Westmoreland County, Virginia

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Westmoreland County
U.S. county
Westmoreland County Courthouse in Montross
Westmoreland County Courthouse in Montross
Official seal of Westmoreland County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Westmoreland County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°07′N 76°48′W / 38.11°N 76.8°W / 38.11; -76.8
Country United States
State Virginia
Named forWestmorland
SeatMontross
Largest townColonial Beach
Area
 • Total253 sq mi (660 km2)
 • Land229 sq mi (590 km2)
 • Water24 sq mi (60 km2)  9.3%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total17,454
 • Estimate 
(2019)[1]
18,015
 • Density69/sq mi (27/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.westmoreland-county.org

Westmoreland County is a county located in the Northern Neck of the Commonwealth of Virginia. At the 2010 census, the population was 17,454.[2] Its county seat is Montross.[3]

History[]

Nomini Hall, Carter family plantation in Westmoreland County. Built in 1730 by Robert Carter II on land purchased from heirs of Nicholas Spencer by Robert "King" Carter

As originally established by the Virginia colony's House of Burgesses, it was separated from Northumberland County in 1653, and was named for the English county of Westmorland; both counties are coastal.[4] The territory of Westmoreland County encompassed much of what later became the various counties and cities of Northern Virginia, including the city of Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County. These were part of Westmoreland until 1664, when Stafford County was formed.

Westmoreland County on Northern Neck was the birthplace of George Washington, the first President of the United States (at the former settlement of Bridges Creek, Virginia);[5] James Monroe, the fifth President; and Robert E. Lee, general and commander of the Confederate armies.

The county was the place of residence for Colonel Nicholas Spencer (1633-1689), who patented the land at Mount Vernon in 1674 with his friend Lt. Col. John Washington, ancestor of George Washington. Spencer, who served as President of the Council and acting Governor of the Colony of Virginia, was the cousin of, and agent for, the Barons Colepeper, proprietors of the Northern Neck. Spencer lived at his plantation, Nomini, which his descendants later sold to Robert Carter I.

Robert Carter's grandson, Robert Carter III, is known for voluntarily freeing almost 500 slaves from Nomini Hall, beginning in 1791, and settling many on lands he gave them. His manumission is the largest known release of slaves in North America prior to the American Civil War and the largest number ever manumitted by an individual in the U.S.[6]

Geography[]

Rural Westmoreland County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 253 square miles (660 km2), of which 229 square miles (590 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (9.3%) is water.[7] The county is located on the Northern Neck and is part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA winemaking appellation.

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18206,901—
18308,39621.7%
18408,019−4.5%
18508,0800.8%
18608,2822.5%
18707,682−7.2%
18808,84615.2%
18908,399−5.1%
19009,24310.0%
19109,3130.8%
192010,24010.0%
19308,497−17.0%
19409,51211.9%
195010,1486.7%
196011,0428.8%
197012,14210.0%
198014,04115.6%
199015,48010.2%
200016,7188.0%
201017,4544.4%
2019 (est.)18,015[1]3.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2]

At the 2000 census,[12] there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was 73/sq mi (28/km2). There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of 40/sq mi (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.41% White, 30.89% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 3.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,846 households, of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.

23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.

The median household income was $35,797 and the median family income was $41,357. Males had a median income of $31,333 and females $22,221. The per capita income was $19,473. About 11.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Economy[]

The county's economy is largely based on agriculture. Tourism is another significant economic driver, related to historical sites such as George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Robert E. Lee's birthplace, Stratford Hall Plantation, and the Westmoreland County Museum as well as gambling activities available in Colonial Beach. The county is also an extended exurb of Washington, D.C.

Northern Neck Coca-Cola Bottling Inc. (makers of Northern Neck Ginger Ale) and the weekly Westmoreland News are located in Montross.

