (600 km²), of which 133 square miles (340 km²) is land and 98 square miles (250 km²) (42.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Richmond County – northwest
• Northumberland County – north
• Middlesex County – south and southwest

Major highways

• SR 3
• SR 200
• SR 201
• SR 222
• SR 354

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	5,638		—
1800	5,375		−4.7%
1810	5,592		4.0%
1820	5,517		−1.3%
1830	4,801		−13.0%
1840	4,628		−3.6%
1850	4,708		1.7%
1860	5,151		9.4%
1870	5,355		4.0%
1880	6,160		15.0%
1890	7,191		16.7%
1900	8,949		24.4%
1910	9,752		9.0%
1920	9,757		0.1%
1930	8,896		−8.8%
1940	8,786		−1.2%
1950	8,640		−1.7%
1960	9,174		6.2%
1970	9,126		−0.5%
1980	10,129		11.0%
1990	10,896		7.6%
2000	11,567		6.2%
2010	11,391		−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Lancaster County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	7,925	7,441	69.57%	68.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,166	2,946	27.79%	26.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	16	14	0.14%	0.13%
Asian alone (NH)	65	77	0.57%	0.71%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	1	0.00%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	5	39	0.04%	0.36%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	96	276	0.84%	2.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	118	125	1.04%	1.14%
Total	11,391	10,919	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 of 2000, there were 11,567 people, 5,004 households, and 3,412 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile (34/km²). There were 6,498 housing units at an average density of 49 per square mile (19/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.95% White, 28.88% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,004 households, out of which 21.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.00% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 19.60% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 28.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 86.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.50 males.

Type of workers for this country are: Private wage or salary (72%); Government (15%); and Self-employed (12%). The median income for a household in the county was $33,239, and the median income for a family was $42,957. Males had a median income of $30,592 versus $23,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,663. Approximately 9.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Lancaster County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. The board meets in the Lancaster County Administration Building at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month. The Administration building is located at 8311 Mary Ball Road in Lancaster, Virginia.

Board of Supervisors

• District 1: Jack Larson (R)
• District 2: Ernest W. Palin, Jr. (I)
• District 3: Jason D. Bellows, Vice Chair (I)
• District 4: William R. Lee, Chair (I)
• District 5: Robert S. Westbrook, DDS (I)

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Diane H. Mumford (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Marlon Savoy
• Commonwealth Attorney: Anthony Spencer (R)
• Sheriff: Patrick McCranie (R)
• Treasurer: Bonnie J. Dickson

Lancaster is represented by Republican Ryan T. McDougle in the Virginia Senate, Republican Margaret Bevans Ransone in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Robert J. "Rob" Wittman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Lancaster County, Virginia

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	3,697	51.69%	3,368	47.09%	87	1.22%
2016	3,523	53.02%	2,869	43.18%	253	3.81%
2012	3,753	53.91%	3,149	45.24%	59	0.85%
2008	3,647	52.57%	3,235	46.63%	56	0.81%
2004	3,724	59.78%	2,477	39.76%	29	0.47%
2000	3,411	62.53%	1,937	35.51%	107	1.96%
1996	2,709	55.36%	1,844	37.69%	340	6.95%
1992	2,841	51.39%	1,812	32.78%	875	15.83%
1988	3,380	67.02%	1,551	30.76%	112	2.22%
1984	3,416	67.72%	1,559	30.91%	69	1.37%
1980	2,780	61.01%	1,567	34.39%	210	4.61%
1976	2,381	58.44%	1,581	38.81%	112	2.75%
1972	2,683	71.64%	1,009	26.94%	53	1.42%
1968	1,640	44.93%	1,134	31.07%	876	24.00%
1964	1,663	57.13%	1,245	42.77%	3	0.10%
1960	1,340	59.56%	895	39.78%	15	0.67%
1956	1,380	70.66%	373	19.10%	200	10.24%
1952	1,228	61.49%	753	37.71%	16	0.80%
1948	459	39.10%	560	47.70%	155	13.20%
1944	390	36.76%	666	62.77%	5	0.47%
1940	317	30.60%	711	68.63%	8	0.77%
1936	322	31.76%	689	67.95%	3	0.30%
1932	272	29.34%	639	68.93%	16	1.73%
1928	520	62.28%	315	37.72%	0	0.00%
1924	90	13.47%	564	84.43%	14	2.10%
1920	138	25.27%	404	73.99%	4	0.73%
1916	58	11.11%	461	88.31%	3	0.57%
1912	82	14.04%	479	82.02%	23	3.94%
1908	122	20.33%	468	78.00%	10	1.67%
1904	93	20.67%	350	77.78%	7	1.56%
1900	508	34.19%	971	65.34%	7	0.47%
1896	599	35.40%	1,073	63.42%	20	1.18%
1892	896	47.28%	983	51.87%	16	0.84%
1888	928	52.34%	839	47.32%	6	0.34%
1884	859	56.25%	667	43.68%	1	0.07%
1880	650	56.57%	499	43.43%	0	0.00%

Communities

Towns

• Irvington
• Kilmarnock
• White Stone

Census-designated places

• Lancaster
• Weems

Outskirts of Lively, in Lancaster County

Other unincorporated communities

• Litwalton
• Lively
• Merry Point
• Mollusk
• Morattico
• Ottoman

Landmarks and attractions

Lancaster County is home to the historic church of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, founded in 1669. Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington, was born in the parish of St. Mary's. Rappahannock General Hospital is in Kilmarnock, it is the only hospital on the Northern Neck. Other attractions are:

• Compass Entertainment Complex
• 850 Christ Church Road
• King Carter Golf Course
• Golden Eagle Golf Course
• Irvington Steamboat Museum
• Indian Creek Yacht and Country Club
• The Tides Inn Resort Hotel
• White Stone Beach
• Windmill Point Beach
• Chesapeake Boat Basin Marina
• Belle Isle State Park
• Chilton Woods State Forest
• Carters Cove Marina
• Kellum Seafood Oyster House
• Rappahannock River Yacht Club
• Ampro Shipyard
• Historic Christ Church

See also

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