Clarke County, Virginia

Clarke County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,034.[1] Its county seat is Berryville.[2] Clarke County is included in the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Clarke County
County
County of Clarke
Old Clarke County Courthouse and Confederate monument
Flag
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°07′N 78°00′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1836
Named forGeorge Rogers Clark
SeatBerryville
Largest townBerryville
Area
 • Total178 sq mi (460 km2)
 • Land176 sq mi (460 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  1.2%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total14,034
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,523
 • Density79/sq mi (30/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district10th
Websiteclarkecounty.gov

History

The first settlement of the Virginia Colony in the future Clarke County was in 1736 by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who built a home, Greenway Court, on part of his 5 million acres (20,000 km2) property, near what is now the village of White Post. White Post was named for the large signpost pointing the way to Lord Fairfax's home.

As it lay just west of the Blue Ridge border demarcated under Governor Spotswood at Albany in 1722, the area was claimed along with the rest of the Shenandoah Valley by the Six Nations Iroquois (who had overrun it during the later Beaver Wars in around 1672), until the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744, when it was purchased from them by Governor Gooch.

Many of the early settlers of what became Clarke County were children of Tidewater planters, who settled on large land grants from Lord Fairfax. Two-thirds of the county was settled by the plantation group, and the plantation lifestyle thrived until the Civil War. County status came in 1836 when it was divided off from Frederick County. Clarke was known for its large crops of wheat.

During the American Civil War, John S. Mosby, "the Gray Ghost" of the Confederacy, raided General Sheridan's supply train in the summer of 1864, in Berryville. The Battle of Cool Spring was fought in Clarke County on July 17 and 18th, 1864, and the Battle of Berryville on September 3, 1864.

In 1881 was founded the Bank of Clarke County, still functional regional bank headquartered in Berryville.[3]

Early in the 20th century, future Virginia politician Harry F. Byrd, Sr. and his wife established their first home near Berryville, where he undertook extensive agricultural activity growing peaches and apples. Byrd became a State senator in the upper house of the Virginia General Assembly, served a term as a Governor of Virginia, and was a United States Senator for over 30 years, heading the powerful Byrd Organization which dominated state politics between the mid-1920s and 1960s.

In 1996, Forrest Pritchard revitalized Smithfield Farm by starting a grass-fed, sustainable livestock operation. Renamed 'Smith Meadows', it is currently one of the oldest fully grass-finished farms in the United States, and its story was chronicled in the New York Times bestseller Gaining Ground.

Historic buildings and structures
  • Clermont Estate (1751)
  • Dearmont Hall (1850)
  • Fairfield (1765)
  • Soldier's Rest (1769)
  • Buck Marsh Church (1772)
  • Norwood (1780)
  • Burwell-Morgan Mill (1782)
  • Holy Cross Abbey (1784)
  • Audley Estate (1794)
  • Bel Voi (1803)
  • Long Branch Plantation (1811)
  • Rosemont Estate (1811)
  • Clay Hill (1816)
  • Smithfield Farm (1816)
  • Clifton (1833)
  • Clarke County Courthouse (1837)
  • Stone's Chapel (1848)
  • Glendale Farm (1850)
  • Site of Mosby's Raid (1863)

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 178 square miles (460 km2), of which 176 square miles (460 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4] It is the third-smallest county in Virginia by total area.

Adjacent counties

Government

Board of Supervisors
  • Berryville District: Mary Costello Daniel (D)
  • Buckmarsh District: David Weiss (R)
  • Millwood District: Terri Catlett (I)
  • Russell District: Barbara Byrd (I)
  • White Post District: Bev McKay (R)

Constitutional officers
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Helen Butts (D)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Donna Mathews Peake (R)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Anne M. Williams (R)
  • Sheriff: Anthony W. Roper (D)
  • Treasurer: Sharon E. Keeler (D)

Clarke County is represented by Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel in the Virginia Senate, Republican Dave LaRock and Democrat Wendy Gooditis in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Democrat Jennifer Wexton in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[5]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 56.8% 4,661 37.2% 3,051 6.1% 501
2012 55.4% 4,296 41.7% 3,239 2.9% 227
2008 51.7% 3,840 46.5% 3,457 1.8% 134
2004 57.5% 3,741 41.5% 2,699 1.0% 65
2000 54.6% 2,883 41.0% 2,166 4.5% 235
1996 48.2% 2,201 41.7% 1,906 10.1% 462
1992 42.9% 1,994 39.0% 1,811 18.1% 843
1988 62.2% 2,502 36.8% 1,478 1.0% 40
1984 67.2% 2,529 32.3% 1,215 0.5% 19
1980 57.4% 1,876 35.4% 1,156 7.2% 234
1976 51.5% 1,440 45.7% 1,276 2.8% 78
1972 69.1% 1,816 27.2% 715 3.7% 96
1968 42.6% 1,127 29.1% 768 28.3% 749
1964 48.4% 1,068 51.5% 1,136 0.1% 2
1960 46.3% 804 53.2% 923 0.5% 9
1956 48.9% 785 45.2% 725 5.9% 95
1952 52.9% 809 46.8% 716 0.3% 5
1948 33.2% 384 41.6% 482 25.2% 292
1944 33.6% 415 66.0% 816 0.4% 5
1940 24.1% 333 75.6% 1,043 0.3% 4
1936 17.4% 198 82.4% 940 0.3% 3
1932 12.7% 124 86.4% 841 0.8% 8
1928 25.1% 248 74.9% 740
1924 9.8% 76 88.2% 687 2.1% 16
1920 15.8% 154 79.3% 774 4.9% 48
1916 7.7% 49 92.2% 590 0.2% 1
1912 6.2% 39 91.4% 576 2.4% 15

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18406,353—
18507,35215.7%
18607,146−2.8%
18706,670−6.7%
18807,68215.2%
18908,0715.1%
19007,927−1.8%
19107,468−5.8%
19207,165−4.1%
19307,1670.0%
19407,159−0.1%
19507,074−1.2%
19607,94212.3%
19708,1022.0%
19809,96523.0%
199012,10121.4%
200012,6524.6%
201014,03410.9%
Est. 201814,523[6]3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 12,652 people, 4,942 households, and 3,513 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28/km2). There were 5,388 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 91.15% White, 6.73% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.49% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.55% from other races, and 0.85% from two or more races. 1.46% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.

By 2005 90.1% of Clarke County's population was non-Hispanic whites. 6.3% were African-American. 0.2% Native American. 0.6% Asian. 2.6% were Latino.

There were 4,942 households, out of which 29.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.90% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.50 and the average family size was 2.97.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 29.10% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 14.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $51,601, and the median income for a family was $59,750. Males had a median income of $40,254 versus $30,165 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,844. About 4.20% of families and 6.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.10% of those under age 18 and 11.10% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Major highways

The Norfolk Southern Railway's H-Line runs the perimeter of Clarke County.

Service

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities
  • Fairfield Estate (1765)
  • Soldier's Rest (1769)
  • Norwood Estate (1780)
  • Holy Cross Abbey (1784)
  • Audley Estate (1794)
  • Bel Voi (1803)
  • Rosemont Estate (1811)
  • Clay Hill (1816)
  • Clifton (1833)
  • Stone's Chapel (1848)
  • Glendale Farm (1850)
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See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "History of Bank of Clarke County". Archived from the original on 3 February 2017. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
  4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  5. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on 23 March 2018. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
  6. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on December 26, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

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