Cumberland County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Cumberland County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
| Coordinates:37°31′N78°14′W / 37.51°N 78.24°W /37.51; -78.24 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1749 |
| Named after | William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland |
| Seat | Cumberland |
| Largest town | Farmville |
| Area | |
• Total | 300 sq mi (780 km2) |
| • Land | 297 sq mi (770 km2) |
| • Water | 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) 0.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 9,675 |
| • Density | 32.6/sq mi (12.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | cumberlandcounty .virginia.gov |
Cumberland County is a quiet, ruralUnited States county located near the geographic center of theCommonwealth ofVirginia. The county's population is 9,675, as of the2020 census,[1] and thecounty seat is the small town ofCumberland.[2]
The county was created in 1749 from part ofGoochland County, and was named in honor ofPrince William Augustus, theDuke of Cumberland at the time. In April 1776, it became the first Virginia county to call for independence fromGreat Britain.[3]
Cumberland County was established in 1749 fromGoochland County. The county is named forWilliam Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, third son of KingGeorge II of Great Britain. Cumberland County was also home to the Fleming family, which included JudgeJohn Fleming and his son JudgeWilliam Fleming.
From 1749 until 1777, when the eastern portion was detached to formPowhatan County,Mosby Tavern served as the county courthouse. The tavern subsequently became known as "Old Cumberland Courthouse". In 1778 the narrow triangular area bordering the southern bank of theJames River was annexed fromBuckingham County.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 300 square miles (780 km2), of which 297 sq mi (770 km2) is land and 2.3 sq mi (6.0 km2) (0.8%) is water.[4]
This rural county suffered a long decline in population from 1880 to 1970, as the number of workers needed for agriculture was reduced through mechanization. Since then its population has grown, reaching a peak in 2010 nearly equal to its 19th-century high.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 8,153 | — | |
| 1800 | 9,839 | 20.7% | |
| 1810 | 9,992 | 1.6% | |
| 1820 | 11,023 | 10.3% | |
| 1830 | 11,690 | 6.1% | |
| 1840 | 10,399 | −11.0% | |
| 1850 | 9,751 | −6.2% | |
| 1860 | 9,961 | 2.2% | |
| 1870 | 8,142 | −18.3% | |
| 1880 | 10,540 | 29.5% | |
| 1890 | 9,482 | −10.0% | |
| 1900 | 8,996 | −5.1% | |
| 1910 | 9,195 | 2.2% | |
| 1920 | 9,111 | −0.9% | |
| 1930 | 7,535 | −17.3% | |
| 1940 | 7,505 | −0.4% | |
| 1950 | 7,252 | −3.4% | |
| 1960 | 6,360 | −12.3% | |
| 1970 | 6,179 | −2.8% | |
| 1980 | 7,881 | 27.5% | |
| 1990 | 7,825 | −0.7% | |
| 2000 | 9,017 | 15.2% | |
| 2010 | 10,052 | 11.5% | |
| 2020 | 9,675 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7] 1990-2000[8] 2010[9] 2020[10] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,353 | 6,104 | 63.20% | 63.09% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,253 | 2,817 | 32.36% | 29.12% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 36 | 39 | 0.36% | 0.40% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 35 | 36 | 0.35% | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 8 | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 17 | 40 | 0.17% | 0.41% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 177 | 390 | 1.76% | 4.03% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 181 | 241 | 1.80% | 2.49% |
| Total | 10,052 | 9,675 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 9,675. The median age was 45.9 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18 and 21.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 92.9 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.9 males age 18 and over.[11][12]
The racial makeup of the county was 63.7% White, 29.3%Black or African American, 0.4%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.1%Native Hawaiian andPacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 4.8% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.[12]
6.7% of residents lived in urban areas, while 93.3% lived in rural areas.[13]
There were 4,041 households in the county, of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 28.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[11]
There were 4,636 housing units, of which 12.8% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.4% were owner-occupied and 26.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 3.7%.[11]
As of thecensus[14] of 2000, there were 9,017 people, 3,528 households, and 2,487 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 30 people per square mile (12 people/km2). There were 4,085 housing units at an average density of 14 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.37%White, 37.44%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.35%Asian, 0.59% fromother races, and 1.06% from two or more races. 1.66% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,528 households, out of which 30.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.60% weremarried couples living together, 14.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 3.03.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 91.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,816, and the median income for a family was $37,965. Males had a median income of $28,846 versus $22,521 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,103. 15.10% of the population and 11.90% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 19.60% are under the age of 18 and 16.10% are 65 or older.
