Southampton County, Virginia

Southampton County, Virginia

Southampton County Courthouse

Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Southampton County
Location in the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1749
Seat Courtland
Largest town Courtland
Area
 • Total 602 sq mi (1,559 km2)
 • Land 599 sq mi (1,551 km2)
 • Water 3.2 sq mi (8 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 18,109
 • Density 30/sq mi (12/km²)
Congressional district 4th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.southamptoncounty.org

Southampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 18,570.[1] Its county seat is Courtland.[2]

History

During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of Jamestown, Virginia in 1607, English settlers explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. In 1634, the English colony of Virginia was divided into eight shires (or counties) with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. Most of Southampton County was originally part of Warrosquyoake Shire. The shires were soon to be called counties. Warrosquyoake Shire was renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637.

In 1749, the portion of Isle of Wight County west of the Blackwater River became Southampton County. Later, part of Nansemond County, which is now the Independent City of Suffolk, was added to Southampton County.

In August 1831, enslaved Nat Turner led a slave rebellion of Black slaves in Southampton County against local Whites. When the rebellion was crushed, Turner and his fellow rebels were executed. In the response to the uprising, white militias and mobs lynched approximately 200 blacks in Southampton County.[3]

Southampton County may have been named for Southampton, a major city in England, or for Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton, one of the founders of the Virginia Company and a supporter of colonization in North America.

Geography

Southampton County from 1895 map of Virginia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 602 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 599 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4]

Southampton County is bounded by the Blackwater River on the east and the Meherrin River on the west. The Nottoway River flows through the center of the county. All three rivers are tributaries of the Chowan River, which flows south into Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. The Blackwater River separates Southampton County from Isle of Wight County, and the Meherrin River separates it from Greensville County.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
179012,864—
180013,9258.2%
181013,497−3.1%
182014,1705.0%
183016,07413.4%
184014,525−9.6%
185013,521−6.9%
186012,915−4.5%
187012,285−4.9%
188018,01246.6%
189020,07811.5%
190022,84813.8%
191026,30215.1%
192027,5554.8%
193026,870−2.5%
194026,442−1.6%
195026,5220.3%
196027,1952.5%
197018,582−31.7%
198018,7310.8%
199017,550−6.3%
200017,482−0.4%
201018,5706.2%
Est. 201518,109[5]−2.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 37.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,279 households out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 111.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,995, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $32,436 versus $20,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,930. About 11.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Public Services

Blackwater Regional Library is the regional library system that provides services to the citizens of Southampton.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

Notable residents

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ Oates, Stephen B. (1990) [1975]. The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. p. 126. ISBN 0-06-091670-2.
  4. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. ↑ "'And they were naked – and not ashamed': Church allows nude worship".
 Sussex County Surry County Isle of Wight County
Greensville County City of Franklin
   Southampton County, Virginia  
Northampton County, North Carolina Hertford County, North Carolina City of Suffolk

Coordinates: 36°43′N 77°07′W / 36.72°N 77.11°W / 36.72; -77.11

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