Charlotte County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Charlotte County
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Charlotte County Courthouse in September 2014
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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 | 1764 | ||
| Named for | Queen Charlotte | ||
| Seat | Charlotte Court House | ||
| Largest town | Keysville | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 478 sq mi (1,240 km2) | ||
| • Land | 475 sq mi (1,230 km2) | ||
| • Water | 2.2 sq mi (6 km2) 0.5% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,529 | ||
| • Density | 24.119/sq mi (9.312/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 5th | ||
Charlotte County is a place in the south central part of Virginia. It is a county, which is like a smaller area within a state. The main town, or county capital, is Charlotte Court House.
In 2020, about 11,529 people lived here. Charlotte County is mostly a countryside area. It does not have many people living close together.
Contents
History of Charlotte County
People from Europe started settling in this area in the early 1700s. Most of them were English. Some were French Huguenots or Scotch-Irish. There were also a few German settlers.
About 50 years later, in 1764, Charlotte County was officially created. It was made from a part of Lunenburg County. The county was named after Queen Charlotte. She was the wife of King George III of Great Britain.
Charlotte County and the American Revolution
The people of Charlotte County strongly supported independence from Britain. They were very important in the American Revolution. A famous leader named Patrick Henry lived here. His grave and a special memorial are in Charlotte County.
The county's leaders voted against the Stamp Act of 1765. This act made colonists pay taxes on paper goods. Charlotte County was also the second place to declare independence from British rule. Soldiers from Charlotte County fought in the Yorktown campaign. This battle helped end the American War of Independence.
Other Wars and Charlotte County
Charlotte County also played a part in other wars. An artillery group from Charlotte helped in the Battle of Craney Island. This battle happened during the War of 1812.
During the American Civil War, a big battle took place here. It was called the Battle of Staunton River Bridge. The Confederate side won this battle.
Geography of Charlotte County
Charlotte County covers about 478 square miles. Most of this area, about 475 square miles, is land. The rest is water. The Roanoke River is on the southwest side. People in the area also call it the "Staunton River." The land in the county has many hills.
Neighboring Counties
Charlotte County shares borders with these other counties:
- Prince Edward County – to the north
- Lunenburg County – to the east
- Mecklenburg County – to the southeast
- Halifax County – to the southwest
- Campbell County – to the west
- Appomattox County – to the northwest
Main Roads in Charlotte County
These are some of the important roads that go through Charlotte County:
US 15
US 360
SR 40
SR 47
SR 59
SR 92
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 10,078 | — | |
| 1800 | 11,912 | 18.2% | |
| 1810 | 13,161 | 10.5% | |
| 1820 | 13,290 | 1.0% | |
| 1830 | 15,252 | 14.8% | |
| 1840 | 14,595 | −4.3% | |
| 1850 | 13,955 | −4.4% | |
| 1860 | 14,471 | 3.7% | |
| 1870 | 14,513 | 0.3% | |
| 1880 | 16,653 | 14.7% | |
| 1890 | 15,077 | −9.5% | |
| 1900 | 15,343 | 1.8% | |
| 1910 | 15,785 | 2.9% | |
| 1920 | 17,540 | 11.1% | |
| 1930 | 16,061 | −8.4% | |
| 1940 | 15,861 | −1.2% | |
| 1950 | 14,057 | −11.4% | |
| 1960 | 13,368 | −4.9% | |
| 1970 | 11,551 | −13.6% | |
| 1980 | 12,266 | 6.2% | |
| 1990 | 11,688 | −4.7% | |
| 2000 | 12,472 | 6.7% | |
| 2010 | 12,586 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 11,529 | −8.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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Population in 2020
The table below shows the different groups of people living in Charlotte County. The US Census counts people by race and ethnicity. Hispanic/Latino is an ethnic group. People of any race can be Hispanic/Latino.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 8,383 | 7,677 | 66.61% | 66.59% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,739 | 3,140 | 29.71% | 27.24% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 31 | 18 | 0.25% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 26 | 23 | 0.21% | 0.20% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 6 | 0.00% | 0.05% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 14 | 35 | 0.11% | 0.30% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 153 | 377 | 1.22% | 3.27% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 240 | 253 | 1.91% | 2.19% |
| Total | 12,586 | 11,529 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Leaders of Charlotte County
The county has different elected officials who help run things.
Board of Supervisors
The Board of Supervisors makes the rules and decisions for the county. They decide on things like the budget, public safety, and schools. They meet once a month.
- Gary D. Walker (Chairman)
- Hazel Bowman-Smith
- Noah Davis
- Robert L. "Butch" Shook, Jr.
- Henry Carwile
- Walter T. Bailey (Vice Chairman)
- Derek Toombes
Sheriff
The Sheriff is Royal Freeman. The Sheriff's job is to keep the county safe. This includes investigating crimes and running the county jail.
Circuit Court Clerk
The clerk is Annette Clowdis. This person keeps all the important county records. These records include land transfers, deeds, and wills. Some records go all the way back to 1765!
Commissioner Of Revenue
Naisha P. Carter is the Commissioner of the Revenue. This person figures out how much tax people owe on their property. They also help with some services for the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV).
