Greensville County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Greensville County Courthouse, also serving theCity of Emporia | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°40′N77°34′W / 36.67°N 77.56°W /36.67; -77.56 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1780 |
| Seat | Emporia |
| Largest town | Jarratt |
| Area | |
• Total | 297 sq mi (770 km2) |
| • Land | 295 sq mi (760 km2) |
| • Water | 2 sq mi (5.2 km2) 0.5% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 11,391 |
| • Density | 38/sq mi (15/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 4th |
| Website | www |
Greensville County is acounty located in theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 11,391.[1] Itscounty seat isEmporia.[2]
Greensville County was established in 1781 fromBrunswick County. The county is probably named for SirRichard Grenville, leader of the settlement onRoanoke Island, 1585. There is also belief that it may be named afterNathanael Greene, a major general of theContinental Army and one ofGeorge Washington's brightest officers.
An early chapter of theNational Association for the Advancement of Colored People was formed in Greensville County and Emporia (the county seat) in May 1940, under the leadership of dentist Dr. F. A. Sealy, ofBoydton, Virginia and president of theMecklenburg County, Virginia branch. However, he died in 1943, as efforts to desegregate the county's schools began with the assistance of attorneyOliver Hill.[3] After service in World War II, Hill's colleagueSamuel W. Tucker moved to Emporia, married a schoolteacher and became the county's only African American attorney, as well as a leader in desegregating schools across Virginia.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 297 square miles (770 km2), of which 295 square miles (760 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]
TheMeherrin River forms the boundary between Greensville County andSouthampton County.
I-95, the major north–southhighway on theEastern Seaboard enters Greensville County fromNorth Carolina. Access to the county is available at Exits 4, 8, 12, and 13 (plus 11 if including Emporia) before the road crosses the Greensville-Sussex County Line.
US 58, the principal west–east route through southern Virginia at large, including Greensville County. The road connects theCumberland Gap area of Tennessee to theHampton Roads area, entering the county fromBrunswick County and leaving atSouthampton County. ABusiness Route of US 58 exists within Emporia.
US 301, the principal south–north route Greensville County and Emporia until it was supplanted by I-95. A spur ofUS Route 1, it enters Greensville County from North Carolina, serves as a major boulevard inHistoric Emporia, and leaves at Sussex County south of Jarratt.
SR 139, a state spur route running northwest of US 301 from through Jarratt both in Greensville and Sussex Counties.
SR 186, a state route briefly entering Greensville County from North Carolina, only to cross into Southampton County at the bridge over theMeherrin River.| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 6,362 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,727 | 5.7% | |
| 1810 | 6,853 | 1.9% | |
| 1820 | 6,858 | 0.1% | |
| 1830 | 7,117 | 3.8% | |
| 1840 | 6,366 | −10.6% | |
| 1850 | 5,639 | −11.4% | |
| 1860 | 6,374 | 13.0% | |
| 1870 | 6,362 | −0.2% | |
| 1880 | 8,407 | 32.1% | |
| 1890 | 8,230 | −2.1% | |
| 1900 | 9,758 | 18.6% | |
| 1910 | 11,890 | 21.8% | |
| 1920 | 11,606 | −2.4% | |
| 1930 | 13,388 | 15.4% | |
| 1940 | 14,866 | 11.0% | |
| 1950 | 16,319 | 9.8% | |
| 1960 | 16,155 | −1.0% | |
| 1970 | 9,604 | −40.6% | |
| 1980 | 10,903 | 13.5% | |
| 1990 | 8,853 | −18.8% | |
| 2000 | 11,560 | 30.6% | |
| 2010 | 12,243 | 5.9% | |
| 2020 | 11,391 | −7.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[6] 1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8] 1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,628 | 4,217 | 37.80% | 37.02% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 7,294 | 6,616 | 59.58% | 58.08% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 23 | 19 | 0.19% | 0.17% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 35 | 32 | 0.29% | 0.28% |
| Native Hawaiian orPacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 10 | 13 | 0.08% | 0.11% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 79 | 218 | 0.65% | 1.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 173 | 276 | 1.41% | 2.42% |
| Total | 12,087 | 11,391 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 12,243 people living in the county. 59.8% wereBlack or African American, 38.5%White, 0.3%Asian, 0.2%Native American, 0.3% of some other race and 0.8%of two or more races. 1.4% wereHispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of thecensus[12] of 2000, there were 11,560 people, 3,375 households, and 2,396 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 39 people per square mile (15 people/km2). There were 3,765 housing units at an average density of 13 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.75%Black orAfrican American, 38.94%White, 0.10%Native American, 0.40%Asian, 0.02%Pacific Islander, 0.47% fromother races, and 0.32% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 3,375 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.80% weremarried couples living together, 16.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.51 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.20% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 38.70% from 25 to 44, 24.20% from 45 to 64, and 11.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 160.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 177.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,002, and the median income for a family was $38,810. Males had a median income of $24,919 versus $19,849 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,632. 14.70% of the population and 12.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 17.00% are under the age of 18 and 18.60% are 65 or older.
