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Culpeper County, Virginia
Culpeper County Courthouse, Culpeper (Culpeper County, Virginia)
Culpeper County Courthouse
Flag of Culpeper County, Virginia
Flag
Seal of Culpeper County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Culpeper County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1749
Named for Thomas Colepeper
Seat Culpeper
Largest city Culpeper
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

383 sq mi (992 km²)
379 sq mi (982 km²)
3.3 sq mi (9 km²), 0.9
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

52,552
Congressional district 7th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.culpepercounty.gov

Culpeper County is a county located along the borderlands of the northern and central region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States Census, the population was 52,552.[1] Its county seat and only incorporated community is Culpeper.[2]

Culpeper County is included in the Washington–Baltimore–Arlington, DC–MD–VA–WV–PA Combined Statistical Area.

History[]

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of future Culpeper County were a Siouan-speaking sub-group of the Manahoac tribe called the Tegninateo.[3] Culpeper County was established in 1749, with territory partitioned from Orange County. The county is named for Thomas Colepeper, 2nd Baron Colepeper, colonial governor of Virginia from 1677 to 1683.

In May 1749, the first Culpeper Court convened in the home of Robert Tureman, near the present location of the Town of Culpeper. In July 1749, Tureman commissioned 17-year-old George Washington as the first County surveyor.[4] One of his first duties was to lay out the county's courthouse complex, which included the courthouse, jail, stocks, gallows and accessory buildings. By 1752 the complex stood at the present northeast corner of Davis and Main Streets. The courthouse village was named Town of Fairfax for Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1693–1781).[5]

Cornfields east of Culpeper, VA IMG 4315

Cornfields east of Culpeper

During the Virginia convention held in May 1775, the colony was divided into sixteen districts. Each district had instructions to raise a battalion of men "to march at a minute's notice." Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier, forming one district, raised 350 men in "Clayton's old field" on the Catalpa estate; they were called the Culpeper Minute Men. In December, the Minute Men, marching under their flag depicting a rattlesnake and inscribed with the words "Liberty or Death" and "Don't Tread on Me", took part in the Battle of Great Bridge, the first Revolutionary battle on Virginia soil. The Culpeper Minute Men reorganized in 1860 in response to the impending Civil War and became part of 13th Infantry's Company B, fighting against the US Government forces. The Culpeper Minutemen were again organized for World War I, and joined the 116th Infantry.

In 1833, based on the county's growing population and the need of those in the northwestern area for easier access to a county seat, the upper 267 square miles (692 km2) of Culpeper County was partitioned off to create Rappahannock County, Virginia, which was founded by an act of the Virginia General Assembly.

During the Civil War the Battle of Cedar Mountain took place on 9 August 1862, and the Battle of Brandy Station occurred on 9 June 1863, in Culpeper County.

Culpeper was the boyhood home of Civil War General A. P. Hill, who fought against Union forces.

The negative impact of the Massive Resistance campaign against school integration led to the statewide election of a pro-desegregation governor. By the middle of the 1970s,[6] Culpeper was the last county in Virginia to desegregate its public schools. In 2018 Culpeper County Public Schools[7] has six elementary, two middle schools and two high schools. In 1935 the Rotary Club of Culpeper began a college loan fund, which in 1966 became a four-year scholarship based on academic achievement. The group also provides a Technical School scholarship based on academic achievement.[8]

Culpeper County is home to Commonwealth Park, site for many world-class equestrian events. It was here that actor Christopher Reeve suffered his 1995 accident during a competition.

The town of Culpeper was rated #10 by Norman Crampton, author of "The 100 Best Small Towns in America," in February, 1993.

In April 2016, the county Board of Supervisors denied a routine request from the Islamic Center of Culpeper for a pump and haul permit to serve their envisioned mosque. This resulted in a lawsuit by the US Department of Justice in December.[9]

Economy[]

Culpeper County has a civilian workforce of 24,313.[10] 30% of residents live and work within the county while 70% of workers commute out of the locality. The most residents are commuting to Fairfax or Fauqier counties. In comparison, the equivalent of 45% are in-commuters. The most in-commuters are coming from Orange County.[11]

The Top 10 non-governmental Culpeper employers as of March 2021:[11]

  1. Culpeper Memorial Hospital
  2. Walmart
  3. S.W.I.F.T.
  4. Merillat Industries
  5. Cintas Corporation
  6. Continental Automotive
  7. Culpeper Health and Rehabilitation Center
  8. Virginia Baptist Homes
  9. Bingham and Taylor Corporation
  10. Childhelp

Geography[]

The northeast border of Culpeper County is defined by the Rappahannock River which flows east-southeastward along its border, while the south border of the county is similarly defined by the meanders of the Rapidan River. The Hazel River flows eastward through the county, discharging into the Rappahannock on the county's east border, while the Thornton River also flows eastward through the county, discharging into the Hazel in the north part of the county. The county is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are quickly accessed beginning with Old Rag Mountain and the Skyline Drive just up Route 522.[12] The rolling hills generally slope to the south and east, with its highest point near its west corner at 705' (215m) ASL.[13] The county has a total area of 383 square miles (990 km2), of which 379 square miles (980 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (0.9%) is water.[14]

