Montross, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Montross is a town in Westmoreland County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 315 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Westmoreland County
. Located in the historic Northern Neck
of Virginia, Montross is near the George Washington Birthplace National Monument
and Stratford Hall Plantation
(birthplace of Robert E. Lee
, Richard Henry Lee
, and Francis Lightfoot Lee
).
on orders of the Royal Governor, in what became known as the Gunpowder Incident
, prompted the Westmoreland Committee of Safety to convene at the Court House on May 23, 1775. The committee passed a resolution denouncing the governor, Lord Dunmore
, for his actions.
Washington and Lee High School
is located in the town. Emmy Award
-winning video engineer Walter Balderson
, who attended Washington and Lee High School, is from Montross.
United States Congressman, Rob Wittman, lives in Montross.
Virginia State Senator, Richard H. Stuart, was born and raised in Montross.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 315 people, 151 households, and 94 families residing in the town. The population density
was 308.4 people per square mile (119.2/km²). There were 164 housing units at an average density of 160.6 per square mile (62.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.48% White, 7.94% African American, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 151 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.59.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 72.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,469, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $25,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $21,653. About 1.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
. In a segment called, "Biff Henderson's America", comedian Biff Henderson
visited the small town's museum, Bargain Shop, Sheriff's Department, the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, and the Potomac River. He also interviewed people during his visit, jokingly asking them if they would like Biff to be mayor.
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
, 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...
. The population was 315 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Westmoreland County
Westmoreland County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 16,718 people, 6,846 households, and 4,689 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 9,286 housing units at an average density of...
. Located in the historic Northern Neck
Northern Neck
The Northern Neck is the northernmost of three peninsulas on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in the Commonwealth of Virginia. This peninsula is bounded by the Potomac River on the north and the Rappahannock River on the south. It encompasses the following Virginia counties: Lancaster,...
of Virginia, Montross is near the George Washington Birthplace National Monument
George Washington Birthplace National Monument
The George Washington Birthplace National Monument is in Westmoreland County, Virginia, United States. Originally settled by John Washington, George Washington's great-grandfather, George Washington was born here on February 22, 1732...
and Stratford Hall Plantation
Stratford Hall Plantation
Stratford Hall Plantation in Westmoreland County, Virginia, was the home of four generations of the Lee family of Virginia, including two signers of the Declaration of Independence, and it was the birthplace of Robert Edward Lee , who became the Confederate General-in-chief during the American...
(birthplace of Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
, Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and his famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States...
, and Francis Lightfoot Lee
Francis Lightfoot Lee
Francis Lightfoot Lee was a member of the House of Burgesses in the Colony of Virginia. As an active protester of issues such as the Stamp Act, Lee helped move the colony in the direction of independence from Britain. Lee was a delegate to the Virginia Conventions and the Continental Congress...
).
History
The Old Westmoreland Court House in Montross was the site of notable events in 1774–1775 connected with the Revolutionary War. According to an historic marker at the courthouse, a resolution was introduced by Richard Henry Lee and adopted at a meeting there on June 22, 1774, providing aid to Boston, Massachusetts, following a blockade of that beleaguered port city by Great Britain. The seizure in 1775 of the Virginia Colony's gunpowder supply in WilliamsburgWilliamsburg, Virginia
Williamsburg is an independent city located on the Virginia Peninsula in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 Census, the city had an estimated population of 14,068. It is bordered by James City County and York County, and is an independent city...
on orders of the Royal Governor, in what became known as the Gunpowder Incident
Gunpowder Incident
The Gunpowder Incident was a conflict early in the American Revolutionary War between Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of the Colony of Virginia, and militia led by Patrick Henry...
, prompted the Westmoreland Committee of Safety to convene at the Court House on May 23, 1775. The committee passed a resolution denouncing the governor, Lord Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore
John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore was a British peer and colonial governor. He was the son of William Murray, 3rd Earl of Dunmore, and his wife Catherine . He is best remembered as the last royal governor of the Colony of Virginia.John was the eldest son of William and Catherine Murray, and nephew...
, for his actions.
Washington and Lee High School
Washington and Lee High School
Washington and Lee High School, a fully accredited high school in Montross, Virginia in the United States, is a member school of the Northern Neck District in Region A of the single A division of the Virginia High School League...
is located in the town. Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
-winning video engineer Walter Balderson
Walter Balderson
Walter Balderson is an American television editor and video engineer, who participated in the advent of color television beginning in the early 1950s and later was one of the first editors to use videotape for instant replay on network television sports events...
, who attended Washington and Lee High School, is from Montross.
United States Congressman, Rob Wittman, lives in Montross.
Virginia State Senator, Richard H. Stuart, was born and raised in Montross.
Geography
Montross is located at 38°5′38"N 76°49′34"W (38.093965, -76.826041).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 1.0 square miles (2.6 km²), all of it land.
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 315 people, 151 households, and 94 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 308.4 people per square mile (119.2/km²). There were 164 housing units at an average density of 160.6 per square mile (62.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 90.48% White, 7.94% African American, and 1.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.63% of the population.
There were 151 households out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% 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, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.59.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 3.5% from 18 to 24, 23.2% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 24.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females there were 72.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.5 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $40,469, and the median income for a family was $46,250. Males had a median income of $33,750 versus $25,625 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 $21,653. About 1.1% of families and 4.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 8.8% of those age 65 or over.
Fall Festival
Once a year, Montross has a festival in celebration of the town. It includes parades and game stands. The fun event is usually held in October and is widely attended by town residents.In popular culture
In 2000, Montross was on television's Late Show with David LettermanLate Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
. In a segment called, "Biff Henderson's America", comedian Biff Henderson
Biff Henderson
James Jackson "Biff" Henderson, Jr. is an American comedian and television personality best known for his work on The Late Show with David Letterman. He is the show's stage manager and appears in occasional humorous segments, often involving interviewing people he meets in public places or at...
visited the small town's museum, Bargain Shop, Sheriff's Department, the Coca-Cola Bottling Plant, and the Potomac River. He also interviewed people during his visit, jokingly asking them if they would like Biff to be mayor.