# Accomack County, Virginia

Accomack County is a United States county that, together with Northampton County, constitutes the Eastern Shore region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. These two counties also form the southern portion of the Delmarva Peninsula, which is bordered by the Chesapeake Bay to the west, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. The town of Accomac serves as the county seat, while Chincoteague is the largest town in the county.
The area was named for the Accawmack Indians, who resided in the area when the English first explored it in 1603. The region was known as "Accomac Shire" until it was renamed Northampton County in 1642. The present Accomack County was then carved out of Northampton County in 1663.
As of the 2020 census, Accomack County had a total population of 33,413. The population has remained relatively stable over the 20th century, though Accomack is one of the poorest parts of Virginia.

## History

The county was named for its original residents, the Accomac people, an Eastern Algonquian-speaking Native American tribe.
Members of an English voyage of exploration landed in the area in 1603, four years before the founding of the Jamestown Colony. Captain John Smith visited the region in 1608. The Accomac people at the time numbered around 6,000 and was led by Debedeavon, a paramount chief, whom the English colonists called the "Laughing King." He became a staunch ally of the colonists, granting them several large areas for their own use.
Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the eight original shires of Virginia. The name comes from the native word Accawmacke, which meant "on the other side". In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton by the colonists. Northampton was divided into two counties in 1663. The northern adopted the original name, while the south remained Northampton.
In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671.
In 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling. The name of "Accomack County" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,310 square miles (3,400 km$^2$), of which 450 square miles (1,200 km$^2$) is land and 861 square miles (2,230 km$^2$) (65.7%) is water. It is the largest county in Virginia by total area.
The state of Delaware is roughly 36 miles (58 km) away from the Virginia and Maryland state-line in Greenbackville.

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Accomack 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 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 20,266 | 19,825 | 61.11% | 59.33% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 9,253 | 8,639 | 27.90% | 25.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 97 | 65 | 0.29% | 0.19% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 177 | 249 | 0.53% | 0.75% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 34 | 1 | 0.10% | 0.00% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 44 | 99 | 0.13% | 0.30% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 443 | 1,105 | 1.34% | 3.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,850 | 3,430 | 8.59% | 10.27% |
| Total | 33,164 | 33,413 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of 2022, the median household income in the county is $50,601 and the per capita income is $29,202.

### 2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32 people/km$^2$). There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 units per square mile (17 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 28.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Black or African American (28%), English American (15%), German (9%), Irish (9%) and Mexican (4%).
There were 15,299 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.
Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

## Government and politics
### Board of Supervisors

Board of County Supervisors :
| Name | Party | District |
| William J. "Billy Joe" Tarr | Ind | 1 |
| Ron Wolff | Dem | 2 |
| Vanessa Johnson | Dem | 3 |
| Paul E.J. Muhly | Ind | 4 |
| Harrison W. Phillips, III | Ind | 5 |
| Robert Crockett | Ind | 6 |
| Jackie Phillips | Ind | 7 |
| Donald Hart, Jr. | Dem | 8 |
| C. Reneta Major | Dem | 9 |

### Constitutional officers

* Clerk of the Circuit Court: Talia C. Taylor (I)
* Commissioner of the Revenue: Kim A. Satterwhite (I)
* Commonwealth's Attorney: J. Spencer Morgan, III (I)
* Sheriff: W. Todd Wessells (I)
* Treasurer: James Lilliston, Sr. (I)
Accomack County is represented by Republican William “Bill” DeSteph, Jr in the Virginia Senate, Republican Robert Bloxom in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Jen Kiggans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

### Presidential politics

United States presidential election results for Accomack County, Virginia :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 9,659 | 56.24% | 7,374 | 42.93% | 143 | 0.83% |
| 2020 | 9,172 | 54.07% | 7,578 | 44.68% | 212 | 1.25% |
| 2016 | 8,583 | 54.26% | 6,740 | 42.61% | 495 | 3.13% |
| 2012 | 8,213 | 51.17% | 7,655 | 47.69% | 183 | 1.14% |
| 2008 | 7,833 | 50.14% | 7,607 | 48.69% | 183 | 1.17% |
| 2004 | 7,726 | 57.85% | 5,518 | 41.31% | 112 | 0.84% |
| 2000 | 6,352 | 53.27% | 5,092 | 42.70% | 481 | 4.03% |
| 1996 | 5,013 | 43.02% | 5,220 | 44.79% | 1,421 | 12.19% |
| 1992 | 5,666 | 43.17% | 4,950 | 37.71% | 2,509 | 19.12% |
| 1988 | 6,926 | 60.01% | 4,443 | 38.49% | 173 | 1.50% |
| 1984 | 8,047 | 64.55% | 4,355 | 34.94% | 64 | 0.51% |
| 1980 | 5,371 | 50.21% | 4,872 | 45.54% | 455 | 4.25% |
| 1976 | 4,494 | 47.13% | 4,807 | 50.41% | 235 | 2.46% |
| 1972 | 6,496 | 71.97% | 2,406 | 26.66% | 124 | 1.37% |
| 1968 | 3,231 | 35.19% | 2,467 | 26.87% | 3,483 | 37.94% |
| 1964 | 3,145 | 47.06% | 3,528 | 52.79% | 10 | 0.15% |
| 1960 | 2,676 | 47.95% | 2,884 | 51.68% | 21 | 0.38% |
| 1956 | 2,823 | 54.25% | 2,213 | 42.52% | 168 | 3.23% |
| 1952 | 2,626 | 53.99% | 2,220 | 45.64% | 18 | 0.37% |
| 1948 | 1,088 | 35.05% | 1,669 | 53.77% | 347 | 11.18% |
| 1944 | 1,045 | 37.39% | 1,747 | 62.50% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1940 | 882 | 37.28% | 1,476 | 62.38% | 8 | 0.34% |
| 1936 | 670 | 29.66% | 1,583 | 70.08% | 6 | 0.27% |
| 1932 | 527 | 17.53% | 2,458 | 81.74% | 22 | 0.73% |
| 1928 | 1,367 | 42.81% | 1,826 | 57.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 307 | 12.64% | 2,087 | 85.92% | 35 | 1.44% |
| 1920 | 409 | 16.49% | 2,026 | 81.69% | 45 | 1.81% |
| 1916 | 299 | 14.44% | 1,745 | 84.30% | 26 | 1.26% |
| 1912 | 153 | 7.24% | 1,825 | 86.33% | 136 | 6.43% |

