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Spotsylvania County, Virginia
St. Julien (Spotsylvania County, Virginia)
Historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania County
Flag of Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Flag
Seal of Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Seal
Logo of Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Logo
Map of Virginia highlighting Spotsylvania County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1721
Named for Alexander Spotswood
Seat Spotsylvania Courthouse
Largest community Spotsylvania Courthouse
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

414 sq mi (1,072 km²)
401 sq mi (1,039 km²)
13 sq mi (34 km²), 3.1
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

140,032
Congressional districts 1st, 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/

Spotsylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 140,032.[1] Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse.[2]

History[]

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Spotsylvania County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Manahoac.[3]

As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who incidentally was also the 2nd Great Grandfather of Robert E Lee.[4]

Many major battles were fought in this county during the Civil War, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river.[5]

General Stonewall Jackson was shot and mortally wounded by friendly fire in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.

Geography[]

It is bounded on the north by the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, the independent city of Fredericksburg (all of which were part of the area's early history), and the counties of Stafford and Culpeper; on the south by the North Anna River and its impoundment, Lake Anna, and by the counties of Hanover and Louisa; on the west by Orange County and Culpeper County; and on the east by Caroline County.

Adjacent counties and independent city[]

National protected area[]

  • Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (part)

Points of interest[]

  • Lake Anna State Park
  • Spotsylvania County Public Schools
  • Spotsylvania Courthouse
  • Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
  • Spotsylvania Towne Centre
  • Spotsylvania County Sheriff’s Office
  • Central Rappahannock Regional Library
  • Dominion Raceway

Communities[]

There are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Alsop
  • Arcadia
  • Artillery Ridge
  • Bells Crossroad
  • Belmont
  • Blades Corner
  • Brandon
  • Brockroad
  • Brokenburg
  • Carters Store
  • Chancellor
  • Chancellorsville
  • Chewnings Corner
  • Cookstown
  • Cosner's Corner
  • Dunavant
  • Five Mile Fork
  • Four Mile Fork
  • Granite Springs
  • Lanes Corner
  • Leavells
  • Lewiston
  • Margo
  • Marye
  • Massaponax
  • McHenry
  • Old Trap
  • Olivers Corner
  • Partlow
  • Paytes
  • Post Oak
  • Shady Grove Corner
  • Snell
  • Stubbs
  • Thornburg
  • Todds Tavern

Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.

Major highways[]

2019-06-24 10 14 32 View north along Interstate 95 from the overpass for U.S

I-95 northbound in Spotsylvania County

  • I-95 I-95
  • US 1 US 1
  • US 17 US 17
  • US 522 US 522
  • Virginia 2 SR 2
  • Virginia 3 SR 3
  • Virginia 208 SR 208

Governance[]

County government[]

Spotsylvania County's highest level of management is that of County Administrator. This post oversees all county departments and agencies and serves as the Spotsylvania County's Board of Supervisors' liaison to state and regional agencies.

Board of Supervisors[]

Spotsylvania is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The board consists of seven members (one from each district within the county). The Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, appropriates funds, approves land rezoning and special exceptions to the zoning ordinance, and carries out other responsibilities set forth by the county code.[6]

The following is the current list of supervisors and districts which they represent:[7]

Position Name Affiliation District
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px | " |  Chairman Timothy J. McLaughlin Independent Chancellor
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Vice Chairman David Ross Republican Courtland
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " |  Member Chris Yakabouski Republican Battlefield
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px | " |  Member Kevin Marshall Independent Berkely
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px | " |  Member Lori Hayes Independent Lee Hill
style="background-color:Template:Vacant/meta/color;" width=10px | " |  Member Vacant N/A Livingston
style="background-color:#ffffcc;" width=10px | " |  Member Dr. Deborah H. Frazier Independent Salem

The Livingston District seat is vacant following the death of Republican supervisor Barry Jett on October 29, 2021.[8] A special election to replace Supervisor Jett is scheduled for February 15th, 2022.

State representation[]

Virginia House of Delegates
Office Name Party District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Delegate Robert D. "Bobby" Orrock Republican Party 54
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Delegate Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler Jr. Republican Party 55
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Delegate John McGuire Republican Party 56
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Delegate Mark Cole Republican Party 88
Virginia State Senate
Office Name Party District
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Senator Ryan McDougle Republican Party 4
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Senator Bryce Reeves Republican Party 17
style="background-color:#FF3333;" width=10px | " | Senator Richard Stuart Republican Party 28

Federal representation[]

Spotsylvania residents are represented by either Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District) or Rob Wittman (R-1st District) in the House of Representatives. The current U.S. Senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia are Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D).

