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Louisa County, Virginia

Coordinates: 37°59′N 77°58′W / 37.99°N 77.96°W / 37.99; -77.96
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Louisa County
County
Louisa County Courthouse
Louisa County Courthouse
Flag of Louisa County
Flag
Official seal of Louisa County
Seal
Official logo of Louisa County
Logo
Map of Virginia highlighting Louisa 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°59′N 77°58′W / 37.99°N 77.96°W / 37.99; -77.96
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1742
Named forLouise of Great Britain
SeatLouisa
Largest townLouisa
Area
 • Total511 sq mi (1,320 km2)
 • Land496 sq mi (1,280 km2)
 • Water15 sq mi (40 km2)  2.9%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total37,596
 • Density74/sq mi (28/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.louisacounty.com

Louisa County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 37,596.[1] The county seat is Louisa.[2]

History

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St. John's Chapel, near Boswells Tavern, Louisa County, Historic American Buildings Survey

Prior to colonial settlement, the area comprising Louisa County was occupied by several indigenous peoples including the Tutelo, the Monacan, and the Manahoac peoples, who eventually fled to join the Cayuga Iroquois (Haudenosaunee) people in New York state under pressure from English settlers.

Louisa County was established in 1742 from Hanover County. The county is named for Princess Louise of Great Britain, youngest daughter of King George II, and wife of King Frederick V of Denmark.[3]

Patrick Henry lived for some time in Louisa County on Roundabout Creek in 1764. Henry was being mentored at that time by the Louisa County magnate Thomas Johnson the representative of Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. In 1765, Patrick Henry won his first election to represent Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. At the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, numerous free mixed-race families migrated together from here to Kentucky, where neighbors began to identify them as Melungeon. [citation needed]

The Virginia Central Railroad was completed through Louisa County in 1838–1840. During the Civil War, it was an important supply line for the Confederate armies. As a result, several significant cavalry actions took place in the county, particularly one fought at Trevilians in 1864.

20th century to present

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Cooper Vineyards in Louisa is the first winery on the East Coast and the second in the country to be awarded the fourth and highest, Platinum certification by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)

The Twin Oaks Community is one of the country's oldest secular communes, established by its first eight members in 1967. This was part of a national movement among numerous young people to "get back to the land" and live in more simple ways based in community. Louisa is also home to the Acorn Community, a rural, cooperative, income sharing community on about 80 acres, founded in 1993 by one of the founding members of Twin Oaks, Kat Kincade. Another newly forming community as of 2011 is the Living Energy Farm, a 'neo-Amish' farm, where no fossil fuels will be used but new technologies such as solar will be embraced.

Lake Anna, a 13,000-acre (53 km2) artificial lake, and the associated North Anna Nuclear Generating Station were built by Virginia Power in the 1970s. In recent years the predominantly rural county has grown because of retirees' settling near Lake Anna, and because of its convenient location for commuters. It is an hour's drive or less from Richmond, Fredericksburg and Charlottesville.[4]

For a discussion and additional information on Louisa County history, see: Louisa County Historical Notes.[5]

2011 earthquake

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Main article: 2011 Virginia earthquake

The U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EST. The quake occurred at an approximate depth of 3.7 miles and was centered in Louisa County (location at 37.944°N, 77.942°W), 5 miles SSW of Mineral and 38 miles NW of Richmond.[6] According to Associated Press, "Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Charleston, S.C. Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated."[7] It was also felt in parts of Canada.[8]

Damage totals in Louisa County totaled over $70 million:[9]

  • $57.5 million in damage to public school structures
  • $11.5 million in damage to residential structures
  • $400,000 in damage to religious structures
  • $400,000 in damage to commercial structures
  • $500,000 in damage to government structures

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 511 square miles (1,320 km2), of which 496 square miles (1,280 km2) is land and 15 square miles (39 km2) (2.9%) is water.[10]

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17908,467—
180011,89240.5%
181011,9000.1%
182013,74615.5%
183016,15117.5%
184015,433−4.4%
185016,6918.2%
186016,7010.1%
187016,332−2.2%
188018,94216.0%
189016,997−10.3%
190016,517−2.8%
191016,5780.4%
192017,0893.1%
193014,309−16.3%
194013,665−4.5%
195012,826−6.1%
196012,9591.0%
197014,0048.1%
198017,82527.3%
199020,32514.0%
200025,62726.1%
201033,15329.4%
202037,59613.4%
2021 (est.)38,848[11]3.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]

