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Cumberland County, Virginia facts for kids

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Cumberland County
Cumberland County Courthouse
Cumberland County Courthouse
Flag of Cumberland County
Flag
Official seal of Cumberland County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Cumberland County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Virginia
Founded 1749
Named for William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland
Seat Cumberland
Largest town Farmville
Area
 • Total 300 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Land 297 sq mi (770 km2)
 • Water 2.3 sq mi (6 km2)  0.8%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 9,675
 • Density 32/sq mi (12.5/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 5th

Cumberland County is a county located in Virginia, United States. In 2020, about 9,675 people lived here. The main town and government center is Cumberland.

History of Cumberland County

Cumberland County was created in 1749. It was formed from a part of Goochland County. The county got its name from William Augustus. He was the third son of King George II of Great Britain.

For many years, from 1749 to 1777, Mosby Tavern served as the county courthouse. Later, a new county, Powhatan County, was formed from the eastern part of Cumberland. In 1778, a small area near the James River was added from Buckingham County.

Geography of Cumberland County

Cumberland County covers about 300 square miles. Most of this area is land, about 297 square miles. The rest, about 2.3 square miles, is water.

Neighboring Counties

Cumberland County shares borders with several other counties:

Main Roads

These are the major roads that go through Cumberland County:

  • US 60
  • SR 13
  • SR 45

Population Changes in Cumberland County

For a long time, from 1880 to 1970, the number of people living in Cumberland County went down. This happened because new machines meant fewer workers were needed for farming. But since 1970, the population has started to grow again. In 2010, it was almost as high as it was in the 1800s.

Historical population
Census Pop.
1790 8,153
1800 9,839 20.7%
1810 9,992 1.6%
1820 11,023 10.3%
1830 11,690 6.1%
1840 10,399 −11.0%
1850 9,751 −6.2%
1860 9,961 2.2%
1870 8,142 −18.3%
1880 10,540 29.5%
1890 9,482 −10.0%
1900 8,996 −5.1%
1910 9,195 2.2%
1920 9,111 −0.9%
1930 7,535 −17.3%
1940 7,505 −0.4%
1950 7,252 −3.4%
1960 6,360 −12.3%
1970 6,179 −2.8%
1980 7,881 27.5%
1990 7,825 −0.7%
2000 9,017 15.2%
2010 10,052 11.5%
2020 9,675 −3.8%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790-1960 1900-1990
1990-2000 2010 2020

Who Lives in Cumberland County?

The 2020 census looked at the different groups of people living in Cumberland County. Most residents are White, followed by Black or African American. There are also smaller numbers of Native American, Asian, and people of mixed races. Some residents are Hispanic or Latino, and they can be of any race.

Cumberland County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,353 6,104 63.20% 63.09%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,253 2,817 32.36% 29.12%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 36 39 0.36% 0.40%
Asian alone (NH) 35 36 0.35% 0.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 8 0.00% 0.08%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 17 40 0.17% 0.41%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 177 390 1.76% 4.03%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 181 241 1.80% 2.49%
Total 10,052 9,675 100.00% 100.00%

Schools in Cumberland County

Cumberland County Public Schools serves over 1,400 students. The school system has three main schools:

  • Cumberland Elementary School (Pre-Kindergarten to 4th grade)
  • Cumberland Middle School (5th to 8th grade)
  • Cumberland High School (9th to 12th grade)

Dr. Chip Jones was the superintendent in 2022.

Towns and Communities

Town

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities without their own town government:

Fun Places to Visit

Cumberland County has some great outdoor places for fun and adventure!

Bear Creek Lake State Park

Bear Creek Lake State Park is about 4.5 miles northwest of the town of Cumberland. At the park, you can find cabins for overnight stays and picnic areas. You can also swim and go boating in the lake. Boat rentals are available if you don't have your own. The park also has trails perfect for hiking and running.

Cumberland State Forest

The Cumberland State Forest is a huge area, about 16,233 acres! It's north of U.S. Route 60 and west of State Route 45. The Willis River forms its western border. This forest is used for many things, like protecting water, producing timber, and for research. It's also a great place for outdoor activities.

You can find two self-guided trails here:

  • The Cumberland Multi-Use Trail (14 miles long)
  • The Willis River Hiking Trail (16 miles long)

These trails are open for walking, hiking, horseback riding, and mountain biking. You might even see animals like white-tailed deer, wild turkeys, and bobcats! The forest also has five lakes where you can fish if you have a Virginia State fishing license. These lakes include Oak Hill Lake, Bear Creek Lake, Winston Lake, Arrowhead Lake, and Bonbrook Lake.

Famous People from Cumberland County

  • Justice Paul Carrington (1733–1818): He was an important judge in Virginia. He was born at a place called "Boston Hill" in Cumberland County.
  • Lena Trent Gordon (1885-1935): She was a political organizer and poet. She was born in Cumberland County before moving to Philadelphia.

See also

In Spanish: Condado de Cumberland (Virginia) para niños

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