James City County, Virginia
From Freepedia
| Image:Map of Virginia highlighting James City County.png Location in the state of Virginia | |
| Formed | 1634 |
| Seat | Williamsburg |
| Area - Total - Water | 180 mi² (465 km²) 37 mi² (95 km²) 20.47% |
| Population - (2004 Estimate) - Density | 54000 130/km² |
James City County (formally, the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Virginia. Its population is 48,102 (as of 2000), and its county seat is Williamsburg[1].
First settled by the English colonists in 1607 at Jamestown, the county was formally created in 1634 as James City Shire by order of King Charles I. James City County is considered one of only five original shires of the Virginia colony to still be extant today in essentially the same political form. In 2007, the county will host the Jamestown 2007 celebration to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement.
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History
- This section incorporates text from the 1911 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.
17th & 18th centuries
Soon after the establishment of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607, English settlers first explored and then began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. In 1634, the English Crown created eight shires (i.e. counties) in the colony of Virginia, with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants.
James City Shire, as well as the James River and Jamestown which had been named earlier, took its name from King James I, the father of the then-king, Charles I. About 1642-43, the name of the James City Shire was changed to James City County.
Established as Middle Plantation in 1632, it became the site of the College of William and Mary in 1693 and became the location of the capital in 1699. Shortly thereafter, it was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England. The capital was moved to Richmond in 1780 at the outset of the American Revolution. The Battle of Green Spring was fought in the county just a short time before the British surrender at Yorktown.
19th & 20th centuries
During the American Civil War, the Battle of Williamsburg was waged in James City County during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. After the War, Collis P. Huntington extended the new Chesapeake and Ohio Railway through the county to reach the new coal piers at Newport News on Hampton Roads. Railroad stations were established at Norge, Williamsburg, and Grove.
After a change in the Virginia constitution, Williamsburg became an independent city from the county in 1884, although it remained the county seat. Williamsburg and James City County share a combined school system, courts, and some constitutional officers.
Beginning in the early 20th century, preservation and restoration efforts resulted in a major increase in tourism to the county and surrounding area. Attractions developed included Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, the Colonial Parkway, Carter's Grove Plantation, and Busch Gardens. At the turn of the 21st century, new archaeological work was underway at Jamestown and nearby Green Spring Plantation, with the promise of new historical discoveries.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 180 mi² (465 km²), of which 143 mi² (370 km²) is land, and 37 mi² (95 km², or 20.47%) is water.
Demographics
As of the 2000 census[2], there are 48,102 people, 19,003 households, and 13,986 families residing in the county. The population density is 337/mi² (130/km²). There are 20,772 housing units at an average density of 145/mi² (56/km²). The racial makeup of the county is 82.05% White, 14.37% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
Of the total 19,003 households, 30.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.80% are married couples living together, 8.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% are non-families. 21.40% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.00% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.47 and the average family size is 2.86.
In the county, the population is spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 41 years. For every 100 females there are 93.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there are 91.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county is $55,594, and the median income for a family is $66,171. Males have a median income of $43,339 versus $27,016 for females. The per capita income for the county is $29,256. 6.40% of the population and 4.10% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.30% are under the age of 18 and 4.80% are 65 or older.
Communities
- Croaker
- Diascund
- Five Forks
- Grove (Carter's Grove area)
- Jamestown
- Kings Point
- Kingsmill
- Lightfoot
- Norge
- Queens Lake
- Toano
References
External links
Government
- James City County (official website)
- Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools
Political parties
Attractions
- Colonial Williamsburg Foundation's official site
- APVA web site for the Jamestown Rediscovery project
- Historic Jamestowne
- Jamestown 2007 Celebration
- Jamestown Settlement and Yorktown Victory Center
- Virtual Jamestown
- National Park Service: Jamestown National Historic Site
- Busch Gardens Williamsburg web site
- Friends of Green Spring a large interactive web site with streaming video and more than a dozen essays ("The voices of Green Spring")
- National Park Service, Green Spring web page
