Buckingham County
County
Buckingham County Courthouse
Buckingham County Courthouse
Flag of Buckingham County
Flag
Official seal of Buckingham County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Buckingham 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°34′N 78°32′W / 37.57°N 78.53°W / 37.57; -78.53
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1761
Named forDuke of Buckingham
SeatBuckingham
Largest townDillwyn
Area
 • Total584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
 • Water3.9 sq mi (10 km2)  0.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total16,824
 • Density29/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.buckinghamcountyva.org

Buckingham County is a rural United States county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and containing the geographic center of the state. Buckingham County is part of the Piedmont region of Virginia, and the county seat is Buckingham.[1]

Buckingham County was created in 1761 from the southeastern portion of Albemarle County and was predominantly farmland. The county was probably named in honor of the Duke of Buckingham, though the precise origin is uncertain. Several changes were made to the borders, until the existing boundaries were established in 1860.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 16,824.[2] Buckingham is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Buckingham County, lying south of the James River and in the Piedmont at the geographic center of the state, was established on May 1, 1761, from the southeastern portion of Albemarle County.[3] The origin of the county name probably comes from the Duke of Buckingham (Buckinghamshire, England). Some sources say that the county was named for Archibald Cary's estate "Buckingham," which was located on Willis Creek.[4] This is the only Buckingham County in the United States.

In 1778 a small triangular area bordering the James River was given to Cumberland County. In 1845, another part was taken from Buckingham to form the northern portion of Appomattox County. A final adjustment of the Appomattox-Buckingham county line was made in 1860, and Buckingham's borders then became fixed in their current form. A fire destroyed the courthouse (designed by Thomas Jefferson) in 1869, and most of the early records of this county were lost.

In the nineteenth century the county was settled more heavily by people migrating from the Tidewater area. It was devoted chiefly to plantations, worked by enslaved black Americans. These were converted from tobacco cultivation to mixed farming and pulpwood harvesting as the markets changed and the soil became exhausted from tobacco. These new types of uses required fewer slaves, and many were sold from the Upper South in the domestic slave trade to the Deep South, where cotton cultivation expanded dramatically in the antebellum period.

During the twentieth century, Joe Thompson bought the Buckingham Mill. In 1945 he put into place the long system of utilizing grain which used sifters as the grain was ground. Seven years later he added grain elevators. This was the last mill to make flour in Buckingham County and represents a time when America relied on small farms and small business owners.[5]

In the 21st century, large tracts of land are held by companies such as WestVaco, which sell pulpwood and other timber products to the paper mills and wood product producers. It is still largely rural, with areas devoted to recreation such as fishing and hunting. [6]

During the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee's army marched through the county during his retreat on their way to surrender at Appomattox, Virginia.[7] A marker in the cemetery of Trinity Presbyterian Church in New Canton reads:

According to the oral history of Trinity Presbyterian Church and this community, here are 45 Confederate and Union soldiers buried in mass graves directly behind this church. They left Appomattox after the surrender and headed for their homes north of here. Sick with disease, they died in a nearby camp. That they may not be forgotten, this plaque is placed by the Elliott Grays UDC Chapter #1877 2003.

In 2011, the county celebrated its 250th anniversary.[8]

Geography

Buckingham County is rural and heavily forested.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km2) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km2) (0.7%) is water.[9]

The geographic center of Virginia is located in Buckingham County, near the Mt. Rush community.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17909,779—
180013,38936.9%
181020,05949.8%
182017,569−12.4%
183018,3514.5%
184018,7862.4%
185013,837−26.3%
186015,2129.9%
187013,371−12.1%
188015,54016.2%
189014,383−7.4%
190015,2666.1%
191015,204−0.4%
192014,885−2.1%
193013,315−10.5%
194013,3980.6%
195012,288−8.3%
196010,877−11.5%
197010,597−2.6%
198011,75110.9%
199012,8739.5%
200015,62321.4%
201017,1469.7%
202016,824−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15]

2020 census

Buckingham County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[14] Pop 2020[15] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 10,494 10,314 61.20% 61.31%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,979 5,390 34.87% 32.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 44 44 0.26% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 63 59 0.37% 0.35%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 0.01% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 17 52 0.10% 0.31%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 260 552 1.52% 3.28%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 288 413 1.68% 2.45%
Total 17,146 16,824 100.00% 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.

2010 Census

As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 17,146 people and 5,695 households residing in the county. The population density was 29.6 people per square mile (11.4 people/km2). There were 7,294 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 62.5% White, 35.1% Black or African American alone, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.6% from two or more races. 60.9% of the population identified as White Alone, not Hispanic or Latino.

The largest ancestry groups are listed as 18.7% American, 9.2% English, and 5.4% German. People of African American descent comprise 35.1% of the population, usually having European ancestry as well.

There were 5,965 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6 had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, .6% from 20 to 24, 13% from 25 to 34, 22.8% from 35 to 49, and 22% from 50 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. There were 9,493 males and 7,653 females. The median age was 41.7.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,378. Males had a median income of $36,420 versus $32,327 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,938. About 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line.