Cumberland County is represented by Republican Luther Cifers in the Virginia Senate, Republican Thomas A. Garrett, Jr. in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican John J. McGuire, III in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 10 | 2.48% | 362 | 89.60% | 32 | 7.92% |
| 1916 | 73 | 14.07% | 446 | 85.93% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1920 | 114 | 21.47% | 413 | 77.78% | 4 | 0.75% |
| 1924 | 61 | 12.53% | 398 | 81.72% | 28 | 5.75% |
| 1928 | 213 | 32.52% | 442 | 67.48% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 84 | 13.82% | 511 | 84.05% | 13 | 2.14% |
| 1936 | 136 | 22.08% | 476 | 77.27% | 4 | 0.65% |
| 1940 | 157 | 28.09% | 396 | 70.84% | 6 | 1.07% |
| 1944 | 218 | 31.82% | 463 | 67.59% | 4 | 0.58% |
| 1948 | 219 | 26.94% | 424 | 52.15% | 170 | 20.91% |
| 1952 | 695 | 54.42% | 574 | 44.95% | 8 | 0.63% |
| 1956 | 566 | 42.91% | 331 | 25.09% | 422 | 31.99% |
| 1960 | 691 | 54.75% | 559 | 44.29% | 12 | 0.95% |
| 1964 | 1,099 | 55.59% | 871 | 44.06% | 7 | 0.35% |
| 1968 | 844 | 34.70% | 978 | 40.21% | 610 | 25.08% |
| 1972 | 1,371 | 57.75% | 969 | 40.82% | 34 | 1.43% |
| 1976 | 1,284 | 46.57% | 1,302 | 47.23% | 171 | 6.20% |
| 1980 | 1,515 | 50.10% | 1,355 | 44.81% | 154 | 5.09% |
| 1984 | 2,027 | 60.89% | 1,237 | 37.16% | 65 | 1.95% |
| 1988 | 1,978 | 62.61% | 1,132 | 35.83% | 49 | 1.55% |
| 1992 | 1,643 | 48.55% | 1,284 | 37.94% | 457 | 13.50% |
| 1996 | 1,544 | 48.40% | 1,303 | 40.85% | 343 | 10.75% |
| 2000 | 1,974 | 56.29% | 1,405 | 40.06% | 128 | 3.65% |
| 2004 | 2,377 | 57.61% | 1,721 | 41.71% | 28 | 0.68% |
| 2008 | 2,418 | 51.19% | 2,255 | 47.73% | 51 | 1.08% |
| 2012 | 2,538 | 50.28% | 2,422 | 47.98% | 88 | 1.74% |
| 2016 | 2,697 | 54.97% | 2,036 | 41.50% | 173 | 3.53% |
| 2020 | 3,019 | 56.85% | 2,227 | 41.94% | 64 | 1.21% |
| 2024 | 3,335 | 60.63% | 2,117 | 38.48% | 49 | 0.89% |
Cumberland County Public Schools, the only school division in the county,[16] serves over 1400 students in the county.[17] The district operates Cumberland Elementary School (PreK-4), Cumberland Middle School (5-8), and Cumberland High School (9-12). The superintendent is Dr. Chip Jones (2022).[17]
Bear Creek Lake State Park is located 4.5 miles (7.2 km) northwest of the town of Cumberland. Bear Creek Lake features overnight cabins, a lodge, permanent camp sites, and picnic shelters. Swimming and boating are allowed at the lake, and boat rentals are available. The park also has trails for hiking and running.
The 16,233-acre (65.69 km2)Cumberland State Forest is north ofU.S. Route 60, west ofState Route 45 and bordered on the west by theWillis River. The Forest has multiple purposes, including watershed protection, recreation, timber production, hunting, fishing, and applied forest research. There are two self-guided trails at Cumberland State Forest that are open for walking, hiking, horses, and mountain bikes. These are the Cumberland Multi-Use Trail (14 miles) and the Willis River Hiking Trail (16 miles). White-tailed deer, wild turkey, and bobcats are common residents of this natural area. The State forest also features five lakes which may be fished from with a Virginia State fishing license, including: Oak Hill Lake, Bear Creek Lake, Winston Lake, Arrowhead Lake, and Bonbrook Lake.
Places adjacent to Cumberland County, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofCumberland County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
37°31′N78°14′W / 37.51°N 78.24°W /37.51; -78.24
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