Surry County, Virginia

Surry County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,058.[2] Its county seat is Surry.[3]

Surry County
U.S. county
The Surry County Courthouse is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N 76°53′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1652
Named forSurrey
SeatSurry
Largest townClaremont
Area
 • Total310 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Land279 sq mi (720 km2)
 • Water31 sq mi (80 km2)  10.1%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,058
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
6,474
 • Density23/sq mi (8.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district4th
Websitewww.surrycountyva.gov

In 1652, Surry County was formed from the portion of James City County south of the James River. For more than 350 years it has depended on an agricultural economy. It has guarded its heritage, including many small towns and 19 sites listed on the National Register, including a landmark occupied in 1676 known as Bacon's Castle and Chippokes Plantation (now a state park). The Jamestown Ferry provides easy access to Virginia's Historic Triangle, featuring Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown, linked by the National Park Service's Colonial Parkway.

The county is known for farming, curing Virginia Hams, and harvesting lumber, notably Virginia Pine.

History

During the Virginia Colony, Surry County was formed in 1652 from a portion of James City County (one of the original 8 counties formed in 1634) south of the James River. It was named for the English county of Surrey. Surry County initially consisted of two parishes of the Church of England: Lawne's Creek and Southwark.

Nearby, in 1665, Arthur Allen built a Jacobean brick house. A decade later it became known as Bacon's Castle because it was occupied as a fort or "castle" during Bacon's Rebellion against the Royal Governor, Sir William Berkeley. (Nathaniel Bacon never lived at Bacon's Castle, but rather at Curles Neck Plantation in Henrico County, about 30 miles upriver on the James River's northern bank).

The first town, Cobham, was established in 1691 at the mouth of Gray's Creek, where it flows into the James River. Neighboring Sussex County was formed from the southwestern end of Surry County in 1754. After the American Revolutionary War, during which Tarleton's raiders looted the county, Surry County became part of the new Commonwealth of Virginia, one of the first 13 United States.

During the American Civil War, the Confederate Army included the Surry Light Artillery and the Surry Cavalry.

In 1873, a New Jersey timberman, David Steele, with financing from Baltimore interests, began a lumber business in Surry County, but went bankrupt a decade later. Baltimore investors Waters and Company incorporated the Surry Lumber Company in 1885. In 1886 it incorporated the Surry, Sussex and Southampton Railway, which delivered lumber to Scotland wharf on the James River (now the Jamestown Ferry terminal). The company (headquartered at Sedley, Virginia) and SS&S railroad grew, reaching their heyday around 1920. But the company did not replant after it cut the old growth pine, and found further logging in the area difficult after 1925.

In 1927 it closed its mills in Dendron, Virginia, causing considerable economic distress in the county. The railway went bankrupt in 1930. Gray Lumber Company of Waverly, Virginia, which replanted its timber cuts, bought 15,000 acres from the Surry Lumber Company in 1941, and other companies soon bought the rest of the company's acreage.[4]

As part of Virginia's "Massive Resistance" to integration following Brown v. Board of Education, Surry County closed its white public schools so no black students could attend. Various provisions were made to provide public support for private education for the white students affected.

The two-unit Surry Nuclear Power Plant was commissioned in 1972 and 1973, and is expected to remain active until 2053.

Transportation

Major highways

State Route 31 and State Route 40 bisect the county. Its major artery is the historic path along the south bank of the James River now known as State Route 10 between Prince George County and Isle of Wight County.

Geography
Farm in Surry County

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 310 square miles (800 km2), of which 279 square miles (720 km2) is land and 31 square miles (80 km2) (10.1%) is water.[5]

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17906,227—
18006,5354.9%
18106,8554.9%
18206,594−3.8%
18307,1097.8%
18406,480−8.8%
18505,679−12.4%
18606,1338.0%
18705,585−8.9%
18807,39132.3%
18908,25611.7%
19008,4692.6%
19109,71514.7%
19209,305−4.2%
19307,096−23.7%
19406,193−12.7%
19506,2200.4%
19606,2200.0%
19705,882−5.4%
19806,0462.8%
19906,1451.6%
20006,82911.1%
20107,0583.4%
Est. 20186,474[1]−8.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[10] of 2010, there were 7,058 people, 2,619 households, and 1,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 51.3% White, 46.1% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. 1.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,619 households out of which 30.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.50% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.80% were non-families. 23.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.09.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 25.20% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 93.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,558, and the median income for a family was $41,234. Males had a median income of $31,123 versus $21,143 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,682. About 9.70% of families and 10.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.40% of those under age 18 and 14.80% of those age 65 or over.

