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Warren County
Warren County Courthouse in Front Royal, Virginia
Warren County Courthouse in Front Royal, Virginia
Flag of Warren County
Flag
Official seal of Warren County
Seal
Official logo of Warren County
Logo
Map of Virginia highlighting Warren County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  Virginia
Founded 1836
Named for Joseph Warren
Seat Front Royal
Largest town Front Royal
Area
 • Total 217 sq mi (560 km2)
 • Land 213 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Water 3.3 sq mi (9 km2)  1.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 40,727
 • Density 187.7/sq mi (72.46/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 6th

Warren County is a U.S. county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 2020 census places Warren County within the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 40,727. The county was established in 1836. The county seat is Front Royal.

History

By 1672 the entire Shenandoah Valley was claimed for hunting by the Iroquois Confederation following the Beaver Wars. Some bands of the Shawnee settled in the area as client groups to the Iroquois and alternately to the Cherokee after 1721. The Iroquois formally sold their entire claim east of the Alleghenies to the Virginia Colony at the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744. Warren County was established in 1836 from Frederick and Shenandoah counties. At that time the county had a population of 7,000 people, a quarter of which were enslaved. Wedding records show marriages of people born in the 1770s marrying in the 1800s who head households of four to eight "free colored" so the early demographics of the population are unclear. Joist Hite lead the Sixteen Families into the Lower Shenandoah Valley. Some consider that group the first European settlers of the area, others believe different claims. Either way, Presbyterians of Scotch-Irish lineage and Quakers followed.

Rail service was established in 1854 with the construction of the Alexandria, Orange and Manassas Gap Railroad between Manassas and Riverton. This line was soon extended to Strasburg in time to become a factor in the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862, and throughout the Civil War. Lumber, agriculture, manufacturing and grain mills provided employment in the region for decades after the Civil War. The county is named for Joseph Warren. During the Civil War the Battle of Front Royal took place in the county on May 23, 1862. On September 23, 1864, William Thomas Overby and five others of then Lt. Col. John S. Mosby's 43rd Virginia Battalion of Partisan Rangers were captured by cavalry troops under the command of then Brig. Gen. George A. Custer in Front Royal out of uniform and were executed as spies.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 217 square miles (560 km2), of which 213 square miles (550 km2) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km2) (1.5%) is water. The highest point is Hogback Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, along the border with Rappahannock County.

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1840 5,627
1850 6,607 17.4%
1860 6,442 −2.5%
1870 5,716 −11.3%
1880 7,399 29.4%
1890 8,280 11.9%
1900 8,837 6.7%
1910 8,589 −2.8%
1920 8,852 3.1%
1930 8,340 −5.8%
1940 11,352 36.1%
1950 14,801 30.4%
1960 14,655 −1.0%
1970 15,301 4.4%
1980 21,200 38.6%
1990 26,142 23.3%
2000 31,584 20.8%
2010 37,575 19.0%
2020 40,727 8.4%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010 2020

2020 census

Warren County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010 Pop 2020 % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 33,345 33,831 88.74% 83.07%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,709 1,722 4.55% 4.23%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 103 130 0.27% 0.32%
Asian alone (NH) 350 462 0.93% 1.13%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 13 0.02% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 35 255 0.09% 0.63%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 708 1,901 1.88% 4.67%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 1,318 2,413 3.51% 5.92%
Total 37,575 40,727 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

Economy

For many years, Avtex Fibers (formerly known as the American Viscose Corporation from 1910 to 1976), was the county's largest employer and taxpayer. At its height, it employed over 800 residents throughout Front Royal and Warren County.

Towards the late 1980s, however, the company's main plant in Front Royal was forced to close as a result of numerous environmental violations, which eventually resulted in the site being declared a Superfund site. The county, reeling from the sudden loss of jobs and tax revenue, established the Warren County Economic Development Authority (WCEDA) to stimulate and diversify its economy as well as the economy of Town of Front Royal, its county seat. The purpose of the WCEDA is to foster and stimulate industry and economic development within Warren County and the town of Front Royal.

Top employers

According to the county's comprehensive annual financial reports, the top employers by number of employees in the county are the following.

Employer Employees
(2021)
Warren County School Board 750–1,000
Family Dollar Services 250–499
Valley Health System–WMH 250–499
Axalta Coating Systems (DuPont) 250–499
Walmart 250–499
Warren County Government 250–499
Sysco Northeast Redistribution 250–499
Randolph-Macon Academy 250–499
UPS Customer Center 250–499

Transportation

2018-10-18 13 08 15 View east along Interstate 66 from the overpass for Sulphur Springs Road (Virginia State Route 842) in Reliance, Warren County, Virginia
I-66 in Warren County
  • Front Royal Area Transit (FRAT) provides weekday transit for the town of Front Royal.
  • Page County Transit - the People Movers provides weekday transit for the town of Luray and weekday service between Luray and Front Royal.

Major highways

Education

Sonner Hall RMC 20150328
Sonner Hall at Randolph-Macon Academy

College

  • Christendom College

Public schools

  • Skyline High School (9–12)
  • Warren County High School (9–12)
  • Warren County Middle School (6–8)
  • Skyline Middle School (6–8)
  • A.S. Rhodes Elementary School (K–5)
  • E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School (K–5)
  • Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School (PreK–5)
  • Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School (K–5)
  • Ressie Jefferies Elementary School (K–5)

Preparatory school

  • Randolph-Macon Academy (6–12)

Communities

Town

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

  • Thomas Ashby, born in Warren County, physician and Maryland state legislator
  • Thomas M. Allen, born in Warren County, clergyman and university official in Missouri

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Warren (Virginia) para niños

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