Nottoway County, Virginia | |
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 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°08′N78°03′W / 37.14°N 78.05°W /37.14; -78.05 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1789 |
| Named after | Nottoway people |
| Seat | Nottoway |
| Largest town | Blackstone |
| Area | |
• Total | 316 sq mi (820 km2) |
| • Land | 314 sq mi (810 km2) |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4.4 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 15,642 |
| • Density | 49.8/sq mi (19.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Nottoway County is acounty located in theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 15,642.[1] Itscounty seat isNottoway.[2] It is situated south of the James River, thus making it a part of theSouthside Virginia Region.[3]
Prior to the arrival of European settlers, the land that would become Nottoway County was inhabited by American Indians of the Nadowa tribe, anIroquoian people. They lived along the county's only river, the Nadowa, anAlgonquian word meaning rattlesnake, and became associated with the area they inhabited. The name was anglicized to 'Nottoway', and from this the name of the county was derived. The people of this "Nottoway Tribe", now numbering between 400 and 500, call themselves Cheroenhaka, meaning "People At The Fork Of The Stream".
Before the county established its own government, it was known as Nottoway Parish, a district ofAmelia County. Nottoway Parish became Nottoway County by legislative act in 1788. The county contained numerous early crossroads settlements connecting the new western frontier with the population centers ofPetersburg andRichmond to the north and east and until recent times owed much of its prosperity to tobacco. First coming to Nottoway in the 1850s, railroad construction and associated industries eventually came to represent a major portion of business in the area. In the 1860 census, 73.2% of the total population of Nottoway County were slaves, the highest percentage of any Virginia county.[4]
One of the county's larger towns,Crewe, owes its existence to the railroad siding established at Robertson's Switch in the 1880s. In recent decades, however, the decline of tobacco, the railroads, andFort Barfoot (formerly known as Fort Pickett), has presented the county, like much ofSouthside Virginia, with economic difficulties and led many Nottoway families to seek jobs and homes in Richmond and other prospering cities in central Virginia.
During theAmerican Civil War, the county raised two infantry companies for theConfederate Army, the Nottoway Rifle Guards and the Nottoway Grays, Jeffress' artillery battery, and the Nottoway Company E of the3rd Virginia Cavalry. Both infantry companies served in the18th Virginia Infantry Regiment and saw extensive service throughout the Eastern Theatre, most notably at theBattle of Gettysburg where they were at the forefront ofPickett's Charge. The famous charge was disastrous to the 18th Virginia, and many families in Nottoway County lost relatives in it. The 18th Regiment's colors were captured at the stone wall on Cemetery Ridge and are now displayed in Gettysburg. The county was the site of only one major skirmish, the "Battle of the Grove," which was fought near Blackstone (then known as Blacks and Whites) for control of the rail line that suppliedGeneral Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, then entrenched around Petersburg and Richmond. The war's last major battle before the surrender atAppomattox was fought at Sayler's Creek, west ofBurkeville near the Nottaway County line, on April 6, 1865 (see article onBurkeville).
Nottoway's three towns were incorporated in the late 1800s, all along what was to become theU.S. Highway 460/Norfolk Southern Railway corridor that bisects the county. Industrialization blossomed at the same time, exploiting the ease of moving raw materials in and finished products out. County manufacturing often utilized the area's abundant natural resources, particularly agricultural products, timber, and wood products.
The 20th century saw an increase in the diversification of the county in its agricultural, industrial and commercial sectors. During this time, major state and federal facilities were created in the county.Fort Pickett, established at the outbreak of World War II, is now headquarters of the Virginia National Guard.