United States presidential election results for Spotsylvania County, Virginia[9]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 39,411 52.33% 34,307 45.55% 1,599 2.12%
2016 34,623 55.35% 24,207 38.70% 3,719 5.95%
2012 31,844 54.93% 25,165 43.41% 965 1.66%
2008 28,610 52.91% 24,897 46.05% 562 1.04%
2004 28,527 62.77% 16,623 36.58% 295 0.65%
2000 20,739 59.22% 13,455 38.42% 827 2.36%
1996 13,786 52.62% 10,342 39.48% 2,069 7.90%
1992 11,829 49.26% 8,133 33.87% 4,052 16.87%
1988 10,978 66.16% 5,486 33.06% 129 0.78%
1984 8,207 66.74% 4,012 32.63% 78 0.63%
1980 5,385 53.82% 4,039 40.37% 581 5.81%
1976 3,210 42.46% 4,210 55.69% 140 1.85%
1972 3,577 65.73% 1,775 32.62% 90 1.65%
1968 1,675 34.00% 1,647 33.43% 1,604 32.56%
1964 1,261 37.45% 2,097 62.28% 9 0.27%
1960 1,288 46.02% 1,482 52.95% 29 1.04%
1956 1,244 51.94% 993 41.46% 158 6.60%
1952 1,174 48.98% 1,194 49.81% 29 1.21%
1948 517 34.24% 818 54.17% 175 11.59%
1944 504 40.29% 744 59.47% 3 0.24%
1940 365 31.63% 785 68.02% 4 0.35%
1936 453 35.01% 836 64.61% 5 0.39%
1932 346 30.17% 784 68.35% 17 1.48%
1928 654 59.84% 439 40.16% 0 0.00%
1924 255 34.65% 448 60.87% 33 4.48%
1920 380 45.56% 440 52.76% 14 1.68%
1916 249 38.37% 398 61.33% 2 0.31%
1912 58 9.40% 390 63.21% 169 27.39%
1908 282 43.93% 346 53.89% 14 2.18%
1904 237 40.79% 330 56.80% 14 2.41%
1900 817 51.19% 774 48.50% 5 0.31%
1896 903 50.50% 877 49.05% 8 0.45%
1892 679 42.62% 849 53.30% 65 4.08%
1888 922 51.22% 876 48.67% 2 0.11%
1884 820 49.28% 844 50.72% 0 0.00%
1880 576 42.76% 771 57.24% 0 0.00%



Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 11,252
1800 13,002 15.6%
1810 13,296 2.3%
1820 14,254 7.2%
1830 15,134 6.2%
1840 15,161 0.2%
1850 14,911 −1.6%
1860 16,076 7.8%
1870 11,728 −27.0%
1880 14,828 26.4%
1890 14,233 −4.0%
1900 9,239 −35.1%
1910 9,935 7.5%
1920 10,571 6.4%
1930 10,056 −4.9%
1940 9,905 −1.5%
1950 11,920 20.3%
1960 13,819 15.9%
1970 16,424 18.9%
1980 34,435 109.7%
1990 57,403 66.7%
2000 90,395 57.5%
2010 122,397 35.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

2020 census[]

Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 88,077 87,278 71.96% 62.33%
Black or African American alone (NH) 18,298 22,436 14.95% 16.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 323 375 0.26% 0.27%
Asian alone (NH) 2,768 3,933 2.26% 2.81%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 135 122 0.11% 0.09%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 272 845 0.22% 0.60%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 3,246 8,389 2.65% 5.99%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 9,278 16,654 7.58% 11.89%
Total 122,397 140,032 100.00% 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.

2010 census[]

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 122,397 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile (87/km2). There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km2). The racial makeup of the county was:

7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 31,308 households, out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were non-families. 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The 2019 median income for a household in the county was $88,628 compared to $58,100 for the United States; the median income for a family was $87,922. Males had a median income of $49,166 versus $38,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,212. 6.6% of the population lives below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.

Infrastructure[]

Emergency services[]

Fire and rescue services in Spotsylvania County are provided by a combination of career and volunteer organizations. The career staff of the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management provide fire and rescue services 24/7/365 at all 11 stations, 1 (Courthouse), 2 (Brokenburg), 3 (Partlow), 4 (Four Mile Fork), 5 (Chancellor), 6 (Salem Church), 7 (Wilderness), 8 (Thornburg), 9 (Belmont), 10 (Salem Fields), 11 (Crossroads). Volunteers provide additional staffing nights and weekends at Stations 1, 2, 4, 5, and 8. The volunteer organizations include: Chancellor Volunteer Fire & Rescue, The Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, and The Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad.

