Southampton County, Virginia

Southampton County is a county located on the southern border of the Commonwealth of Virginia. North Carolina is to the south. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,996.[1] Its county seat is Courtland.[2]

"Southampton County" redirects here. For the county in England, see Hampshire.

Southampton County
County
Southampton County Courthouse
Southampton County Courthouse
Official seal of Southampton County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Southampton County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°46′15″N 77°09′38″W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1749
Named foreither Southampton, England, or Henry Wriothesley, 3rd Earl of Southampton
SeatCourtland
Largest townCourtland
Area
 • Total602 sq mi (1,560 km2)
 • Land599 sq mi (1,550 km2)
 • Water3.2 sq mi (8 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,996
 • Density30/sq mi (12/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional districts4th, 2nd
Websitewww.southamptoncounty.org

History

In the early 17th century, the explorer Captain John Smith founded the settlement of Jamestown; in the next decades of the colony's history, Jamestown settlers explorer and began settling the regions adjacent to Hampton Roads. The Virginia Colony was divided into eight shires (or counties) with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants in 1634. Most of Southampton County was originally part of Warrosquyoake Shire. The shires were soon to be called counties. In 1637 Warrosquyoake Shire was renamed Isle of Wight County.[3]

In 1749, the portion of Isle of Wight County west of the Blackwater River was organized as Southampton County. Later, part of Nansemond County, which is now the Independent City of Suffolk, was added to Southampton County. This area was cultivated for tobacco and later for mixed crops, dependent on the labor of enslaved African Americans after a relatively short period when many white indentured servants came to the colony.

Main article: Nat Turner's slave rebellion

In August 1831, an enslaved preacher named Nat Turner led a slave rebellion in Southampton County against local white residents, killing about 60 people (mainly women and children). The rebellion was crushed, and Turner and his rebels were tried, convicted, and executed. Meanwhile, white mobs had seized and lynched nearly 200 black residents of Southampton County, most of them enslaved.[4]

Southampton County may have been named by Virginian settlers for Southampton, a major port city in Hampshire. Alternatively, it may have been named for Henry Wriothesley, one of the founders of the Virginia Company.

Geography
Southampton County from 1895 map of Virginia

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 602 square miles (1,560 km2), of which 599 square miles (1,550 km2) is land and 3.2 square miles (8.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]

Southampton County is bounded by the Blackwater River on the east and the Meherrin River on the west. The Nottoway River flows through the center of the county. All three rivers are tributaries of the Chowan River, which flows south into Albemarle Sound, North Carolina. The Blackwater River separates Southampton County from Isle of Wight County, and the Meherrin River separates it from Greensville County.

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179012,864—
180013,9258.2%
181013,497−3.1%
182014,1705.0%
183016,07413.4%
184014,525−9.6%
185013,521−6.9%
186012,915−4.5%
187012,285−4.9%
188018,01246.6%
189020,07811.5%
190022,84813.8%
191026,30215.1%
192027,5554.8%
193026,870−2.5%
194026,442−1.6%
195026,5220.3%
196027,1952.5%
197018,582−31.7%
198018,7310.8%
199017,550−6.3%
200017,482−0.4%
201018,5706.2%
202017,996−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2020[10]

2020 census
Southampton County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[10] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 11,138 10,959 59.98% 60.90%
Black or African American alone (NH) 6,893 5,908 37.12% 32.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 52 56 0.28% 0.31%
Asian alone (NH) 46 67 0.25% 0.37%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 5 20 0.03% 0.11%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 13 50 0.07% 0.28%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 220 604 1.18% 3.36%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 203 332 1.09% 1.84%
Total 18,570 17,996 100.00% 100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2010 Census

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11 people/km2). There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (4.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 60.4% White, 37.2% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 1.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,279 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.10% were married couples living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.53 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.80% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 14.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 111.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 112.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,995, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $32,436 versus $20,831 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,930. About 11.70% of families and 14.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.90% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Public service

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

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics
United States presidential election results for Southampton County, Virginia[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 5,730 58.55% 3,969 40.56% 87 0.89%
2016 5,035 56.75% 3,595 40.52% 242 2.73%
2012 4,733 51.09% 4,437 47.90% 94 1.01%
2008 4,583 50.55% 4,402 48.55% 82 0.90%
2004 4,018 53.63% 3,431 45.80% 43 0.57%
2000 3,293 49.05% 3,359 50.03% 62 0.92%
1996 2,275 33.88% 3,454 51.44% 986 14.68%
1992 2,844 41.37% 3,199 46.54% 831 12.09%
1988 3,439 52.96% 3,000 46.20% 54 0.83%
1984 4,669 57.99% 3,300 40.99% 82 1.02%
1980 2,997 45.50% 3,347 50.81% 243 3.69%
1976 2,366 40.18% 3,399 57.72% 124 2.11%
1972 3,225 67.09% 1,498 31.16% 84 1.75%
1968 1,376 26.15% 1,803 34.26% 2,083 39.59%
1964 1,520 37.16% 2,566 62.74% 4 0.10%
1960 1,263 30.62% 2,804 67.98% 58 1.41%
1956 1,290 35.29% 2,039 55.79% 326 8.92%
1952 1,166 36.70% 2,000 62.95% 11 0.35%
1948 339 16.14% 1,462 69.62% 299 14.24%
1944 284 14.99% 1,599 84.38% 12 0.63%
1940 213 12.29% 1,508 87.02% 12 0.69%
1936 148 8.11% 1,673 91.62% 5 0.27%
1932 182 11.69% 1,357 87.15% 18 1.16%
1928 648 43.43% 844 56.57% 0 0.00%
1924 203 14.46% 1,119 79.70% 82 5.84%
1920 250 15.80% 1,314 83.06% 18 1.14%
1916 128 10.91% 1,045 89.09% 0 0.00%
1912 95 9.38% 861 85.00% 57 5.63%

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Isle of Wight County". www.lva.virginia.gov. Retrieved April 10, 2020.
  4. Oates, Stephen B. (1990) [1975]. The Fires of Jubilee: Nat Turner's Fierce Rebellion. New York, New York: HarperCollins Publishers Inc. p. 126. ISBN 0-06-091670-2.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  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. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Southampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

36°46′15″N 77°09′38″W

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