Lunenburg County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lunenburg County
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Lunenburg County Courthouse
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| Motto(s):
The Old Free State
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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 | 1746 | |
| Named for | Brunswick-Lüneburg | |
| Seat | Lunenburg | |
| Largest town | Victoria | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) | |
| • Land | 432 sq mi (1,120 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.7 sq mi (2 km2) 0.2% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 11,936 | |
| • Density | 27.63/sq mi (10.668/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 5th | |
Lunenburg County is a county in the state of Virginia. In 2020, about 11,936 people lived here. The main town, or county seat, is Lunenburg.
Contents
History of Lunenburg County
Lunenburg County was created on May 1, 1746. It was formed from parts of Brunswick County. The county got its name from an old German area called the Duchy of Brunswick-Lünenburg. This was because the kings of Britain at the time also held the title of Duke of Brunswick-Lünenburg.
Over time, other counties like Bedford, Charlotte, Halifax, and Mecklenburg were formed from Lunenburg County. The county has a special nickname: "The Old Free State." This is because before the Civil War, the county told Virginia that it would leave the state if Virginia joined the Confederacy (the Southern states that separated from the U.S.).
One of the first people to settle in the county was William Taylor. He bought a lot of land in 1760. Taylor became an important leader in the county. He represented Lunenburg in the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1765 to 1768. The House of Burgesses was like an early government group for Virginia. In 1765, Taylor supported Patrick Henry's ideas, known as the Virginia Resolves. These ideas were about American rights against British rule. Taylor also worked as the County Clerk for 51 years!
William Taylor's son, William Henry Taylor, took over as County Clerk after him. He held the job for another 32 years. Another son, General Waller Taylor, also served in the Virginia government. He later moved to Indiana and became a judge. He was also a general in the War of 1812 under General William Henry Harrison. Later, General Waller Taylor became one of the first United States senators for the new state of Indiana.
Geography of Lunenburg County
Lunenburg County covers about 432 square miles (1,119 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a tiny bit of water.
Neighboring Counties
Lunenburg County shares borders with these other counties:
- Brunswick County (to the east)
- Charlotte County (to the west)
- Mecklenburg County (to the south)
- Nottoway County (to the northeast)
- Prince Edward County (to the north)
Main Roads
These are some of the major roads that go through Lunenburg County:
US 360 (Eastbound Only – Three-Sixty Hwy)
SR 40 (Lunenburg County Rd; Courthouse Rd; Court St and Main St in Victoria; K-V Rd; Main St and S Broad St in Kenbridge, Blackstone Rd)
SR 49 (Falls Rd; Main St; Courthouse Rd)
SR 137 (E 5th Ave; S Hill Rd; Dundas Rd)
SR 138 (E 5th Ave; S Hill Rd)
Population of Lunenburg County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 8,959 | — | |
| 1800 | 10,381 | 15.9% | |
| 1810 | 12,265 | 18.1% | |
| 1820 | 10,662 | −13.1% | |
| 1830 | 11,957 | 12.1% | |
| 1840 | 11,055 | −7.5% | |
| 1850 | 11,692 | 5.8% | |
| 1860 | 11,983 | 2.5% | |
| 1870 | 10,403 | −13.2% | |
| 1880 | 11,535 | 10.9% | |
| 1890 | 11,372 | −1.4% | |
| 1900 | 11,705 | 2.9% | |
| 1910 | 12,780 | 9.2% | |
| 1920 | 15,260 | 19.4% | |
| 1930 | 14,058 | −7.9% | |
| 1940 | 13,844 | −1.5% | |
| 1950 | 14,116 | 2.0% | |
| 1960 | 12,523 | −11.3% | |
| 1970 | 11,687 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 12,124 | 3.7% | |
| 1990 | 11,419 | −5.8% | |
| 2000 | 13,146 | 15.1% | |
| 2010 | 12,914 | −1.8% | |
| 2020 | 11,936 | −7.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census Information
The 2020 census collected information about the people living in Lunenburg County. This table shows the different groups of people living there.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 7,730 | 7,016 | 59.86% | 58.78% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,451 | 3,773 | 34.47% | 31.61% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 37 | 32 | 0.29% | 0.27% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 25 | 25 | 0.19% | 0.21% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 5 | 0.02% | 0.04% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 9 | 31 | 0.07% | 0.26% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 189 | 465 | 1.46% | 3.90% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 470 | 589 | 3.64% | 4.93% |
| Total | 12,914 | 11,936 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Education in Lunenburg County
Lunenburg County Public Schools runs the schools in the area:
- Kenbridge Elementary School in Kenbridge, VA
- Victoria Elementary School in Victoria, VA
- Lunenburg Middle School in Victoria, VA
- Central High School in Victoria, VA
There are no private schools or colleges directly in Lunenburg County. However, Kenston Forest School in Nottoway County is about 20 minutes away and offers private education.
Communities in Lunenburg County
Towns
Census-designated place
Other Communities
- Dundas
- Fort Mitchell
- Meherrin
- Rehoboth
Notable People from Lunenburg County
- Lewis Archer Boswell: He experimented with flying machines. Some local stories say he flew before the Wright Brothers, but there's no official proof.
- Justice Paul Carrington (1733–1818): He was an important judge on the Virginia Supreme Court.
- Roy Clark: Born in Meherrin, he became a very famous country music singer and a special ambassador for the United Nations.
- Henry W. Collier: Born in the county, he was elected the 14th Governor of Alabama from 1849 to 1853.
- Alfred L. Cralle: Born here, he became an inventor. He is famous for inventing the lever-operated ice cream scoop in 1897.
- Anthony Davis: An NFL football player who played for the New Orleans Saints. He went to Central High School in Victoria.
- Richard Ellis: Born and raised in Lunenburg County, he later became a judge in Alabama.
- James Greene Hardy: A county native, he was elected Lieutenant Governor of Kentucky.
- Verner Moore White (1863–1923): Born in the county, he was a well-known artist who painted landscapes and portraits.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Lunenburg para niños
