Elkton, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Elkton is an incorporated town
in Rockingham County
, Virginia
, United States
. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,042 at the 2000 census. Elkton was named for the Elk Run stream.
It is located along the south fork of the Shenandoah River
at the intersections of east-west U.S. Route 33
and north-south U.S. Route 340
. The town celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008.
(Mueller), a native of Germany. In 1741, Miller purchased 820 acres (3.3 km²), including a large lithia spring, near Elkton and lived on this property for the remainder of his life. He sold 280 acres (1.1 km²) of this property to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer, and the spring on Miller’s land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring.
Conrads Store was a general store
built by George Conrad about 1812.
George Conrad was a son of Captain Stephen Conrad who served during the American Revolution
. In 1816, Conrads Store became a United States post office
with George Conrad as its first postmaster. During the American Civil War
(1861–1865), Conrads Store operated as a Confederate
post office. In September 1866, postal service was briefly
discontinued at Conrads Store, and intermittently resumed
and discontinued over the next decade until 1881 when the name,
Elkton, was adopted as the name of new passenger station of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
. In January 1881, Elkton, Virginia was established as a post office. The Town of Elkton was officially incorporated on March 14, 1908.
An important building in the town's history is the Jennings House. Built in 1840 by Dr. Samuel B. Jennings, the house was transformed into a hospital during the Civil War. The historic Jennings House was converted to house the local government. The town Christmas tree can be found across the street from the house.
Located on Rockingham Street, the Miller-Kite House was the headquarters of General Stonewall Jackson
at the start of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign during the Civil War. Now the house is a town landmark and museum, housing many items from the war and some of Jackson's personal belongings. In one of the second-story windows a cardboard cutout of the General watches the street. Many visitors report stories of ghosts or unusual behavior while in the house.
. Elkton is bordered by Page County to the north, the Blue Ridge Mountains
to the east, the Massanutten Mountain
range to the west, and the Merck
manufacturing plant and MillerCoors
brewery and distribution center to the south. The Norfolk and Western Railroad, Route 33, and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River
all cut through the town. The general area is agricultural, filled with farm lands and rural scenes.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.43%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,042 people, 862 households, and 555 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,485.4 people per square mile (575.5/km²). There were 919 housing units at an average density of 668.5 per square mile (259.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.49% White, 2.74% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% from other races
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
Major ancestry groups reported by Elkton residents include:
United States or American - 23.9%,
German - 15.3%,
English - 8.4%,
Irish - 6.9%,
Scotch-Irish - 4.6%,
Dutch - 2.3%,
Scottish - 2.2%,
Norwegian - 1.2%,
French - 1.6%,
Welsh - 1.1%,
Italian - 0.8%,
Polish - 0.9%,
French Canadian - 0.3%,
Hungarian - 0.2%,
Russian - 0.2%,
Slovak - 0.2%,
West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups) - 0.2%,
Other ancestries - 12.1%.
There were 862 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $41,500. Males had a median income of $30,032 versus $21,996 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,192. About 4.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
, a Virginia public school division
.
Elkton houses two public schools: Elkton Elementary School, and Elkton Middle School. Elkton Elementary School was built in 1938 on West B Street to house Elkton High School, but its role changed when a new school was built. Elkton Middle School was originally Elkton High School, built in 1957 primarily for grades eight through twelve. Eventually grade eight was moved from the elementary school to the high school. Additions were built to the high school in 1967, building a ten-room annex for more classes; and the elementary school in 1972, replacing part of the original building. In 1980, a new high school, Spotswood Senior High School (now Spotswood High School
), was built for East Rockingham County, Virginia
, combining Montevideo and Elkton High Schools. The new school, located in Penn Laird, Virginia and literally on the Massanutten Mountain, housed grades 10-12. Ninth grade was added for the 1984-85 school year. Elkton Elementary School then housed a new grade—Kindergarten—through fifth grade. Elkton Middle had grades 6-9. Over the years, Elkton Elementary added programs such as Head Start for preschoolers. In the 1990s a baseball field, used for Elkton softball teams, was built next to the middle school. In the late 1990s, renovations were done to Elkton Elementary School, as well as the addition of a new playground was built specifically for the lower grades. In 2001, more construction took place as the old playground, with original wooden trucks and sharp metal edges, were ripped out, replaced by softer and brighter rounded metallic structures. In 2005, more renovations were done to Elkton Middle School, such as changing the old band room into an addition to the cafeteria, building a new computer lab, and adding another gym separate from the main for public use, such as the Elkton Recreation League Basketball teams. In 2006 the fifth grade was moved from Elkton Elementary School to the middle school because of the extra space made by the renovations made in 2005. The fifth grade, although in the middle school, are still considered part of the elementary school.