Public services

Blackwater Regional Library is the regional library system that provides services to the citizens of Surry.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Other unincorporated communities

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[11]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 43.0% 1,819 53.7% 2,272 3.2% 137
2012 38.8% 1,671 59.8% 2,576 1.4% 61
2008 38.5% 1,663 60.7% 2,626 0.8% 36
2004 43.8% 1,543 55.5% 1,954 0.7% 25
2000 40.7% 1,313 57.1% 1,845 2.2% 72
1996 32.1% 944 59.7% 1,753 8.2% 241
1992 31.9% 1,046 55.7% 1,823 12.4% 406
1988 43.0% 1,246 55.3% 1,602 1.8% 51
1984 43.4% 1,462 55.6% 1,875 1.0% 33
1980 34.1% 962 62.3% 1,756 3.7% 103
1976 32.8% 929 64.6% 1,829 2.7% 75
1972 50.4% 1,067 46.7% 988 2.9% 62
1968 22.1% 523 47.6% 1,126 30.3% 717
1964 46.9% 1,004 52.9% 1,131 0.2% 5
1960 27.5% 397 69.5% 1,003 3.0% 43
1956 32.5% 425 47.1% 616 20.4% 266
1952 41.2% 414 56.9% 572 2.0% 20
1948 17.3% 134 59.4% 460 23.3% 180
1944 16.9% 123 82.9% 602 0.1% 1
1940 15.4% 120 84.6% 658
1936 10.8% 87 88.9% 715 0.3% 2
1932 9.9% 73 88.7% 653 1.4% 10
1928 22.5% 157 77.5% 541
1924 14.3% 72 77.3% 388 8.4% 42
1920 18.7% 92 80.7% 397 0.6% 3
1916 17.1% 90 81.6% 430 1.3% 7
1912 12.3% 57 77.4% 360 10.3% 48

Points of interest

Recent events

Dog fighting investigation
Further information: Bad Newz Kennels dog fighting investigation

Beginning on April 25, 2007, Surry County Sheriff Harold D. Brown and part-time county Commonwealth's Attorney (prosecutor) Gerald G. Poindexter led a high-profile dog fighting investigation. Authorities investigating Davon T. Boddie, 26, on a narcotics issue found evidence of dog fighting activities at a home and property in Surry County where he lived. It was owned by his cousin, then Atlanta Falcons NFL-football player Michael Vick. Officials confiscated 66 dogs, 55 of which were pit bulls, and other evidence. An ESPN source alleged that Vick was a "heavyweight" in dog fighting and had been known to wager $40,000 on the outcome of a single fight.

By August 20, 2007, all the defendants charged in Federal court, including Vick, had agreed to guilty pleas under plea bargain agreements. They were sentenced to terms ranging from 6 to 23 months, to be served in Federal prisons. The abused dogs were placed in foster or adoptive homes.

On 26 February 2009, Vick was approved for release to home confinement. He was released on 21 May 2009 to be confined for the remainder of his 23-month term of imprisonment under home confinement.

Notable people
  • Leslie Garland Bolling (1898-1955), Early 20th century African-American wood carver
  • Robert Butler (1784-1853), American politician and physician; served as Adjutant General of Virginia and State Treasurer of Virginia
  • John Hartwell Cocke (1780-1866), American military officer, planter and businessman
  • Joseph T. Deal (1860-1942), Virginia politician and business man
  • Curtis W. Harris (1924-2017), minister, civil rights activist, and politician in Virginia
  • Thomas Person (1733–1800), American politician and Anti-Federalist organizer
  • Peyton Short (1761-1825), land speculator and politician in Kentucky
  • Claude V. Spratley (1882-1976), Virginia jurist
  • Reginald Diggs Jr. (May 8, 1993), Football Wide Receiver, Washington Redskins (2016)
  • Cornelius Ollie Drew (December 16, 1949), Outfielder, Kansas City Royals 12th round(276th overall)1968 Amateur Entry Draft
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See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Jack Huber, "The Surry Lumber Company", Virginia Forests available (Winter 2000) at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaschs/SLCfinal.htm
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 7 April 2018.

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