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New Kent County, Virginia facts for kids

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New Kent County
County courthouse
County courthouse
Official seal of New Kent County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting New Kent 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 1654
Named for Kent, England
Seat New Kent
Area
 • Total 222 sq mi (570 km2)
 • Land 210 sq mi (500 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (40 km2)  6.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 22,945
 • Density 103.36/sq mi (39.91/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 1st

New Kent County is a county in the eastern part the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, its population was 22,945. Its county seat is New Kent.

New Kent County is included in the Greater Richmond Region.

History

New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County and was organized and settled by William Claiborne. The county's name originated because several prominent inhabitants, including William Claiborne, recently had been forced from their settlement at Kent Island, Maryland by Lord Baltimore upon the formation of Maryland. Claiborne had named the island for his birthplace in Kent, England. New Kent County is the birthplace of two U. S. Presidents' wives - Martha Washington and Letitia Christian Tyler. The church where George and Martha Washington are believed to have been wed, St. Peters, still holds services today. The Chickahominy Indians frequented this area as well as nearby Charles City County and two tribes are still well-established in this area.

Among the earliest settlers of New Kent County was Nicholas Gentry, who settled in New Kent in 1684. The parish register books of St. Peter's Parish show that Nicholas Gentry's daughter was baptized in the church in 1687. The records also reflect other Gentrys, probably Nicholas Gentry's relations, Peter and Samuel Gentry. As the result of arson confessed to by John Price Posey and Tho Green, and, allegedly, involving "a negro boy belonging to W. Chamberlayne" on 15 July 1787, many later county records were burned, making identifying relationships between family members difficult.

In November 1719, a portion of New Kent County known then as St. Paul's Parish was formed into a separate county, now Hanover County.

In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau rated New Kent County among the top 100 fastest-growing counties in America.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 223 square miles (579 km²), of which 210 square miles (543 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (6.23%) is water. The Chickahominy River borders the county to the south, the Pamunkey and York rivers border it to the north and east.

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 6,239
1800 6,363 2.0%
1810 6,478 1.8%
1820 6,630 2.3%
1830 6,458 −2.6%
1840 6,230 −3.5%
1850 6,064 −2.7%
1860 5,884 −3.0%
1870 4,381 −25.5%
1880 5,515 25.9%
1890 5,511 −0.1%
1900 4,865 −11.7%
1910 4,682 −3.8%
1920 4,541 −3.0%
1930 4,300 −5.3%
1940 4,092 −4.8%
1950 3,995 −2.4%
1960 4,504 12.7%
1970 5,300 17.7%
1980 8,781 65.7%
1990 10,445 19.0%
2000 13,462 28.9%
2010 18,429 36.9%
2020 22,945 24.5%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010-2020

2020 census

New Kent County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 14,804 17,818 80.33% 77.66%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,474 2,714 13.42% 11.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 185 225 1.00% 0.98%
Asian alone (NH) 159 223 0.86% 0.97%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 8 0.01% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 21 102 0.11% 0.44%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 394 1,124 2.14% 4.90%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 390 731 2.12% 3.19%
Total 18,429 22,945 100.00% 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.

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, 18,429 people were living in the county; 81.7% were White, 13.5% African American, 1.1% Native American, 0.9% Asian, 0.5% of some other race, and 2.3% of two or more races. About 2.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). By ancestry, 15.2% were of English, 11.7% American, 10.6% German, and 9.4% Irish descent.

At the 2000 United States Census, 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families were residing in the county. The population density was 64.1/sqmi (24.8/km2). The 5,203 housing units averaged 24.8 per sq mi (9.57/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 80.26% White, 16.20% African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.54% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. About 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 4,925 households, 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were not families. About 16.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65, and the average family size was 2.97.

The county's age distribution was 25.00% under 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median income for a household was $53,595, and for a family was $60,678. Males had a median income of $40,005 versus $28,894 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,893. About 4.90% of the population and 3.40% of families were below the poverty line. Of the people living in poverty, 7.40% were under the age of 18 and 7.00% were 65 or older.

Transportation

Highways

  • Interstate 64 traverses the county, with four exits (205, 211, 214, and 220), roughly paralleling U.S. 60.
  • Major state highways include State Routes 30, 33, 106, 155, 249, and 273.

Railroads

No passenger rail stations are in New Kent County. The nearest Amtrak service is at stations in Williamsburg and Richmond.

Air

  • New Kent Airport (W96)) - near Quinton (general aviation facility)
  • Commercial passenger services and cargo services are offered at Richmond International Airport - in Henrico County, about 10 miles west of Bottoms Bridge.

Attractions

New Kent Winery & Vineyards opened on May 31, 2008 and is located just off Interstate 64.

Communities

There are no incorporated towns in New Kent County. Unincorporated towns and communities include:

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Education

New Kent County has four schools within its school system. The two elementary schools are New Kent Elementary and George W. Watkins Elementary. The school system also includes New Kent Middle School and New Kent High School. All four schools are fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. At the high-school level, various honors and advanced-placement courses are available, along with dual enrollment through Rappahannock Community College. Gifted and enrichment programs are offered in all grades kindergarten through 12th grade.

The roughly 430 employees include 220 licensed teachers, seven guidance counselors, four media specialists, four principals, five assistant principals, and a central office staff composed of one superintendent and five directors. As of 2018, the superintendent is Brian Nichols, and the assistant superintendent is Ed Smith.

New Kent County received a new site for Rappahannock Community College in 2015, located at the renovated "historic" New Kent High School site. The site offers engineering, nursing, and basic college-level courses in New Kent.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de New Kent para niños

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