2020 census

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Louisa 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[16] Pop 2020[17] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 25,562 28,535 77.10% 75.90%
Black or African American alone (NH) 5,832 5,365 17.59% 14.27%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 106 93 0.32% 0.25%
Asian alone (NH) 158 251 0.48% 0.67%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 15 18 0.05% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 41 155 0.12% 0.41%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 677 1,814 2.04% 4.82%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 762 1,365 2.30% 3.63%
Total 33,153 37,596 100.00% 100.00%

2000 Census

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As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 25,627 people, 9,945 households, and 7,259 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 11,855 housing units at an average density of 24 units per square mile (9.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 50.96% White, 46.58% Black [dubious – discuss] or African American, 0.42% Native American, 0.25% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,945 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,402, and the median income for a family was $44,722. Males had a median income of $31,764 versus $24,826 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,479. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.

Although the county's 2008 population is only 31,000, it is one of the fastest-growing in Virginia, as people have moved near Lake Anna. At least 15 new housing developments have sprouted in five years.[4]

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated place

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Other unincorporated communities

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A local train of the Buckingham Branch railroad passes the C&O Depot and water tower in Louisa.

Historical places and points of interest

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Notable people

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Louisa County, Virginia[22]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 13,294 60.66% 8,269 37.73% 352 1.61%
2016 10,528 59.78% 6,212 35.27% 872 4.95%
2012 9,215 56.01% 6,953 42.26% 284 1.73%
2008 8,182 53.29% 6,978 45.45% 193 1.26%
2004 7,083 58.85% 4,844 40.25% 108 0.90%
2000 5,461 54.09% 4,309 42.68% 326 3.23%
1996 3,768 45.27% 3,761 45.19% 794 9.54%
1992 3,461 41.66% 3,399 40.92% 1,447 17.42%
1988 3,831 57.16% 2,789 41.61% 82 1.22%
1984 3,789 57.91% 2,703 41.31% 51 0.78%
1980 2,633 46.14% 2,809 49.23% 264 4.63%
1976 2,151 41.89% 2,857 55.64% 127 2.47%
1972 2,545 63.55% 1,338 33.41% 122 3.05%
1968 1,510 38.09% 1,290 32.54% 1,164 29.36%
1964 1,369 44.12% 1,731 55.78% 3 0.10%
1960 1,170 47.60% 1,244 50.61% 44 1.79%
1956 1,152 47.43% 795 32.73% 482 19.84%
1952 1,135 52.26% 1,025 47.19% 12 0.55%
1948 701 41.45% 782 46.24% 208 12.30%
1944 634 40.33% 930 59.16% 8 0.51%
1940 573 38.66% 896 60.46% 13 0.88%
1936 486 30.41% 1,100 68.84% 12 0.75%
1932 366 28.57% 879 68.62% 36 2.81%
1928 772 51.26% 734 48.74% 0 0.00%
1924 282 26.96% 707 67.59% 57 5.45%
1920 312 31.11% 684 68.20% 7 0.70%
1916 263 26.70% 710 72.08% 12 1.22%
1912 91 11.10% 578 70.49% 151 18.41%

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 191.
  4. ^ a b Merida, Kevin (June 7, 2008). "The 'Obama Before Obama'". The Washington Post. p. A01.
  5. ^ Pattie Cooke, "Louisa County Historical Notes" Archived May 11, 2008, at the Wayback Machine, Excerpt from Louisa & Louisa County, Dover, New Hampshire: Arcadia Publishing, 1997
  6. ^ [1] Archived August 24, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  7. ^ "Quake rocks Washington area, felt on East Coast". Associated Press (AP). August 23, 2011. Archived from the original on October 9, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2011.
  8. ^ "Strong earthquake hits Canada, U.S. East Coast". The Vancouver Sun. August 23, 2011.[permanent dead link]
  9. ^ "Louisa Updates Earthquake Damage Estimates". Gray Television, Inc. Archived from the original on October 8, 2011. Retrieved August 31, 2011.
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  15. ^ "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 3, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Louisa County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ Google Maps: Yanceyville, Virginia, accessed March 13, 2022.
  20. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
  21. ^ Virginia Historical Markers Archived June 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Virginia Historical Marker W-211: Patrick Henry's Home
  22. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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