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Frederick County, Virginia

Coordinates: 39°13′N 78°16′W / 39.21°N 78.26°W / 39.21; -78.26
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39°13′N 78°16′W / 39.21°N 78.26°W / 39.21; -78.26

Frederick County
County
The Old Frederick County Courthouse in Winchester
The Old Frederick County Courthouse in Winchester
Flag of Frederick County
Flag
Official seal of Frederick County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Frederick County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°13′N 78°16′W / 39.21°N 78.26°W / 39.21; -78.26
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1743
Named forFrederick, Prince of Wales
SeatWinchester
Largest townStephens City
Area
 • Total
416 sq mi (1,080 km2)
 • Land414 sq mi (1,070 km2)
 • Water2 sq mi (5 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
91,419
 • Density220/sq mi (85/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.fcva.us

Frederick County is located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 91,419.[1] Its county seat is Winchester.[2] The county was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. It is Virginia's northernmost county. Frederick County is included in the Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area.

History

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The area that would become Frederick County, Virginia, was inhabited and transited by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European colonization.

Colonization efforts began with the Virginia Company of London, but European settlement did not flourish until after the company lost its charter and Virginia became a royal colony in 1624. In order to stimulate migration to the colony, the headright system was used. Under this system, those who funded an emigrant's transportation costs (not the actual colonizers) were compensated with land.[3] In 1649 the exiled King Charles II granted several acres of colonial Virginia lands to "seven loyal supporters", including Lord Fairfax. The Fairfax lands passed to Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1657-1710), who married the daughter of Thomas Colepeper, who also owned several acres of land. After their son, Lord Thomas Fairfax, inherited the combined grants, he controlled over 5,000,000 acres of land in Virginia, including much of the land that became Frederick County.[4]

Frederick County was created from Orange County in 1738, and was officially organized in 1743.[5] The Virginia Assembly named the new county for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales[6] (1707–1751), the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain. At that time, "Old Frederick County" encompassed all or part of four counties in present-day Virginia and five in present-day West Virginia:

Colonial era

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As commanding officer of the new Colonial Virginia regiment in 1754, Colonel George Washington located his headquarters in Winchester before and during the French and Indian War. He resigned from military service in 1758. He represented Frederick County in his first elective office, having been elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758 and 1761.

Seventeen years later, on June 15, 1775, the Continental Congress "elected" George Washington as commander-in-chief of the yet-to-be-created Continental Army. He accepted the appointment the next day.[7] This preceded the Congress's declaration of independence and the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.

War of 1812

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American Civil War

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Winchester was a site of volatile conditions during the Civil War of 1861–1865, with control shifting between the Confederate and Union armies on average once every three weeks during the war. Many battles were fought in Frederick County. Some of those battles included:

The first constitution of West Virginia provided for Frederick County to be added to the new state if approved by a local election.[8] Unlike neighboring Berkeley and Jefferson counties, Frederick County remained in Virginia; as it was occupied by the Confederate army, no vote was permitted to ascertain the residents' wishes.[9]

Civilian history of the area

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Four (alkaline, saline, chalybeate, and sulphured) types of mineral water springs naturally occur on the land that would later be named Rock Enon Springs.[10]: 868  The area was once called Capper Springs, named for area settler John Capper.[11]: 57  William Marker bought the 942 acres (381 ha) in 1856 and built a hotel, the first building of the Rock Enon Springs Resort. It survived the American Civil War.[12] On March 24, 1899, the Shenandoah Valley National Bank purchased the property for $3,500.[13]: 9  During the summer of 1914 botanists found a variety of ferns on the property: polypodium vulgare, phegopteris hexagonoptera, adiantum pedatum, pteris aquilina, and cheilanthes lanosa.[14]

The idea that soaking in the natural spring water had medical value made this and other springs popular tourist destinations through the early 20th century.[15]

In 1944, people no longer had as much faith in the springs, and there was much more competition for tourists at other sites. Due to declining business, the Glaize family sold the property to the Shenandoah Area Council. They adapted the resort to operate as a Boy Scout site, Camp Rock Enon.[12] In 1944 the 5 acres (0.020 km2) Miller Lake was created by adding a 200 feet (61 m) earth dam across Laurel Run using equipment, owned by the Federal fish hatchery in Leestown.[16]: M4  In 1958 "walnut, chestnut and persimmon trees" were planted on the property.[17]: 50 