In education, 38.2% of the population over age 25 graduated high school (or equivalent), 13.9% had some college, no degree, 3.8% hold an associate degree, 10.9% hold a bachelor's degree, and 10.9% hold a Graduate or Professional degree.

Government

County Administration

  • County Administrator - Karl Carter
  • IT Director - Jamie Shumaker
  • Finance Director - Kevin Hickman
  • Zoning Coordinator - Nicci Edmonston

Board of Supervisors

  • District 1: Dennis Davis - 2023 Vice Chairman
  • District 2: Cameron Gilliam
  • District 3: Don Matthews
  • District 4: Thomas Jordan Miles III
  • District 5: Harry W. Bryant
  • District 6: Joe N. Chambers, Jr. -2023 Chairman
  • District 7: Danny R. Allen

School Board

Source:[17]

  • District 1: Jacqueline J. Newton
  • District 2: Rachel M. Castello-Dunn
  • District 3: Pamela P. Morris - Chairman
  • District 4: Joii W. Goodman - Vice-Chairman
  • District 5: Sherry S. Ragland
  • District 6: Michelle Ford
  • District 7: Theresa D. Bryant
  • Superintendent: Dr. John Keeler

Constitutional officers

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Justin Midkiff
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Stephanie Love (D)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Kemper Beasley
  • Sheriff: W.G. "Billy" Kidd, Jr. (I)
  • Treasurer: Christy L. Christian (D)
  • Chief of Police: None

State officials

Federal officials

Bob Good (R, VA-5) in the U.S. House of Representatives

United States presidential election results for Buckingham County, Virginia[18]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,544 55.92% 3,471 42.71% 111 1.37%
2016 3,950 54.19% 3,128 42.91% 211 2.89%
2012 3,569 47.86% 3,750 50.29% 138 1.85%
2008 3,428 49.01% 3,489 49.89% 77 1.10%
2004 3,185 52.85% 2,789 46.28% 53 0.88%
2000 2,738 50.20% 2,561 46.96% 155 2.84%
1996 1,974 40.70% 2,374 48.95% 502 10.35%
1992 2,368 46.40% 2,193 42.97% 542 10.62%
1988 2,481 55.49% 1,941 43.41% 49 1.10%
1984 2,627 57.36% 1,879 41.03% 74 1.62%
1980 1,864 47.51% 1,933 49.27% 126 3.21%
1976 1,487 39.57% 2,179 57.98% 92 2.45%
1972 2,107 62.86% 1,186 35.38% 59 1.76%
1968 1,027 32.05% 984 30.71% 1,193 37.23%
1964 1,547 56.60% 1,182 43.25% 4 0.15%
1960 765 44.37% 947 54.93% 12 0.70%
1956 751 43.64% 648 37.65% 322 18.71%
1952 811 46.58% 919 52.79% 11 0.63%
1948 354 27.94% 728 57.46% 185 14.60%
1944 286 28.26% 723 71.44% 3 0.30%
1940 289 25.73% 829 73.82% 5 0.45%
1936 273 22.38% 945 77.46% 2 0.16%
1932 204 18.72% 870 79.82% 16 1.47%
1928 579 49.15% 599 50.85% 0 0.00%
1924 213 25.03% 623 73.21% 15 1.76%
1920 311 29.28% 749 70.53% 2 0.19%
1916 181 22.24% 625 76.78% 8 0.98%
1912 97 11.98% 603 74.44% 110 13.58%

Education

  • Buckingham County High School
  • Buckingham County Middle School
  • Buckingham County Primary School
  • Buckingham Preschool
  • Central Virginia Christian School
  • Buckingham County Public Library

Communities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ↑ "Buckingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ↑ Anderson, James Meade. "The early history of Buckingham County". University of Richmond UR Scholarship Repository. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  4. ↑ Salmon, Emily; Edward D.C. Campbell, Jr., eds. (1994). The Hornbook of Virginia History : a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. p. 162. ISBN 0884901777.
  5. ↑ Pennington, M. & Scott, L. (1977). The Courthouse Burned: Buckingham County. Waynesboro: McClung.
  6. ↑ "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT". Buckingham County. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "ABOUT". Buckingham County. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  8. ↑ Yeck, Joanne L. "At a Place Called Buckingham" ... Historic Sketches of Buckingham County, Virginia (Kettering, OH: Slate River Press, 2011).
  9. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  13. ↑ "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 January 1, 2014.
  14. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Buckingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  15. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Buckingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  16. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. ↑ https://buckinghamcountypsva.sites.thrillshare.com/o/bcps/page/school-board
  18. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  19. ↑ Martin, Douglas (August 21, 2002). "Swami Satchidananda, Woodstock's Guru, Dies at 87". The New York Times. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Eugene Charles Allen". Scottsville Museum. Retrieved December 30, 2023.
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