Louisa County, Virginia | |
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%2c_Louisa_(Louisa_County%2c_Virginia).jpg) | |
 Flag  Seal  Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°59′N77°58′W / 37.99°N 77.96°W /37.99; -77.96 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1742 |
| Named after | Louise of Great Britain |
| Seat | Louisa |
| Largest town | Louisa |
| Area | |
• Total | 511 sq mi (1,320 km2) |
| • Land | 496 sq mi (1,280 km2) |
| • Water | 15 sq mi (39 km2) 2.9% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 37,596 |
| • Density | 75.8/sq mi (29.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Louisa County is acounty located in theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 37,596.[1] Thecounty seat isLouisa.[2]
Prior to colonial settlement, the area comprising Louisa County was occupied by several indigenous peoples including theTutelo, theMonacan, and theManahoac peoples, who eventually fled to join theCayugaIroquois (Haudenosaunee) people in New York state under pressure from English settlers.
Louisa County was established in 1742 fromHanover County. The county is named for PrincessLouise of Great Britain, youngest daughter of KingGeorge II, and wife of KingFrederick V of Denmark.[3]
Patrick Henry lived for some time in Louisa County on Roundabout Creek in 1764. Henry was being mentored at that time by the Louisa County magnate Thomas Johnson the representative of Louisa County in theHouse of Burgesses. In 1765,Patrick Henry won his first election to represent Louisa County in theHouse of Burgesses. At the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, numerous freemixed-race families migrated together from here to Kentucky, where neighbors began to identify them asMelungeon.[citation needed]
TheVirginia Central Railroad was completed through Louisa County in 1838–1840. During theCivil War, it was an important supply line for the Confederate armies. As a result, several significant cavalry actions took place in the county, particularly one fought atTrevilians in 1864.
TheTwin Oaks Community is one of the country's oldest secularcommunes, established by its first eight members in 1967. This was part of a national movement among numerous young people to "get back to the land" and live in more simple ways based in community. Louisa is also home to theAcorn Community, a rural, cooperative, income sharing community on about 80 acres, founded in 1993 by one of the founding members of Twin Oaks, Kat Kincade. Another newly forming community as of 2011 is theLiving Energy Farm, a 'neo-Amish' farm, where no fossil fuels will be used but new technologies such as solar will be embraced.
Lake Anna, a 13,000-acre (53 km2)artificial lake, and the associatedNorth Anna Nuclear Generating Station were built byVirginia Power in the 1970s. In recent years the predominantly rural county has grown because ofretirees' settling near Lake Anna, and because of its convenient location forcommuters. It is an hour's drive or less fromRichmond,Fredericksburg andCharlottesville.[4]
For a discussion and additional information on Louisa County history, see:Louisa County Historical Notes.[5]
TheU.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EST. The quake occurred at an approximate depth of 3.7 miles and was centered in Louisa County (location at 37.944°N, 77.942°W), five miles south-southwest ofMineral and 38 miles northwest ofRichmond.[6] According to Associated Press, "Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Charleston, S.C. Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated."[7] It was also felt in parts of Canada.[8]
Damage totals in Louisa County totaled over $70 million:[9]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.9%) is water.[10]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 8,467 | — | |
| 1800 | 11,892 | 40.5% | |
| 1810 | 11,900 | 0.1% | |
| 1820 | 13,746 | 15.5% | |
| 1830 | 16,151 | 17.5% | |
| 1840 | 15,433 | −4.4% | |
| 1850 | 16,691 | 8.2% | |
| 1860 | 16,701 | 0.1% | |
| 1870 | 16,332 | −2.2% | |
| 1880 | 18,942 | 16.0% | |
| 1890 | 16,997 | −10.3% | |
| 1900 | 16,517 | −2.8% | |
| 1910 | 16,578 | 0.4% | |
