Appomattox County, Virginia
Appomattox County (/ˌæpəˈmætəks/ A-pə-MA-təks)[1] is a United States county located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county is part of the Lynchburg metropolitan area, and its county seat is the town of Appomattox.[2]
Appomattox County was created in 1845 from parts of four other Virginia counties. The name of the county comes from the Appamatuck Indians, who lived in the area. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,119.[3]
History
[edit | edit source]
Appomattox County was formed in 1845 from Buckingham, Prince Edward, Campbell, and Charlotte counties. In 1848, another part from Campbell County was added. It was named for the Appomattox River, which in turn was named for the Appamatuck, a historic Native American tribes in Virginia of the Algonquian-speaking Powhatan Confederacy.[4]
Appomattox came to national attention on April 9, 1865, when Confederate General Robert E. Lee met with Union General Ulysses S. Grant at the village of Appomattox Court House to accept Lee's surrender. The surrender of Lee, which effectively ended the American Civil War, took place at the McLean House, home of Wilmer McLean.[4]
Geography
[edit | edit source]According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 335 square miles (870 km2), of which 333 square miles (860 km2) is land and 1.2 square miles (3.1 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5]
Adjacent counties
[edit | edit source]- Nelson County - north
- Buckingham County - northeast
- Prince Edward County - southeast
- Charlotte County - south
- Campbell County - southwest
- Amherst County - northwest
National protected area
[edit | edit source]Major highways
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Demographics
[edit | edit source]Racial and ethnic composition
[edit | edit source]| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 1980[6] | Pop 1990[7] | Pop 2000[8] | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 1980 | % 1990 | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 9,117 | 9,439 | 10,377 | 11,483 | 12,155 | 76.16% | 76.75% | 75.72% | 76.69% | 75.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,753 | 2,810 | 3,132 | 2,998 | 2,877 | 23.00% | 22.85% | 22.85% | 20.02% | 17.85% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 10 | 11 | 17 | 28 | 50 | 0.08% | 0.09% | 0.12% | 0.19% | 0.31% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 9 | 6 | 23 | 35 | 42 | 0.08% | 0.05% | 0.17% | 0.23% | 0.26% |
| Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) | x [11] | x [12] | 3 | 4 | 3 | x | x | 0.02% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 6 | 2 | 18 | 23 | 84 | 0.05% | 0.02% | 0.13% | 0.15% | 0.52% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | x [13] | x [14] | 70 | 235 | 564 | x | x | 0.51% | 1.57% | 3.50% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 76 | 30 | 65 | 167 | 344 | 0.63% | 0.24% | 0.47% | 1.12% | 2.13% |
| Total | 11,971 | 12,298 | 13,705 | 14,973 | 16,119 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
2020 census
[edit | edit source]As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,119. The median age was 42.6 years. 22.2% of residents were under the age of 18 and 20.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 91.8 males age 18 and over.[15][16]
The racial makeup of the county was 76.0% White, 18.0% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.1% from some other race, and 4.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.1% of the population.[16]
0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.[17]
There were 6,470 households in the county, of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[15]
There were 7,301 housing units, of which 11.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.1% were owner-occupied and 21.9% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.1%.[15]
2000 Census
[edit | edit source]As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 13,705 people, 5,322 households, and 4,012 families residing in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 5,828 housing units at an average density of 18 units per square mile (6.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 75.94% White, 22.91% Black or African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.26% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 5,322 households, out of which 32.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.70% were married couples living together, 11.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.60% were non-families. 21.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.55 and the average family size was 2.94.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 14.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.80 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,507, and the median income for a family was $41,563. Males had a median income of $31,428 versus $21,367 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,086. 11.40% of the population and 8.70% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 14.10% of those under the age of 18 and 21.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Government
[edit | edit source]Appomattox County was historically strongly Democratic, as part of the Solid South. It has been consistently won by Republicans since 1964.
