Sussex County, Virginia

Sussex County, Virginia
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1754
Seat	Sussex
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	493 sq mi (1,277 km²) 491 sq mi (1,272 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.43%
Population  -  Density	12,087 26/sq mi (10/km²)
Website	www.sussexcountyva.gov

Sussex County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 12,087. Its county seat is Sussex. The county is named after the county of Sussex, England.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 493 square miles (1,276 km²), of which 491 square miles (1,271 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5 km²) (0.43%) is water.

Adjacent Counties

• Dinwiddie County - northwest
• Prince George County - north
• Surry County - northeast
• Southampton County - southeast
• Greensville County - southwest

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	10,549		—
1800	11,062		4.9%
1810	11,362		2.7%
1820	11,884		4.6%
1830	12,720		7.0%
1840	11,229		−11.7%
1850	9,820		−12.5%
1860	10,175		3.6%
1870	7,885		−22.5%
1880	10,062		27.6%
1890	11,100		10.3%
1900	12,082		8.8%
1910	13,664		13.1%
1920	12,834		−6.1%
1930	12,100		−5.7%
1940	12,485		3.2%
1950	12,785		2.4%
1960	12,411		−2.9%
1970	11,464		−7.6%
1980	10,874		−5.1%
1990	10,248		−5.8%
2000	12,504		22.0%
2010	12,087		−3.3%

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,504 people, 4,126 households, and 2,809 families residing in the county. The population density was 26 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 4,653 housing units at an average density of 10 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 36.39% White, 62.13% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.54% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.82% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,126 households out of which 28.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.00% were married couples living together, 18.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.90% were non-families. 28.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 19.60% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 34.40% from 25 to 44, 23.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 135.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 142.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,007, and the median income for a family was $36,739. Males had a median income of $29,307 versus $22,001 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,670. About 12.80% of families and 16.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 19.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Sussex County Public Schools operates public schools.
High School

• Sussex Central High School

Middle School

• Sussex Central Middle School

Elementary Schools

• Ellen Warren Chambliss Elementary
• Jefferson Elementary School

Charter/Tech

• Appomattox Regional Governor's School for the Arts And Technology
• Rowanty Technical Center

Detention Center

Government and infrastructure

The Virginia Department of Corrections operates the Sussex I State Prison in unincorporated Sussex County, near Waverly. The center houses the male death row. On August 3, 1998, the male death row moved to its current location from the Mecklenburg Correctional Center.

Communities

Towns

• Jarratt
• Stony Creek
• Wakefield
• Waverly

Unincorporated

• Sussex
• Yale

See also

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