| 1920 | 17,089 | 3.1% | |
| 1930 | 14,309 | −16.3% | |
| 1940 | 13,665 | −4.5% | |
| 1950 | 12,826 | −6.1% | |
| 1960 | 12,959 | 1.0% | |
| 1970 | 14,004 | 8.1% | |
| 1980 | 17,825 | 27.3% | |
| 1990 | 20,325 | 14.0% | |
| 2000 | 25,627 | 26.1% | |
| 2010 | 33,153 | 29.4% | |
| 2020 | 37,596 | 13.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 38,848 | [11] | 3.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[12] 1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14] 1990–2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 25,562 | 28,535 | 77.10% | 75.90% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 5,832 | 5,365 | 17.59% | 14.27% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 106 | 93 | 0.32% | 0.25% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 158 | 251 | 0.48% | 0.67% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 15 | 18 | 0.05% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 41 | 155 | 0.12% | 0.41% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 677 | 1,814 | 2.04% | 4.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 762 | 1,365 | 2.30% | 3.63% |
| Total | 33,153 | 37,596 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[18] of 2000, there were 25,627 people, 9,945 households, and 7,259 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 11,855 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 50.96%White, 46.58%Black[dubious –discuss] orAfrican American, 0.42%Native American, 0.25%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.18% fromother races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 9,945 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% weremarried couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,402, and the median income for a family was $44,722. Males had a median income of $31,764 versus $24,826 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,479. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Although the county's 2008 population is only 31,000, it is one of the fastest-growing inVirginia, as people have moved nearLake Anna. At least 15 new housing developments have sprouted in five years.[4]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 91 | 11.10% | 578 | 70.49% | 151 | 18.41% |
| 1916 | 263 | 26.70% | 710 | 72.08% | 12 | 1.22% |
| 1920 | 312 | 31.11% | 684 | 68.20% | 7 | 0.70% |
| 1924 | 282 | 26.96% | 707 | 67.59% | 57 | 5.45% |
| 1928 | 772 | 51.26% | 734 | 48.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 366 | 28.57% | 879 | 68.62% | 36 | 2.81% |
| 1936 | 486 | 30.41% | 1,100 | 68.84% | 12 | 0.75% |
| 1940 | 573 | 38.66% | 896 | 60.46% | 13 | 0.88% |
| 1944 | 634 | 40.33% | 930 | 59.16% | 8 | 0.51% |
| 1948 | 701 | 41.45% | 782 | 46.24% | 208 | 12.30% |
| 1952 | 1,135 | 52.26% | 1,025 | 47.19% | 12 | 0.55% |
| 1956 | 1,152 | 47.43% | 795 | 32.73% | 482 | 19.84% |
| 1960 | 1,170 | 47.60% | 1,244 | 50.61% | 44 | 1.79% |
| 1964 | 1,369 | 44.12% | 1,731 | 55.78% | 3 | 0.10% |
| 1968 | 1,510 | 38.09% | 1,290 | 32.54% | 1,164 | 29.36% |
| 1972 | 2,545 | 63.55% | 1,338 | 33.41% | 122 | 3.05% |
| 1976 | 2,151 | 41.89% | 2,857 | 55.64% | 127 | 2.47% |
| 1980 | 2,633 | 46.14% | 2,809 | 49.23% | 264 | 4.63% |
| 1984 | 3,789 | 57.91% | 2,703 | 41.31% | 51 | 0.78% |
| 1988 | 3,831 | 57.16% | 2,789 | 41.61% | 82 | 1.22% |
| 1992 | 3,461 | 41.66% | 3,399 | 40.92% | 1,447 | 17.42% |
| 1996 | 3,768 | 45.27% | 3,761 | 45.19% | 794 | 9.54% |
| 2000 | 5,461 | 54.09% | 4,309 | 42.68% | 326 | 3.23% |
| 2004 | 7,083 | 58.85% | 4,844 | 40.25% | 108 | 0.90% |
| 2008 | 8,182 | 53.29% | 6,978 | 45.45% | 193 | 1.26% |
| 2012 | 9,215 | 56.01% | 6,953 | 42.26% | 284 | 1.73% |
| 2016 | 10,528 | 59.78% | 6,212 | 35.27% | 872 | 4.95% |
| 2020 | 13,294 | 60.66% | 8,269 | 37.73% | 352 | 1.61% |
| 2024 | 15,084 | 62.48% | 8,779 | 36.36% | 281 | 1.16% |
Places adjacent to Louisa County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofLouisa County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| CDP | ||
| Unincorporated communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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| Geographic | |
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