Commonwealth's Attorney
William E. Green, Jr. is the Commonwealth's Attorney. This person represents the county in court. They are in charge of making sure criminal laws are followed.
Treasurer
Patricia P. Berkeley is the Treasurer. This person collects all the money for the county. They also handle how the county's money is spent. This is where you pay taxes and buy dog licenses.
County Administration
- Daniel Witt, County Administrator
- Monica Elder, Assistant County Administrator
- Norma Tuck, Finance Director
- Heather Brown, Purchasing Agent/Office Assistant
- Vanessa Waddell, Administrative Assistant
The County Administration Office helps run the county every day. They follow the rules set by the Board of Supervisors. They manage the budget, staff, and make sure the county follows laws.
School Board
The School Board makes decisions about the schools in Charlotte County.
- Rick Brown-County Seat
- Carmalita Escoto, District A (Charlotte Court House)
- Teresa Dunaway, District B (Wylliesburg/Red Oak)
- Gloria Talbott, District C (Drakes Branch)
- R.B. "Jay" George (Vice Chairman), District D (Keysville)
- Scotty Hamlett, District E (Cullen/Red House)
- Dr. Elise A. Gree, District F (Phenix/Aspen)
- Lauren Willis, District B (Bacon/Saxe)
- Dana Ramsey, Clerk of the Board
Voter Registrar
Jenni P. Booth is the Voter Registrar. This person helps people register to vote. They also manage the voting process in the county.
Voting Trends
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2024 | 3,963 | 65.83% | 2,008 | 33.36% | 49 | 0.81% |
| 2020 | 3,815 | 61.62% | 2,317 | 37.43% | 59 | 0.95% |
| 2016 | 3,479 | 59.91% | 2,155 | 37.11% | 173 | 2.98% |
| 2012 | 3,311 | 56.14% | 2,503 | 42.44% | 84 | 1.42% |
| 2008 | 3,372 | 54.77% | 2,705 | 43.93% | 80 | 1.30% |
| 2004 | 3,166 | 58.22% | 2,223 | 40.88% | 49 | 0.90% |
| 2000 | 2,855 | 57.17% | 2,017 | 40.39% | 122 | 2.44% |
| 1996 | 2,103 | 45.58% | 2,007 | 43.50% | 504 | 10.92% |
| 1992 | 2,293 | 44.86% | 2,098 | 41.05% | 720 | 14.09% |
| 1988 | 2,699 | 57.44% | 1,923 | 40.92% | 77 | 1.64% |
| 1984 | 2,999 | 61.76% | 1,811 | 37.29% | 46 | 0.95% |
| 1980 | 2,322 | 51.26% | 2,108 | 46.53% | 100 | 2.21% |
| 1976 | 2,023 | 46.04% | 2,312 | 52.62% | 59 | 1.34% |
| 1972 | 2,501 | 66.22% | 1,182 | 31.29% | 94 | 2.49% |
| 1968 | 1,042 | 24.43% | 1,045 | 24.50% | 2,178 | 51.07% |
| 1964 | 1,974 | 62.11% | 1,191 | 37.48% | 13 | 0.41% |
| 1960 | 867 | 32.90% | 1,735 | 65.84% | 33 | 1.25% |
| 1956 | 791 | 27.86% | 1,431 | 50.41% | 617 | 21.73% |
| 1952 | 949 | 36.56% | 1,630 | 62.79% | 17 | 0.65% |
| 1948 | 285 | 17.10% | 964 | 57.83% | 418 | 25.07% |
| 1944 | 356 | 19.45% | 1,473 | 80.49% | 1 | 0.05% |
| 1940 | 251 | 14.58% | 1,467 | 85.24% | 3 | 0.17% |
| 1936 | 190 | 9.89% | 1,727 | 89.85% | 5 | 0.26% |
| 1932 | 169 | 11.44% | 1,300 | 88.02% | 8 | 0.54% |
| 1928 | 403 | 26.60% | 1,112 | 73.40% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 154 | 12.38% | 1,006 | 80.87% | 84 | 6.75% |
| 1920 | 364 | 22.28% | 1,266 | 77.48% | 4 | 0.24% |
| 1916 | 227 | 20.79% | 856 | 78.39% | 9 | 0.82% |
| 1912 | 175 | 19.06% | 609 | 66.34% | 134 | 14.60% |
Towns and Communities
Charlotte County has several towns and smaller communities.
Towns
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially towns.
- Cullen
- Harrisburg
- Madisonville
- Randolph
- Red House
- Red Oak
- Wren
- Wylliesburg
Famous People from Charlotte County
Many notable people have come from Charlotte County:
- David K. E. Bruce – a diplomat and politician
- Isaac Dabbs – a politician
- Patrick Henry – a famous politician and one of America's Founding Fathers
- William Hoffman – a well-known author
- John McCargo – a former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills
- John Randolph – a politician
- Joe Reed – an NFL player for the Los Angeles Chargers
- A. Leo Weil – a lawyer
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Charlotte (Virginia) para niños
