Pittsylvania County, Virginia

Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County
U.S. county
	Pittsylvania County Courthouse
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
	Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 36°49′N 79°24′W / 36.82°N 79.4°W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1767
Named for	William Pitt
Seat	Chatham
Largest town	Chatham
Area
• Total	978 sq mi (2,530 km2)
• Land	969 sq mi (2,510 km2)
• Water	9 sq mi (20 km2) 0.9%
Population (2010)
• Total	63,506
• Estimate (2018)	60,949
• Density	65/sq mi (25/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov

Pittsylvania County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 63,506.^[2] Chatham is the county seat.

Pittsylvania County is included in the Danville, VA Micropolitan Statistical Area.^[3]

The largest undeveloped uranium deposit in the United States (7th largest in the world) is located in Pittsylvania County^[4] (see Uranium mining in Virginia.)

History[]

Originally "Pittsylvania" was a name suggested for an unrealized British colony to be located primarily in what is now West Virginia. Pittsylvania County would not have been within this proposed colony, subsequently known as Vandalia.

The county was formed in 1767 from Halifax County. It was named for William Pitt, 1st Earl of Chatham, who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain from 1766 to 1768 and opposed harsh colonial policies.

In 1777 the western part of Pittsylvania County became Patrick Henry County.

Maud Clement's History of Pittsylvania County notes the following: "Despite the settlers' intentions, towns failed to develop for two reasons: the generally low level of economic activity in the area and the competition from plantation settlements already providing the kind of marketing and purchasing services typically offered by a town. Plantation settlements along the rivers, particularly at ferrying points, became commercial centers. The most important for early Pittsylvania was that of Sam Pannill, a Scots-Irishman, who at the end of the eighteenth century, while still a young man, set up a plantation town at Green Hill on the north side of the Staunton River in Campbell County. (Clement 15)"

"Its economy was tobacco-dominated and reliant on a growing slave labor force. It was a county without towns or a commercial center. Plantation villages on the major river thoroughfares were the only centers of trade, until the emergence of Danville. (Clement 23)"

The city of Danville's history up through the antebellum period overall is an expression of the relationship between the town and the planters who influenced its development.

Geography[]

Loading hay, Blairs, Pittsylvania County, 1939. Marion Post Wolcott

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 978 square miles (2,530 km²), of which 969 square miles (2,510 km²) is land and 9 square miles (23 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[5] It is the largest county in Virginia by land area and second-largest by total area. The county is bounded on the north by the Roanoke River (Staunton River), intersected by the Banister River through the center, and drained by the Dan River on the south.^[6]

Districts[]

The county is divided into seven districts:

Banister
Callands-Gretna
Chatham-Blairs
Dan River
Staunton River
Tunstall
Westover

Adjacent counties and cities[]

Virginia Counties

Bedford County, Virginia - Northwest (via Smith Mountain Lake)
Campbell County, Virginia - North/Northeast
Franklin County, Virginia - West/Northwest
Halifax County, Virginia - East
Henry County, Virginia - West/Southwest

Main Street, Chatham, Pittsylvania County, circa 1922

Virginia Cities

Danville, Virginia - South

North Carolina Counties

Caswell County, North Carolina - South/Southeast
Rockingham County, North Carolina - South/Southwest

Major highways[]

US 29
US 58
US 311
US 360
SR 40
SR 41
SR 51
SR 57
SR 360

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	11,579		—
1800	12,697		9.7%
1810	17,172		35.2%
1820	21,323		24.2%
1830	26,034		22.1%
1840	26,398		1.4%
1850	28,796		9.1%
1860	32,104		11.5%
1870	31,343		−2.4%
1880	52,589		67.8%
1890	59,941		14.0%
1900	46,894		−21.8%
1910	50,709		8.1%
1920	56,493		11.4%
1930	61,424		8.7%
1940	61,697		0.4%
1950	66,096		7.1%
1960	58,296		−11.8%
1970	58,789		0.8%
1980	66,147		12.5%
1990	55,655		−15.9%
2000	61,745		10.9%
2010	63,506		2.9%
2018 (est.)	60,949	^[1]	−4.0%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790-1960^[8] 1900-1990^[9] 1990-2000^[10] 2010-2013^[2]

According to the most recent census^[11] records, there are 60,949 people, and 26,687 households residing in the county. The population density was 65.5 people per square mile (25/km²). There were 31,656 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 76.20% White, 21.50% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.50% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.40% from two or more races. 2.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 26,687 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.93.

The median income for a household in the county was $44,356. The per capita income for the county was $23,597. About 12.60% of the population were below the poverty line.

Government[]

Pittsylvania County is governed by an elected seven-member Board of Supervisors. Management of the County is vested in a Board-appointed County Administrator.

