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Westmoreland County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Old Westmoreland County Courthouse inMontross | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°07′N76°48′W / 38.11°N 76.8°W /38.11; -76.8 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1653 |
| Named after | Westmorland |
| Seat | Montross |
| Largest town | Colonial Beach |
| Area | |
• Total | 253 sq mi (660 km2) |
| • Land | 229 sq mi (590 km2) |
| • Water | 24 sq mi (62 km2) 9.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 18,477 |
| • Density | 80.7/sq mi (31.2/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Westmoreland County is acounty located in theNorthern Neck of theCommonwealth of Virginia. As of the2020 United States census, the population sits at 18,477.[1] Itscounty seat isMontross.[2]
As originally established by theVirginia colony'sHouse of Burgesses, this area was separated fromNorthumberland County in 1653 and named for theEnglish county ofWestmorland; both counties are coastal.[3] The territory of Westmoreland County encompassed much of what later became the various counties and cities ofNorthern Virginia, including thecity of Alexandria,Arlington County,Fairfax County, andPrince William County. These areas comprised part of Westmoreland until the formation ofStafford County in 1664.
Westmoreland County on Northern Neck was the birthplace ofGeorge Washington, who later became the firstPresident of the United States (born at the former settlement ofBridges Creek, Virginia);[4] ofJames Monroe, the fifth President; and ofRobert E. Lee, general and commander of theConfederate armies during theAmerican Civil War of 1861–1865.
ColonelNicholas Spencer (1633-1689) resided in this county. Hepatented the land atMount Vernon in 1674 with his friend Lt. Col.John Washington, ancestor of George Washington. Spencer, who served as President ofthe Council and actingGovernor (in office: 1683–1684) of theColony of Virginia, was the cousin of, and agent for, theBarons Colepeper,proprietors of theNorthern Neck. Spencer lived at his plantation,Nomini, which his descendants later sold toRobert Carter I (1662/63 – 1732) .
Robert Carter's grandson,Robert Carter III, is known for voluntarily freeing almost 500slaves from Nomini Hall, beginning in 1791. He also provided for their settlement on land that he bought for them inOhio Country.[citation needed] Thismanumission was the largest known release of slaves in North America prior to the American Civil War and involved the largest number ever manumitted by an individual in the U.S.[5]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 253 square miles (660 km2), of which 229 square miles (590 km2) is land and 24 square miles (62 km2) (9.3%) is water.[6] Located on theNorthern Neck, the county is within theNorthern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA winemakingappellation.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1820 | 6,901 | — | |
| 1830 | 8,396 | 21.7% | |
| 1840 | 8,019 | −4.5% | |
| 1850 | 8,080 | 0.8% | |
| 1860 | 8,282 | 2.5% | |
| 1870 | 7,682 | −7.2% | |
| 1880 | 8,846 | 15.2% | |
| 1890 | 8,399 | −5.1% | |
| 1900 | 9,243 | 10.0% | |
| 1910 | 9,313 | 0.8% | |
| 1920 | 10,240 | 10.0% | |
| 1930 | 8,497 | −17.0% | |
| 1940 | 9,512 | 11.9% | |
| 1950 | 10,148 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 11,042 | 8.8% | |
| 1970 | 12,142 | 10.0% | |
| 1980 | 14,041 | 15.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,480 | 10.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,718 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 17,454 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,477 | 5.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9] 1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,087 | 11,758 | 63.52% | 63.64% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,855 | 4,470 | 27.82% | 24.19% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 64 | 67 | 0.37% | 0.36% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 91 | 146 | 0.52% | 0.79% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 11 | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 14 | 68 | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 338 | 908 | 1.94% | 4.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,002 | 1,049 | 5.74% | 5.68% |
| Total | 17,454 | 18,477 | 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.
At the 2000census,[14] there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households and 4,689 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 73/sq mi (28/km2). There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of 40/sq mi (15/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 65.41%White, 30.89%Black orAfrican American, 0.28%Native American, 0.36%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 1.75% fromother races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 3.46% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 6,846 households, of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.70% weremarried couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.91.
