Rockbridge County, Virginia

Rockbridge County, Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1777
Seat	Lexington
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	601 sq mi (1,557 km²) 600 sq mi (1,554 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.22%
Population  -  Density	22,307 34/sq mi (13/km²)
Website	www.co.rockbridge.va.us

Rockbridge County is a county located in the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 22,307. Its county seat is Lexington. This population figure excludes those residing in the independent cities of Buena Vista (6,349) and Lexington (6,867), both enclaved within the county's geographical borders.

Nature Camp, a youth summer camp, is located in the county near the town of Vesuvius.

History

Maple Hall, antebellum home in Rockbridge County north of Lexington

Rockbridge County was established in October, 1777 from parts of now neighboring Augusta and Botetourt counties, and the first county elections were held in May 1778. Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, a notable landmark in the southern portion of the county. Rockbridge County was formed during an act of assembly intended to reduce the amount of travel to the nearest courthouse, and to ensure trials were held fairly, and among friends rather than strangers. The first court session in Rockbridge County was held at the home of Samuel Wallace on April 7, 1778.

Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,557 km²), of which 600 square miles (1,553 km²) is land and 1 square mile (4 km²) (0.22%) is water. The land area figures do not include the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington.

Adjacent counties

View of the Maury River, Lexington, Rockbridge County

• Bath County, Virginia - northwest
• Augusta County, Virginia - northeast
• Nelson County, Virginia - east
• Amherst County, Virginia - southeast
• Bedford County, Virginia - south
• Botetourt County, Virginia - southwest
• Alleghany County, Virginia - west
• Lexington, Virginia - center (enclave)
• Buena Vista, Virginia - east of center (enclave)

National protected areas

• Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
• George Washington National Forest (part)
• Jefferson National Forest (part)
• United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	6,548		—
1800	8,945		36.6%
1810	10,318		15.3%
1820	11,945		15.8%
1830	14,244		19.2%
1840	14,284		0.3%
1850	16,045		12.3%
1860	17,248		7.5%
1870	16,058		−6.9%
1880	20,003		24.6%
1890	23,062		15.3%
1900	21,799		−5.5%
1910	21,171		−2.9%
1920	20,626		−2.6%
1930	20,902		1.3%
1940	22,384		7.1%
1950	23,359		4.4%
1960	24,039		2.9%
1970	16,637		−30.8%
1980	17,911		7.7%
1990	18,350		2.5%
2000	20,808		13.4%
2010	22,307		7.2%

As of the census of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 2.97% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,486 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,035, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $28,217 versus $19,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,356. About 6.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Towns

Raphine, Virginia

• Glasgow
• Goshen
• Brownsburg (unincorporated)
• Raphine (unincorporated)
• Fairfield (unincorporated)
• Natural Bridge Station (unincorporated)

The independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington are separate political jurisdictions located within Rockbridge County. Lexington is the county seat (in spite of its independent status), and it shares three constitutional officers with Rockbridge County: Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Commonwealth's Attorney. Buena Vista does not share constitutional officers with either Rockbridge County or Lexington.

Publications: print and web

• The Rockbridge Advocate (monthly magazine)
• Rockbridge Forum (free public web discussion by/for Rockbridge folk)
• The News-Gazette (weekly newspaper)
• Rockbridge Weekly (weekly newspaper)
• The Rockbridge Report (weekly broadcast and website, W&L)
• EyeOnVirginia.com (videos and interviews with Rockbridge area newsmakers)

Notable residents

• Robert H. Adams (1792–1832), born in Rockbridge County, United States Senator from Mississippi
• John Allen (soldier) (1771–1813), born in Rockbridge County, a Kentucky political figure and colonel of militia, killed in the War of 1812
• Adam Rankin Alexander (1772–1851), born in Rockbridge County, United States Congressman from Tennessee
• Archibald Alexander (1772–1851), born in Rockbridge County, noted Presbyterian clergyman, president of Hampden-Sydney College and one of the founders of and the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary
• Sam Houston (1793–1863), born in Rockbridge County, the only man to be Governor of two U.S. states (Texas, Tennessee). Also victor at the Battle of San Jacinto, President of the Republic of Texas, and U.S. Senator.
• Stonewall Jackson, General in the C.S.A. Army, lived in Lexington, the county seat.
• Robert E. Lee, former commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War, who, after the war, accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee University (then Washington College)
• Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the reaper
• Charlie Manuel, American and Japanese baseball player and World Series champion manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
• Rick Mast , Fan favorite Winston Cup and Busch Series driver
• O.W. Riegel, [2]
• Archibald Roane, who later became governor of Tennessee, lived in Rockbridge County in the 1780s.
• Pat Robertson
• Archibald Stuart, Founder of Phi Beta Kappa
• Cy Twombly

See also

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

External links

• Rockbridge County Tourism Website - dining, lodging, events and attractions

Media related to Rockbridge County, Virginia at Wikimedia Commons