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 in the state of Virginia, USA. It is located in the Piedmont region, which is a hilly area at the base of the mountains. The county is part of the Lynchburg area. Its main town, called the county seat, is also named Amherst.
Amherst County was formed in 1761 from a part of Albemarle County. It was named after Lord Jeffery Amherst. He was a British general known for his victories in Canada. In 1807, the county became smaller to create Nelson County. In its early years, tobacco was the main crop grown here. Enslaved African people were forced to do the hard work of growing and processing this crop before the American Civil War.
According to the 2020 census, about 31,307 people live in Amherst County.
Contents
History of Amherst County
Thousands of years ago, Native Americans were the first people to live in this area. They hunted and fished along the many rivers and streams. When the Virginia Colony started in 1607, English settlers arrived in North America. By the late 1600s, English explorers and traders had traveled up the James River to this region.
Early trading posts were set up between 1710 and 1720. By 1730, many new English families moved to what is now Amherst County. They were looking for land and good soil to grow tobacco.
Amherst County was officially formed in 1761. It was made from a part of Albemarle County. The first county seat was in Cabelsville, which is now Colleen. This area later became part of Nelson County. The county was named after Lord Amherst. He was a British commander who helped Britain win Canada from the French in the Seven Years' War. Lord Amherst was also named Governor of Virginia, but he never actually visited the colony.
In 1806, Amherst County got its current shape when Nelson County was formed from its northern half. At that time, the county seat moved to a village called Five Oaks. This village was later renamed Amherst. The current county courthouse was built in 1870 and is still used today. During the American Civil War, Amherst County sent many soldiers to fight for the Confederate States.
In the early days, tobacco was the most important crop in Amherst County. Later, in the late 1800s, apple orchards became popular. People also started mixed farming, which meant growing different crops and raising animals. Other important jobs included working with timber (wood), mining, and milling. The arrival of the railroad in the late 1800s helped the county grow a lot. Amherst County has many old buildings from the 1700s, 1800s, and early 1900s. The main street of Amherst town is a great example of early 1900s business buildings.
Fun Things to Do
Amherst County has many places for fun and outdoor activities. There are four public lakes: Mill Creek, Thrashers Lake, Otter Lake, and Stonehouse Lake. Here, you can go fishing, canoeing, or kayaking.
The county also has many parks and trails. About 25 miles of the famous Appalachian Trail run through the George Washington National Forest in Amherst County. Other trails lead to mountain peaks like Mount Pleasant, Cole Mountain, and Tar Jacket Ridge.
Local Festivals
- 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 of Amherst County
The U.S. Census Bureau says that Amherst County covers about 479 square miles. Most of this area, about 474 square miles, is land. The rest, about 4.9 square miles (1.0%), is water.
Neighboring Areas
Amherst County shares borders with these counties and one independent city:
- Rockbridge County – to the northwest
- Nelson County – to the northeast
- Appomattox County – to the southeast
- Campbell County – to the south
- Lynchburg – to the south (this is an independent city, not part of a county)
- Bedford County – to the southwest
Protected Natural Areas
Parts of these important natural areas are in Amherst County:
- Blue Ridge Parkway
- George Washington National Forest
Main Roads
These are some of the major highways that go through Amherst County:
US 29 (N & S Amherst Hwy, 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)
Population Information
| 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 Details
The 2020 census collected information about the people living in Amherst County. This table shows the different racial and ethnic groups. Please note that Hispanic/Latino is considered an ethnic group and can include people of any race.
| 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% |
Schools and Colleges
Amherst County Public Schools serve the students in the county. There is one main high school, two middle schools, and several elementary schools. Temple Christian School is a private school at Temple Baptist Church. Sweet Briar College, a college for women, is also located in Amherst County, just south of the town of Amherst.
Communities in the County
Town
Census-designated place
Other Small Communities
Famous People from Amherst County
- James John Floyd (1750-1783): Born in Amherst County, he helped start Louisville, Kentucky. He was a pioneer judge.
- William Barnett (1761–1834): Born in Amherst County, he became a United States Congressman.
- William Becknell: Born in Amherst County, he was the first white person to open what became the Santa Fe Trail.
- Samuel Jordan Cabell (1756–1818): Born in Amherst County, he also became a United States Congressman.
- Peter Cartwright (1785–1872): Born in Amherst County, he was a well-known preacher.
- Powhatan Ellis (1790–1863): Born in Amherst County, he was a judge, a United States Senator from Mississippi, and a diplomat. Ellisville, Mississippi, is named after him.
- David S. Garland (1769–1841): A Congressman and founder of the New Glasgow Academy.
- Ottie Cline Powell (1890–1894): A four-year-old boy born in Amherst County who sadly passed away after getting lost near his school.
- Pierre Thomas (born 1962): An American journalist who works for ABC News. He has won several awards for his reporting.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Amherst para niños
