Warren County, Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Warren County

Warren County Courthouse in Front Royal, Virginia

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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Virginia

Founded

1836

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 place in Virginia, USA. It is one of the many counties in the United States. In 2020, about 40,727 people lived here. It is part of the larger Washington D.C. area. The county was started in 1836. Its main town, or county seat, is Front Royal.

History of Warren County

Early Days and First Settlers

Long ago, around 1672, the Iroquois Confederation used the entire Shenandoah Valley for hunting. Later, some Shawnee groups lived in the area. They were connected to the Iroquois and sometimes to the Cherokee tribes.

In 1744, the Iroquois officially sold their land claims east of the Allegheny Mountains to the Virginia Colony. Warren County was created in 1836. It was formed from parts of Frederick and Shenandoah Counties.

When it was first formed, about 7,000 people lived in Warren County. About a quarter of these people were not free. Some of the first European settlers in the area were led by Joist Hite. They were called the Sixteen Families. Later, Presbyterians from Scotland and Ireland and Quakers also moved to the area.

The Civil War Era

In 1854, train service came to the county. The Alexandria, Orange and Manassas Gap Railroad was built. This train line helped during the Civil War. The Battle of Front Royal happened here on May 23, 1862.

After the Civil War, many people worked in lumber, farming, and factories. The county is named after Joseph Warren. He was an important person in American history. During the Civil War, on September 23, 1864, some soldiers were captured in Front Royal. They were part of Lt. Col. John S. Mosby's group. They were executed as spies.

Geography of Warren County

Warren County covers about 217 square miles. Most of this (213 square miles) is land. About 3.3 square miles (1.5%) is water. The highest point in the county is Hogback Mountain. It is located in Shenandoah National Park.

Neighboring Counties

Warren County shares borders with several other counties:

Frederick County, Virginia – to the north
Clarke County, Virginia – to the northeast
Fauquier County, Virginia – to the east
Rappahannock County, Virginia – to the southeast
Page County, Virginia – to the southwest
Shenandoah County, Virginia – to the west

Protected Natural Areas

Parts of these important natural areas are found in Warren County:

Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park
George Washington National Forest
Shenandoah National Park

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

The number of people living in Warren County has grown over the years. Here's how the population has changed:

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

People in Warren County (2020)

In 2020, the U.S. Census collected information about the people living in Warren County.

**Warren County, Virginia - Demographic Profile**
Group	Number in 2010	Number in 2020	Percent in 2010	Percent in 2020
White (not Hispanic)	33,345	33,831	88.74%	83.07%
Black or African American (not Hispanic)	1,709	1,722	4.55%	4.23%
Native American or Alaska Native (not Hispanic)	103	130	0.27%	0.32%
Asian (not Hispanic)	350	462	0.93%	1.13%
Pacific Islander (not Hispanic)	7	13	0.02%	0.03%
Other Race (not Hispanic)	35	255	0.09%	0.63%
Mixed Race (not Hispanic)	708	1,901	1.88%	4.67%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,318	2,413	3.51%	5.92%
Total Population	37,575	40,727	100.00%	100.00%

Note: The U.S. Census counts Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic group. People of Hispanic/Latino background can be of any race.

Economy and Jobs

For many years, a company called Avtex Fibers was the biggest employer in Warren County. It used to be known as the American Viscose Corporation. At its busiest, it employed over 800 people.

However, in the late 1980s, the main factory in Front Royal had to close. This was because of many environmental problems. The county lost many jobs and a lot of tax money. To help the economy, the Warren County Economic Development Authority (WCEDA) was created. Its goal is to bring new businesses and jobs to Warren County and Front Royal.

Main Employers in Warren County

Here are some of the largest employers in the county:

Employer	Number of 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 in Warren County

I-66 in Warren County

Front Royal Area Transit (FRAT) provides bus service in Front Royal on weekdays.
Page County Transit offers weekday bus service in Luray. It also connects Luray and Front Royal.