The County Board of Education opened a new high school for the eastern Rockingham area, East Rockingham High School
its location will be within the 22827 zip code.
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in Rockingham County
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg, Virginia
Harrisonburg is an independent city in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia in the United States. Its population as of 2010 is 48,914, and at the 2000 census, 40,468. Harrisonburg is the county seat of Rockingham County and the core city of the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,042 at the 2000 census. Elkton was named for the Elk Run stream.
It is located along the south fork of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
at the intersections of east-west U.S. Route 33
U.S. Route 33 in Virginia
U.S. Route 33 is a part of the U.S. Highway System that runs from Elkhart, Indiana to Richmond, Virginia. In Virginia, the U.S. Highway runs from the West Virginia state line near Rawley Springs east to its eastern terminus at SR 33 in Richmond. US 33 is the primary east–west highway of...
and north-south U.S. Route 340
U.S. Route 340
U.S. Route 340 is a spur of US 40. It currently runs for from Greenville, Virginia at US 11 to Frederick, Maryland at US 40. Between those two states, US 340 also passes briefly through West Virginia. In Virginia and West Virginia, it is signed north–south...
. The town celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008.
History
One of the first European-Americans to settle permanently in the area was Adam MillerAdam Miller (Pioneer)
With residency beginning in 1727, Adam Miller is recognized as the first permanent settler in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, USA...
(Mueller), a native of Germany. In 1741, Miller purchased 820 acres (3.3 km²), including a large lithia spring, near Elkton and lived on this property for the remainder of his life. He sold 280 acres (1.1 km²) of this property to his son-in-law, Jacob Baer, and the spring on Miller’s land is still known as Bear Lithia Spring.
Conrads Store was a general store
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
built by George Conrad about 1812.
George Conrad was a son of Captain Stephen Conrad who served during the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
. In 1816, Conrads Store became a United States post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
with George Conrad as its first postmaster. During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
(1861–1865), Conrads Store operated as a Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
post office. In September 1866, postal service was briefly
discontinued at Conrads Store, and intermittently resumed
and discontinued over the next decade until 1881 when the name,
Elkton, was adopted as the name of new passenger station of the Shenandoah Valley Railroad
Shenandoah Valley Railroad (N&W)
Shenandoah Valley Railroad was a line completed on June 19, 1882 extending down the Shenandoah Valley from Hagerstown, Maryland USA through the West Virginia panhandle into Virginia to reach Roanoke, Virginia and to connect with the Norfolk and Western Railway . The development of this railroad had...
. In January 1881, Elkton, Virginia was established as a post office. The Town of Elkton was officially incorporated on March 14, 1908.
An important building in the town's history is the Jennings House. Built in 1840 by Dr. Samuel B. Jennings, the house was transformed into a hospital during the Civil War. The historic Jennings House was converted to house the local government. The town Christmas tree can be found across the street from the house.
Located on Rockingham Street, the Miller-Kite House was the headquarters of General Stonewall Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
at the start of the Shenandoah Valley Campaign during the Civil War. Now the house is a town landmark and museum, housing many items from the war and some of Jackson's personal belongings. In one of the second-story windows a cardboard cutout of the General watches the street. Many visitors report stories of ghosts or unusual behavior while in the house.
Geography
Elkton is located at 38°24′30"N 78°37′13"W (38.408298, -78.620321). It is located on the northeast portion of Rockingham County, VirginiaRockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
. Elkton is bordered by Page County to the north, the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
to the east, the Massanutten Mountain
Massanutten Mountain
Massanutten Mountain is a synclinal ridge in the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians, located in the U.S. state of Virginia.-Geography:The mountain bisects the Shenandoah Valley just east of Strasburg in Shenandoah County in the north, to its highest peak east of Harrisonburg in Rockingham County in the...
range to the west, and the Merck
Merck & Co.