23.00% of the population were under the age of 18, 6.30% from 18 to 24, 23.90% from 25 to 44, 27.80% from 45 to 64, and 19.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 92.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.90 males.
Themedian household income was $35,797 and the median family income was $41,357. Males had a median income of $31,333 and females $22,221. Theper capita income was $19,473. About 11.20% of families and 14.70% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 21.10% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
The county's economy is largely based on agriculture. Tourism is another significant economic driver, related to historical sites such asGeorge Washington Birthplace National Monument and Robert E. Lee's birthplace,Stratford Hall Plantation, and the Westmoreland County Museum as well as gambling activities available inColonial Beach. The county is also an extendedexurb ofWashington, D.C.
Northern Neck Coca-Cola Bottling Inc. (makers of Northern Neck Ginger Ale) and the weeklyWestmoreland News are located in Montross.
Westmoreland County is a notablebellwether for U.S. presidential politics, having voted for the winner in every election since1928 except1948,1960, and2020.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 69 | 15.16% | 341 | 74.95% | 45 | 9.89% |
| 1916 | 126 | 27.10% | 338 | 72.69% | 1 | 0.22% |
| 1920 | 133 | 25.09% | 396 | 74.72% | 1 | 0.19% |
| 1924 | 157 | 23.97% | 484 | 73.89% | 14 | 2.14% |
| 1928 | 554 | 58.50% | 393 | 41.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 212 | 24.74% | 641 | 74.80% | 4 | 0.47% |
| 1936 | 296 | 25.36% | 871 | 74.64% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 357 | 29.68% | 845 | 70.24% | 1 | 0.08% |
| 1944 | 532 | 39.58% | 808 | 60.12% | 4 | 0.30% |
| 1948 | 568 | 44.51% | 503 | 39.42% | 205 | 16.07% |
| 1952 | 1,117 | 59.51% | 754 | 40.17% | 6 | 0.32% |
| 1956 | 1,033 | 54.45% | 695 | 36.64% | 169 | 8.91% |
| 1960 | 1,176 | 53.00% | 1,034 | 46.60% | 9 | 0.41% |
| 1964 | 1,181 | 47.26% | 1,312 | 52.50% | 6 | 0.24% |
| 1968 | 1,402 | 39.99% | 1,156 | 32.97% | 948 | 27.04% |
| 1972 | 2,331 | 66.00% | 1,113 | 31.51% | 88 | 2.49% |
| 1976 | 1,909 | 41.79% | 2,355 | 51.55% | 304 | 6.65% |
| 1980 | 2,510 | 50.31% | 2,271 | 45.52% | 208 | 4.17% |
| 1984 | 3,219 | 56.84% | 2,363 | 41.73% | 81 | 1.43% |
| 1988 | 2,974 | 55.38% | 2,311 | 43.04% | 85 | 1.58% |
| 1992 | 2,554 | 41.04% | 2,758 | 44.32% | 911 | 14.64% |
| 1996 | 2,333 | 40.31% | 2,949 | 50.95% | 506 | 8.74% |
| 2000 | 2,932 | 48.66% | 2,922 | 48.49% | 172 | 2.85% |
| 2004 | 3,433 | 50.13% | 3,370 | 49.21% | 45 | 0.66% |
| 2008 | 3,719 | 44.40% | 4,577 | 54.64% | 81 | 0.97% |
| 2012 | 3,731 | 45.95% | 4,295 | 52.89% | 94 | 1.16% |
| 2016 | 4,448 | 51.88% | 3,836 | 44.74% | 290 | 3.38% |
| 2020 | 5,318 | 53.54% | 4,501 | 45.31% | 114 | 1.15% |
| 2024 | 6,003 | 56.59% | 4,491 | 42.34% | 113 | 1.07% |
There are two school districts:Westmoreland County Public Schools has the majority of the county, whileColonial Beach Town Public Schools has residential areas in the town limits of Colonial Beach.[16][17]
he undertook the largest private emancipation in American history
Places adjacent to Westmoreland County, Virginia | |
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