Bath County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Bath County Courthouse in Warm Springs | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°04′N79°44′W / 38.06°N 79.74°W /38.06; -79.74 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1790 |
| Named after | Bath, England |
| Seat | Warm Springs |
| Largest community | Hot Springs |
| Area | |
• Total | 535 sq mi (1,390 km2) |
| • Land | 529 sq mi (1,370 km2) |
| • Water | 5 sq mi (13 km2) 1.0% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 4,209 |
| • Density | 7.96/sq mi (3.07/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 6th |
| Website | www |
Bath County is aUnited States county located in theShenandoah Valley on the central western edge of theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 4,209,[1] making it the second-least populous county in Virginia. Bath'scounty seat isWarm Springs,[2] while the largest community is Hot Springs.
Established in 1790, Bath County was named for the natural hot springs found in the region. The county is known for its mountainous terrain and picturesque landscapes, including theGeorge Washington and Jefferson National Forests.
Bath County was created on December 14, 1790 from parts ofAugusta,Botetourt, andGreenbrier Counties. Due to the manymineral springs found in the area, the county was named for the Englishspa and resort city ofBath.[3] In the early 1700s, before the county was formed, the area that subsequently became Bath County was settled by people with ancestry principally inEngland,Scotland,Germany,Wales,Ireland andFrance. The families who settled in what has since become Bath County that came to Virginia from England predominantly came from the counties of Derbyshire,Hampshire,Wiltshire,Gloucestershire,Northamptonshire, the western portion ofSussex,Dorset,Somerset (where Bath in England is located),Norfolk,Suffolk,Surrey,Kent andLincolnshire. Like much of theShenandoah Valley region, Bath had a relatively large share of residents descended from Scots-Irish immigrants and German farmers, both of whom were moving southward fromPennsylvania. By 1800, Bath County's population was mostly subsistence farmers, though some were also artisans and smaller amounts were shopkeepers.[4]
Like its namesake, Bath County's economy is focused on tourism and recreation. The county's major employer isThe Omni Homestead, a resort and historic hotel built in 1766 as "The Homestead" inHot Springs.[5] Additional recreational opportunities are provided by camping and fishing atLake Moomaw in the southern part of the county.
The Nature Conservancy owns more than 9,000 acres (36 km2) of forest habitat in the county, established as the Warm Springs Mountain Preserve, which adds additional protection to some of the most ecologically significant habitats in the CentralAppalachian Mountains.[5] Montanepine barrens are globally rare habitat, appearing as dwarfed shrublands, and only known in Virginia to occur on Warm Springs Mountain.[6]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 535 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km2) are land and 5 square miles (13 km2) (1.0%) are water.[7] 89% of Bath County is forest, with 51% inGeorge Washington National Forest and 6% inDouthat State Park. The county is one of the 423 counties served by theAppalachian Regional Commission,[8] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his bookAmerican Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[9]
Located along the western central border with West Virginia, Bath County contains a number of villages, includingHot Springs,Warm Springs,Millboro, andMountain Grove. Hot Springs and Warm Springs are the most well known of the villages, given their natural mineral springs. Bath County is the only county in Virginia without a traffic signal.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 5,508 | — | |
| 1810 | 4,837 | −12.2% | |
| 1820 | 5,237 | 8.3% | |
| 1830 | 4,002 | −23.6% | |
| 1840 | 4,300 | 7.4% | |
| 1850 | 3,486 | −18.9% | |
| 1860 | 3,676 | 5.5% | |
| 1870 | 3,795 | 3.2% | |
| 1880 | 4,482 | 18.1% | |
| 1890 | 4,587 | 2.3% | |
| 1900 | 5,595 | 22.0% | |
| 1910 | 6,538 | 16.9% | |
| 1920 | 6,389 | −2.3% | |
| 1930 | 8,137 | 27.4% | |
| 1940 | 7,191 | −11.6% | |
| 1950 | 6,296 | −12.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,335 | −15.3% | |
| 1970 | 5,192 | −2.7% | |
| 1980 | 5,860 | 12.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,799 | −18.1% | |
| 2000 | 5,048 | 5.2% | |
| 2010 | 4,731 | −6.3% | |
| 2020 | 4,209 | −11.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990-2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,363 | 3,941 | 92.22% | 91.26% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 213 | 114 | 4.50% | 2.71% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 5 | 3 | 0.11% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 7 | 17 | 0.15% | 0.40% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 5 | 4 | 0.11% | 0.10% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 37 | 156 | 0.78% | 3.71% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 101 | 73 | 2.13% | 1.73% |
| Total | 4,731 | 4,209 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 units per square mile (1.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.29%White, 6.28%Black orAfrican American, 0.22%Native American, 0.38%Asian, 0.06%Pacific Islander, 0.10% fromother races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 2,053 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.00% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $35,013, and the median income for a family was $41,276. Males had a median income of $30,238 versus $21,974 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,092. 7.80% of the population and 5.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.40% are under the age of 18 and 12.90% are 65 or older.