Board of Supervisors
[edit | edit source]- Appomattox River district: Ken Wolfskill (R)
- Courthouse district: Samuel E. Carter (I)
- Falling River district: John F. Hinkle, Chairman (R)
- Piney Mountain district: Alfred L. Jones III, Vice-Chairman (I)
- Wreck Island district: Trevor L. Hipps (R)
Constitutional officers
[edit | edit source]- Clerk of the Circuit Court: Janet A. Hix (I)
- Commissioner of the Revenue: Sara R. Henderson (I)
- Commonwealth's Attorney: Leslie M. Fleet (I)
- Sheriff: Robert Richardson (I)
- Treasurer: Victoria C. Phelps (I)
Appomattox County is represented by Republican Luther Cifers in the Virginia Senate, Republican Lee Ware in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican John McGuire in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 28 | 3.81% | 654 | 89.10% | 52 | 7.08% |
| 1916 | 133 | 15.91% | 700 | 83.73% | 3 | 0.36% |
| 1920 | 190 | 18.41% | 837 | 81.10% | 5 | 0.48% |
| 1924 | 101 | 9.41% | 952 | 88.72% | 20 | 1.86% |
| 1928 | 446 | 33.51% | 885 | 66.49% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 204 | 15.26% | 1,123 | 83.99% | 10 | 0.75% |
| 1936 | 204 | 12.85% | 1,375 | 86.64% | 8 | 0.50% |
| 1940 | 215 | 15.77% | 1,144 | 83.93% | 4 | 0.29% |
| 1944 | 270 | 19.49% | 1,109 | 80.07% | 6 | 0.43% |
| 1948 | 238 | 14.29% | 1,182 | 70.95% | 246 | 14.77% |
| 1952 | 929 | 49.13% | 957 | 50.61% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1956 | 853 | 40.89% | 1,079 | 51.73% | 154 | 7.38% |
| 1960 | 951 | 43.07% | 1,240 | 56.16% | 17 | 0.77% |
| 1964 | 2,444 | 64.47% | 1,339 | 35.32% | 8 | 0.21% |
| 1968 | 1,753 | 43.42% | 756 | 18.73% | 1,528 | 37.85% |
| 1972 | 2,788 | 78.20% | 684 | 19.19% | 93 | 2.61% |
| 1976 | 1,964 | 50.84% | 1,702 | 44.06% | 197 | 5.10% |
| 1980 | 2,548 | 60.42% | 1,492 | 35.38% | 177 | 4.20% |
| 1984 | 3,386 | 68.65% | 1,498 | 30.37% | 48 | 0.97% |
| 1988 | 3,205 | 63.59% | 1,740 | 34.52% | 95 | 1.88% |
| 1992 | 2,830 | 50.36% | 1,919 | 34.15% | 871 | 15.50% |
| 1996 | 2,625 | 47.93% | 2,239 | 40.88% | 613 | 11.19% |
| 2000 | 3,654 | 61.65% | 2,132 | 35.97% | 141 | 2.38% |
| 2004 | 4,366 | 65.60% | 2,191 | 32.92% | 98 | 1.47% |
| 2008 | 4,903 | 64.26% | 2,641 | 34.61% | 86 | 1.13% |
| 2012 | 5,340 | 67.30% | 2,453 | 30.91% | 142 | 1.79% |
| 2016 | 5,715 | 71.34% | 2,023 | 25.25% | 273 | 3.41% |
| 2020 | 6,702 | 72.31% | 2,418 | 26.09% | 148 | 1.60% |
| 2024 | 7,243 | 74.79% | 2,324 | 24.00% | 118 | 1.22% |
| 2016 | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% | 1 | 33.33% |
Communities
[edit | edit source]Towns
[edit | edit source]Census-designated place
[edit | edit source]- Concord (primarily in Campbell County)
Other unincorporated communities
[edit | edit source]See also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- ↑ Template:Cite Collins Dictionary
- ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ↑ "Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "History of Appomattox County". Appomattox County, Virginia. March 19, 2012. Archived from the original on December 31, 2013. Retrieved December 29, 2013.
- ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ↑ "1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Virginia - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-24. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 18, 2026 – via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ "1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Virginia: Tables 3-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. p. 13-51. Archived from the original (PDF) on June 24, 2021 – via WayBack Machine.
- ↑ "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ "P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Appomattox County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census
- ↑ included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1980 Census
- ↑ not an option in the 1990 Census
- ↑ 15.0 15.1 15.2 "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved December 24, 2025.
- ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
- ↑ O'Bannon, John (November 8, 2016). "2016 President General Election". Virginia Department of Elections. Archived from the original on August 3, 2025. Retrieved October 13, 2025.
External links
[edit | edit source]- Official County website
- Official Tourism website for Town and County of Appomattox Archived April 14, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
- Appomattox Court House National Historical Park website
Coordinates: 37°21′32″N 78°49′35″W / 37.358973°N 78.826438°W