Claremont, Virginia Facts for Kids

Claremont is a small town in Surry County, Virginia, United States. In 2010, about 378 people lived there. A special stone marks where British settlers first arrived in the area. The town was named after a royal home in England long ago.

Claremont became an official town in 1886. It was once a busy port on the James River and even had a train station for a time. It was also home to an important school called the Temperance, Industrial, and Collegiate Institute. This school was started by a formerly enslaved person for African American students. You can find a historical marker there today.

History of Claremont
Geography
- Location and Size
Population Information
Temperance, Industrial, and Collegiate Institute
See also

History of Claremont

Early Settlers and Growth

A granite marker in the middle of Claremont remembers English settlers. They landed here on May 5, 1607. This was even before they landed at Jamestown across the James River. By 1632, English and Scottish people had settled near a Native American village. This village was called Quioughcohanock.

In 1649, Arthur Allen bought land in Surry County. By 1655, he built a brick house. This house is now known as Bacon's Castle. His family owned this land for many years. His son, Arthur Allen II, was a farmer and merchant. He also became the Speaker of the House of Burgesses. This was an important government role in colonial Virginia.

By the late 1600s and early 1700s, Claremont was a busy port. Many goods were shipped from here, especially large barrels of tobacco.

Important Families and Changes

Colonel William Allen fought in the American Revolutionary War. His grandson, John Allen, lived at Claremont Manor House. He served in Virginia's government. His main heir, William Allen (1768–1831), also lived at Claremont. He served many terms in the House of Delegates. He was thought to be the largest landowner and enslaver in Virginia at that time.

William Allen never married. He asked his great-nephew, William Griffin Orgain, to change his last name to Allen to inherit his property. This William Allen became a successful lumber businessman. He even built a railroad. In 1861, he became a Confederate officer. He was a captain of the Jamestown Heavy Artillery, which he paid for. The rails from his railroad were melted down. They were used to make armor for the Confederate ironclad ship, the Merrimac. However, Allen left the military in 1862.

After the Civil War

After the American Civil War, Claremont became a shipping port. It sent railroad ties to the Prussian government in Germany. Willie Allen, who inherited Claremont Manor, moved to New York. He sold the property.

In 1879, a real estate developer named J. Frank Mancha started to divide the land. He wanted to build a new town. Claremont became an official town in 1886. It was the end point of the new Atlantic and Danville Railway. This was a narrow gauge railroad. It connected to another track near Emporia.

However, the railway company decided to build a new main line. This new line went to West Norfolk on the Hampton Roads harbor. The line to Claremont was never made wider. It was used less and less. After being used for lumber transport for a while, the rails were removed in the late 1930s.

Recent Times

Since then, Claremont has remained a quiet, rural area. Some resort areas have grown along the James River. In 2003, Hurricane Isabel caused a lot of damage. Many homes along the river were badly hurt. Claremont's nearby beach, Sunken Meadow, was destroyed. In 2006, the old train station at Claremont Beach was still standing.

Geography

Location and Size

Claremont is located at 37°13′38″N 76°57′56″W / 37.22722°N 76.96556°W / 37.22722; -76.96556.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers about 2.5 square miles (6.6 km²). All of this area is land.

Population Information

How Many People Live Here?

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1890	189	—
1900	565	198.9%
1910	630	11.5%
1920	572	−9.2%
1930	434	−24.1%
1940	380	−12.4%
1950	374	−1.6%
1960	377	0.8%
1970	383	1.6%
1980	380	−0.8%
1990	358	−5.8%
2000	343	−4.2%
2010	378	10.2%
2019 (est.)	336	−11.1%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 343 people living in Claremont. There were 147 households and 99 families. About 135 people lived in each square mile. There were 240 housing units.

Community Makeup

The town's population was made up of different groups:

73.18% White
22.74% African American
2.04% Native American
2.04% from two or more races

About 23.1% of households had children under 18. Most households (53.7%) were married couples. About 9.5% had a female head of household with no husband. The average household had 2.33 people. The average family had 2.83 people.

Age Groups

The population was spread out by age:

19.8% were under 18 years old.
5.8% were from 18 to 24 years old.
25.7% were from 25 to 44 years old.
31.5% were from 45 to 64 years old.
17.2% were 65 years or older.

The average age in town was 44 years.

Temperance, Industrial, and Collegiate Institute

Founding and Purpose

Dr. John Jefferson Smallwood started the Temperance, Industrial, and Collegiate Institute in Claremont. It opened on October 12, 1892, with fewer than ten students. Smallwood was born enslaved in Rich Square, North Carolina in 1863.

The school's campus was over 65 acres along the James River. It taught both boys and girls. Students came from Virginia and other states.

School's Achievements and Closing

The Richmond Planet newspaper wrote about the opening of Lincoln Memorial Hall at the school in 1912. This was a big achievement for the Institute. Smallwood became very sick in September of that year. He was taken to the Retreat for the Sick in Richmond, Virginia. He passed away on September 29, 1912, at age 49.

After Smallwood's death, the school went through some changes. It merged with other schools and changed its name. The school closed in 1928. By then, more than 2,000 students had graduated from it.

Remembering the School

Today, there is a marker remembering the school. It is located at 37° 9.931′ N, 76° 58.404′ W. You can find it in Spring Grove, Virginia. It is at the corner of Colonial Trail West (Virginia Route 10) and Martin Luther King Highway (Virginia Route 40). There is also a memorial to Dr. Smallwood at the Abundant Life Church Cemetery in Spring Grove, Virginia.

Claremont, Virginia facts for kids

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