Notable residents[]

George Washington Birthplace National Monument
View of the main facade, Stratford Hall, ancestral home of the Lee family of Virginia, Westmoreland County
  • Laetitia Corbin Lee (1657–1706), American colonist
  • George Washington (1732-1799), the first president of the United States
  • John Washington (1631-1677), great-grandfather of George Washington
  • Bushrod Washington (1762-1829), Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, founder and first president of the American Colonization Society, nephew of George Washington and inheritor of Mount Vernon
  • James Monroe (1758-1831), the fifth president of the United States
  • Robert E. Lee (1807-1870), a general best known for fighting on behalf of the Confederate Army in the American Civil War
  • Richard Henry Lee, a signatory of the United States Declaration of Independence, United States Senator, and the sixth president of the United States in Congress Assembled (under the Articles of Confederation)
  • Francis Lightfoot Lee, a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence
  • Richard "Squire" Lee
  • Thomas Brown, the second governor of Florida
  • Nicholas Spencer, acting governor of Virginia, co-patentee of Mount Vernon estate
  • Thomas Lee, a leading political figure in colonial Virginia
  • Nathaniel Rochester, founder of Rochester, New York
  • Thomas Sandford, American Revolutionary War soldier, Kentucky legislator , Member of the Eighth and Ninth U.S. Congress.
  • Sloan Wilson, the author of The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit
  • Rob Wittman, United States Congressman (VA-1, Republican)
  • Thomas Marshall (1700-1752) Grandfather of Chief Justice John Marshall
  • Walter Balderson, Emmy Award-winning video engineer
  • John dos Passos, the author of the U.S.A. trilogy and other works

Communities[]

Towns[]

Politics[]

Westmoreland County is a notable bellwether for U.S. presidential politics, having voted for the winner in every election since 1928 except 1948, 1960, and 2020.

Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 53.5% 5,318 45.3% 4,501 1.2% 114
2016 51.9% 4,448 44.7% 3,836 3.4% 290
2012 46.0% 3,731 52.9% 4,295 1.2% 94
2008 44.4% 3,719 54.6% 4,577 1.0% 81
2004 50.1% 3,433 49.2% 3,370 0.7% 45
2000 48.7% 2,932 48.5% 2,922 2.9% 172
1996 40.3% 2,333 51.0% 2,949 8.7% 506
1992 41.0% 2,554 44.3% 2,758 14.6% 911
1988 55.4% 2,974 43.0% 2,311 1.6% 85
1984 56.8% 3,219 41.7% 2,363 1.4% 81
1980 50.3% 2,510 45.5% 2,271 4.2% 208
1976 41.8% 1,909 51.6% 2,355 6.7% 304
1972 66.0% 2,331 31.5% 1,113 2.5% 88
1968 40.0% 1,402 33.0% 1,156 27.0% 948
1964 47.3% 1,181 52.5% 1,312 0.2% 6
1960 53.0% 1,176 46.6% 1,034 0.4% 9
1956 54.5% 1,033 36.6% 695 8.9% 169
1952 59.5% 1,117 40.2% 754 0.3% 6
1948 44.5% 568 39.4% 503 16.1% 205
1944 39.6% 532 60.1% 808 0.3% 4
1940 29.7% 357 70.2% 845 0.1% 1
1936 25.4% 296 74.6% 871
1932 24.7% 212 74.8% 641 0.5% 4
1928 58.5% 554 41.5% 393
1924 24.0% 157 73.9% 484 2.1% 14
1920 25.1% 133 74.7% 396 0.2% 1
1916 27.1% 126 72.7% 338 0.2% 1
1912 15.2% 69 75.0% 341 9.9% 45

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. ^ "Virginia County Names - A History". September 21, 2013.
  5. ^ Marquis, A.N. Company. Who's Who In America, vol. 1:Historical Volume (1607-1896), revised ed., Marquis, A.N. Company., 1967.
  6. ^ Andrew Levy, The First Emancipator: The Forgotten Story of Robert Carter, the Founding Father who freed his slaves. New York: Random House, 2005 (ISBN 0-375-50865-1)
  7. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  9. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  11. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.

External links[]

Coordinates: 38°07′N 76°48′W / 38.11°N 76.80°W / 38.11; -76.80

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