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Rockbridge County, Virginia

 

 
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Rockbridge County, Virginia
 
 
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Rockbridge County is a county
County (United States)

In the United States, a county is a local level of government below the U.S. state . Counties are used in 48 of the 50 states, while Louisiana is divided into List of parishes in Louisiana and Alaska into Borough ....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 — officially, "Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)

Four of the constituent U.S. state of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia....
" — of Virginia
Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state....
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000

File:US-Census-2000Logo.svgThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the United States Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons Enumeration during the United States Census, 1990....
, the population was 20,808. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
. This population figure excludes those residing in the independent cities
Independent city

An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity.Independent cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other nation-state....
 of Buena Vista
Buena Vista, Virginia

Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
 (6,349) and Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
 (6,867), both enclaved within the county's geographical borders.

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge (Virginia)

Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, Virginia is a geological formation in which Cedar Creek has carved out a gorge in the mountainous limestone terrain, forming an arch 215 ft high with a span of 90 ft ....
.

Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick

Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia was an United States inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester in 1902....
 invented the reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

rding to the U.S. 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 county has a total area of 601 square mile
Square mile

The square mile is an Imperial system and US customary system of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one mile. It should not be confused with miles square, which refers to the number of miles on each side squared....
s (1,557 kmē), of which, 600 square miles (1,553 kmē) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 kmē) of it (0.22%) is water.






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Encyclopedia


Rockbridge County is a county
County (United States)

In the United States, a county is a local level of government below the U.S. state . Counties are used in 48 of the 50 states, while Louisiana is divided into List of parishes in Louisiana and Alaska into Borough ....
 located in the U.S. state
U.S. state

A U.S. state is any one of the 50 state of the United States that share sovereignty with the federal government of the United States . Because of this shared sovereignty, an United States is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of Domicile ....
 — officially, "Commonwealth
Commonwealth (United States)

Four of the constituent U.S. state of the United States officially designate themselves Commonwealths: Kentucky, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Virginia....
" — of Virginia
Virginia

The Commonwealth of Virginia is an United States U.S. state on the East Coast of the United States of the Southern United States. The state is known as the "Old Dominion" and sometimes as "Mother of Presidents", because it is the birthplace of Lists of United States Presidents by place of birth#By state....
. As of the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000

File:US-Census-2000Logo.svgThe Twenty-Second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the United States Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons Enumeration during the United States Census, 1990....
, the population was 20,808. Its county seat
County seat

A county seat or parish seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there....
 is Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
. This population figure excludes those residing in the independent cities
Independent city

An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity.Independent cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other nation-state....
 of Buena Vista
Buena Vista, Virginia

Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
 (6,349) and Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
 (6,867), both enclaved within the county's geographical borders.

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge
Natural Bridge (Virginia)

Natural Bridge in Rockbridge County, Virginia is a geological formation in which Cedar Creek has carved out a gorge in the mountainous limestone terrain, forming an arch 215 ft high with a span of 90 ft ....
.

Cyrus McCormick
Cyrus McCormick

Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia was an United States inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester in 1902....
 invented the reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. 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 county has a total area of 601 square mile
Square mile

The square mile is an Imperial system and US customary system of measure for an area equal to the area of a square of one mile. It should not be confused with miles square, which refers to the number of miles on each side squared....
s (1,557 kmē), of which, 600 square miles (1,553 kmē) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 kmē) of it (0.22%) is water. The land area figures do not include the independent cities
Independent city

An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity.Independent cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other nation-state....
 of Buena Vista
Buena Vista, Virginia

Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
 and Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
.

Adjacent counties

  • Bath County, Virginia
    Bath County, Virginia

    Bath County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth " — of Virginia. Figures from the U.S. Census Bureau give an estimated 2006 population of 4,814 residents....
     - northwest
  • Augusta County, Virginia - northeast
  • Nelson County, Virginia
    Nelson County, Virginia

    Nelson County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth " — of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 14,445....
     - east
  • Amherst County, Virginia
    Amherst County, Virginia

    Amherst County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth " — of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 31,894....
     - southeast
  • Bedford County, Virginia
    Bedford County, Virginia

    Bedford County is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 60,371....
     - south
  • Botetourt County, Virginia
    Botetourt County, Virginia

