Patrick County | |
|---|---|
 Bull Mountain in Patrick County | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°41′N80°17′W / 36.68°N 80.29°W /36.68; -80.29 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1791 |
| Named after | Patrick Henry |
| Seat | Stuart |
| Largest town | Stuart |
| Area | |
• Total | 486 sq mi (1,260 km2) |
| • Land | 483 sq mi (1,250 km2) |
| • Water | 2.8 sq mi (7 km2) 0.6% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 17,608 |
| • Density | 36/sq mi (14/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
| Website | www |
Patrick County is acounty located on the central southern border of theCommonwealth of Virginia. As of the2020 census, the county's population was 17,608.[1] Itscounty seat isStuart.[2] It is located within both the rolling hills and valleys of thePiedmont Region and the more mountainous regions ofSouthwest Virginia.
Patrick County was formed in 1791. It was originally a part ofHenry County. Henry County, which was formed in 1777, was named afterPatrick Henry.
Prior to the formation of Patrick County, one of Virginia colony's first frontier forts lay within the boundaries of what was thenHalifax County on the banks of theNorth Mayo River. The location of Fort Mayo, now marked by a Virginia state historic marker, lies within present-day Patrick County. A number of forts built by Virginia colonists from thePotomac River south toNorth Carolina, was commanded by Captain Samuel Harris in 1756. It was also the year in whichGeorge Washington made a tour of Fort Mayo and several other forts on the Virginia frontier. Fort Mayo was the southernmost of the Virginia frontier forts and saw action during theFrench and Indian War (1754-1763) between the English and French and associated Native American allies.
One of Patrick County's most prominent early settlers was Col. Abraham Penn (sometimes writtenAbram Penn), born in 1743 in what is todayAmherst County, Virginia. Penn qualified asLieutenant in the Amherst Countymilitia in June 1768, and led acompany under Col.Andrew Lewis at theBattle of Point Pleasant in 1774.[3] Penn later moved with his wife Ruth (née Stovall) to present-dayHenry County, Virginia, where he patented lands at the later site ofBeaver Creek Plantation. Penn served on theCommittee of Safety for both Henry andPittsylvania counties, and as adelegate to theVirginia General Assembly from Henry County.
Eventually selling those lands to the Hairston family, Penn moved with his family a few miles farther west to what is today Patrick County, where he built his plantation homePoplar Grove. During theAmerican Revolution, Col. Penn ordered the muster of some 300 militiamen under his command to march south to aid GeneralNathanael Greene at thebattle of Guilford Court House. Historians question whether the troops arrived in time for the fighting.[4][5]
It is documented that Penn commanded militia in theBattle of Eutaw Springs.[6][7][8] Penn was later present atYorktown to witness the surrender of the British forces underGeneral Cornwallis.
Col. Penn was one of the organizers of Patrick County, which he served many years as a justice. The unincorporated community of Penn's Store is named for Col. Penn and his descendants.[9][10][citation needed] The Abram Penn Highway in Patrick County is named for Col. Penn, who died in 1801.
On October 24, 2004, a private corporate plane crashed on Bull Mountain, killing all eight passengers and two crew, includingBusch Series racerRicky Hendrick andHendrick Motorsports lead engine builderRandy Dorton.[11]
On November 6, 2023, GovernorGlenn Youngkin issued a state of emergency due to wildfires, citing a fire in the Tuggles Gap community.[12]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 486 square miles (1,260 km2), of which 483 square miles (1,250 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.6%) is water.[13] Patrick County is one of the 423 counties served by theAppalachian Regional Commission,[14] 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.[15]
Patrick County has two definedphysiographic provinces lying within its boundaries. One-third of Patrick County is in the rollingPiedmont region, and the remaining two-thirds are in the picturesqueBlue Ridge Mountains, where theBlue Ridge Parkway forms the county's western border withCarroll andFloyd counties to the north.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 4,331 | — | |
| 1810 | 4,695 | 8.4% | |
| 1820 | 5,089 | 8.4% | |
| 1830 | 7,395 | 45.3% | |
| 1840 | 8,032 | 8.6% | |
| 1850 | 9,609 | 19.6% | |
| 1860 | 9,359 | −2.6% | |
| 1870 | 10,161 | 8.6% | |
| 1880 | 12,833 | 26.3% | |
| 1890 | 14,147 | 10.2% | |
| 1900 | 15,403 | 8.9% | |
| 1910 | 17,195 | 11.6% | |
| 1920 | 16,850 | −2.0% | |
| 1930 | 15,787 | −6.3% | |
| 1940 | 16,613 | 5.2% | |
| 1950 | 15,642 | −5.8% | |
| 1960 | 15,282 | −2.3% | |
| 1970 | 15,282 | 0.0% | |
| 1980 | 17,647 | 15.5% | |
| 1990 | 17,473 | −1.0% | |
| 2000 | 19,407 | 11.1% | |
| 2010 | 18,490 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 17,608 | −4.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[16] 1790-1960[17] 1900-1990[18] 1990-2000[19] 2010[20] 2020[21] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[20] | Pop 2020[21] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 16,680 | 15,577 | 90.21% | 88.47% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 1,085 | 831 | 5.87% | 4.72% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 50 | 24 | 0.27% | 0.14% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 42 | 43 | 0.23% | 0.24% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 3 | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 8 | 72 | 0.04% | 0.41% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 181 | 491 | 0.98% | 2.79% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 444 | 567 | 2.40% | 3.22% |
| Total | 18,490 | 17,608 | 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 2010census,[22] there were 18,490 people, 8,081 households, and 5,410 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 40 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 10,083 housing units at an average density of 20 per square mile (7.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.10%White, 5.9%Black orAfrican American, 0.30%Native American, 0.20%Asian, 0.00%Pacific Islander, 1.40% fromother races, and 1.10% from two or more races. 2.40% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
As of the 2000Census, there were 8,141 households, out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.90% weremarried couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $28,705, and the median income for a family was $36,232. Males had a median income of $25,391 versus $18,711 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $15,574. About 9.60% of families and 13.40% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 15.40% of those under age 18 and 18.00% of those age 65 or over.
