Lancaster County, Virginia

Coordinates: 37°43′N 76°25′W / 37.71°N 76.41°W / 37.71; -76.41
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Lancaster County
Central Lancaster, the county seat, with the county courthouse visible
Central Lancaster, the county seat, with the county courthouse visible
Map of Virginia highlighting Lancaster County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 76°25′W / 37.71°N 76.41°W / 37.71; -76.41
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1651
SeatLancaster
Largest townKilmarnock
Area
 • Total231 sq mi (600 km2)
 • Land133 sq mi (340 km2)
 • Water98 sq mi (250 km2)  42.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total10,919
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.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.[1] Its county seat is Lancaster.[2]

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.[citation needed] Lancaster County is the most densely populated county in the Northern Neck.[citation needed] The largest town in Lancaster County is Kilmarnock, Virginia. The county's area code is 804.

History[edit]

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.

Geography[edit]

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.[3]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Major highways[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17905,638
18005,375−4.7%
18105,5924.0%
18205,517−1.3%
18304,801−13.0%
18404,628−3.6%
18504,7081.7%
18605,1519.4%
18705,3554.0%
18806,16015.0%
18907,19116.7%
19008,94924.4%
19109,7529.0%
19209,7570.1%
19308,896−8.8%
19408,786−1.2%
19508,640−1.7%
19609,1746.2%
19709,126−0.5%
198010,12911.0%
199010,8967.6%
200011,5676.2%
201011,391−1.5%
202010,919−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790–1960[5] 1900–1990[6]
1990–2000[7] 2010[8] 2020[9]

2020 census[edit]

Lancaster County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[8] Pop 2020[9] % 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 or 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%

2000 Census[edit]

As of the census[10] 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 people/km2). There were 6,498 housing units at an average density of 49 units per square mile (19 units/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%).[11] 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[edit]

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.[12]

Board of Supervisors[edit]

  • District 1: Craig H. Giese (R)
  • District 2: Ernest W. Palin, Jr., Chair (I)
  • District 3: Jason D. Bellows, Vice Chair (I)
  • District 4: William R. Lee (I)
  • District 5: William C. Smith (I)

Constitutional officers[edit]

  • 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[13]
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%

Communities[edit]

Towns[edit]

Census-designated places[edit]

Outskirts of Lively, in Lancaster County

Other unincorporated communities[edit]

Points of interest[edit]

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:

  • Irvington Steamboat Museum
  • Windmill Point Beach
  • Belle Isle State Park
  • Chilton Woods State Forest
  • Ampro Shipyard
  • Historic Christ Church

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Lancaster County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  4. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  5. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  6. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  8. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lancaster County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lancaster County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  11. ^ "Lancaster County, Virginia detailed profile - houses, real estate, cost of living, wages, work, agriculture, ancestries, and more". www.city-data.com. Retrieved April 9, 2018.
  12. ^ www.lancova.com Retrieved 17 May 2014 Archived 17 May 2014 at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

37°43′N 76°25′W / 37.71°N 76.41°W / 37.71; -76.41