New Kent County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 County courthouse | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
| Coordinates:37°31′N77°00′W / 37.51°N 77°W /37.51; -77 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1654 |
| Named after | Kent, England |
| Seat | New Kent |
| Area | |
• Total | 222 sq mi (570 km2) |
| • Land | 210 sq mi (540 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 6.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 22,945 |
| • Density | 110/sq mi (42/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
New Kent County is acounty in the southeastern part of theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 United States census, its population was 22,945.[1] Itscounty seat isNew Kent.[2]
New Kent County is located east of the Greater Richmond Region and is part of the Richmond and the Hampton RoadsMetropolitan Statistical Area.
New Kent County was established in 1654, as the Virginia General Assembly with the governor's consent splitYork County.[3] The county's name originated because several prominent inhabitants, includingWilliam Claiborne, recently had been forced from their settlement atKent Island, Maryland, byLord Baltimore upon the formation ofMaryland.[4] Claiborne had named the island for his birthplace inKent, England.Chickahominy andPamunkey Native Americans frequented this area, as well as nearbyCharles City County andKing William County, and both tribes remain well-established in this area.
The county had two parishes in the colonial era, initially called Blisland (which also included the olderJames City County as well as York County) andSt. Peter's. Among the earliest settlers was Nicholas Gentry, who settled in New Kent in 1684. Parish registers of St. Peter's Parish show that Nicholas Gentry's daughter was baptized in the church in 1687.[5] In 1719 the Virginia General Assembly split New Kent County, and what had been established St. Paul's Parish becameHanover County.[6][7]
New Kent county's first brick courthouse was built by 1695, but it and two successors were destroyed in 1753 and 1775. Another fire in 1783 destroyed the clerk's office and jail, so few colonial era non-religious records remain. However, a manual entitled "The Office and Authority of a Justice of Peace" published in 1736 by county court justice George Webb, the son of London merchant Conrad Webb and whose son Lewis Webb would briefly represent New Kent county in the House of Burgesses and later in the House of Delegates during the American Revolutionary War.[8] Perhaps the county's most noteworthy patriot during the conflict wasJames, an enslaved man who became a double agent, and whose reports to the Marquis de Lafayette helped secure victory during theSiege of Yorktown months after British troops led by Lt. Gen. Charles Cornwallis passed through the county seat (and raided local plantations) in June 1781. In addition to men who enlisted in the army, New Kent county also established an American military hospital during the conflict. As the result of arson confessed to by John Price Posey and Thomas Green, and allegedly involving "a negro boy belonging to W. Chamberlayne", many later county records were burned, making identifying relationships between family members difficult.[9]
Twofirst ladies –Martha Washington andLetitia Christian Tyler – were born in New Kent County. The church where George and Martha Washington are believed to have been wed,St. Peter's, still holds services today.
Confederate and Union troops fought in as well as passed through New Kent County during the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. TheBattle of New Market Heights in September 1864 proved a crucial victory as Federal forces pushed toward the capitol in theRichmond-Petersburg Campaign. A later courthouse, damaged during the Civil War, was replaced in 1909.
During the state'sMassive Resistance crisis in the 1960s, the United States Supreme Court decision inGreen v. County School Board of New Kent County (1968) limited the use offreedom of choice plans at publicly funded schools, where the actual operation of such plans delayed racial desegregation.
The historical ties to Hampton Roads stem from its location and the shared history of Virginia's colonial past. The region, known for its military bases, shipyards, and as a commercial and cultural hub, influences the surrounding counties, including New Kent. The proximity to Hampton Roads has led to economic and demographic growth in the county, with residents often commuting to the larger cities such as Newport News and Norfolk for work while enjoying the quieter, rural life that New Kent offers.
The northeastern border of the county is defined by the meanderings of thePamunkey River, and the southwestern county border is similarly defined by theChickahominy River. The county terrain consists of rolling hills, either wooded or devoted to agriculture, and carved by drainages.[10] The terrain slopes to the east and south, with its highest point on the western border at 174 ft (53 m) ASL.[11] The county has a total area of 223 mi2 (580 km2), of which 210 mi2 (540 km2) are land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (6.23%) are covered by water.
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Source:[10]
Source:[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 6,239 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,363 | 2.0% | |
| 1810 | 6,478 | 1.8% | |
| 1820 | 6,630 | 2.3% | |
| 1830 | 6,458 | −2.6% | |
| 1840 | 6,230 | −3.5% | |
| 1850 | 6,064 | −2.7% | |
| 1860 | 5,884 | −3.0% | |
| 1870 | 4,381 | −25.5% | |
| 1880 | 5,515 | 25.9% | |
| 1890 | 5,511 | −0.1% | |
| 1900 | 4,865 | −11.7% | |
| 1910 | 4,682 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,541 | −3.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,300 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,092 | −4.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,995 | −2.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,504 | 12.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,300 | 17.7% | |
| 1980 | 8,781 | 65.7% | |
| 1990 | 10,445 | 19.0% | |
| 2000 | 13,462 | 28.9% | |
| 2010 | 18,429 | 36.9% | |
| 2020 | 22,945 | 24.5% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 27,218 | [13] | 18.6% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 1790-1960[15] 1900-1990[16] 1990-2000[17] 2010-2020[18] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[19] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 14,804 | 17,818 | 80.33% | 77.66% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,474 | 2,714 | 13.42% | 11.83% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 185 | 225 | 1.00% | 0.98% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 159 | 223 | 0.86% | 0.97% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 8 | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 21 | 102 | 0.11% | 0.44% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 394 | 1,124 | 2.14% | 4.90% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 390 | 731 | 2.12% | 3.19% |
| Total | 18,429 | 22,945 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 22,945. The median age was 44.6 years. 20.8% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 100.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.9 males age 18 and over.[20][21]
The racial makeup of the county was 78.5% White, 11.9%Black or African American, 1.1%American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.0%Asian, 0.0%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 6.2% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 3.2% of the population.[21]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[22]
There were 8,580 households in the county, of which 31.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 17.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 17.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[20]
There were 9,059 housing units, of which 5.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 88.8% were owner-occupied and 11.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.3% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.4%.[20]
As of the2010 United States census, 18,429 people were living in the county; 81.7% wereWhite, 13.5%African American, 1.1%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0.5% of some other race, and 2.3%of two or more races. About 2.1% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race). By ancestry, 15.2% were ofEnglish, 11.7%American, 10.6%German, and 9.4%Irish descent.[23]
At the2000 United States census, 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families were residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 64.1 people per square mile (24.7 people/km2). The 5,203 housing units averaged 24.8 units per square mile (9.6 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 80.26% White, 16.20% African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. About 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the 4,925 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were not families. About 16.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 2.97.