Bath County is represented by DemocratCreigh Deeds in the Virginia Senate, RepublicanRonnie R. Campbell in the Virginia House of Delegates, and RepublicanBen Cline in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 159 | 29.23% | 329 | 60.48% | 56 | 10.29% |
| 1916 | 219 | 35.78% | 387 | 63.24% | 6 | 0.98% |
| 1920 | 362 | 50.99% | 343 | 48.31% | 5 | 0.70% |
| 1924 | 407 | 48.74% | 404 | 48.38% | 24 | 2.87% |
| 1928 | 731 | 64.12% | 409 | 35.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 384 | 38.71% | 594 | 59.88% | 14 | 1.41% |
| 1936 | 514 | 45.49% | 614 | 54.34% | 2 | 0.18% |
| 1940 | 527 | 45.31% | 630 | 54.17% | 6 | 0.52% |
| 1944 | 504 | 46.28% | 581 | 53.35% | 4 | 0.37% |
| 1948 | 488 | 52.03% | 375 | 39.98% | 75 | 8.00% |
| 1952 | 765 | 62.65% | 451 | 36.94% | 5 | 0.41% |
| 1956 | 739 | 58.47% | 479 | 37.90% | 46 | 3.64% |
| 1960 | 646 | 50.59% | 629 | 49.26% | 2 | 0.16% |
| 1964 | 516 | 40.12% | 770 | 59.88% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 872 | 45.97% | 494 | 26.04% | 531 | 27.99% |
| 1972 | 1,127 | 68.89% | 462 | 28.24% | 47 | 2.87% |
| 1976 | 888 | 45.96% | 1,029 | 53.26% | 15 | 0.78% |
| 1980 | 921 | 45.89% | 999 | 49.78% | 87 | 4.33% |
| 1984 | 1,434 | 65.93% | 727 | 33.43% | 14 | 0.64% |
| 1988 | 1,273 | 58.74% | 881 | 40.66% | 13 | 0.60% |
| 1992 | 1,075 | 46.14% | 855 | 36.70% | 400 | 17.17% |
| 1996 | 847 | 41.30% | 922 | 44.95% | 282 | 13.75% |
| 2000 | 1,311 | 59.32% | 822 | 37.19% | 77 | 3.48% |
| 2004 | 1,432 | 62.75% | 828 | 36.28% | 22 | 0.96% |
| 2008 | 1,349 | 55.47% | 1,043 | 42.89% | 40 | 1.64% |
| 2012 | 1,274 | 57.31% | 894 | 40.22% | 55 | 2.47% |
| 2016 | 1,548 | 68.71% | 603 | 26.76% | 102 | 4.53% |
| 2020 | 1,834 | 73.33% | 646 | 25.83% | 21 | 0.84% |
| 2024 | 1,976 | 76.50% | 588 | 22.76% | 19 | 0.74% |
Tourism and recreation have been the focus of the economy from the time the county was established.[5]The Omni Homestead, a luxury mountain resort inHot Springs, is the county's major employer.
Bath County is also home to theBath County Pumped Storage Station, apumped storagehydroelectric power plant.
The county has two elementary schools (serving students from pre-kindergarten to seventh grade) and one high school (serving students in grades 8 through 12). Around 555 students are enrolled in the school system.[18]
The Recorder is the newspaper of record serving Bath, Highland, and the Allegheny Highlands region of Virginia. Newspaper offices are located inMonterey (Highland County) andMitchelltown (Bath County).
Places adjacent to Bath County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofBath County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| CDPs |  | |
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
38°04′N79°44′W / 38.06°N 79.74°W /38.06; -79.74
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