Surry County, Virginia

Surry County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,561.[1]

Surry County
County
Official seal of Surry County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Surry County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′01″N 76°53′18″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
 (2020)
 • Total6,561
 • Density21/sq mi (8.2/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. The county has 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 times of 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 the British Legion 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.[2]

The Temperance, Industrial and Collegiate Institute, a school for African Americans, was located in Surry County from 1892 to 1928. A Virginia State Historic Marker is located at the site of the former campus in Claremont, and a memorial to the school's founded, John Jefferson Smallwood, is located at the Abundant Life Church Cemetery in Spring Grove.[3]

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. Foundation's School, a private, whites-only school was established. Grants and other provisions were made to provide public support for private education for the white students affected.[4]

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.Note%±
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%
20206,561−7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900-1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010-2020[10]

2020 census
Surry County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[10] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 3,583 3,459 50.77% 52.72%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,240 2,687 45.91% 40.95%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 21 17 0.30% 0.26%
Asian alone (NH) 23 14 0.33% 0.21%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 10 0.03% 0.15%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 4 15 0.06% 0.23%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 99 210 1.40% 3.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 86 149 1.22% 2.27%
Total 7,058 6,561 100.00% 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 7,058 people, 2,619 households, and 1,917 families residing in the county. The population density was 24 people per square mile (9.3 people/km2). There were 3,294 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/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
United States presidential election results for Surry County, Virginia[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,025 45.29% 2,397 53.61% 49 1.10%
2016 1,819 43.02% 2,272 53.74% 137 3.24%
2012 1,671 38.79% 2,576 59.80% 61 1.42%
2008 1,663 38.45% 2,626 60.72% 36 0.83%
2004 1,543 43.81% 1,954 55.48% 25 0.71%
2000 1,313 40.65% 1,845 57.12% 72 2.23%
1996 944 32.13% 1,753 59.67% 241 8.20%
1992 1,046 31.94% 1,823 55.66% 406 12.40%
1988 1,246 42.98% 1,602 55.26% 51 1.76%
1984 1,462 43.38% 1,875 55.64% 33 0.98%
1980 962 34.10% 1,756 62.25% 103 3.65%
1976 929 32.79% 1,829 64.56% 75 2.65%
1972 1,067 50.40% 988 46.67% 62 2.93%
1968 523 22.10% 1,126 47.59% 717 30.30%
1964 1,004 46.92% 1,131 52.85% 5 0.23%
1960 397 27.51% 1,003 69.51% 43 2.98%
1956 425 32.52% 616 47.13% 266 20.35%
1952 414 41.15% 572 56.86% 20 1.99%
1948 134 17.31% 460 59.43% 180 23.26%
1944 123 16.94% 602 82.92% 1 0.14%
1940 120 15.42% 658 84.58% 0 0.00%
1936 87 10.82% 715 88.93% 2 0.25%
1932 73 9.92% 653 88.72% 10 1.36%
1928 157 22.49% 541 77.51% 0 0.00%
1924 72 14.34% 388 77.29% 42 8.37%
1920 92 18.70% 397 80.69% 3 0.61%
1916 90 17.08% 430 81.59% 7 1.33%
1912 57 12.26% 360 77.42% 48 10.32%

Notable incidents in Surry County

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 dogfighting activities at 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 dogfighting 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 February 26, 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.

Points of interest

Notable people

References
  1. "Surry County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. Jack Huber, "The Surry Lumber Company", Virginia Forests available (Winter 2000) at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~vaschs/SLCfinal.htm
  3. Randall, James I. (2022). "John J. Smallwood and the Temperance, Industrial and Collegiate Institute". Social Welfare History Project. Retrieved December 14, 2022.
  4. "Avis M. Pettaway – Desegregation of Virginia Education (DOVE)". Retrieved December 15, 2022.
  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. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Surry 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) - Surry 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.
  14. Felbin, Sarah (March 21, 2022). "'RHOP' Star Karen Huger's New Spinoff Special Premieres Next Month On Bravo". Women's Health. Retrieved April 18, 2022.
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