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 | ![]() |
State | ![]() |
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 United States county located in the south central part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Its county seat is the town of Charlotte Court House. As of the 2020 census, the county population was 11,529. Charlotte County is predominately rural with a population density of only 26.5 persons per square mile.
Contents
History

European settlement of the future county began in the early 18th century, and early settlers included mostly English people, with some French Hugenots and Scotch-Irish. After approximately fifty years of European settlement, the House of Burgesses established and incorporated Charlotte County in 1764 from part of Lunenburg County. The new county was named in honor of Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the Queen and wife of King George III of England.
Residents of Charlotte County were heavily involved in the American Revolution. County delegates supported resolutions against the Stamp Act of 1765, and the county government was the second governing body to declare independence from English rule. In addition, Charlotte militia units fought under General Robert Lawson during the Yorktown campaign, which effectively led to the end of the American War of Independence. Finally, the final resting place and national memorial to revolutionary hero Patrick Henry is at Red Hill Plantation.
Charlotte County has also played a role in other wars on American soil. An artillery company from Charlotte played a key role in the Battle of Craney Island during the War of 1812. Also, a significant battle in the American Civil War occurred in Charlotte and Halifax counties during the Battle of Staunton River Bridge, which resulted in a victory for the Confederacy.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 478 square miles (1,240 km2), of which 475 square miles (1,230 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.5%) is water. The county is bounded on the southwest by the Roanoke River, locally known as the "Staunton River". The terrain is hilly.
Adjacent counties
- Prince Edward County – north
- Lunenburg County – east
- Mecklenburg County – southeast
- Halifax County – southwest
- Campbell County – west
- Appomattox County – northwest
Major highways
US 15
US 360
SR 40
SR 47
SR 59
SR 92
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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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 |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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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/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% |
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.
Communities
Towns
Unincorporated
- Abilene
- Cullen
- Harrisburg
- Madisonville
- Randolph
- Red House
- Wren
Notable residents
- David K. E. Bruce – diplomat and politician
- Isaac Dabbs – politician
- Patrick Henry – politician and Founding Father
- William Hoffman- famous author
- John McCargo- former NFL player for the Buffalo Bills
- John Randolph – politician
- Joe Reed- NFL player for the Los Angeles Chargers
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Charlotte (Virginia) para niños
![]() | Alexander De Soto |
![]() | Maria J. Merino |
![]() | Raquel Eidelman Cohen |
![]() | Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojosa |