Buckingham County, Virginia

Buckingham County
Buckingham County
County
	Buckingham County Courthouse
	Flag Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
	Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°34′N 78°32′W / 37.57°N 78.53°W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1761
Named for	Duke of Buckingham
Seat	Buckingham
Largest town	Dillwyn
Area
• Total	584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
• Land	580 sq mi (1,500 km2)
• Water	3.9 sq mi (10 km2) 0.7%
Population (2020)
• Total	16,824
• Density	29/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	5th
Website	www.buckinghamcountyva.org

Buckingham County is a rural United States county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and containing the geographic center of the state.^{[citation needed]} Buckingham County is part of the Piedmont region of Virginia, and the county seat is Buckingham.^[1]

Buckingham County was created in 1761 from the southeastern portion of Albemarle County and was predominantly farmland. The county was probably named in honor of the Duke of Buckingham, though the precise origin is uncertain. Several changes were made to the borders, until the existing boundaries were established in 1860.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 16,824.^[2] Buckingham is part of the Charlottesville Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Buckingham County, lying south of the James River and in the Piedmont at the geographic center of the state, was established on May 1, 1761, from the southeastern portion of Albemarle County.^[3] The origin of the county name probably comes from the Duke of Buckingham (Buckinghamshire, England). Some sources say that the county was named for Archibald Cary's estate "Buckingham," which was located on Willis Creek.^[4] This is the only Buckingham County in the United States.

In 1778 a small triangular area bordering the James River was given to Cumberland County. In 1845, another part was taken from Buckingham to form the northern portion of Appomattox County. A final adjustment of the Appomattox-Buckingham county line was made in 1860, and Buckingham's borders then became fixed in their current form. A fire destroyed the courthouse (designed by Thomas Jefferson) in 1869, and most of the early records of this county were lost.

In the nineteenth century the county was settled more heavily by people migrating from the Tidewater area. It was devoted chiefly to plantations, worked by enslaved black Americans. These were converted from tobacco cultivation to mixed farming and pulpwood harvesting as the markets changed and the soil became exhausted from tobacco. These new types of uses required fewer slaves, and many were sold from the Upper South in the domestic slave trade to the Deep South, where cotton cultivation expanded dramatically in the antebellum period.

During the twentieth century, Joe Thompson bought the Buckingham Mill. In 1945 he put into place the long system of utilizing grain which used sifters as the grain was ground. Seven years later he added grain elevators. This was the last mill to make flour in Buckingham County and represents a time when America relied on small farms and small business owners.^[5]

In the 21st century, large tracts of land are held by companies such as WestVaco, which sell pulpwood and other timber products to the paper mills and wood product producers.^{[citation needed]} It is still largely rural, with areas devoted to recreation such as fishing and hunting. ^[6]

During the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee's army marched through the county during his retreat on their way to surrender at Appomattox, Virginia.^[7] A marker in the cemetery of Trinity Presbyterian Church in New Canton reads:

According to the oral history of Trinity Presbyterian Church and this community, here are 45 Confederate and Union soldiers buried in mass graves directly behind this church. They left Appomattox after the surrender and headed for their homes north of here. Sick with disease, they died in a nearby camp. That they may not be forgotten, this plaque is placed by the Elliott Grays UDC Chapter #1877 2003.

In 2011, the county celebrated its 250th anniversary.^[8]

Geography

Buckingham County is rural and heavily forested.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km²), of which 580 square miles (1,500 km²) is land and 3.9 square miles (10 km²) (0.7%) is water.^[9]

The geographic center of Virginia is located in Buckingham County, near the Mt. Rush community.

Adjacent counties

Fluvanna County - northeast
Cumberland County - east
Prince Edward County - south
Appomattox County - southwest
Nelson County - west
Albemarle County - northwest

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	9,779	—
1800	13,389	36.9%
1810	20,059	49.8%
1820	17,569	−12.4%
1830	18,351	4.5%
1840	18,786	2.4%
1850	13,837	−26.3%
1860	15,212	9.9%
1870	13,371	−12.1%
1880	15,540	16.2%
1890	14,383	−7.4%
1900	15,266	6.1%
1910	15,204	−0.4%
1920	14,885	−2.1%
1930	13,315	−10.5%
1940	13,398	0.6%
1950	12,288	−8.3%
1960	10,877	−11.5%
1970	10,597	−2.6%
1980	11,751	10.9%
1990	12,873	9.5%
2000	15,623	21.4%
2010	17,146	9.7%
2020	16,824	−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census^[10] 1790-1960^[11] 1900-1990^[12] 1990-2000^[13] 2010^[14] 2020^[15]