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 416 square miles (1,080 km2), of which 414 square miles (1,070 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.[18] This is the northernmost county in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179019,681—
180024,74425.7%
181022,574−8.8%
182024,7069.4%
183026,0465.4%
184014,242−45.3%
185015,97512.2%
186016,5463.6%
187016,5960.3%
188017,5535.8%
189017,8801.9%
190013,239−26.0%
191012,787−3.4%
192012,461−2.5%
193013,1675.7%
194014,0086.4%
195017,53725.2%
196021,94125.1%
197028,89331.7%
198034,15018.2%
199045,72333.9%
200059,20929.5%
201078,30532.3%
202091,41916.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21]
1990–2000[22] 2010[23] 2020[24]
The drop from 1830 to 1840 was because
Clarke and Warren counties were split off.

2020 census

[edit]
Frederick County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[23] Pop 2020[24] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 67,590 71,739 86.32% 78.47%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,067 3,605 3.92% 3.94%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 182 120 0.23% 0.13%
Asian alone (NH) 959 1,661 1.22% 1.82%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 30 39 0.04% 0.04%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 103 402 0.13% 0.44%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 1,206 3,863 1.54% 4.23%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 5,168 9,990 6.60% 10.93%
Total 78,305 91,419 100.00% 100.00%

2000 Census

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As of the census[25] of 2000, there were 59,209 people, 22,097 households, and 16,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 143 inhabitants per square mile (55/km2). There were 23,319 housing units at an average density of 56 units per square mile (22 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.99% White, 2.62% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,097 households, out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,941, and the median income for a family was $52,281. Males had a median income of $35,705 versus $25,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,080. About 4.00% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

Government

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Board of Supervisors

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  • Chairman: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. (R)
  • Back Creek District: Shawn Graber (R)
  • Gainesboro District: Douglas McCarthy (R)
  • Opequon District: Robert Wells (R)
  • Red Bud District: Blaine P. Dunn (R)
  • Shawnee District: David Stegmaier (R)
  • Stonewall District: Judith McCann-Slaughter (R)

Constitutional officers

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  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Rebecca P. "Becky" Hogan (D)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Seth T. Thatcher (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Ross Spicer (R)
  • Sheriff: Lenny Millholland (I)
  • Treasurer: C. William Orndoff, Jr. (R)

Frederick is represented by Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel (R), in the Virginia Senate, Wendy Gooditis (D), Chris Collins (R), and Dave LaRock (R), in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Ben Cline (R) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Frederick County, Virginia[26]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 33,117 63.73% 18,331 35.28% 516 0.99%
2020 30,558 62.74% 17,207 35.33% 938 1.93%
2016 26,083 64.50% 11,932 29.51% 2,425 6.00%
2012 22,858 62.81% 12,690 34.87% 846 2.32%
2008 20,149 59.95% 12,961 38.56% 502 1.49%
2004 19,386 67.93% 8,853 31.02% 301 1.05%
2000 14,574 65.09% 7,158 31.97% 660 2.95%
1996 10,608 57.61% 5,976 32.46% 1,828 9.93%
1992 9,425 53.96% 4,942 28.29% 3,101 17.75%
1988 9,921 72.33% 3,707 27.02% 89 0.65%
1984 9,542 77.79% 2,671 21.77% 54 0.44%
1980 7,293 67.61% 2,948 27.33% 546 5.06%
1976 5,162 59.52% 3,389 39.08% 121 1.40%
1972 5,367 75.18% 1,604 22.47% 168 2.35%
1968 3,696 49.58% 1,612 21.63% 2,146 28.79%
1964 2,585 47.22% 2,880 52.61% 9 0.16%
1960 2,061 53.74% 1,757 45.81% 17 0.44%
1956 1,882 56.01% 1,405 41.82% 73 2.17%
1952 1,803 57.53% 1,326 42.31% 5 0.16%
1948 921 38.31% 1,244 51.75% 239 9.94%
1944 938 43.51% 1,213 56.26% 5 0.23%
1940 773 32.13% 1,631 67.79% 2 0.08%
1936 665 32.31% 1,386 67.35% 7 0.34%
1932 456 22.62% 1,536 76.19% 24 1.19%
1928 1,006 46.88% 1,140 53.12% 0 0.00%
1924 484 26.49% 1,314 71.92% 29 1.59%
1920 875 39.13% 1,337 59.79% 24 1.07%
1916 366 23.15% 1,194 75.52% 21 1.33%
1912 181 14.66% 922 74.66% 132 10.69%

