Amelia County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Amelia County Court House | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°20′N77°59′W / 37.34°N 77.98°W /37.34; -77.98 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1735 |
| Named after | Princess Amelia |
| Seat | Amelia Court House |
| Area | |
• Total | 359 sq mi (930 km2) |
| • Land | 355 sq mi (920 km2) |
| • Water | 3.3 sq mi (8.5 km2) 0.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 13,265 |
• Estimate (2021) | 13,268 |
| • Density | 37.4/sq mi (14.4/km2) |
| Demonym(s) | Amelian, Amellianaire |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes | 23002, 23083, 23105 |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | va-ameliacounty |
Amelia County is acounty located just southwest ofRichmond in theCommonwealth of Virginia, United States. The county is located in Central Virginia and is included in theGreater Richmond Region. Itscounty seat isAmelia Court House.[1]
Amelia County was created in 1735 from parts ofPrince George andBrunswick counties and was named in honor ofPrincess Amelia of Great Britain. Parts of the county were later carved out to createPrince Edward andNottoway counties.
As of the2020 census, the county population was 13,265.[2]
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Amelia County was created by legislative act in 1734 and 1735[3] from parts ofPrince George andBrunswick counties. The county is named forPrincess Amelia of Great Britain, daughter of KingGeorge II. As was customary, Amelia County was reduced by the division of territory to form newer counties as the population increased in the region; in 1754,Prince Edward County was formed from parts of Amelia County, and in 1789,Nottoway County was formed. The area was developed for plantation agriculture dependent on slave labor.
During theCivil War,ConfederategeneralRobert E. Lee andhis army spent April 4 and 5, 1865, at Amelia Court House before his surrender on April 9 to GeneralUlysses S. Grant atAppomattox. The last major battle of his army was fought atSayler's Creek, on the border of Amelia and Prince Edward counties, on April 6.
Amelia is known for its minerals, including the nation's best supply ofamazonite, a greenfeldspar found at the Morefield mine. In the 19th century, spas were developed around its mineral springs, which were destinations for travelers.
In 1986 the Amelia County Fair sponsored a competition for the world's largest potato pancake (with apple sauce). It was constructed to raise money that year for the German American National Scholarship Fund. The pancake weighed more than two and one-quarter tons and used four truckloads of potatoes.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 359 square miles (930 km2), of which 355 square miles (920 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (0.9%) is water.[4]
Amelia County lies in thePiedmont region of Virginia, known for rolling hills and small ridges that lie between theBlue Ridge Mountains andCoastal Plain of Virginia. The county is bordered by theAppomattox River to the north and west, andNamozine Creek to the east.
Amelia County is drained bytributaries of the Appomattox. The lowest elevation in the county is 158 feet (48 m), onLake Chesdin on the Appomattox at the eastern extremity of the county. The highest elevation is 525 feet (160 m), onSR 616 (S. Genito Road) at the community ofGills in the southwest corner of the county.[5]
US 360 (Patrick Henry Highway. Eastbound to Richmond. Westbound toBurkeville andDanville.)
SR 38 (In Amelia Court House: Virginia Street, Court Street, Washington Street, Church Street, Five Forks Road. In Amelia County: N. Five Forks Road, to SR 153.)
SR 153 (Military Road. To
US 460 andBlackstone.)
SR 307 (Holly Farms Road. ToUS 460 andFarmville.)
SR 604 (Chula Rd and Genito Rd. To Powhatan and Chesterfield Counties.)
SR 609 (Grub Hill Church Rd and Royalton Rd. To
US 60 andPowhatan Court House.)
SR 614 (Dennisville Rd. To Blackstone.)