Major highways[]

  • US 15 US 15
  • US 29 US 29
  • US 211 US 211
  • US 522 US 522
  • Virginia 3 SR 3
  • Virginia 229 SR 229
  • Virginia 299 SR 299

Adjacent counties[]

Protected areas[]

  • Brandy Station Battlefield Park
  • Mountain Run Lake Park

[12]

Lakes[]

  • Balds Run Reservoir
  • Brandy Rock Farm Lake
  • Caynor Lake
  • Lake Pelham
  • Merrimac/Mountain Run Lake

[12]

Government[]

Board of Supervisors[]

  • Catalpa District: Sue D. Hansohn (R)
  • Cedar Mountain District: C. Jack Frazier (I)
  • East Fairfax District: Steven L. Walker (R)
  • Jefferson District: Brad C. Rosenberger (R)
  • Salem District: Alexa V. Fritz (R)
  • Stevensburg District: William C. Chase, Jr. Vice Chairman (I)
  • West Fairfax District: Gary M. Deal (R)


  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Carson Beard (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Terry L. Yowell (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Paul R. Walther (R)
  • Sheriff: Scott H. Jenkins (I)
  • Treasurer: David L. Dejarnette (R)

Culpeper County is represented by Republicans Bryce E. Reeves, Emmett W. Hanger, Jr., and Jill Holtzman Vogel in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Michael J. Webert and Edward T. Scott in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Democrat Abigail Spanberger in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Culpeper County has been a Republican precinct for several decades. In only one national election since 1948 has the county selected the Democratic Party candidate (as of 2020).

United States presidential election results for Culpeper County, Virginia[15]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 16,012 59.05% 10,617 39.15% 487 1.80%
2016 13,349 60.08% 7,759 34.92% 1,110 5.00%
2012 11,580 57.30% 8,285 40.99% 346 1.71%
2008 10,711 54.26% 8,802 44.59% 228 1.15%
2004 10,026 64.25% 5,476 35.09% 103 0.66%
2000 7,440 60.76% 4,364 35.64% 440 3.59%
1996 5,688 53.90% 3,907 37.02% 958 9.08%
1992 5,226 49.93% 3,444 32.91% 1,796 17.16%
1988 5,896 68.57% 2,555 29.71% 148 1.72%
1984 5,596 70.60% 2,255 28.45% 75 0.95%
1980 4,312 59.43% 2,519 34.72% 424 5.84%
1976 3,659 54.64% 2,892 43.19% 145 2.17%
1972 3,707 72.80% 1,316 25.84% 69 1.36%
1968 2,229 47.49% 1,239 26.40% 1,226 26.12%
1964 1,775 48.43% 1,886 51.46% 4 0.11%
1960 1,630 54.86% 1,332 44.83% 9 0.30%
1956 1,502 56.44% 966 36.30% 193 7.25%
1952 1,507 60.33% 987 39.51% 4 0.16%
1948 682 40.14% 804 47.32% 213 12.54%
1944 750 42.30% 1,022 57.64% 1 0.06%
1940 579 32.27% 1,208 67.34% 7 0.39%
1936 551 30.21% 1,266 69.41% 7 0.38%
1932 417 23.40% 1,349 75.70% 16 0.90%
1928 753 47.39% 836 52.61% 0 0.00%
1924 190 17.15% 876 79.06% 42 3.79%
1920 330 25.27% 973 74.50% 3 0.23%
1916 184 17.73% 849 81.79% 5 0.48%
1912 108 11.80% 752 82.19% 55 6.01%
1908 233 19.47% 962 80.37% 2 0.17%
1904 209 20.69% 798 79.01% 3 0.30%
1900 847 35.89% 1,512 64.07% 1 0.04%
1896 1,113 39.18% 1,704 59.98% 24 0.84%
1892 991 38.65% 1,561 60.88% 12 0.47%
1888 1,181 45.69% 1,404 54.31% 0 0.00%
1884 1,125 44.64% 1,395 55.36% 0 0.00%
1880 926 41.51% 1,305 58.49% 0 0.00%



Procurement[]

Recent media investigations regarding law enforcement procurement of military equipment through the "1033" program offered by the Defense Logistics Agency identified Culpeper County as having received, as donations, a "Mine Resistant Vehicle" in 2013 worth $412,000 and 20 night-vision optics worth an additional $136,000.00.[16] This equipment, valued at more than half a million dollars, was obtained at no additional cost to Culpeper County residents.