    Botetourt County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 30,496. Its county seat is Fincastle, Virginia....
     - southwest
  • Alleghany County, Virginia
    Alleghany County, Virginia

    Alleghany County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is the northernmost part of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. As of the United States Census, 2000, the population was 12,926 within its borders at that time....
     - west
  • Lexington, Virginia
    Lexington, Virginia

    Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
     - center (enclave)
  • Buena Vista, Virginia
    Buena Vista, Virginia

    Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
     - east of center (enclave)


National protected area
Protected area

Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their environmental, cultural or similar value. The term protected area includes marine protected area, which refers to protected areas whose boundaries include some area of ocean....
s

  • Blue Ridge Parkway
    Blue Ridge Parkway

    The Blue Ridge Parkway is a National Parkway and National Scenic Byway in the United States, noted for its scenic beauty. It runs for 469 miles , mostly through the famous Blue Ridge Mountains, a major mountain chain that is part of the Appalachian Mountains....
     (part)
  • George Washington National Forest (part)
  • Jefferson National Forest (part)


Demographics

As of the census
Census

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....
 of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. 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 35 people per square mile (13/kmē). There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 2.97% Black
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or African American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.26% Native American
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.44% Asian
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, 0.12% from other races
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 or Latino
Race (United States Census)

Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , are Self-concept data items in which residents choose the Race in the United States or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are of Hispanic or Latino origin ....
 of any race.

There were 8,486 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples
Marriage

Marriage is a social, spirituality, or law union of individuals. This union may also be called matrimony, while the ceremony that marks its beginning is usually called a wedding and the married status created is sometimes called wedlock....
 living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,035, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $28,217 versus $19,946 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income

Per capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone....
 for the county was $18,356. About 6.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Towns

  • Glasgow
    Glasgow, Virginia

    Glasgow is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the James River and Maury River Rivers. The population was 1,046 at the 2000 census....
  • Goshen
    Goshen, Virginia

    Goshen is a town in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Virginia, United States. The population was 406 at the 2000 census. The town is known amongst the Boy Scouts of America for hosting Goshen Scout Reservation, one of the largest Boy Scout camps in America....
  • Brownsburg
    Brownsburg, Virginia

    Brownsburg is an unincorporated area in Rockbridge County, Virginia, Virginia, United States. The village of Brownsburg was established on November 23, 1793....
     (unincorporated)
  • Raphine
    Raphine, Virginia

    Raphine is an unincorporated area in Rockbridge County, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley in the U.S. state of Virginia.The name "Raphine" came from an old Greek word "raphis", meaning "to sew." It was chosen in honor of James Edward Allen Gibbs , a local farmer who patented the first chain-stitch single-thread sewing machine on June 2,...
     (unincorporated)


The independent cities
Independent city

An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity.Independent cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other nation-state....
 of Buena Vista
Buena Vista, Virginia

Buena Vista is an independent city located within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,349 at the United States Census 2000....
 and Lexington
Lexington, Virginia

Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
 are separate political jurisdictions located within Rockbridge County. Lexington is the county seat (in spite of its independent status), and it shares three constitutional officers with Rockbridge County: Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Commonwealth's Attorney. Buena Vista does not share constitutional officers with either Rockbridge County or Lexington.

Publications: print and web

  • (monthly magazine)
  • (free public web discussion by/for Rockbridge folk)
  • The News-Gazette (weekly newspaper)
  • (weekly newspaper)
  • (weekly broadcast and website, W&L)
  • (videos and interviews with Rockbridge area newsmakers)


Notable residents

  • Robert H. Adams
    Robert H. Adams

    Robert Huntington Adams was a Mississippi lawyer and politician who, in the final months of his life, briefly served as United States senator from Mississippi....
     (1792-1832), born in Rockbridge County, United States Senator from Mississippi
    Mississippi

    Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Deep South of the United States. Jackson, Mississippi is the state capital and largest city. The state's name comes from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, and takes its name from the Anishinaabe language word misi-ziibi ....
     