SR 616 (Genito Rd. Serves the northwest and southwest area of Amelia County. To SR 307 nearRice.)| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 18,097 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,432 | −47.9% | |
| 1810 | 10,594 | 12.3% | |
| 1820 | 11,104 | 4.8% | |
| 1830 | 11,036 | −0.6% | |
| 1840 | 10,320 | −6.5% | |
| 1850 | 9,770 | −5.3% | |
| 1860 | 10,741 | 9.9% | |
| 1870 | 9,878 | −8.0% | |
| 1880 | 10,377 | 5.1% | |
| 1890 | 9,068 | −12.6% | |
| 1900 | 9,037 | −0.3% | |
| 1910 | 8,720 | −3.5% | |
| 1920 | 9,800 | 12.4% | |
| 1930 | 8,799 | −10.2% | |
| 1940 | 8,495 | −3.5% | |
| 1950 | 7,908 | −6.9% | |
| 1960 | 7,815 | −1.2% | |
| 1970 | 7,592 | −2.9% | |
| 1980 | 8,405 | 10.7% | |
| 1990 | 8,787 | 4.5% | |
| 2000 | 11,400 | 29.7% | |
| 2010 | 12,690 | 11.3% | |
| 2020 | 13,265 | 4.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 13,268 | [6] | 0.0% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 9,233 | 9,687 | 72.76% | 73.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,925 | 2,546 | 23.05% | 19.19% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 39 | 18 | 0.31% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 27 | 63 | 0.21% | 0.47% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 10 | 50 | 0.08% | 0.38% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 166 | 476 | 1.31% | 3.59% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 290 | 425 | 2.29% | 3.20% |
| Total | 12,690 | 13,265 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[13] of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 32 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 4,609 housing units, at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 70.57%White, 28.05%Black orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.17%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.25% fromother races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.80% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 4,240 households, of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% weremarried couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 20.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.07.
Themedian age was 38 years, with 25.30% under 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.20 males.
The median household income was $40,252, and the median family income was $47,157. Males had a median income of $32,315, versus $23,102 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,858. 8.40% of the population and 6.70% of families were below thepoverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.10% were under the age of 18 and 11.70% were 65 or older.
Amelia County is represented by RepublicanJohn McGuire in theVirginia Senate, RepublicanLee Ware in theVirginia House of Delegates, and RepublicanBob Good in theU.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 32 | 7.82% | 325 | 79.46% | 52 | 12.71% |
| 1916 | 80 | 16.39% | 403 | 82.58% | 5 | 1.02% |
| 1920 | 179 | 31.18% | 389 | 67.77% | 6 | 1.05% |
| 1924 | 153 | 28.33% | 372 | 68.89% | 15 | 2.78% |
| 1928 | 277 | 35.74% | 498 | 64.26% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 142 | 16.63% | 701 | 82.08% | 11 | 1.29% |
| 1936 | 239 | 23.97% | 753 | 75.53% | 5 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 267 | 32.13% | 562 | 67.63% | 2 | 0.24% |
| 1944 | 295 | 34.67% | 553 | 64.98% | 3 | 0.35% |
| 1948 | 372 | 35.16% | 443 | 41.87% | 243 | 22.97% |
| 1952 | 832 | 53.64% | 703 | 45.33% | 16 | 1.03% |
| 1956 | 745 | 43.11% | 403 | 23.32% | 580 | 33.56% |
| 1960 | 784 | 51.44% | 708 | 46.46% | 32 | 2.10% |
| 1964 | 1,348 | 60.21% | 884 | 39.48% | 7 | 0.31% |
| 1968 | 857 | 33.90% | 830 | 32.83% | 841 | 33.27% |
| 1972 | 1,606 | 64.99% | 778 | 31.49% | 87 | 3.52% |
| 1976 | 1,634 | 47.25% | 1,715 | 49.60% | 109 | 3.15% |
| 1980 | 1,969 | 53.20% | 1,643 | 44.39% | 89 | 2.40% |
| 1984 | 2,336 | 61.41% | 1,432 | 37.64% | 36 | 0.95% |
| 1988 | 2,187 | 60.85% | 1,359 | 37.81% | 48 | 1.34% |
| 1992 | 2,062 | 48.82% | 1,534 | 36.32% | 628 | 14.87% |
| 1996 | 2,119 | 51.13% | 1,625 | 39.21% | 400 | 9.65% |
| 2000 | 2,947 | 61.55% | 1,754 | 36.63% | 87 | 1.82% |
| 2004 | 3,499 | 64.83% | 1,862 | 34.50% | 36 | 0.67% |
| 2008 | 3,970 | 60.81% | 2,488 | 38.11% | 71 | 1.09% |
| 2012 | 4,331 | 62.63% | 2,490 | 36.01% | 94 | 1.36% |
| 2016 | 4,708 | 66.88% | 2,128 | 30.23% | 204 | 2.90% |
| 2020 | 5,390 | 68.29% | 2,411 | 30.55% | 92 | 1.17% |
| 2024 | 5,776 | 71.76% | 2,214 | 27.51% | 59 | 0.73% |
The Amelia Bulletin Monitor, a weekly newspaper, has covered the county since 1973.
Amelia County is served by theAmelia County Public Schools.
There are no incorporated communities in Amelia County.
The following sites in Amelia County are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places:
Places adjacent to Amelia County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofAmelia County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| CDP |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
37°20′N77°59′W / 37.34°N 77.98°W /37.34; -77.98
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| Geographic | |
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