New Kent County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Kent County
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County courthouse
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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 | 1654 | |
| Named for | Kent, England | |
| Seat | New Kent | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 222 sq mi (570 km2) | |
| • Land | 210 sq mi (500 km2) | |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (40 km2) 6.1% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,945 | |
| • Density | 103.36/sq mi (39.91/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
New Kent County is a county in the southeastern part of Virginia. In 2020, about 22,945 people lived there. Its main town, or county seat, is called New Kent.
New Kent County is located east of the larger Richmond area. It is part of both the Richmond and the Hampton Roads big city areas.
Contents
History of New Kent County
How New Kent County Started
New Kent County was created in 1654. The government of Virginia decided to split off a part of York County to form this new county. The county was named after Kent, England. This was because some important people, like William Claiborne, had to leave their home on Kent Island. They had named that island after their birthplace in England.
Native American tribes like the Chickahominy and Pamunkey lived in this area for a long time. They still have strong communities here today.
Early Life and Changes
In the early days, the county had two church areas called parishes. These were Blisland and St. Peter's. Nicholas Gentry was one of the first settlers, arriving in 1684. Records show his daughter was baptized at St. Peter's Church in 1687. In 1719, New Kent County was divided again. The area known as St. Paul's Parish became Hanover County.
The first brick courthouse in New Kent County was built by 1695. Sadly, it and two others were destroyed by fires. Another fire in 1783 burned down the clerk's office and jail. Because of these fires, not many old records from the colonial times are left.
Important People and Events
New Kent County is famous for being the birthplace of two First Ladies. These were Martha Washington, who was married to George Washington, and Letitia Christian Tyler, who was married to President John Tyler. The church where George and Martha Washington are thought to have married, St. Peter's, is still used for services today.
During the American Revolutionary War, an enslaved man named James became a hero. He worked as a double agent, giving important information to the Marquis de Lafayette. His help was key to the American victory at the Siege of Yorktown. British troops passed through the county during the war. New Kent County also had a military hospital for American soldiers.
New Kent County in the Civil War
During the American Civil War, both Confederate and Union soldiers fought in and passed through New Kent County. The Battle of New Market Heights in September 1864 was an important win for the Union. This battle helped them move closer to the Confederate capital in Richmond. The county's courthouse was damaged during the war and was replaced in 1909.
Schools and Growth
In the 1960s, there was a big change for schools in New Kent County. The U.S. Supreme Court made a decision in a case called Green v. County School Board of New Kent County (1968). This decision helped make sure that schools would truly desegregate, meaning students of all races could attend together.
New Kent County has strong ties to the Hampton Roads area. This region is known for its military bases and shipyards. Being close to Hampton Roads has helped New Kent County grow. Many people who live in New Kent County travel to cities like Newport News and Norfolk for work. They enjoy the quieter, country life that New Kent offers.
In 2006, New Kent County was named one of the top 100 fastest-growing counties in the U.S. This shows how many people are choosing to make New Kent their home.
Geography
Rivers and Land
The Pamunkey River forms the northeastern border of New Kent County. The Chickahominy River forms the southwestern border. The land in the county has rolling hills. These hills are covered with forests or farms. The land slopes down towards the east and south. The highest point in the county is about 174 feet (53 meters) above sea level.
The county covers a total area of 223 square miles (578 square kilometers). About 210 square miles (544 square kilometers) of this is land. The remaining 14 square miles (36 square kilometers) is water.
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Neighboring Counties
- King William County – north
- King and Queen County – northeast
- James City County – southeast
- Charles City County -south
- Henrico County – southwest
- Hanover County – west
Natural Areas to Explore
- Crawfords State Forest
- Cumberland Marsh Natural Area Preserve
Lakes and Ponds
- Cooks Millpond
- Davis Pond
- Davis Pond North
- Diascund Creek Reservoir
- Goddins Pond
- Kent Lake
- Old Forge Pond
- Richardson Millpond (part)
- Taylor Pond
Population and People
How Many People Live Here?