  • John Allen (soldier)
    John Allen (soldier)

    John Allen was a United States politician and army officer who was killed in the War of 1812.Allen was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia, and moved with his father to Kentucky in 1779....
     (1771-1813), born in Rockbridge County, a Kentucky political figure and colonel of militia, killed in the War of 1812
    War of 1812

    The War of 1812, between the United States of America and the British Empire , was fought from 1812 to 1815.There were several immediate stated causes for the U.S....
  • Adam Rankin Alexander
    Adam Rankin Alexander

    Adam Rankin Alexander was an American politician that represented Tennessee in the United States House of Representatives. He was born in Rockbridge County, Virginia on November 1, 1787....
     (1772-1851), born in Rockbridge County, United States Congressman from Tennessee
    Tennessee

    Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States United States. In 1796, it became the sixteenth state to join the United States....
  • Archibald Alexander
    Archibald Alexander

    Archibald Alexander was an United States Presbyterian theologian and professor at the Princeton Theological Seminary. He served for 27 years as that institution's first principal from 1812 to 1840....
     (1772-1851), born in Rockbridge County, noted Presbyterian clergyman, president of Hampden-Sydney College
    Hampden-Sydney College

    Hampden-Sydney College is a Liberal arts colleges in the United States for Men's colleges in the United States located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia....
     and one of the founders of and the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary
    Princeton Theological Seminary

    Princeton Theological Seminary is a theological seminary of the Presbyterian Church located in the Borough of Princeton, New Jersey in the United States....
  • Samuel Houston, the only man to be Governor of two U.S. states (Texas, Tennessee). Also victor of the Battle of San Jacinto
    Battle of San Jacinto

    The Battle of San Jacinto, fought on April 21, 1836, in present-day Harris County, Texas, was the decisive battle of the Texas Revolution. Led by General Sam Houston, the Texas Army engaged and defeated General Antonio L?pez de Santa Anna's Mexico forces in a fight that lasted just eighteen minutes....
     and President of the Republic of Texas
    Republic of Texas

    The Republic of Texas was a sovereignty nation in North America between the United States and Mexico that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the nation claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S....
    .
  • Stonewall Jackson
    Stonewall Jackson

    Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War, and probably the most well-known Confederate commander after General Robert E....
    , General in the CSA Army lived in Lexington
    Lexington, Virginia

    Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County, Virginia in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 6,867 at the United States Census 2000....
    , the county seat.
  • Robert E. Lee
    Robert E. Lee

    Robert Edward Lee , was a career United States United States Army officer , an engineer, and among the most celebrated generals in American history....
    , former commander of the Confederate
    Confederate States of America

    The Confederate States of America formed as the government set up from 1861 to 1865 by eleven Southern United States U.S. state of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S....
     Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War, who, after the war, accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee University
    Washington and Lee University

    Washington and Lee University is a private Liberal arts colleges in the United States in Lexington, Virginia, Virginia, United States.The classical school from which Washington and Lee descended was established in 1749 as Augusta Academy, about north of its present location....
     (then Washington College).
  • Cyrus McCormick
    Cyrus McCormick

    Cyrus Hall McCormick, Sr. of Rockbridge County, Virginia was an United States inventor and founder of the McCormick Harvesting Machine Company, which became part of International Harvester in 1902....
    , inventor of the reaper.
  • O.W. Riegel,
  • Pat Robertson
    Pat Robertson

    Marion Gordon "Pat" Robertson is a televangelist from the United States. He is the founder of numerous organizations and corporations, including the American Center for Law and Justice , the Christian Broadcasting Network , the Christian Coalition of America, Flying Hospital, International Family Entertainment, Operation Blessing Internation...
  • Archibald Stuart
    Archibald Stuart

    Archibald Stuart was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia. He was the first cousin of Alexander Hugh Holmes Stuart and the father of Confederate States of America General J.E.B....
    , Founder of Phi Beta Kappa
  • Cy Twombly
    Cy Twombly

    Edwin Parker Twombly Jr. is an American artist well known for his large-scale, freely scribbled, Calligraphy-style graffiti paintings, on solid fields of mostly gray, tan, or off-white colors....
  • Rick Mast
    Rick Mast

    Rick Mast is a former NASCAR driver. He competed in both the Winston Cup and Busch Series before retiring in 2002. Despite never winning in the Cup Series, he was still a fan favorite in the series....
     , Fan favorite Winston Cup and Busch Series driver


External links