2020 census

**Buckingham County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition**
*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 may be of any race.*
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010^[14]	Pop 2020^[15]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	10,494	10,314	61.20%	61.31%
Black or African American alone (NH)	5,979	5,390	34.87%	32.04%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	44	44	0.26%	0.26%
Asian alone (NH)	63	59	0.37%	0.35%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	0	0.01%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	17	52	0.10%	0.31%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	260	552	1.52%	3.28%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	288	413	1.68%	2.45%
Total	17,146	16,824	100.00%	100.00%

2010 Census

As of the census^[16] of 2010, there were 17,146 people and 5,695 households residing in the county. The population density was 29.6 people per square mile (11.4 people/km²). There were 7,294 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 62.5% White, 35.1% Black or African American alone, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.6% from two or more races. 60.9% of the population identified as White Alone, not Hispanic or Latino.

The largest ancestry groups are listed as 18.7% American, 9.2% English, and 5.4% German. People of African American descent comprise 35.1% of the population, usually having European ancestry as well.

There were 5,965 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6 had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, .6% from 20 to 24, 13% from 25 to 34, 22.8% from 35 to 49, and 22% from 50 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. There were 9,493 males and 7,653 females. The median age was 41.7.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,378. Males had a median income of $36,420 versus $32,327 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,938. About 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line.

In education, 38.2% of the population over age 25 graduated high school (or equivalent), 13.9% had some college, no degree, 3.8% hold an associate degree, 10.9% hold a bachelor's degree, and 10.9% hold a Graduate or Professional degree.

Government

County Administration

County Administrator - Karl Carter
IT Director - Jamie Shumaker
Finance Director - Kevin Hickman
Zoning Coordinator - Nicci Edmonston

Board of Supervisors

District 1: Dennis Davis - 2023 Vice Chairman
District 2: Cameron Gilliam
District 3: Don Matthews
District 4: Thomas Jordan Miles III
District 5: Harry W. Bryant
District 6: Joe N. Chambers, Jr. -2023 Chairman
District 7: Danny R. Allen

School Board

Source:^[17]

District 1: Jacqueline J. Newton
District 2: Rachel M. Castello-Dunn
District 3: Pamela P. Morris - Chairman
District 4: Joii W. Goodman - Vice-Chairman
District 5: Sherry S. Ragland
District 6: Michelle Ford
District 7: Theresa D. Bryant
Superintendent: Dr. John Keeler

Constitutional officers

Clerk of the Circuit Court: Justin Midkiff
Commissioner of the Revenue: Stephanie Love (D)
Commonwealth's Attorney: Kemper Beasley
Sheriff: W.G. "Billy" Kidd, Jr. (I)
Treasurer: Christy L. Christian (D)
Chief of Police: None

State officials

Mark J. Peake (R) Virginia Senate
C. Matt Fariss (R) Virginia House of Delegates

Federal officials

Bob Good (R, VA-5) in the U.S. House of Representatives

United States presidential election results for Buckingham County, Virginia^[18]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	4,544	55.92%	3,471	42.71%	111	1.37%
2016	3,950	54.19%	3,128	42.91%	211	2.89%
2012	3,569	47.86%	3,750	50.29%	138	1.85%
2008	3,428	49.01%	3,489	49.89%	77	1.10%
2004	3,185	52.85%	2,789	46.28%	53	0.88%
2000	2,738	50.20%	2,561	46.96%	155	2.84%
1996	1,974	40.70%	2,374	48.95%	502	10.35%
1992	2,368	46.40%	2,193	42.97%	542	10.62%
1988	2,481	55.49%	1,941	43.41%	49	1.10%
1984	2,627	57.36%	1,879	41.03%	74	1.62%
1980	1,864	47.51%	1,933	49.27%	126	3.21%
1976	1,487	39.57%	2,179	57.98%	92	2.45%
1972	2,107	62.86%	1,186	35.38%	59	1.76%
1968	1,027	32.05%	984	30.71%	1,193	37.23%
1964	1,547	56.60%	1,182	43.25%	4	0.15%
1960	765	44.37%	947	54.93%	12	0.70%
1956	751	43.64%	648	37.65%	322	18.71%
1952	811	46.58%	919	52.79%	11	0.63%
1948	354	27.94%	728	57.46%	185	14.60%
1944	286	28.26%	723	71.44%	3	0.30%
1940	289	25.73%	829	73.82%	5	0.45%
1936	273	22.38%	945	77.46%	2	0.16%
1932	204	18.72%	870	79.82%	16	1.47%
1928	579	49.15%	599	50.85%	0	0.00%
1924	213	25.03%	623	73.21%	15	1.76%
1920	311	29.28%	749	70.53%	2	0.19%
1916	181	22.24%	625	76.78%	8	0.98%
1912	97	11.98%	603	74.44%	110	13.58%