Greene County, Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Greene County

U.S. county

Courthouse, built 1838, in Stanardsville

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Virginia

Founded

1838

Largest community

Area

• Total

157 sq mi (410 km²)

• Land

156 sq mi (400 km²)

• Water

0.7 sq mi (2 km²) 0.4%

Population

(2020)

• Total

20,552

• Density

130.9/sq mi (50.54/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

7th

Greene County is a special area called a county in Virginia, located in the eastern United States. In 2020, about 20,552 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, where the county government is located, is Stanardsville.

Greene County is also part of a larger area around Charlottesville, known as the Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many people visit Greene County because it's a great place to enjoy nature. They come to explore the Shenandoah National Park and the beautiful hills of Virginia.

Discovering Greene County's Past

Nathanael Greene, the brave general Greene County is named after.

How Greene County Was Formed

Greene County was created in 1838. It was formed from a part of Orange County. The county got its name from Nathanael Greene. He was a very important general in the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War. He was a hero who helped America gain its independence.

A Story of Quick Thinking: The 1979 Incident

On October 24, 1979, something unexpected happened. A natural gas pipe broke, causing an explosion. This fire damaged the bell tower of the county courthouse and the county office building.

However, firefighters acted very quickly and bravely. They managed to save all the important county records. These records were kept safe inside a special vault, thanks to their fast work.

Exploring Greene County's Landscape

Greene County's Size and Shape

Greene County covers about 156.8 square miles. Most of this area, about 156.1 square miles, is land. Only a small part, about 0.7 square miles, is water. This makes Greene County the second-smallest county in Virginia when you look at its total area.

Neighboring Counties of Greene County

Greene County shares its borders with several other counties:

Rockingham County, Virginia – to the west
Page County, Virginia – to the northwest
Madison County, Virginia – to the northeast
Orange County, Virginia – to the southeast
Albemarle County, Virginia – to the south

Protected Natural Areas

A part of the famous Shenandoah National Park is located within Greene County. This park is a beautiful place with mountains, forests, and wildlife.

Main Roads in Greene County

These are some of the important highways that run through Greene County:

US 29
US 33
SR 230

People and Population in Greene County

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Greene County has grown over the years.

In 1840, there were 4,232 people.
By 1900, the population had grown to 6,214.
In 1950, it was 4,745.
By 2000, it had reached 15,244.
In 2020, the population was 20,552 people.

Who Lives in Greene County?

In 2010, there were 18,403 people living in Greene County. Most residents, about 87.6%, identified as White. About 6.3% were Black or African American. Other groups included Asian, Native American, and Pacific Islander people. About 4.2% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.

Many households in Greene County are families. About 32.2% of households had children under 18 living with them. The average household had about 2.69 people.

Public Services for Residents

Greene County's Library System

The Jefferson-Madison Regional Library provides library services to everyone living in Greene County. Libraries are great places to read, learn, and find information.

Learning and Education in Greene County

Schools in Greene County

Greene County has a good education system for its young people. It has:

A high school for older students.
A middle school for students in between elementary and high school.
Two elementary schools for younger children.

Higher Education Opportunities

Greene County is also home to the Piedmont VA CC - Eugene Giuseppe Center. This college offers more learning opportunities for students after high school.

Communities in Greene County

Here are some of the towns and communities you can find in Greene County, with their populations from the 2020 United States Census:

Towns

Stanardsville (349 people)

Census-Designated Places (CDP)

These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated as one.

Ruckersville (1,484 people)
Twin Lakes (1,602 people)

Unincorporated Communities

These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a town or CDP.

Greene County, Virginia facts for kids

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