Northampton County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Northampton County
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Northampton County Courthouse Historic District
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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 | 1642 | ||
| Seat | Eastville | ||
| Largest town | Exmore | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 795 sq mi (2,060 km2) | ||
| • Land | 212 sq mi (550 km2) | ||
| • Water | 584 sq mi (1,510 km2) 73.4% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 12,282 | ||
| • Density | 15.449/sq mi (5.965/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 2nd | ||
Northampton County is a special area in Virginia, like a local government district. It's located on the Eastern Shore of Virginia, a peninsula that sticks out into the water. In 2020, about 12,282 people lived here. The main town where the county government is located is called Eastville.
Northampton County and its neighbor, Accomack County, make up the Eastern Shore. This area is also famous for being the center of a huge meteor crash long ago. This crash created the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. The historic courthouse in Eastville is part of a special area called the Northampton County Courthouse Historic District.
Contents
History of Northampton County
When English settlers first came to this part of America in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore was led by a powerful chief named Debedeavon. He was also known as "The Laughing King" and was the leader of the Accomac people. About 2,000 people lived there at that time.
The area was first called Accomac Shire in 1634. This was one of the first eight "shires" (like counties) created in Virginia after the first English settlement at Jamestown in 1607. In 1642, the settlers changed the name to Northampton County. Later, in 1663, Northampton County was divided into two parts. The northern part became Accomack County, and the southern part stayed as Northampton County.
A Look at Early Servitude
Northampton County is known for an important court case from the colonial times. This case involved a person named Anthony Johnson. He was one of the first black Americans to own land in America. In 1653, Johnson went to court in Northampton County. He argued that one of his servants, John Casor, should work for him for life. Casor had left Johnson and was working for a neighbor.
The court decided that John Casor had to serve Anthony Johnson for life. This was a very important decision. It was the first time a court in the Thirteen Colonies ruled that someone who hadn't committed a crime could be made to serve for life. This ruling showed how some landowners could force servants into lifelong service, even if their original agreements were supposed to end.
Geography and Nature
Northampton County covers a total area of about 795 square miles (2,060 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 584 square miles (1,510 square kilometers), is water! The land area is about 212 square miles (550 square kilometers). This means a big part of the county is covered by bays and oceans.
Neighboring Areas
- Accomack County – to the north
- Virginia Beach, Virginia – to the south
Protected Natural Areas
People and Population
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 6,889 | — | |
| 1800 | 6,763 | −1.8% | |
| 1810 | 7,474 | 10.5% | |
| 1820 | 7,705 | 3.1% | |
| 1830 | 8,641 | 12.1% | |
| 1840 | 7,715 | −10.7% | |
| 1850 | 7,498 | −2.8% | |
| 1860 | 7,832 | 4.5% | |
| 1870 | 8,046 | 2.7% | |
| 1880 | 9,152 | 13.7% | |
| 1890 | 10,313 | 12.7% | |
| 1900 | 13,770 | 33.5% | |
| 1910 | 16,672 | 21.1% | |
| 1920 | 17,852 | 7.1% | |
| 1930 | 18,565 | 4.0% | |
| 1940 | 17,597 | −5.2% | |
| 1950 | 17,300 | −1.7% | |
| 1960 | 16,966 | −1.9% | |
| 1970 | 14,442 | −14.9% | |
| 1980 | 14,625 | 1.3% | |
| 1990 | 13,061 | −10.7% | |
| 2000 | 13,093 | 0.2% | |
| 2010 | 12,389 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 12,282 | −0.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 |
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How Many People Live Here?
In 2020, the total population of Northampton County was 12,282 people. The county is home to people from many different backgrounds. The U.S. Census helps us understand the different groups living in the county.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 6,755 | 6,932 | 54.52% | 56.44% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,491 | 3,756 | 36.25% | 30.58% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 26 | 58 | 0.21% | 0.47% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 81 | 80 | 0.65% | 0.65% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 2 | 8 | 0.02% | 0.07% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 15 | 30 | 0.12% | 0.24% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 145 | 350 | 1.17% | 2.85% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 874 | 1,068 | 7.05% | 8.70% |
| Total | 12,389 | 12,282 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Northampton County is proud to have the oldest continuous court records in the United States. This means they have kept records of court cases without any breaks for a very long time!
Getting Around Northampton County
Airports
- Campbell Field Airport
Main Roads
US 13
US 13 Bus.
SR 178
SR 183
SR 184
Public Transportation
STAR Transit offers bus services for people in both Northampton and Accomack counties.
Education
The public schools in Northampton County are managed by Northampton County Public Schools.
Towns and Communities
Northampton County has several towns and many smaller communities where people live.
Towns
- Belle Haven (partly in Accomack County)
- Cape Charles
- Cheriton
- Eastville
- Exmore
- Nassawadox
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.
Other Communities
- Arlington
- Bacon Hill
- Bay Ridge
- Bayford
- Bayview
- Beverly
- Birdsnest
- Bridgetown
- Broadwater
- Capeville
- Cedar Grove
- Cheapside
- Cherrystone
- Chesapeake
- Clearview
- Culls
- Dalbys
- Eastville Station
- Fairview
- Hadlock
- Hare Valley
- Highland Heights
- Hungars Point
- James Crossroads
- Jamesville
- Johnson Cove
- Johnsontown
- Kendall Grove
- Kiptopeke
- Little Johnsontown
- Little Salisbury
- Machipongo
- Magotha
- Marionville
- Middletown
- Nottingham
- Oakland Park
- Oyster
- Pat Town
- Red Bank
- Reedtown
- Seaview
- Shadyside
- Sheps End
- Silver Beach
- Simpkins
- Smith Beach
- Stumptown
- The Meadows
- Townsend
- Treherneville
- Wardtown
- Weirwood
- Woodstock
Famous People from Northampton County
- John Casor: He was the first person of African descent in the English colonies to be declared a servant for life because of a court case.
- Adrian "Ace" Custis (born 1974): A talented basketball player who played for Virginia Tech. His jersey number was retired, which is a big honor! He graduated from Northampton High School in 1992.
- Alvy Powell (born 1955): An opera singer who performed the National Anthem for President George H.W. Bush's inauguration. He graduated from Northampton High School in 1974.
- Ralph Northam (born 1959): He served as the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia from 2014 to 2018. Then, he became the Governor of Virginia from 2018 to 2022.
- Abel Upshur (1791–1844): Born in Northampton County, he became an important government official, serving as the United States Secretary of State and United States Secretary of the Navy.
- Tyler Webb (born 1990): A professional baseball player who pitches for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Images for kids
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Northampton County Courthouse Historic District
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Seal of Northampton County, Virginia
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Flag of Northampton County, Virginia
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Northampton (Virginia) para niños
