Spotsylvania, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Spotsylvania, Virginia
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A view along Judicial Center Lane in Spotsylvania
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Location of Spotsylvania, Virginia
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| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| County | Spotsylvania |
| Area | |
| • Total | 10.8 sq mi (28.0 km2) |
| • Land | 10.7 sq mi (27.8 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 299 ft (91 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,610 |
| • Density | 519.4/sq mi (200.4/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Codes |
22551, 22553
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| FIPS code | 51-74470 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1867599 |
Spotsylvania, also known as Spotsylvania Courthouse, is a special kind of community in Virginia, United States. It's called a census-designated place, which means it's an area identified by the government for counting people, but it's not officially a city or town. It is also the main government center, or county seat, for Spotsylvania County, Virginia.
In 2020, about 5,610 people lived here. Spotsylvania is located about 10 miles (16 km) southwest of Fredericksburg. It's also about 60 miles (90 km) south of Washington D.C. and 50 miles (80 km) north of Richmond, which is Virginia's capital city. A large resort called Kalahari Resort is located east of the community.
During the American Civil War, Spotsylvania became a very important place. A major battle, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, happened here from May 8 to May 21, 1864. This battle was a tough fight between the Union and Confederate armies.
Contents
The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse
The Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse was a long and difficult fight. It lasted for nearly two weeks. Neither side truly won, so it ended in a tie. One part of the battle was especially fierce. It was a 20-hour struggle over a section of the Confederate army's defenses. This area became known as the "Bloody Angle" because of the intense fighting and many casualties.
Today, you can visit parts of this historic battlefield. The "Bloody Angle" and other areas are now part of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park. The National Park Service takes care of this park.
Cemeteries at the Park
The park also has three cemeteries. Over 15,000 Union soldiers are buried in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. Many of these soldiers are unknown. The other two cemeteries are for Confederate soldiers who lost their lives.
Geography of Spotsylvania
Spotsylvania Courthouse is located at coordinates 38°12′7″N 77°35′15″W / 38.20194°N 77.58750°W. This helps us find its exact spot on a map.
The total area of Spotsylvania is about 10.8 square miles (28.0 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 10.7 square miles (27.8 square kilometers), is land. A small part, about 0.07 square miles (0.2 square kilometers), is water.
People of Spotsylvania
Let's look at who lives in Spotsylvania. In the year 2000, there were 3,833 people living here. These people lived in 1,233 households. A household means all the people living in one home. Most of these households, 1,009, were families.
Population Details
The population of Spotsylvania is spread out by age:
- About 34.2% of the people were under 18 years old.
- About 7.9% were between 18 and 24 years old.
- About 33.4% were between 25 and 44 years old.
- About 19.4% were between 45 and 64 years old.
- About 5.1% were 65 years old or older.
The average age of people in Spotsylvania was 32 years. For every 100 females, there were about 99 males.
Household Information
Many households in Spotsylvania had children. About 50.3% of households had children under 18 living with them. Most households, 65.0%, were married couples living together. About 12.2% of households had a female head of the house with no husband present.
The average household had about 3.11 people. The average family had about 3.42 people.
