Windsor, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Windsor is an incorporated town
in Isle of Wight County
in the Hampton Roads
region of southeastern Virginia
in the United States
. It is located near the crossroads of U.S. Route 460
and U.S. Route 258
. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. However, due to recent annexation
of a portion of Isle of Wight County, the town of Windsor grew to a population of over 3000 people.
which was created in 1634 in the Virginia Colony by the Virginia House of Burgesses and King Charles I of England
. Warrosquyoake was named for the friendly local Native Americans
, but changed a short time later to honor the Isle of Wight, a location in the English Channel
. The spelling and pronunciation of the revised name were both more practical for the European colonists.
Popular legend has it that a Southampton County
native, William Mahone
(1826–1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
(now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837–1911), daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler, who was raised in Smithfield
, traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott
. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place name of Windsor, as well as those of Waverly
and Wakefield
. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor
, a small town in neighboring Southampton County
. When they could not agree, it is said that they invented a new name in honor of their dispute, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta
was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858.
William Mahone became a Major General
in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War
, and later, a Senator in the United States Congress
. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg
and Suffolk
is named in his honor.
Windsor sent the seven Roberts brothers to fight the Yankees
in the Civil War. All of the Roberts brothers returned alive. A picture of the brothers can be viewed at the museum in Smithfield.
There is a monument in the center of the town which has names of some of the
more interesting people who have a connection to the town. This monument is close to the four lane 35 MPH highway known as U.S. 460 where commerce travels down the highway back and forth to Norfolk and Richmond just like the Norfolk and Western trains did decades before.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 916 people, 389 households, and 269 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,077.2 people per square mile (416.1/km²). There were 422 housing units at an average density of 496.3 per square mile (191.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% White, 9.06% African American, 0.44% Native American, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 389 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% were married couples
living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,528, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $34,205 versus $25,000 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,999. About 5.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.
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 Isle of Wight County
Isle of Wight County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 35,270 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population density was 94 people per square mile . There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
in the Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads
Hampton Roads is the name for both a body of water and the Norfolk–Virginia Beach metropolitan area which surrounds it in southeastern Virginia, United States...
region of southeastern 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...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is located near the crossroads of U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460
U.S. Route 460 is a spur of U.S. Route 60. It currently runs for 655 miles from Norfolk, Virginia at U.S. Route 60 at Ocean View to Frankfort, Kentucky at U.S. Route 60. It passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, and Kentucky...
and U.S. Route 258
U.S. Route 258
U.S. Route 258 is a spur of US 58 in the U.S. states of North Carolina and Virginia. The U.S. Highway runs from US 17 Business and North Carolina Highway 24 Business in Jacksonville, North Carolina north to Virginia State Route 143 at Fort Monroe in Hampton, Virginia...
. The population was 916 at the 2000 census. However, due to recent annexation
Annexation
Annexation is the de jure incorporation of some territory into another geo-political entity . Usually, it is implied that the territory and population being annexed is the smaller, more peripheral, and weaker of the two merging entities, barring physical size...
of a portion of Isle of Wight County, the town of Windsor grew to a population of over 3000 people.
History
Windsor was originally in Warrosquyoake ShireWarrosquyoake Shire
Warrosquoake Shire was officially formed in 1634 in the Virginia colony, but had already been known as "Warascoyack County" before this...
which was created in 1634 in the Virginia Colony by the Virginia House of Burgesses and King Charles I of England
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. Warrosquyoake was named for the friendly local Native Americans
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, but changed a short time later to honor the Isle of Wight, a location in the English Channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
. The spelling and pronunciation of the revised name were both more practical for the European colonists.
Popular legend has it that a Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census 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 . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
native, William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
(1826–1895), builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad
The Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad was built between Norfolk and Petersburg, Virginia and was completed by 1858.It played a role on the American Civil War , and became part of the Atlantic, Mississippi and Ohio Railroad in 1870. The AM&O became the Norfolk and Western in 1881...
(now Norfolk Southern), and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone (1837–1911), daughter of the late Dr. Robert Butler, who was raised in Smithfield
Smithfield, Virginia
Smithfield is a town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads subregion of the Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. The population was 8,089 at the 2010 census....
, traveled along the newly completed Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad naming stations. Otelia was reading Ivanhoe a book written by Sir Walter Scott
Walter Scott
Sir Walter Scott, 1st Baronet was a Scottish historical novelist, playwright, and poet, popular throughout much of the world during his time....
. From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place name of Windsor, as well as those of Waverly
Waverly, Virginia
Waverly is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,309 at the 2000 census.-History:Popular legend has it that William Mahone , builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad , and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone , traveled along the newly...
and Wakefield
Wakefield, Virginia
Wakefield is an incorporated town in Sussex County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,038 at the 2000 census.Wakefield is famous for being the "Peanut Capital of the World" and the location of the famous , as well as the site of Airfield Conference and 4-H Educational Center...
. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor
Ivor, Virginia
Ivor is an incorporated town in Southampton County, Virginia, United States. The population was 320 at the 2000 census.- Overview :Popular legend has it that William Mahone , builder of the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad , and his cultured wife, Otelia Butler Mahone , who had been raised in...
, a small town in neighboring Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census 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 . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
. When they could not agree, it is said that they invented a new name in honor of their dispute, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta
Disputanta, Virginia
Disputanta is an unincorporated community in Prince George County, Virginia, United States in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area...
was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858.
William Mahone became a Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in the Confederate Army 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...
, and later, a Senator in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
. A large portion of U.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg
Petersburg, Virginia
Petersburg is an independent city in Virginia, United States located on the Appomattox River and south of the state capital city of Richmond. The city's population was 32,420 as of 2010, predominantly of African-American ethnicity...
and Suffolk
Suffolk, Virginia
Suffolk is the largest city by area in Virginia, United States, and is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 84,585. Its median household income was $57,546.-History:...
is named in his honor.
Windsor sent the seven Roberts brothers to fight the Yankees
Union (American Civil War)
During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty free states and five border slave states. It was opposed by 11 southern slave states that had declared a secession to join together to form the...
in the Civil War. All of the Roberts brothers returned alive. A picture of the brothers can be viewed at the museum in Smithfield.
There is a monument in the center of the town which has names of some of the
more interesting people who have a connection to the town. This monument is close to the four lane 35 MPH highway known as U.S. 460 where commerce travels down the highway back and forth to Norfolk and Richmond just like the Norfolk and Western trains did decades before.
Geography
Windsor is located at 36°48′40"N 76°44′37"W (36.811175, -76.743658).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 0.9 square miles (2.2 km²), all of it land.
Trivia
- Windsor's original name as given to it by the Native Americans was Corrowaugh which may be translated to mean "Frog Pond."
- Although Windsor's icon, the historic railroad station, was torn down by the town late in the 20th century after years of disuse, it continues on the town's automobile registration decals that are displayed on windshields by residents.
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 916 people, 389 households, and 269 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 1,077.2 people per square mile (416.1/km²). There were 422 housing units at an average density of 496.3 per square mile (191.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.74% White, 9.06% African American, 0.44% Native American, and 0.76% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.
There were 389 households out of which 30.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.4% 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, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.6% were non-families. 27.5% 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 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 29.0% from 25 to 44, 27.3% from 45 to 64, and 12.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 88.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $36,528, and the median income for a family was $44,167. Males had a median income of $34,205 versus $25,000 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 $20,999. About 5.9% of families and 8.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.4% of those under age 18 and 8.2% of those age 65 or over.