Northampton County, Virginia

Northampton County, Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1634
Seat	Eastville
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	795 sq mi (2,059 km²) 207 sq mi (536 km²) 588 sq mi (1,523 km²), 73.93%
Population  -  Density	12,389 62/sq mi (24/km²)
Website	www.co.northampton.va.us

Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 12,389.^[1] Its county seat is Eastville.^[2]

Northampton and Accomack Counties comprise the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The county is the epicenter of the late Eocene meteor strike that resulted in the Chesapeake Bay impact crater.

History

When English colonists first arrived in the area in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore region was governed by Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King"), paramount chief of the Accawmacke clans who numbered around 2000 at the time.

The county has a long history as a home for free African Americans during the era of slavery. One of the most notable was Anthony Johnson (colonist). Free blacks in America were first documented in Northampton County, Virginia, in 1662.^[3]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 795 square miles (2,060 km²), of which 207 square miles (540 km²) is land and 588 square miles (1,520 km²) (73.93%) is water.

Adjacent County and Independent City

• Accomack County - north
• Virginia Beach, Virginia - south

National protected areas

• Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
• Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	6,889		—
1800	6,763		−1.8%
1810	7,474		10.5%
1820	7,705		3.1%
1830	8,641		12.1%
1840	7,715		−10.7%
1850	7,498		−2.8%
1860	7,832		4.5%
1870	8,046		2.7%
1880	9,152		13.7%
1890	10,313		12.7%
1900	13,770		33.5%
1910	16,672		21.1%
1920	17,852		7.1%
1930	18,565		4.0%
1940	17,597		−5.2%
1950	17,300		−1.7%
1960	16,966		−1.9%
1970	14,442		−14.9%
1980	14,625		1.3%
1990	13,061		−10.7%
2000	13,093		0.2%
2010	12,389		−5.4%

As of the census^[4] of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile (24/km²). There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% White, 36.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

As of the 2000 census the largest ancestry groups in Northampton County include: African American (49%), English American (15%), German (7%), Irish (6%) and Italian (3%)

There were 5,321 households out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,276, and the median income for a family was $35,034. Males had a median income of $26,842 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,591. About 15.80% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton County is home to the United States' oldest continuous court records.

Towns

Cape Charles, VA.

• Belle Haven
• Cape Charles
• Cheriton
• Eastville
• Exmore
• Nassawadox
• Oyster (unincorporated)

Transportation

• Campbell Field Airport

Education

Northampton County Public Schools operates public schools in the county.

Notable residents

• Abel Upshur (1791-1844), born in Northampton County, United States Secretary of State and United States Secretary of the Navy^[5]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Northampton County, Virginia

References

1. ^ [http://www.coopercenter.org/demographics Weldon Cooper Center 2010 Census Count Retrieved January 26, 2011
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
3. ^ Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience By Anthony Appiah, Kwame Anthony Appiah, Henry Louis Gates Page 299
4. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
5. ^ http://history.state.gov/departmenthistory/people/upshur-abel-parker

External links

• Official county homepage

Coordinates: 37°18′N 75°56′W / 37.30°N 75.93°W / 37.30; -75.93