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 22,105
1800 18,100 −18.1%
1810 18,967 4.8%
1820 20,944 10.4%
1830 24,027 14.7%
1840 11,393 −52.6%
1850 12,282 7.8%
1860 12,063 −1.8%
1870 12,227 1.4%
1880 13,408 9.7%
1890 13,233 −1.3%
1900 14,123 6.7%
1910 13,472 −4.6%
1920 13,292 −1.3%
1930 13,306 0.1%
1940 13,365 0.4%
1950 13,242 −0.9%
1960 15,088 13.9%
1970 18,218 20.7%
1980 22,620 24.2%
1990 27,791 22.9%
2000 34,262 23.3%
2010 46,689 36.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[17]
1790–1960[18] 1900–1990[19]
1990–2000[20] 2010[21] 2020[22]

2020 census[]

Culpeper County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[21] Pop 2020[22] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 33,482 34,840 71.71% 66.30%
Black or African American alone (NH) 7,212 6,453 15.45% 12.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 129 110 0.28% 0.21%
Asian alone (NH) 593 767 1.27% 1.46%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 12 20 0.03% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 100 233 0.21% 0.44%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,004 2,620 2.15% 4.99%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 4,157 7,509 8.90% 14.29%
Total 46,689 52,552 100.00% 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.

2000 census[]

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families in the county. The population density was 90.4/sqmi (34.9/km2). There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34.0/sqmi (13.1/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 68.27% White, 28.15% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,141 households, out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.08.

The county population contained 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,290, and the median income for a family was $51,475. Males had a median income of $36,621 versus $25,985 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,162. About 27.00% of families and 29.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 38.30% of those under age 18 and 28.60% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

Culpeper County Public Schools

Elementary schools[]

  • A.G. Richardson Elementary
  • Culpeper Christian
  • Emerald Hill Elementary
  • Epiphany Catholic School
  • Farmington Elementary
  • Pearl Sample Elementary
  • Sycamore Park Elementary
  • Yowell Elementary

Middle schools[]

  • Culpeper Christian
  • Culpeper Middle
  • Floyd T. Binns Middle

High schools[]

  • Culpeper County High School
  • Eastern View High School
  • Culpeper Technical Education Center

Communities[]

US Route 211 in Culpeper County

U.S. Route 211 as it passes through Culpeper County

Town[]

Unincorporated communities[]

  • Alanthus
  • Boston
  • Brandy Station
  • Buena
  • Cardova
  • Catalpa
  • Eggbornsville
  • Eldorada
  • Elkwood
  • Griffinsburg
  • Jeffersonton
  • Kellys Ford
  • Lagrange
  • Lignum
  • Mitchells
  • Rapidan
  • Reva
  • Richardsville
  • Rixeyville
  • Stevensburg
  • Wakefield
  • Waterloo
  • Winston

[12]

Notable people[]

  • Kenny Alphin - (b. 1963) country music singer
  • Thomas Colepeper - Governor of Virginia Colony (1677-1683)
  • Pete Hill - (1882-1951) professional baseball player, in Hall of Fame
  • Dangerfield Newby - (c.1820-October 17, 1859), one of John Brown's men killed in the raid on the federal armory at Harper's Ferry, VA
  • Eppa Rixey - (1891-1963) professional baseball player, in Hall of Fame
  • D. French Slaughter, Jr. - US Congressman (1985-1991)
  • Andrew Stevenson – Speaker of the House of Representatives
  • French Strother - (1730-1800) significant political figure in early national history

See also[]

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

References[]

  1. ^ "2020 Population and Housing State Data". United States Census Bureau. August 12, 2021. https://www.census.gov/library/visualizations/interactive/2020-population-and-housing-state-data.html. 
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. 
  3. ^ Swanton, John R. (1952), The Indian Tribes of North America, Smithsonian Institution, pp. 61–62, ISBN 0-8063-1730-2, OCLC 52230544, https://books.google.com/books?id=vtHI5pkJOGMC 
  4. ^ Abbott, W.W., editor. The Papers of George Washington: Colonial Series, Vol. 1 (University Press of Virginia: 1983) p. 9
  5. ^ Culpeper County Comprehensive Plan, 2005 Archived October 24, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Encyclopedia Virginia: Desegregation in Public Schools, accessed March 2018.
  7. ^ Culpeper County Public Schools official website, accessed March 2018.
  8. ^ Rotary Club of Culpeper: Scholarships, accessed 2018.
  9. ^ Washington Post (15 December 2016)
  10. ^ "Estimated Labor Force Components, August 2021". VEC. https://www.vec.virginia.gov/sites/default/files/news-13603-08-2021%20Pre%20%26%2007-2021%20Rev%20%20--%20%20Estimated%20Labor%20Force%20Components.pdf. 
  11. ^ a b "Community Profile". VEC. https://virginiaworks.com/_docs/Local-Area-Profiles/5104000047.pdf. 
  12. ^ a b c d Culpeper County VA Google Maps (accessed 14 April 2019)
  13. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Culpeper County VA" Google Maps (accessed 14 April 2019)". https://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm. 
  14. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. 12 February 2011. https://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/gazette.html. 
  15. ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS. 
  16. ^ DHS 1033 Program Database http://www.freep.com/article/20140817/NEWS06/140726001
  17. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html. 
  18. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu. 
  19. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt. 
  20. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". US Census Bureau. https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf. 
  21. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Culpeper County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51047&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2. 
  22. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Culpeper County, Virginia". https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51047&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2. 

External links[]

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Coordinates: 38°29′N 77°58′W / 38.49, -77.96


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Culpeper County, Virginia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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