The county's age distribution was 25.00% under 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.
Themedian income for a household was $53,595, and for a family was $60,678. Males had a median income of $40,005 versus $28,894 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $22,893. About 4.90% of the population and 3.40% of families were below the poverty line. Of the people living in poverty, 7.40% were under the age of 18 and 7.00% were 65 or older.
New Kent County has five schools within its school system.[24] The three elementary schools are New Kent Elementary, Quinton Elementary, and George W. Watkins Elementary. The school system also includes New Kent Middle School and New Kent High School. All five schools are fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. At the high-school level, various honors and advanced-placement courses are available, along with dual enrollment through Rappahannock Community College. Gifted and enrichment programs are offered in all grades kindergarten through 12th grade.[25]
The roughly 430 employees include 220 licensed teachers, seven guidance counselors, four media specialists, four principals, five assistant principals, and a central office staff composed of one superintendent and five directors.[26] As of 2018, the superintendent is Brian Nichols,[27] and the assistant superintendent is Ed Smith.
New Kent County received a new site forRappahannock Community College in 2015,[28] located at the renovated "historic" New Kent High School site. The site offers engineering, nursing, and basic college-level courses in New Kent.
No passenger rail stations are in New Kent County. The nearestAmtrak service is at stations inWilliamsburg andRichmond.
Two golf courses are available in New Kent County:
TheColonial Downs horse racing track is located in rural New Kent County.
No towns in New Kent County are incorporated. Unincorporated towns and communities include:
Source:[10]
New Kent County is traditionallyRepublican. In only one national election since1972 has the county selected theDemocratic Party candidate.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 30 | 12.66% | 160 | 67.51% | 47 | 19.83% |
| 1916 | 69 | 26.14% | 192 | 72.73% | 3 | 1.14% |
| 1920 | 109 | 36.45% | 190 | 63.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 86 | 30.82% | 178 | 63.80% | 15 | 5.38% |
| 1928 | 217 | 54.94% | 178 | 45.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 115 | 28.33% | 286 | 70.44% | 5 | 1.23% |
| 1936 | 120 | 28.10% | 307 | 71.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 133 | 31.74% | 286 | 68.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 158 | 32.44% | 329 | 67.56% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 140 | 27.24% | 277 | 53.89% | 97 | 18.87% |
| 1952 | 455 | 52.78% | 400 | 46.40% | 7 | 0.81% |
| 1956 | 510 | 57.95% | 178 | 20.23% | 192 | 21.82% |
| 1960 | 526 | 51.67% | 481 | 47.25% | 11 | 1.08% |
| 1964 | 677 | 49.60% | 684 | 50.11% | 4 | 0.29% |
| 1968 | 526 | 27.63% | 765 | 40.18% | 613 | 32.20% |
| 1972 | 1,370 | 67.52% | 633 | 31.20% | 26 | 1.28% |
| 1976 | 1,259 | 47.62% | 1,338 | 50.61% | 47 | 1.78% |
| 1980 | 1,739 | 57.30% | 1,204 | 39.67% | 92 | 3.03% |
| 1984 | 2,679 | 68.71% | 1,204 | 30.88% | 16 | 0.41% |
| 1988 | 2,917 | 66.54% | 1,427 | 32.55% | 40 | 0.91% |
| 1992 | 2,708 | 49.39% | 1,738 | 31.70% | 1,037 | 18.91% |
| 1996 | 2,852 | 54.15% | 1,859 | 35.30% | 556 | 10.56% |
| 2000 | 3,934 | 64.34% | 2,055 | 33.61% | 125 | 2.04% |
| 2004 | 5,414 | 68.13% | 2,443 | 30.75% | 89 | 1.12% |
| 2008 | 6,385 | 63.91% | 3,493 | 34.96% | 113 | 1.13% |
| 2012 | 7,246 | 66.16% | 3,555 | 32.46% | 152 | 1.39% |
| 2016 | 8,118 | 66.36% | 3,546 | 28.99% | 569 | 4.65% |
| 2020 | 9,631 | 66.59% | 4,621 | 31.95% | 211 | 1.46% |
| 2024 | 10,974 | 65.29% | 5,641 | 33.56% | 192 | 1.14% |
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Places adjacent to New Kent County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofNew Kent County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| CDP |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