### Adjacent counties

* Somerset County, Maryland - northwest
* Worcester County, Maryland - northeast
* Northampton County, Virginia - south

### National protected areas

* Assateague Island National Seashore (part)
* Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Martin National Wildlife Refuge (part, Watts Island portion)
* Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge

## Economy

Accomack County is home to large chicken processing facilities owned by Perdue Farms and Tyson Foods.

## Transportation
### Airport

* Accomack County Airport is in an unincorporated area near Melfa.

### Major highways

* US 13
* US 13 Bus.
* SR 175
* SR 176
* SR 178
* SR 179
* SR 180
* SR 182
* SR 187
* SR 316

### Public transportation

STAR Transit provides public transit services for both Accomack and Northampton counties and is headquartered in Tasley.

## Education

The county is served by Accomack County Public Schools. It is the only school district in the county.
High schools and K-12 schools in this district are:
* Arcadia High School
* Chincoteague High School
* Nandua High School
* Tangier Combined School
Eastern Shore Community College is located near Melfa.

## Media

The county maintains and is the licensee of six television translator stations on two towers, with four located on a tower off US 13 in unincorporated Mappsville licensed to Onancock, and the other two licensed to unincorporated Craddockville on a tower near Route 178. Each translator tower has four signals to relay the signals of Hampton Roads's major network affiliates to the county, including WAVY, WHRO, WTKR, and WVEC. Meanwhile, Fox programming via WVBT is provided by WPMC-CA (Channel 36) from the Mappsville tower, a station owned by Nexstar Media Group, the parent company of WAVY/WVBT.
Additionally, Salisbury, Maryland CBS / Fox affiliate WBOC-TV has long claimed Accomack County as part of its coverage area.
| Call letters | City of license | Channel | Station relayed (Network) |
| W14DY-D | Onancock | 14 | WAVY (NBC) |
| W42DP | Craddockville | 42 | WAVY (NBC) |
| W25AA-D | Onancock | 25 | WHRO (PBS) |
| W18EG-D | Onancock | 18 | WAVY (NBC), 18.1 WVEC (ABC), 18.2 WTKR (CBS), 18.3 WHRO (PBS), 18.4 |
| W22DN | Craddockville | 22 | WTKR (CBS) |
| W34DN | Onancock | 34 | WVEC (ABC) |

## Communities
### Towns

* Accomac
* Belle Haven, Partially within Northampton County as well
* Bloxom
* Chincoteague
* Hallwood
* Keller
* Melfa
* Onancock
* Onley
* Painter
* Parksley
* Saxis
* Tangier
* Wachapreague

### Census Designated Places

* Atlantic
* Bayside
* Bobtown
* Boston
* Captains Cove
* Cats Bridge
* Chase Crossing
* Deep Creek
* Gargatha
* Greenbackville
* Greenbush
* Harborton
* Horntown
* Lee Mont
* Makemie Park
* Mappsburg
* Mappsville
* Metompkin
* Modest Town
* Nelsonia
* New Church
* Oak Hall
* Pastoria
* Pungoteague
* Quinby
* Sanford
* Savage Town
* Savageville
* Schooner Bay
* Southside Chesconessex
* Tasley
* Temperanceville
* Wattsville
* Whitesville

## Notable people

* William Anderson (1762–1829) born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania
* Thomas Evans (c.1755–1815), born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Virginia
* Lucy Virginia French (1825–1881), writer
* George T. Garrison (1835–1889), born in Accomack County, member of Virginia state legislature and United States Congressman from Virginia
* James Hamilton (c.1710–1783), born in Accomack County, lawyer and mayor of Philadelphia
* James Henry (1731–1804), born in Accomack County, lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress
* Ralph Northam (born 1957), born and raised in Accomack County, 73rd Governor of Virginia
* W. Sherman Savage (1890–1981), born and raised in Accomack County, historian of African Americans in the Old West
* David P. Weber (? -), resident of Accomack County, lawyer, professor and forensic accountant, who was a prominent whistleblower in the Bernard L. Madoff misconduct and Chinese Espionage matters
* Henry A. Wise (1806–1876), Minister to Brazil, Governor of Virginia and Confederate General

## In popular culture
### Music

In Sydney Brown's lyrics for the Maple Leaf Rag, the first line states, "I come from ol' Virginny, from de County Accomack"