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Appomattox County, Virginia

Coordinates: 37°21′32″N 78°49′35″W / 37.358973°N 78.826438°W / 37.358973; -78.826438
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Appomattox County
The Appomattox County Courthouse in October 2007
The Appomattox County Courthouse in October 2007
Flag of Appomattox County
Map of Virginia highlighting Appomattox County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°21′32″N 78°49′35″W / 37.358973°N 78.826438°W / 37.358973; -78.826438
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1845
Named forAppomattox River
SeatAppomattox
Largest townAppomattox
Area
 • Total
335 sq mi (870 km2)
 • Land333 sq mi (860 km2)
 • Water1.2 sq mi (3 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
16,119
 • Density48/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.appomattoxcountyva.gov

Appomattox County is a United States county located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is part of the Lynchburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is the town of Appomattox.[1]

Appomattox County was created in 1845 from parts of four other Virginia counties. The name of the county comes from the Appamatuck Indians, who lived in the area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,119.[2]

History

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Appomattox County is located in the rolling hills of the piedmont region of Virginia.

Appomattox County was formed in 1845 from Buckingham, Prince Edward, Campbell, and Charlotte counties. In 1848, another part from Campbell County was added. It was named for the Appomattox River, which in turn was named for the Appamatuck, a historic Native American tribes in Virginia of the Algonquian-speaking Powhatan Confederacy.[3]

Appomattox came to national attention on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House to accept Lee's surrender. The surrender of Lee, which effectively ended the American Civil War, took place at the McLean House, home of Wilmer McLean.[3]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 335 square miles (870 km2), of which 333 square miles (860 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.4%) is water.[4]

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18509,193
18608,889−3.3%
18708,9500.7%
188010,08012.6%
18909,589−4.9%
19009,6620.8%
19108,904−7.8%
19209,2553.9%
19308,402−9.2%
19409,0207.4%
19508,764−2.8%
19609,1484.4%
19709,7847.0%
198011,97122.4%
199012,2982.7%
200013,70511.4%
201014,9739.3%
202016,1197.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

2020 census

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Appomattox County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[9] Pop 2020[10] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 11,483 12,155 76.69% 75.41%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,998 2,877 20.02% 17.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 28 50 0.19% 0.31%
Asian alone (NH) 35 42 0.23% 0.26%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 4 3 0.03% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 23 84 0.15% 0.52%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 235 564 1.57% 3.50%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 167 344 1.12% 2.13%
Total 14,973 16,119 100.00% 100.00%

2000 Census

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As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 13,705 people, 5,322 households, and 4,012 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 5,828 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.94% White, 22.91% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,322 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,507, and the median income for a family was $41,563. Males had a median income of $31,428 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,086. 11.40% of the population and 8.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.10% of those under the age of 18 and 21.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

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Appomattox County was historically strongly Democratic, as part of the Solid South. It has been consistently won by Republicans since 1964.

Board of Supervisors

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  • Appomattox River district: Ken Wolfskill (R)
  • Courthouse district: Samuel E. Carter (I)
  • Falling River district: John F. Hinkle, Chairman (R)
  • Piney Mountain district: Alfred L. Jones III, Vice-Chairman (I)
  • Wreck Island district: Trevor L. Hipps (R)

Constitutional officers

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  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Janet A. Hix (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Sara R. Henderson (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Leslie M. Fleet (I)
  • Sheriff: Robert Richardson (I)
  • Treasurer: Victoria C. Phelps (I)

Appomattox County is represented by Republican John McGuire, in the Virginia Senate, Republican Tom Garrett in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Bob Good the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Appomattox County, Virginia[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,243 75.18% 2,324 24.12% 67 0.70%
2020 6,702 72.31% 2,418 26.09% 148 1.60%
2016 5,715 71.46% 2,023 25.30% 259 3.24%
2012 5,340 67.30% 2,453 30.91% 142 1.79%
2008 4,903 64.26% 2,641 34.61% 86 1.13%
2004 4,366 65.60% 2,191 32.92% 98 1.47%
2000 3,654 61.65% 2,132 35.97% 141 2.38%
1996 2,625 47.93% 2,239 40.88% 613 11.19%
1992 2,830 50.36% 1,919 34.15% 871 15.50%
1988 3,205 63.59% 1,740 34.52% 95 1.88%
1984 3,386 68.65% 1,498 30.37% 48 0.97%
1980 2,548 60.42% 1,492 35.38% 177 4.20%
1976 1,964 50.84% 1,702 44.06% 197 5.10%
1972 2,788 78.20% 684 19.19% 93 2.61%
1968 1,753 43.42% 756 18.73% 1,528 37.85%
1964 2,444 64.47% 1,339 35.32% 8 0.21%
1960 951 43.07% 1,240 56.16% 17 0.77%
1956 853 40.89% 1,079 51.73% 154 7.38%
1952 929 49.13% 957 50.61% 5 0.26%
1948 238 14.29% 1,182 70.95% 246 14.77%
1944 270 19.49% 1,109 80.07% 6 0.43%
1940 215 15.77% 1,144 83.93% 4 0.29%
1936 204 12.85% 1,375 86.64% 8 0.50%
1932 204 15.26% 1,123 83.99% 10 0.75%
1928 446 33.51% 885 66.49% 0 0.00%
1924 101 9.41% 952 88.72% 20 1.86%
1920 190 18.41% 837 81.10% 5 0.48%
1916 133 15.91% 700 83.73% 3 0.36%
1912 28 3.81% 654 89.10% 52 7.08%

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ "Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ^ a b "History of Appomattox County". Appomattox County, Virginia. March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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37°21′32″N 78°49′35″W / 37.358973°N 78.826438°W / 37.358973; -78.826438