Transportation

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I-81 southbound in Frederick County, near Stephens City
  • Winchester Transit[27] provides weekday transit for the city of Winchester.

Major highways

[edit]

Education

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Frederick County is served by Frederick County Public Schools, which includes several elementary, middle, and high schools. Frederick County is also part of the region served by the Mountain Vista Governor's School, which offers upper-level classes to intellectually gifted high school students.

Schools

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Elementary schools

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  • Apple Pie Ridge Elementary School
  • Armel Elementary School
  • Bass-Hoover Elementary School
  • Evendale Elementary School
  • Gainesboro Elementary School
  • Greenwood Mill Elementary School
  • Indian Hollow Elementary School
  • Jordan Springs Elementary School
  • Middletown Elementary School
  • Redbud Run Elementary School
  • Stonewall Elementary School

Middle schools

[edit]
  • Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School
  • Frederick County Middle School
  • James Wood Middle School
  • Robert E. Aylor Middle School

High schools

[edit]

Colleges

[edit]

Universities

[edit]

Libraries

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Communities

[edit]
Map of Frederick County, Virginia, with Municipal and Magisterial District Labels

Although designated as the county seat, Winchester, like all cities under Virginia law, is an independent city, politically independent of any county.

Towns

[edit]

Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

Notable people

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

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  1. ^ "Frederick County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Price, Edward T. (1995). Dividing the Land: Early American Beginnings of Our Private Property Mosaic. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. pp. 91, 105–107. ISBN 9780226680651.
  4. ^ "About the Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grant and Surveys". Library of Virginia. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Maps of Virginia". Maps of US. Retrieved October 25, 2018.
  6. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 131.
  7. ^ "Creating a Continental Army". The American Revolution 1763-1783. Library of Congress. n.d. Retrieved August 26, 2020.
  8. ^ "West Virginia Constitution". www.wvculture.org. Archived from the original on January 19, 2017. Retrieved February 12, 2009.
  9. ^ Virginia v. West Virginia, 78 U.S. 39, 42.
  10. ^ Engelhard, G.P. (1902). The Standard medical directory of North America. p. 924.
  11. ^ Peale, Albert Charles (1886). Lists and Analyses of the Mineral Springs of the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. pp. 235.
  12. ^ a b Bell, Stewart Jr. Rock Enon Springs Records #1303. Winchester, VA, USA: Handley Regional Library. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
  13. ^ "Rock Enon Springs Sold: Property Purchased by Bank to Protect Deed of Trust". Washington Post. March 25, 1899.
  14. ^ Tuttle, Mary Louise (1915). "Fern Trips in Virginia". American Fern Journal. 5 (4): 108–113. doi:10.2307/1544094. JSTOR 1544094.
  15. ^ Tourism:
    Bell, Stewart Jr. Rock Enon Springs Records #1303. Winchester, VA, USA: Handley Regional Library. Retrieved February 27, 2017.
    "The Movements of Officials". Washington Post. July 24, 1888.: 2 
    "At Rock Enon Springs Several Washingtonians Enjoy Vacations in Quiet Virginia Resort". Washington Post. No. Special. July 30, 1911.: E1 
  16. ^ "Dam to Back Up Water For Scout Camp Lake". Washington Post. February 27, 1944.
  17. ^ Annual Report, Volume 49. Northern Nut Growers Association. 1958.
  18. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  19. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  20. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  21. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  22. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  23. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Frederick County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  24. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Frederick County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  25. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  26. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org.
  27. ^ winDev (August 17, 2012). "Public Transportation". www.winchesterva.gov.
[edit]
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