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Charlotte County, Virginia facts for kids

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Charlotte County
Charlotte County Courthouse in September 2014
Charlotte County Courthouse in September 2014
Map of Virginia highlighting Charlotte County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Virginia
Founded 1764
Named for Queen Charlotte
Seat Charlotte Court House
Largest town Keysville
Area
 • Total 478 sq mi (1,240 km2)
 • Land 475 sq mi (1,230 km2)
 • Water 2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 11,529
 • Density 24.119/sq mi (9.312/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th

Charlotte County is a United States county located in the south central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is the town of Charlotte Court House. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 11,529. Charlotte County is predominately rural with a population density of only 26.5 persons per square mile.

History

Red Hill Charlotte County Virginia 1907
Red Hill Patrick Henry National Memorial in Charlotte County, the final resting place of Patrick Henry

European settlement of the future county began in the early 18th century, and early settlers included mostly English people, with some French Hugenots and Scotch-Irish. After approximately fifty years of European settlement, the House of Burgesses established and incorporated Charlotte County in 1764 from part of Lunenburg County. The new county was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Queen and wife of King George III of England.

Residents of Charlotte County were heavily involved in the American Revolution. County delegates supported resolutions against the Stamp Act of 1765, and the county government was the second governing body to declare independence from English rule. In addition, Charlotte militia units fought under General Robert Lawson during the Yorktown campaign, which effectively led to the end of the American War of Independence. Finally, the final resting place and national memorial to revolutionary hero Patrick Henry is at Red Hill Plantation.

Charlotte County has also played a role in other wars on American soil. An artillery company from Charlotte played a key role in the Battle of Craney Island during the War of 1812. Also, a significant battle in the American Civil War occurred in Charlotte and Halifax counties during the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, which resulted in a victory for the Confederacy.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 478 square miles (1,240 km2), of which 475 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.5%) is water. The county is bounded on the southwest by the Roanoke River, locally known as the "Staunton River". The terrain is hilly.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

  • US 15
  • US 360
  • SR 40
  • SR 47
  • SR 59
  • SR 92

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 10,078
1800 11,912 18.2%
1810 13,161 10.5%
1820 13,290 1.0%
1830 15,252 14.8%
1840 14,595 −4.3%
1850 13,955 −4.4%
1860 14,471 3.7%
1870 14,513 0.3%
1880 16,653 14.7%
1890 15,077 −9.5%
1900 15,343 1.8%
1910 15,785 2.9%
1920 17,540 11.1%
1930 16,061 −8.4%
1940 15,861 −1.2%
1950 14,057 −11.4%
1960 13,368 −4.9%
1970 11,551 −13.6%
1980 12,266 6.2%
1990 11,688 −4.7%
2000 12,472 6.7%
2010 12,586 0.9%
2020 11,529 −8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Charlotte County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 8,383 7,677 66.61% 66.59%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,739 3,140 29.71% 27.24%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 31 18 0.25% 0.16%
Asian alone (NH) 26 23 0.21% 0.20%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 6 0.00% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 14 35 0.11% 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 153 377 1.22% 3.27%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 240 253 1.91% 2.19%
Total 12,586 11,529 100.00% 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.

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated

Notable residents

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Charlotte (Virginia) para niños

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