Warsaw | |
|---|---|
 Downtown Warsaw 2020 | |
 Location of Warsaw, Virginia | |
| Coordinates:37°57′27″N76°45′30″W / 37.95750°N 76.75833°W /37.95750; -76.75833 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | Richmond |
| Government | |
| • Type | Council - Manager |
| • Mayor | Randall L. Phelps |
| • Town Manager | Joseph N. Quesenberry |
| • Police Chief | Sean L. Peterson |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.05 sq mi (7.91 km2) |
| • Land | 3.05 sq mi (7.91 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 131 ft (40 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 1,637 |
• Estimate (2023)[2] | 2,330 |
| • Density | 545.66/sq mi (206.95/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 22572 |
| Area code | 804 |
| FIPS code | 51-83168[3] |
| GNIS ID | 1500279[4] |
| Website | Town website |
Warsaw is an incorporated town in and thecounty seat ofRichmond County,Virginia, United States.[5] The population was 1,637 at the2020 census and is estimated to be 2,330 as of 2023.
Prior to Englishcolonization, the area of Warsaw, Virginia was occupied by a group ofRappahannockNative Americans, who would fish on the nearby creeks for shad and herring.[6] By 1667, the Rappahannock people had been forced to sell all their land north of theRappahannock River to English settlers, including the modern site of Warsaw.[6]
After the division of theOld Rappahannock County in 1692, Richmond County was created. The new county had its seat at Richmond Court House, which was originally along the shores of theRappahannock River. The site of Richmond Court House was moved inland to modern Warsaw in 1730, and the modern court house was built in 1748.[7] The area was also the home ofRobert Wormeley Carter, who represented Richmond County in the VirginiaHouse of Burgesses and theContinental Congress as a supporter of theAmerican Revolution; he owned the historic house ofSabine Hall, located near Richmond Court House.[8] Additionally, the region was subjected to intense British raids during theWar of 1812, and many free men of the town were rallied in its defense from the British army.[9] During this time, the area's economy grew reliant on tobacco, as a small group of wealthy planters grew the crop with the labor ofindentured settlers andenslaved Africans.[10][11]
In January 1832, the town's name was changed to Warsaw, after the news of "great uprisings in Old WorldWarsaw" in 1830 and 1831 reached residents. This change was due to local popular support for theNovember Uprising in Poland.[12] As with Richmond Court House, a number of other small towns in the United States changed their names to Warsaw at this time, such asWarsaw, Kentucky.[13]
Following theCivil War, the area's newly emancipatedfreedmen made efforts to secure their own churches and schools.[14] Ultimately, the region's schools and churches would be formally desegregated with the passage of theCivil Rights Act, though all schools in the region would not be fully integrated until the 1970s.[15]
Today, Warsaw is one of many small towns in Virginia'sNorthern Neck region. The town prides itself on its schools, natural beauty, and quality of life.[16]
Warsaw is located at37°57′27″N76°45′30″W / 37.95750°N 76.75833°W /37.95750; -76.75833 (37.957617, −76.758302).[17]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 3.0 square miles (7.8 km2), all of it land.
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Warsaw has ahumid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[18]
| Climate data for Warsaw, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1893–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 82 (28) | 81 (27) | 94 (34) | 97 (36) | 99 (37) | 105 (41) | 106 (41) | 103 (39) | 105 (41) | 100 (38) | 85 (29) | 82 (28) | 106 (41) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 46.8 (8.2) | 50.4 (10.2) | 58.5 (14.7) | 69.7 (20.9) | 77.1 (25.1) | 84.3 (29.1) | 88.4 (31.3) | 86.4 (30.2) | 80.4 (26.9) | 70.4 (21.3) | 59.5 (15.3) | 50.0 (10.0) | 68.5 (20.3) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 37.6 (3.1) | 40.3 (4.6) | 47.5 (8.6) | 57.8 (14.3) | 66.2 (19.0) | 73.9 (23.3) | 78.2 (25.7) | 76.2 (24.6) | 70.1 (21.2) | 59.5 (15.3) | 49.3 (9.6) | 41.2 (5.1) | 58.1 (14.5) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 30.2 (−1.0) | 36.5 (2.5) | 45.8 (7.7) | 55.3 (12.9) | 63.5 (17.5) | 68.1 (20.1) | 66.1 (18.9) | 59.8 (15.4) | 48.6 (9.2) | 39.1 (3.9) | 32.3 (0.2) | 47.8 (8.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −6 (−21) | −5 (−21) | 5 (−15) | 14 (−10) | 29 (−2) | 38 (3) | 47 (8) | 44 (7) | 30 (−1) | 24 (−4) | 13 (−11) | −3 (−19) | −6 (−21) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.02 (77) | 2.60 (66) | 3.66 (93) | 3.18 (81) | 3.90 (99) | 4.37 (111) | 4.73 (120) | 5.01 (127) | 4.15 (105) | 3.98 (101) | 3.29 (84) | 3.30 (84) | 45.19 (1,148) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 4.4 (11) | 3.3 (8.4) | 1.4 (3.6) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.2 (5.6) | 11.5 (29) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.9 | 8.1 | 9.3 | 10.4 | 11.3 | 11.0 | 10.4 | 9.6 | 9.0 | 9.3 | 8.4 | 9.1 | 114.8 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.6 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.9 | 4.6 |
| Source:NOAA[19][20] | |||||||||||||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2020 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 1033 | 74.21% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 479 | 17.37% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 0.26% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 10 | 1.32% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 1 | 0.00% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 44 | 3.42% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 69 | 3.42% |
| Total | 1,637 | 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.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 115 | — | |
| 1950 | 435 | — | |
| 1960 | 549 | 26.2% | |
| 1970 | 511 | −6.9% | |
| 1980 | 771 | 50.9% | |
| 1990 | 961 | 24.6% | |
| 2000 | 1,375 | 43.1% | |
| 2010 | 1,512 | 10.0% | |
| 2020 | 1,637 | 8.3% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 2,281 | [2] | 39.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[22] | |||
As of thecensus[3] of 2000, there were 1,375 people, 445 households, and 233 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 453.0 people per square mile (174.9 people/km2). There were 468 housing units at an average density of 154.2 units per square mile (59.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 67.64%White, 29.38%African American, 0.22%Native American, 0.44%Asian, 1.53% fromother races, and 0.80% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 4.36% of the population.
There were 445 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.1% weremarried couples living together, 10.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.6% were non-families. 45.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 24.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 13.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 28.1% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 29.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.2 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 103.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,971, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $40,052 versus $23,661 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $21,392. About 12.4% of families and 16.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 16.4% of those age 65 or over.
Warsaw serves as the hub of Richmond County and provides a wide array of economic opportunities. As of 2017, 40% of the town's employment came from educational, health, and social services.[23] Educationally, the town is home to an elementary and middle school, a high school, a technical school, and a campus of theRappahannock Community College.[24]
Warsaw is also the location of theNorthern Neck Regional Jail, which was completed in 1995. The jail employs 100 people and has a capacity of 460 inmates. Its most recent addition was completed in 2000.[25]
The area also uses its historic importance to promote tourism.[23] Historic sites nearby includeMenokin, the former home ofFrancis Lightfoot Lee,Mount Airy andSabine Hall. A former plantation estate, Belle Mount, is currently operated as a vineyard and winery within a few miles of Warsaw town limits. In addition to Menokin, Mount Airy, and Sabine Hall,Grove Mount and theRichmond County Courthouse are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places. The formerly listedBladensfield was destroyed by fire in 1996.[26]
Municipalities and communities ofRichmond County, Virginia,United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| Town |  | |
| Unincorporated communities |
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
