Westmoreland County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Westmoreland County
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Westmoreland County Courthouse in Montross
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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 | 1653 | |
| Named for | Westmorland | |
| Seat | Montross | |
| Largest town | Colonial Beach | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 253 sq mi (660 km2) | |
| • Land | 229 sq mi (590 km2) | |
| • Water | 24 sq mi (60 km2) 9.3% | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 18,477 | |
| • Density | 73.03/sq mi (28.20/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Westmoreland County is a place in the Northern Neck area of Virginia. It's like a district or region within the state. In 2020, about 18,477 people lived there. The main town, or county's center, is Montross.
Contents
History of Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County was created in 1653 by the Virginia colony. It was separated from Northumberland County. The county was named after Westmorland, a coastal area in England.
Long ago, Westmoreland County was much bigger. It included parts of what are now Alexandria, Arlington County, Fairfax County, and Prince William County. These areas became part of Stafford County in 1664.
Westmoreland County is famous for being the birthplace of three important Americans:
- George Washington, the first President of the United States. He was born at a place called Bridges Creek.
- James Monroe, who became the fifth President.
- Robert E. Lee, a well-known general during the American Civil War.
A man named Colonel Nicholas Spencer lived here in the 1600s. He owned land at Mount Vernon with John Washington, who was George Washington's ancestor. Spencer was also a leader in the Virginia colony. His home, Nomini, was later sold to Robert Carter I.
Robert Carter's grandson, Robert Carter III, did something very important. Starting in 1791, he freed almost 500 enslaved people from his home, Nomini Hall. He even bought land for them in Ohio Country so they could settle there. This was one of the largest acts of freeing enslaved people by one person in North America before the Civil War.
Geography and Nature
Westmoreland County covers about 253 square miles (655 square kilometers). Most of this is land, about 229 square miles (593 square kilometers). The rest, about 24 square miles (62 square kilometers), is water.
The county is part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace AVA. This area is known for making wine.
Nearby Counties and States
Westmoreland County shares borders with these places:
- Charles County, Maryland - to the north
- St. Mary's County, Maryland - to the northeast
- Northumberland County, Virginia - to the southeast
- Richmond County, Virginia - to the south
- Essex County, Virginia - to the southwest
- King George County, Virginia - to the northwest
Protected Natural Areas
Some special protected areas are found here:
- George Washington Birthplace National Monument: This is a national park that protects the place where George Washington was born.
- Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge (part): This area helps protect wildlife and their homes.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1820 | 6,901 | — | |
| 1830 | 8,396 | 21.7% | |
| 1840 | 8,019 | −4.5% | |
| 1850 | 8,080 | 0.8% | |
| 1860 | 8,282 | 2.5% | |
| 1870 | 7,682 | −7.2% | |
| 1880 | 8,846 | 15.2% | |
| 1890 | 8,399 | −5.1% | |
| 1900 | 9,243 | 10.0% | |
| 1910 | 9,313 | 0.8% | |
| 1920 | 10,240 | 10.0% | |
| 1930 | 8,497 | −17.0% | |
| 1940 | 9,512 | 11.9% | |
| 1950 | 10,148 | 6.7% | |
| 1960 | 11,042 | 8.8% | |
| 1970 | 12,142 | 10.0% | |
| 1980 | 14,041 | 15.6% | |
| 1990 | 15,480 | 10.2% | |
| 2000 | 16,718 | 8.0% | |
| 2010 | 17,454 | 4.4% | |
| 2020 | 18,477 | 5.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020 |
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What the 2020 Census Shows
The 2020 census helps us understand the people living in Westmoreland County. It shows how many people are in different groups.
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 11,087 | 11,758 | 63.52% | 63.64% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 4,855 | 4,470 | 27.82% | 24.19% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 64 | 67 | 0.37% | 0.36% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 91 | 146 | 0.52% | 0.79% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 11 | 0.02% | 0.06% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 14 | 68 | 0.08% | 0.37% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 338 | 908 | 1.94% | 4.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 1,002 | 1,049 | 5.74% | 5.68% |
| Total | 17,454 | 18,477 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: The U.S. Census counts people who are Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic group. This means they are listed separately from racial groups, and people who are Hispanic/Latino can be of any race.
Economy and Jobs
The main way people make a living in Westmoreland County is through farming. Tourism is also very important. Many people visit historical places like the George Washington Birthplace National Monument and Stratford Hall Plantation, where Robert E. Lee was born. There's also a museum and fun activities in Colonial Beach.
Some local businesses include Northern Neck Coca-Cola Bottling Inc. and the weekly newspaper, Westmoreland News. Both are located in Montross.
Famous People from Westmoreland County
Many notable people have come from Westmoreland County:
- Walter Balderson (1926–2023): An Emmy Award-winning video engineer.
- Thomas Brown: The second governor of Florida.
- Francis Lightfoot Lee: One of the Founding Fathers who signed the Declaration of Independence.
- Laetitia Corbin Lee (1657–1706): An important early American colonist.
- Richard Henry Lee: Another signer of the Declaration of Independence and a U.S. Senator.
- Richard "Squire" Lee: A well-known Virginian colonist and politician.
- Robert E. Lee (1807-1870): A famous general for the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.
- Thomas Lee: A leading political figure in colonial Virginia.
- Thomas Marshall: Grandfather of John Marshall, a former Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.
- James Monroe (1758-1831): The fifth president of the United States.
- John dos Passos: A famous author known for his U.S.A. trilogy.
- Nicholas Spencer: An acting governor of Virginia and co-owner of the Mount Vernon estate.
- Nathaniel Rochester: The person who founded Rochester, New York.
- Thomas Sandford: A soldier in the American Revolutionary War and a politician.
- Bushrod Washington (1762-1829): A Supreme Court Justice and nephew of George Washington. He inherited Mount Vernon.
- George Washington (1732-1799): The first president of the United States.
- John Washington (1631-1677): The great-grandfather of George Washington.
- Sloan Wilson: An author known for his novel The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit.
- Rob Wittman: A U.S. Congressman.
Towns in Westmoreland County
The county has two main towns:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Westmoreland (Virginia) para niños