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 316 square miles (820 km2), of which 314 square miles (810 km2) is land and 1.7-square-mile (4.4 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]
US 360 (W & E Patrick Henry Hwy; joins withUS 460 in Burkeville)
US 460 (W & E Colonial Trail Hwy. US Bus 460 goes through Nottoway Courthouse to Blackstone.US 460 bypasses Blackstone and unites before the junction ofSR 153)
SR 40 (S. Main St & Dinwiddie Ave in Blackstone, Kenbridge Rd, Darvills Rd)
SR 46 (Christianna Hwy)
SR 49 (Watsons Wood Rd N of Crewe, unites withUS 460 in Crewe, The Falls Rd S of Crewe)
SR 153 (Rocky Hill Rd)
SR 307 (Holly Farms Rd)| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 9,401 | — | |
| 1810 | 9,278 | −1.3% | |
| 1820 | 9,658 | 4.1% | |
| 1830 | 10,130 | 4.9% | |
| 1840 | 9,719 | −4.1% | |
| 1850 | 8,437 | −13.2% | |
| 1860 | 8,836 | 4.7% | |
| 1870 | 9,291 | 5.1% | |
| 1880 | 11,156 | 20.1% | |
| 1890 | 11,582 | 3.8% | |
| 1900 | 12,366 | 6.8% | |
| 1910 | 13,462 | 8.9% | |
| 1920 | 14,161 | 5.2% | |
| 1930 | 14,866 | 5.0% | |
| 1940 | 15,556 | 4.6% | |
| 1950 | 15,479 | −0.5% | |
| 1960 | 15,141 | −2.2% | |
| 1970 | 14,260 | −5.8% | |
| 1980 | 14,666 | 2.8% | |
| 1990 | 14,993 | 2.2% | |
| 2000 | 15,725 | 4.9% | |
| 2010 | 15,853 | 0.8% | |
| 2020 | 15,642 | −1.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8] 1990-2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,799 | 8,452 | 55.50% | 54.03% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,179 | 5,773 | 38.98% | 36.91% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 42 | 50 | 0.26% | 0.32% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 50 | 64 | 0.32% | 0.41% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 3 | 0.02% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 16 | 72 | 0.10% | 0.46% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 155 | 455 | 0.98% | 2.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 609 | 773 | 3.84% | 4.94% |
| Total | 15,853 | 15,642 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
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 can be of any race.
As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 15,725 people, 5,664 households, and 3,885 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 50 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 6,373 housing units at an average density of 20 units per square mile (7.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.16%White, 40.56%Black orAfrican American, 0.13%Native American, 0.39%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 1.01% fromother races, and 0.72% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 5,664 households, out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.60% were married couples living together, 15.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 22.90% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 22.60% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 106.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,866, and the median income for a family was $39,625. Males had a median income of $28,533 versus $19,718 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,552. About 15.50% of families and 20.10% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 18.40% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 72 | 8.61% | 683 | 81.70% | 81 | 9.69% |
| 1916 | 91 | 12.85% | 608 | 85.88% | 9 | 1.27% |
| 1920 | 154 | 15.79% | 821 | 84.21% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 181 | 15.59% | 840 | 72.35% | 140 | 12.06% |
| 1928 | 667 | 40.35% | 986 | 59.65% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 277 | 16.58% | 1,348 | 80.67% | 46 | 2.75% |
| 1936 | 260 | 16.58% | 1,297 | 82.72% | 11 | 0.70% |
| 1940 | 373 | 22.28% | 1,290 | 77.06% | 11 | 0.66% |
| 1944 | 472 | 24.46% | 1,453 | 75.28% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1948 | 486 | 24.76% | 1,004 | 51.15% | 473 | 24.10% |
| 1952 | 1,454 | 51.02% | 1,381 | 48.46% | 15 | 0.53% |
| 1956 | 1,124 | 33.76% | 1,242 | 37.31% | 963 | 28.93% |
| 1960 | 1,319 | 40.14% | 1,882 | 57.27% | 85 | 2.59% |
| 1964 | 2,353 | 52.30% | 2,138 | 47.52% | 8 | 0.18% |
| 1968 | 1,614 | 33.42% | 1,529 | 31.66% | 1,687 | 34.93% |
| 1972 | 2,979 | 68.22% | 1,308 | 29.95% | 80 | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 2,486 | 47.61% | 2,558 | 48.99% | 178 | 3.41% |
| 1980 | 2,813 | 50.13% | 2,593 | 46.21% | 205 | 3.65% |
| 1984 | 3,418 | 59.00% | 2,296 | 39.63% | 79 | 1.36% |
| 1988 | 3,161 | 57.38% | 2,217 | 40.24% | 131 | 2.38% |
| 1992 | 2,610 | 45.45% | 2,411 | 41.98% | 722 | 12.57% |
| 1996 | 2,416 | 46.34% | 2,327 | 44.63% | 471 | 9.03% |
| 2000 | 2,870 | 52.26% | 2,460 | 44.79% | 162 | 2.95% |
| 2004 | 3,303 | 54.78% | 2,635 | 43.70% | 92 | 1.53% |
| 2008 | 3,499 | 50.07% | 3,413 | 48.84% | 76 | 1.09% |
| 2012 | 3,409 | 49.80% | 3,344 | 48.85% | 93 | 1.36% |
| 2016 | 3,712 | 55.04% | 2,829 | 41.95% | 203 | 3.01% |
| 2020 | 4,027 | 56.89% | 2,971 | 41.98% | 80 | 1.13% |
| 2024 | 4,168 | 60.68% | 2,636 | 38.38% | 65 | 0.95% |
Places adjacent to Nottoway County, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofNottoway County, Virginia,United States | ||
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37°08′N78°03′W / 37.14°N 78.05°W /37.14; -78.05
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