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 6,239 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,363 | 2.0% | |
| 1810 | 6,478 | 1.8% | |
| 1820 | 6,630 | 2.3% | |
| 1830 | 6,458 | −2.6% | |
| 1840 | 6,230 | −3.5% | |
| 1850 | 6,064 | −2.7% | |
| 1860 | 5,884 | −3.0% | |
| 1870 | 4,381 | −25.5% | |
| 1880 | 5,515 | 25.9% | |
| 1890 | 5,511 | −0.1% | |
| 1900 | 4,865 | −11.7% | |
| 1910 | 4,682 | −3.8% | |
| 1920 | 4,541 | −3.0% | |
| 1930 | 4,300 | −5.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,092 | −4.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,995 | −2.4% | |
| 1960 | 4,504 | 12.7% | |
| 1970 | 5,300 | 17.7% | |
| 1980 | 8,781 | 65.7% | |
| 1990 | 10,445 | 19.0% | |
| 2000 | 13,462 | 28.9% | |
| 2010 | 18,429 | 36.9% | |
| 2020 | 22,945 | 24.5% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 23,897 | 29.7% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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Population in 2020
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 14,804 | 17,818 | 80.33% | 77.66% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 2,474 | 2,714 | 13.42% | 11.83% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 185 | 225 | 1.00% | 0.98% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 159 | 223 | 0.86% | 0.97% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 8 | 0.01% | 0.03% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 21 | 102 | 0.11% | 0.44% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 394 | 1,124 | 2.14% | 4.90% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 390 | 731 | 2.12% | 3.19% |
| Total | 18,429 | 22,945 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
In 2020, the county's population was 22,945. Most people were White, making up about 77.7% of the population. Black or African American people made up about 11.8%. People of two or more races made up about 4.9%. About 3.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
Notable People from New Kent County
- Jamion Christian, a former basketball coach for George Washington University.
- Jarrell Christian, a basketball coach for the Maine Celtics.
- Letitia Christian Tyler, the first wife of President John Tyler and a First Lady of the United States.
- Martha Washington, the wife of the first U.S. president, George Washington, and the first First Lady of the United States.
Education in New Kent County
New Kent County has five schools in its system. There are three elementary schools: New Kent Elementary, Quinton Elementary, and George W. Watkins Elementary. The county also has New Kent Middle School and New Kent High School. All these schools are approved by the Virginia Department of Education.
At the high school, students can take advanced classes like honors and Advanced Placement (AP) courses. They can also take college-level courses through Rappahannock Community College. Special programs for gifted students are offered from kindergarten through 12th grade.
The school system has about 430 employees. This includes 220 teachers, seven guidance counselors, and four librarians. There are also principals, assistant principals, and central office staff. In 2015, a new site for Rappahannock Community College opened in New Kent. It is located at the old New Kent High School building. This site offers courses in engineering, nursing, and basic college subjects.
Getting Around New Kent County
Highways for Travel
- Interstate 64 runs through the county. It has four exits and generally follows U.S. 60.
- Important state highways include State Routes 30, 33, 106, 155, 249, and 273.
Railroads
- CSX Transportation
- Norfolk Southern
There are no passenger train stations in New Kent County. The closest Amtrak train service is in Williamsburg and Richmond.
Air Travel
- New Kent Airport (W96) is near Quinton. It is a small airport for private planes.
- For bigger planes and commercial flights, Richmond International Airport is about 10 miles west of Bottoms Bridge.
Fun Things to Do
New Kent County has two golf courses:
- The Golf Club at Brickshire
- The Club at Viniterra
The Colonial Downs horse racing track is also located in New Kent County.
Communities in New Kent County
New Kent County does not have any incorporated towns. Here are some of the communities and neighborhoods:
Main Community
- New Kent (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are.)
Other Communities
- Baltimore Crossroads
- Barhamsville
- Bottoms Bridge
- Carps Corner
- Chickahominy Shores
- Crumps Mill
- Eltham
- Hampstead
- Lanexa
- Mountcastle
- Patriot's Landing (a neighborhood)
- Plum Point
- Poplar Grove
- Providence Forge
- Quinton
- Slaterville
- Talleysville
- Tunstall
- Walkers
- White House
- White Oak Landing
- Woodhaven Shores
Local Media
- New Kent Charles City Chronicle, online edition
- New Kent - Charles City Chronicle: A local newspaper published every week.
- New Kent Cablevision
- Tidewater Review, online edition
See also
In Spanish: Condado de New Kent para niños