Merck & Co., Inc. , also known as Merck Sharp & Dohme or MSD outside the United States and Canada, is one of the largest pharmaceutical companies in the world. The Merck headquarters is located in Whitehouse Station, New Jersey, an unincorporated area in Readington Township...
manufacturing plant and MillerCoors
Coors Brewing Company
The Coors Brewing Company is a regional division of the world's fifth-largest brewing company, the Canadian Molson Coors Brewing Company and is the third-largest brewer in the United States...
brewery and distribution center to the south. The Norfolk and Western Railroad, Route 33, and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
all cut through the town. The general area is agricultural, filled with farm lands and rural scenes.
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (1.43%) is water.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,042 people, 862 households, and 555 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,485.4 people per square mile (575.5/km²). There were 919 housing units at an average density of 668.5 per square mile (259.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.49% White, 2.74% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.05% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.81% of the population.
Major ancestry groups reported by Elkton residents include:
United States or American - 23.9%,
German - 15.3%,
English - 8.4%,
Irish - 6.9%,
Scotch-Irish - 4.6%,
Dutch - 2.3%,
Scottish - 2.2%,
Norwegian - 1.2%,
French - 1.6%,
Welsh - 1.1%,
Italian - 0.8%,
Polish - 0.9%,
French Canadian - 0.3%,
Hungarian - 0.2%,
Russian - 0.2%,
Slovak - 0.2%,
West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups) - 0.2%,
Other ancestries - 12.1%.
There were 862 households out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $41,500. Males had a median income of $30,032 versus $21,996 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $17,192. About 4.7% of families and 6.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.4% of those under age 18 and 7.7% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Although under Virginia law, incorporated towns may operate their own schools, Elkton area schools are operated by Rockingham County Public SchoolsRockingham County Public Schools
Rockingham County Public Schools is the public school district in Rockingham County in the U.S. state of Virginia.-General information:RCPS has received nearly $2 million in 21st Century Community Learning Centers grants from the U.S. and VA Depts...
, a Virginia public school division
School division
-Canada:In Canada the term is used to the area controlled by a school board and is used interchangeably with school district, including in the formal name of the board. For example, see List of Alberta school boards.-United States:...
.
Elkton houses two public schools: Elkton Elementary School, and Elkton Middle School. Elkton Elementary School was built in 1938 on West B Street to house Elkton High School, but its role changed when a new school was built. Elkton Middle School was originally Elkton High School, built in 1957 primarily for grades eight through twelve. Eventually grade eight was moved from the elementary school to the high school. Additions were built to the high school in 1967, building a ten-room annex for more classes; and the elementary school in 1972, replacing part of the original building. In 1980, a new high school, Spotswood Senior High School (now Spotswood High School
Spotswood High School
Spotswood High School is a high school in Penn Laird, Virginia, in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. As of 2008, it competes in the AA division of the Virginia High School League...
), was built for East Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 67,725 people, 25,355 households, and 18,889 families residing in the county. The population density was 80 people per square mile . There were 27,328 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
, combining Montevideo and Elkton High Schools. The new school, located in Penn Laird, Virginia and literally on the Massanutten Mountain, housed grades 10-12. Ninth grade was added for the 1984-85 school year. Elkton Elementary School then housed a new grade—Kindergarten—through fifth grade. Elkton Middle had grades 6-9. Over the years, Elkton Elementary added programs such as Head Start for preschoolers. In the 1990s a baseball field, used for Elkton softball teams, was built next to the middle school. In the late 1990s, renovations were done to Elkton Elementary School, as well as the addition of a new playground was built specifically for the lower grades. In 2001, more construction took place as the old playground, with original wooden trucks and sharp metal edges, were ripped out, replaced by softer and brighter rounded metallic structures. In 2005, more renovations were done to Elkton Middle School, such as changing the old band room into an addition to the cafeteria, building a new computer lab, and adding another gym separate from the main for public use, such as the Elkton Recreation League Basketball teams. In 2006 the fifth grade was moved from Elkton Elementary School to the middle school because of the extra space made by the renovations made in 2005. The fifth grade, although in the middle school, are still considered part of the elementary school.
The County Board of Education opened a new high school for the eastern Rockingham area, East Rockingham High School
East Rockingham High School
East Rockingham High School is located Elkton, Virginia and is part of Rockingham County Public Schools and opened in August 2010. It relieved a severe overcrowding problem at Spotswood High School, which currently houses close to 1500 students. East Rockingham competes athletically in the VHSL...
its location will be within the 22827 zip code.