Education[]

Public schools[]

Spotsylvania County Public Schools

Private schools[]

  • Fredericksburg Academy
  • Fredericksburg Christian School
  • The Summit Academy
  • Odyssey Montessori School
  • Saint Patrick School
  • Saint Michael the Archangel High School
  • Faith Baptist Christian School
  • Mount Hope Academy
  • micah school

Colleges and universities[]

Germanna Community College is part of the Virginia Community College System and serves the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, and King George.

The University of Mary Washington located in neighboring Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a four-year university and graduate school that also serves the area.

Notable people[]

  • Thomas Dickens Arnold, United States Congressman from Virginia[17]
  • Francis Asbury (1745–1816), one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church[18]
  • Caressa Cameron, Miss Virginia 2009 and Miss America 2010[19]
  • Elijah Craig, Baptist minister arrested in Fredericksburg for preaching without a license from the Anglican Church before the American Revolution
  • Evelyn Magruder DeJarnette (1842–1914), author[20][21]
  • Joe Gibbs, former Washington Redskins coach[22]
  • Rahman "Rock" Harper, chef, television personality, and restaurateur[23]
  • Alexander Holladay (1811–1877), U. S. Representative
  • Kunta Kinte, a.k.a. Toby Waller (1750–1822), character in novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family and television miniseries Roots
  • John Maine, pitcher for the New York Mets
  • Danny McBride, actor[24]
  • Phil Short, former member of the Louisiana State Senate and United States Marine Corps officer[25]
  • Matthew Fontaine Maury, father of modern oceanography[26]:452 [27]:2318

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51177.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Swanton, John R. (1952). The Indian Tribes of North America. Smithsonian Institution. pp. 61–62. ISBN 0-8063-1730-2. OCLC 52230544. https://books.google.com/books?id=vtHI5pkJOGMC. 
  4. ^ "Family relationship of General Robert e. Lee and Alexander Spotswood via Alexander Spotswood". https://famouskin.com/famous-kin-chart.php?name=4640+robert+e+lee&kin=4667+alexander+spotswood. 
  5. ^ "Trail of Freedom", Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, University of Mary Washington blog
  6. ^ "Spotsylvania County Home : Departments : Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.va.us. http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/content/27452/20931/. 
  7. ^ "Members of the Board of Supervisors". Spotsylvania.ua.us. https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/1200/Members. 
  8. ^ Shenk, Scott (October 30, 2021). "Spotsylvania Supervisor Barry Jett dies after brief illness". https://fredericksburg.com/news/local/spotsylvania-supervisor-barry-jett-dies-after-brief-illness/article_ba3dac5a-d4a5-5c58-a355-4d2295b9994a.html#tracking-source=home-top-story-1. 
  9. ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  10. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt. 
  13. ^ "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. 
  14. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51177&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  15. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51177&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov. 
  17. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963. 
  18. ^ now the United Methodist Church in the United States
  19. ^ Gross, Edie. "Covering Caressa Cameron". www.fredericksburg.com. http://fredericksburg.com/topics/caressa-cameron-pictures-miss-virginia/index_html. 
  20. ^ Willard, Frances Elizabeth; Livermore, Mary Ashton Rice (1893). A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life (Public domain ed.). Moulton. pp. 237. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zXEEAAAAYAAJ. 
  21. ^ Frost, May (Miller) (1954). De Jarnette and Allied Families in America (1699-1954). San Bernardino, Calif. [1954]. https://archive.org/details/dejarnetteallied00fros. 
  22. ^ Couloumbis, Angela E. (1996-03-02). "Fawn Lake: On The Water In Spotsylvania". The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/realestate/1996/03/02/fawn-lake-on-the-water-in-spotsylvania/b732232c-89e6-406e-9e94-93348ec221cd/. 
  23. ^ Black, Jane (2008-12-26). ""Hell's Kitchen" winner Rahman "Rock" Harper Readying Menu for New D.C. Eatery" (in en-US). The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501172.html. 
  24. ^ "Movie, TV projects fall in line for local native". Fredericksburg.com. 2008-01-24. http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/012008/01242008/351013/index_html?page=1. 
  25. ^ "A Virginian in Short". enlou.com. http://lakeannarentals.org/virginian-short. 
  26. ^ Birth: Stevens, J. A., DeCosta, B. F., Johnston, H. P., Lamb, M. J., & Pond, N. G. (1887). The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries. A. S. Barnes.
  27. ^ Father of modern oceanography: Hager, W. H. (2015). Hydraulicians in the USA 1800-2000: A biographical dictionary of leaders in hydraulic engineering and fluid mechanics. CRC Press.

External links[]

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Coordinates: 38°11′N 77°39′W / 38.18, -77.65


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