Pittsylvania County Board of Supervisors^[12]
	Party	First Election	District
Robert Warren (Chair)	Rep	2015	Chatham-Blairs
Ronald Scearce (Vice Chair)	Rep	2015	Westover
Joe Davis	Rep	2015	Dan River
Tim Dudley	Rep	2019	Staunton River
Ben Farmer	Ind	2017	Callands-Gretna
Vic Ingram	Ind	2019	Tunstall
Dr. Charles Miller	Ind	2017	Banister

There are also five elected Constitutional Officers:

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Mark Scarce (I)
Commonwealth's Attorney: Robert Bryan Haskins (R)
Sheriff: Michael "Mike" Taylor (I)
Commissioner of Revenue: Robin Coles-Goard (I)
Treasurer: Vincent Shorter (I)

show

Presidential elections results

Communities[]

Incorporated Towns[]

Chatham
Gretna
Hurt

Census-designated places[]

Other unincorporated communities[]

Unincorporated neighborhoods within incorporated towns[]

Chatham
- Whittletown
- Woodlawn
- Woodlawn Heights

References[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
^ Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
^ "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office Of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2015.
^ Shulz, Max (2008, July 26). Virginia Is Sitting on the Energy Mother Lode. The Wall Street Journal. Accessed 27 July 2008.
^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Pittsylvania" . The American Cyclopædia.
^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
^ "Elected Officials - Pittsylvania County, VA - Official Website". www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov. Retrieved 20 August 2019.
^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 9 December 2020.

External links[]

Coordinates: 36°49′N 79°24′W / 36.82°N 79.40°W / 36.82; -79.40

[USCensusEst2018-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.

[QF-2] Jump up to: ^a ^b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 4, 2014.

[3] "Revised Delineations of Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Micropolitan Statistical Areas, and Combined Statistical Areas, and Guidance on Uses of the Delineations of These Areas" (PDF). Office Of Management and Budget. February 28, 2013. Retrieved February 8, 2015.

[4] Shulz, Max (2008, July 26). Virginia Is Sitting on the Energy Mother Lode. The Wall Street Journal. Accessed 27 July 2008.

[GR1-5] "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.

[6] Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Pittsylvania" . The American Cyclopædia.

[7] "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.

[8] "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.

[9] "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.

[10] "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.

[GR8-11] "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

[12] "Elected Officials - Pittsylvania County, VA - Official Website". www.pittsylvaniacountyva.gov. Retrieved 20 August 2019.

[13] Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 9 December 2020.

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Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2020	69.4% 23,751	29.6% 10,115	1.1% 361
2016	68.2% 21,554	29.1% 9,199	2.7% 845
2012	62.8% 19,263	35.4% 10,858	1.8% 560
2008	61.6% 18,730	37.5% 11,415	1.0% 288
2004	64.5% 17,673	33.8% 9,274	1.7% 470
2000	65.0% 15,760	32.3% 7,834	2.7% 661
1996	55.9% 12,127	35.4% 7,681	8.8% 1,906
1992	52.4% 11,467	35.1% 7,675	12.6% 2,752
1988	63.7% 12,229	34.4% 6,612	1.9% 360
1984	66.1% 15,743	32.7% 7,791	1.2% 290
1980	59.3% 12,022	37.7% 7,653	3.0% 605
1976	51.2% 9,173	44.3% 7,929	4.5% 811
1972	72.3% 12,108	26.5% 4,429	1.2% 200
1968	25.6% 5,096	27.3% 5,427	47.1% 9,367
1964	57.5% 7,120	42.3% 5,228	0.2% 25
1960	47.6% 3,788	51.4% 4,089	1.0% 77
1956	36.8% 2,870	53.1% 4,136	10.1% 788
1952	41.9% 2,893	57.6% 3,976	0.5% 31
1948	20.5% 1,164	55.6% 3,149	23.9% 1,353
1944	25.9% 1,224	73.9% 3,492	0.2% 8
1940	16.3% 728	83.3% 3,710	0.4% 17
1936	13.1% 556	86.8% 3,694	0.1% 5
1932	17.1% 656	81.4% 3,124	1.6% 60
1928	60.6% 2,598	39.4% 1,688
1924	24.8% 880	72.1% 2,563	3.2% 113
1920	29.8% 1,162	69.7% 2,715	0.5% 19
1916	28.1% 801	70.5% 2,012	1.4% 40
1912	21.7% 527	64.2% 1,558	14.1% 341

show v t Municipalities and communities of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States
County seat: Chatham
Towns	Chatham Gretna Hurt
CDPs	Blairs Motley Mount Hermon
Unincorporated communities	Ajax Bachelors Hall Banister Brights Brosville Brutus Buford Callahans Hills Callands Cartersville Cascade Cedar Forest Cedar Hill Chalk Level Climax Coles Hill Dry Fork Dundee Ebenezer Flint Hill Galveston Glenland Glenwood Grady Green Acres Green Pond Greenfield Grit Henrys Mill Hermosa Hill Grove Hinesville Hollywood Hopewell Java Keeling Kentuck Lakewood Laniers Mill Laurel Grove Level Run Lucks Markham Motleys Mill Mt. Airy Mount Cross Mountain Hill Museville Natal Oak Hill Oak Ridge Peytonsburg Pickaway Pickerel Pittsville Pleasant Gap Pleasant Grove Pullens Ray Red Oak Hollow Redeye Renan Riceville Ridgeway Ringgold Rondo Sandy River Sharon Sheva Shockoe Soapstone Sonans Spring Garden Stony Mill Straightstone Sutherlin Swansonville Sycamore Tightsqueeze Toshes Transco Village Vance Vandola Weal West Fork Whitfield Whitmell Whittles Witt Woodlake Park Woodlawn Worlds
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