Virginia Department of Corrections operates theGreensville Correctional Center inunincorporated Greensville County, nearJarratt.[13] The facility houses the commonwealth's formerexecution chamber.[14]
Greensville County has supported the Democratic nominee in every election since 1912, with the exception of 1972 when it backedRichard Nixon during his landslide victory overGeorge McGovern. Its residents did not cast a single vote forAlf Landon in 1936, making the county one of four in which Landon was locked out.[citation needed]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 31 | 7.73% | 294 | 73.32% | 76 | 18.95% |
| 1916 | 76 | 16.17% | 392 | 83.40% | 2 | 0.43% |
| 1920 | 111 | 20.63% | 424 | 78.81% | 3 | 0.56% |
| 1924 | 132 | 23.04% | 417 | 72.77% | 24 | 4.19% |
| 1928 | 318 | 37.99% | 519 | 62.01% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 112 | 13.81% | 692 | 85.33% | 7 | 0.86% |
| 1936 | 0 | 0.00% | 884 | 100.00% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 152 | 15.22% | 843 | 84.38% | 4 | 0.40% |
| 1944 | 279 | 22.55% | 954 | 77.12% | 4 | 0.32% |
| 1948 | 301 | 21.09% | 710 | 49.75% | 416 | 29.15% |
| 1952 | 988 | 43.47% | 1,259 | 55.39% | 26 | 1.14% |
| 1956 | 724 | 29.08% | 994 | 39.92% | 772 | 31.00% |
| 1960 | 1,057 | 38.21% | 1,676 | 60.59% | 33 | 1.19% |
| 1964 | 2,245 | 49.68% | 2,262 | 50.06% | 12 | 0.27% |
| 1968 | 529 | 16.71% | 1,367 | 43.19% | 1,269 | 40.09% |
| 1972 | 1,608 | 56.05% | 1,197 | 41.72% | 64 | 2.23% |
| 1976 | 1,137 | 31.18% | 2,413 | 66.18% | 96 | 2.63% |
| 1980 | 1,583 | 41.66% | 2,142 | 56.37% | 75 | 1.97% |
| 1984 | 2,304 | 48.28% | 2,352 | 49.29% | 116 | 2.43% |
| 1988 | 1,610 | 43.13% | 2,083 | 55.80% | 40 | 1.07% |
| 1992 | 1,335 | 33.49% | 2,237 | 56.12% | 414 | 10.39% |
| 1996 | 1,176 | 30.60% | 2,381 | 61.96% | 286 | 7.44% |
| 2000 | 1,565 | 40.07% | 2,314 | 59.24% | 27 | 0.69% |
| 2004 | 1,732 | 40.68% | 2,514 | 59.04% | 12 | 0.28% |
| 2008 | 1,729 | 35.38% | 3,122 | 63.88% | 36 | 0.74% |
| 2012 | 1,766 | 35.85% | 3,135 | 63.64% | 25 | 0.51% |
| 2016 | 1,737 | 39.81% | 2,558 | 58.63% | 68 | 1.56% |
| 2020 | 1,914 | 41.85% | 2,627 | 57.43% | 33 | 0.72% |
| 2024 | 1,936 | 44.99% | 2,334 | 54.24% | 33 | 0.77% |
AlthoughEmporia lies within the boundaries of Greensville County and serves as the county seat, it is anindependent city and thus not part of the county. But although they are separate, they do share the same public school system.
Greensville County Public Schools operates public schools for the whole county.
Places adjacent to Greensville County, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofGreensville County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Unincorporated community | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
36°43′17″N77°31′56″W / 36.72139°N 77.53222°W /36.72139; -77.53222
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