Buckingham County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Buckingham County
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Buckingham 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 | 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)
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| • Total | 16,824 | ||
| • Density | 28.808/sq mi (11.123/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 5th | ||
Buckingham County is a rural county in Virginia, a state in the United States. It is special because it holds the geographic center of Virginia. This county is part of the Piedmont region of Virginia. The main town, or county seat, is called Buckingham.
Buckingham County was created in 1761. It was formed from the southeastern part of Albemarle County. The county was mostly farmland back then. It was likely named after the Duke of Buckingham. However, no one is completely sure about the exact reason for the name. The county's borders changed a few times. They became fixed in their current shape in 1860. In 2020, about 16,824 people lived in Buckingham County.
Contents
History of Buckingham County
Buckingham County was officially started on May 1, 1761. It is located south of the James River in the Piedmont area. This spot is also the geographic center of Virginia. The county was named after the Duke of Buckingham from England. Some people also think it might have been named after an estate called "Buckingham" on Willis Creek. This is the only Buckingham County in the entire United States!
Changes to the County Borders
Over the years, Buckingham County's shape changed a bit.
- In 1778, a small piece of land near the James River was given to Cumberland County.
- In 1845, another part was used to form the northern section of Appomattox County.
- The final change to the Appomattox-Buckingham border happened in 1860. After this, Buckingham's borders stayed the same.
A Lost Courthouse and Records
Sadly, a fire destroyed the county courthouse in 1869. This courthouse was designed by Thomas Jefferson, a famous American president. Because of the fire, most of the county's old records were lost. This makes it harder to learn about the very early days of Buckingham County.
Farming and Life in the 1800s
In the 1800s, more people moved to Buckingham County from the eastern part of Virginia. The county had many large farms, called plantations. These farms used enslaved African Americans for labor. Farmers first grew tobacco. Later, they switched to mixed farming and cutting trees for wood pulp. This happened as the tobacco market changed and the soil became tired.
Modern Times and the Civil War
In the 1900s, Joe Thompson bought the Buckingham Mill. He made it modern for grinding grain. This was the last mill in Buckingham County to make flour. It shows a time when America had many small farms and local businesses. Today, large companies own much of the land. They sell wood products to paper mills. Buckingham County is still mostly rural. People enjoy fishing and hunting there.
During the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee's army marched through the county. This was during their retreat before surrendering at Appomattox, Virginia. A special marker at Trinity Presbyterian Church in New Canton remembers this time. It says that 45 soldiers, both Confederate and Union, are buried there. They died from sickness after the surrender.
In 2011, Buckingham County celebrated its 250th birthday!
Geography of Buckingham County
Buckingham County covers about 584 square miles. Most of this is land (580 square miles), and a small part is water (about 3.9 square miles). As mentioned, the exact center of Virginia is located in Buckingham County. It is near the community of Mt. Rush.
Neighboring Counties
Buckingham County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Fluvanna County to the northeast
- Cumberland County to the east
- Prince Edward County to the south
- Appomattox County to the southwest
- Nelson County to the west
- Albemarle County to the northwest
Main Roads
These are some of the important highways that go through Buckingham County:
US 15
US 60
SR 20
SR 24
SR 56
Population of Buckingham County
In 2020, the population of Buckingham County was 16,824 people. The county has a mix of different racial and ethnic groups. Most residents are White, followed by Black or African American. There are also people of Native American, Asian, and mixed heritage. Some residents are also of Hispanic or Latino background.
Education in Buckingham County
Buckingham County has several schools and a public library:
- Buckingham County High School
- Buckingham County Middle School
- Buckingham County Elementary School
- Buckingham County Primary School
- Buckingham Preschool
- Central Virginia Christian School
- Buckingham County Public Library
Communities in Buckingham County
Town
Census-designated places
- Buckingham Courthouse (also known as Buckingham)
- Yogaville
Unincorporated communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially towns:
- Arvonia
- Mt. Rush
- New Canton
- Sprouses Corner
- Union Hill
- Glenmore
Famous People from Buckingham County
Many interesting people have connections to Buckingham County:
- William Lewis Cabell: A general during the Civil War and a three-time mayor of Dallas, Texas.
- John Wayles Eppes: A U.S. Senator and Representative. He was also the son-in-law of President Thomas Jefferson.
- Peter Francisco: A hero from the American Revolutionary War.
- Carter G. Woodson: A famous historian who started Black History Month. He is known as the "Father of Black History."
- Clarice Taylor: An American actress who worked in theater, movies, and TV.
- Randolph Jefferson: The younger brother of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.
- Satchidananda Saraswati: An Indian spiritual teacher who helped bring yoga to America.
- Eugene Allen: He worked as the Head Butler at the White House for 34 years.
Images for kids
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Buckingham County is rural and has many forests.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Buckingham para niños
