Amherst County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Amherst County
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Amherst County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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 Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| Founded | 1761 | ||||
| Named for | Jeffery Amherst | ||||
| Seat | Amherst | ||||
| Largest town | Amherst | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 479 sq mi (1,240 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 474 sq mi (1,230 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 4.9 sq mi (13 km2) 1.0% | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 31,307 | ||||
| • Density | 65.36/sq mi (25.235/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||||
| Congressional district | 5th | ||||
Amherst County is a county, located in the Piedmont region and near the center of the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States. The county is part of the Lynchburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, and its county seat is also named Amherst.
Amherst County was created in 1761 out of Albemarle County, and it was named in honor of Lord Jeffery Amherst, the so-called "Conqueror of Canada". In 1807 as population increased, the county was reduced in size in order to form Nelson County. Tobacco was the major cash crop of the county during its early years. The labor-intensive crop was worked and processed by enslaved Africans and African Americans before the American Civil War.
As of the 2020 census, the population of the county was 31,307.
Contents
History
Beginning thousands of years in the past, Native Americans were the first humans to populate the area. They hunted and fished mainly along the countless rivers and streams in the county. With the establishment of the Virginia Colony in 1607, English emigrants arrived in North America. By the late 17th century English explorers and traders had traveled up the James River to this area. Early trading posts were established between 1710 and 1720. By 1730, many new English colonial families moved into the area currently known as Amherst County, drawn by the desire for land and the good tobacco-growing soil.
Amherst County was formed in 1761, from part of southwestern Albemarle County. The original county seat had been in Cabelsville, now Colleen, in what would later become Nelson County. The county was named for Lord Amherst, known as the "Conqueror of Canada", who commanded the British forces that successfully secured Canada from the French during the Seven Years' War. Jeffery Amherst had previously been named as Governor of Virginia, although he never came to this colony.
In 1806 the county took its present proportions, when Nelson County was formed from its northern half. At that point, the county seat was moved to the village of Five Oaks, later renamed Amherst. The present county courthouse was built in 1870 and has served the county ever since. Amherst County produced more Confederate soldiers per capita than anywhere else in the Confederate States of America.
In the early days, the major crop raised in Amherst County was tobacco. Apple orchards were part of mixed farming that replaced tobacco, especially in the late 19th century. Timber, mining and milling were also important industries. The introduction of the railroad in the late 19th century greatly influenced the county's growth. The county contains many good examples of 18th, 19th and early 20th century rural and small town architecture. The downtown area of Amherst is a classic example of early 20th century commercial architecture.
Recreation and attractions
Recreational attractions are located throughout the county. There are four recreational and public lakes, namely Mill Creek, Thrashers Lake, Otter Lake and Stonehouse Lake, which offer opportunities to fish, canoe or kayak. There are many parks and trails in the county, including about 25 miles of the Appalachian Trail, which runs through the George Washington National Forest. Offshoot trails lead to peaks in Amherst, such at Mount Pleasant, Cole Mountain, and Tar Jacket Ridge.
Festivals in the area
- Rebec Vineyard's Garlic Festival
- Lazy Days Vineyard's Summer Solstice Festival
- Amherst County Sorghum Festival
- The Batteau Festival
- Amherst Apple Harvest Festival
Amherst County Fair
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 479 square miles (1,240 km2), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 4.9 square miles (13 km2) (1.0%) is water.
Adjacent counties / Independent city
- Rockbridge County – northwest
- Nelson County – northeast
- Appomattox County – southeast
- Campbell County – south
- Lynchburg – south (independent city)
- Bedford County – southwest
National protected areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- George Washington National Forest (part)
Major highways
US 29 (N & S Amherst Hwy, S. Amherst Hwy is US BUS 29 south of Amherst and then turns into the Lynchburg Expressway in Madison Heights; Monacan Trail)
US 60 (Lexington Turnpike; Richmond Hwy)
US 501 (joins SR 130 and becomes Elon Rd.)
SR 130 (Elon Rd; Amelon Hwy)
SR 151 (Patrick Henry Hwy)
SR 163 (S Amherst Hwy)
SR 210 (Old Town Connector)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 13,703 | — | |
| 1800 | 16,801 | 22.6% | |
| 1810 | 10,548 | −37.2% | |
| 1820 | 10,423 | −1.2% | |
| 1830 | 12,071 | 15.8% | |
| 1840 | 12,576 | 4.2% | |
| 1850 | 12,699 | 1.0% | |
| 1860 | 13,742 | 8.2% | |
| 1870 | 14,900 | 8.4% | |
| 1880 | 18,709 | 25.6% | |
| 1890 | 17,551 | −6.2% | |
| 1900 | 17,864 | 1.8% | |
| 1910 | 18,932 | 6.0% | |
| 1920 | 19,771 | 4.4% | |
| 1930 | 19,020 | −3.8% | |
| 1940 | 20,273 | 6.6% | |
| 1950 | 20,332 | 0.3% | |
| 1960 | 22,953 | 12.9% | |
| 1970 | 26,072 | 13.6% | |
| 1980 | 29,122 | 11.7% | |
| 1990 | 28,578 | −1.9% | |
| 2000 | 31,894 | 11.6% | |
| 2010 | 32,353 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 31,307 | −3.2% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 24,491 | 22,967 | 75.70% | 73.36% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 6,104 | 5,346 | 18.87% | 17.08% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 296 | 243 | 0.91% | 0.78% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 153 | 182 | 0.47% | 0.58% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 7 | 25 | 0.02% | 0.08% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 44 | 145 | 0.14% | 0.46% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 633 | 1,561 | 1.96% | 4.99% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 625 | 838 | 1.93% | 2.68% |
| Total | 32,353 | 31,307 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Education
Amherst County is served by Amherst County Public Schools, which operates one central high school, two middle schools, and several elementary schools. Temple Christian School is a private school located on the grounds of Temple Baptist Church. Sweet Briar College is also located in Amherst County, just south of the town of Amherst.
Communities
Town
Census-designated place
Other unincorporated communities
Notable people
- James John Floyd (1750-1783), born in Amherst County, co-founder of Louisville, KY and early settler in that area; Kentucky Colonel and pioneer judge
- William Barnett (1761–1834), born in Amherst County, United States Congressman
- William Becknell, born in Amherst County, first white man to open what would become the Santa Fe Trail
- Samuel Jordan Cabell (1756–1818), born in Amherst County, United States Congressman
- Peter Cartwright (1785–1872), born in Amherst County, noted "hellfire and brimstone" preacher
- Powhatan Ellis (1790–1863), born in Amherst County, justice of the Mississippi Supreme Court, United States Senator from Mississippi, and minister to Mexico. Ellisville, Mississippi, is named in his honor
- David S. Garland (1769–1841), Congressman, master of the Brick House (Clifford, Virginia), founder of the New Glasgow Academy
- Ottie Cline Powell (1890–1894), born in Amherst County, four-year-old boy who died after getting lost collecting firewood outside his schoolhouse. There is an urban legend that Ottie haunts the area where he died.
- Pierre Thomas (b.1962)is an American journalist. He serves as a senior justice correspondent at ABC News. He has twice won an Emmy, as well as winning a Peabody Award and DuPont Award and been named “Journalist of the Year” by the National Association of Black Journalists.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Amherst para niños