Part of theRocky KnobAmerican Viticultural Area, as defined by thefederal government, is located in Patrick County. Patrick County was also a setting for the ministry ofReverend Bob Childress whose life was chronicled in the book "The Man Who Moved a Mountain".
Patrick County is one of the great tourist areas ofVirginia. The county has one of Virginia's seven remaining covered bridges (Bob White covered bridge washed away in September 2015), rises from 900feet to well over 3,000feet, providing panoramic views. Patrick County is Virginia's Gateway to theBlue Ridge Parkway and is only minutes fromMabry Mill, the most photographed destination on the parkway. It is also the home ofFairy Stone State Park.The county hosts the longest running beach music festival on theEast coast, is home to the legendaryNASCAR team the Wood Brothers, and many more attractions each year provide a wide range of activities for every group of every age.
Patrick County is featured on theVirginia is For Loverswebsite.
The Bob White Covered Bridge once located in Woolwine washed away by Flood Waters in September 2015.Bob White Covered Bridge Washes Away
Patrick County Public Schools has seven total public schools, of which four are for grades K-7, one is for grades K-3, one is for grades 4–7, and Patrick County High School is for grade 8–12.[23] One school, Stuart Elementary was recognized in 2008 as receiving the Governor's VIP award. Recently two schools, Stuart Elementary and Woolwine Elementary were designated as Distinguished Title I schools. In 2006, Patrick County Public Schools was listed as an outperforming school district, one of 12 in the state of Virginia, by Standard and Poor's. All of the schools have received "full accreditation" status by the State of Virginia and all schools have met Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) status as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001.
Patrick County is governed by an elected five-member Board of Supervisors. Management of the county is vested in a Board-appointedCounty Administrator.
| Name | Party | First Election | District | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jane Fulk (chair) | Ind | 2017 | Dan River | |
| Crystal Harris (Vice Chair) | Ind | 2005 | Smith River | |
| Clyde DeLoach | Ind | 2019 | Blue Ridge | |
| Clayton Kendrick | Rep | 2019 | Mayo River | |
| Denise Stirewalt | Rep | 2019 | Peters Creek | |
There are also five elected Constitutional Officers:
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 7,746 | 79.70% | 1,886 | 19.41% | 87 | 0.90% |
| 2020 | 7,485 | 78.51% | 1,954 | 20.50% | 95 | 1.00% |
| 2016 | 6,454 | 75.71% | 1,768 | 20.74% | 303 | 3.55% |
| 2012 | 5,622 | 68.07% | 2,417 | 29.27% | 220 | 2.66% |
| 2008 | 5,491 | 64.37% | 2,879 | 33.75% | 161 | 1.89% |
| 2004 | 5,507 | 67.04% | 2,572 | 31.31% | 136 | 1.66% |
| 2000 | 4,901 | 66.36% | 2,254 | 30.52% | 230 | 3.11% |
| 1996 | 3,547 | 52.39% | 2,301 | 33.98% | 923 | 13.63% |
| 1992 | 3,521 | 48.98% | 2,465 | 34.29% | 1,203 | 16.73% |
| 1988 | 3,990 | 64.06% | 2,093 | 33.60% | 146 | 2.34% |
| 1984 | 4,703 | 70.47% | 1,908 | 28.59% | 63 | 0.94% |
| 1980 | 3,436 | 56.12% | 2,382 | 38.90% | 305 | 4.98% |
| 1976 | 2,349 | 43.69% | 2,740 | 50.96% | 288 | 5.36% |
| 1972 | 2,951 | 73.35% | 942 | 23.42% | 130 | 3.23% |
| 1968 | 2,187 | 41.46% | 1,105 | 20.95% | 1,983 | 37.59% |
| 1964 | 1,468 | 38.88% | 2,306 | 61.07% | 2 | 0.05% |
| 1960 | 1,362 | 44.98% | 1,655 | 54.66% | 11 | 0.36% |
| 1956 | 1,345 | 43.93% | 1,677 | 54.77% | 40 | 1.31% |
| 1952 | 1,314 | 45.75% | 1,554 | 54.11% | 4 | 0.14% |
| 1948 | 648 | 35.22% | 760 | 41.30% | 432 | 23.48% |
| 1944 | 706 | 33.68% | 1,383 | 65.98% | 7 | 0.33% |
| 1940 | 514 | 25.71% | 1,479 | 73.99% | 6 | 0.30% |
| 1936 | 726 | 31.29% | 1,588 | 68.45% | 6 | 0.26% |
| 1932 | 486 | 26.23% | 1,342 | 72.42% | 25 | 1.35% |
| 1928 | 1,191 | 57.43% | 883 | 42.57% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 783 | 40.53% | 1,138 | 58.90% | 11 | 0.57% |
| 1920 | 1,230 | 51.53% | 1,154 | 48.35% | 3 | 0.13% |
| 1916 | 815 | 48.22% | 872 | 51.60% | 3 | 0.18% |
| 1912 | 434 | 29.13% | 698 | 46.85% | 358 | 24.03% |
Places adjacent to Patrick County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofPatrick County, Virginia,United States | ||
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