Spotsylvania County, Virginia

Spotsylvania County, Virginia
Spotsylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the July 2021 estimate, the population was 145,300. Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse.
History
At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Spotsylvania County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Manahoac.
As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who incidentally was also the second great-grandfather of Robert E Lee.
Many major battles were fought in this county during the Civil War, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river.
General Stonewall Jackson was shot and seriously wounded by friendly fire in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.
Geography
It is bounded on the north by the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, the independent city of Fredericksburg (all of which were part of the area's early history), and the counties of Stafford and Culpeper; on the south by the North Anna River and its impoundment, Lake Anna, and by the counties of Hanover and Louisa; on the west by Orange County and Culpeper County; and on the east by Caroline County.
Adjacent counties and independent city
Culpeper County, Virginia – north
Stafford County, Virginia – northeast
City of Fredericksburg, Virginia – northeast
Caroline County, Virginia – southeast
Hanover County, Virginia – south
Louisa County, Virginia – southwest
Orange County, Virginia – west and northwest
National protected area
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (part)
Points of interest
Lake Anna State Park
Spotsylvania County Public Schools
Spotsylvania Courthouse
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Spotsylvania Towne Centre
Central Rappahannock Regional Library
Dominion Raceway
Communities
There are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:
Census-designated places
Lake Wilderness
Spotsylvania Courthouse
Other unincorporated communities
Alsop
Arcadia
Artillery Ridge
Bells Crossroad
Belmont
Blades Corner
Brandon
Brockroad
Brokenburg
Carters Store
Chancellor
Chancellor Green, a local Hispanic enclave
Chancellorsville
Chewnings Corner
Cookstown
Cosner's Corner
Dunavant
Five Mile Fork
Four Mile Fork
Granite Springs
Lanes Corner
Leavells
Lewiston
Margo
Marye
Massaponax
McHenry
Old Trap
Olivers Corner
Partlow
Paytes
Post Oak
Shady Grove Corner
Snell
Stubbs
Thornburg
Todds Tavern
Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.
Major highways
Governance
County government
Spotsylvania County's highest level of management is that of County Administrator. This post oversees all county departments and agencies and serves as the Spotsylvania County's Board of Supervisors' liaison to state and regional agencies.
Board of Supervisors
Spotsylvania is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The board consists of seven members (one from each district within the county). The Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, appropriates funds, approves land rezoning and special exceptions to the zoning ordinance, and carries out other responsibilities set forth by the county code.
The following is the current list of supervisors and districts which they represent:
County wide offices
State representation
Federal representation
Spotsylvania residents are represented by Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District) in the House of Representatives. The current U.S. senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia are Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D).
Demographics
2020 census
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.
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 122,397 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was:
78.4% White
15.8% Black or African American
0.4% Native American
2.4% Asian
0.05% Pacific Islander
2.8% from other races, and
1.88% from two or more races.
7.8% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 31,308 households, out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were non-families. 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.
The 2021 median income for a household in the county was $98,973 compared to $69,021 for the United States; the median income for a family was $87,922. Males had a median income of $49,166 versus $38,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,212. 6.6% of the population lives below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.
Infrastructure
Emergency services
Fire and rescue services in Spotsylvania County are provided by a combination of career and volunteer organizations. The career staff of the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management provide fire and rescue services 24/7/365 at all 11 stations, 1 (Courthouse), 2 (Brokenburg), 3 (Partlow), 4 (Four Mile Fork), 5 (Chancellor), 6 (Salem Church), 7 (Wilderness), 8 (Thornburg), 9 (Belmont), 10 (Salem Fields), 11 (Crossroads). Volunteers provide additional staffing nights and weekends at Stations 1, 2, 4, and 8. The volunteer organizations include The Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, and The Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad.
Education
Public schools
Private schools
Fredericksburg Academy
Fredericksburg Christian School
The Summit Academy
Odyssey Montessori School
Saint Patrick School
Saint Michael the Archangel High School
Faith Baptist Christian School
Mount Hope Academy
Colleges and universities
Germanna Community College is part of the Virginia Community College System and serves the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, and King George.
The University of Mary Washington located in neighboring Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a four-year university and graduate school that also serves the area.
Notable people
Thomas Dickens Arnold, United States Congressman from Virginia
Francis Asbury (1745–1816), one of the first two bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church
Caressa Cameron, Miss Virginia 2009 and Miss America 2010
Elijah Craig, Baptist minister arrested in Fredericksburg for preaching without a license from the Anglican Church before the American Revolution
Evelyn Magruder DeJarnette (1842–1914), author
Joe Gibbs, former Washington Redskins coach
Rahman "Rock" Harper, chef, television personality, and restaurateur
Alexander Holladay (1811–1877), U. S. Representative
Kunta Kinte, a.k.a. Toby Waller (1750–1822), character in novel Roots: The Saga of an American Family and television miniseries Roots
John Maine, pitcher for the New York Mets
Danny McBride, actor
Phil Short, former member of the Louisiana State Senate and United States Marine Corps officer
Matthew Fontaine Maury, father of modern oceanography
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Spotsylvania County, Virginia
References
External links
Spotsylvania County Official Website
Spotsylvania County Department of Economic Development
Fredericksburg.com, site of The Free Lance-Star
Spotsylvania County Virginia Zip Codes
Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office
Virginia counties
Northern Virginia counties
Washington metropolitan area
1721 establishments in Virginia
Populated places established in 1721