Bath County, Virginia

Bath County is a United States county on the central western border of the Commonwealth of Virginia, on the West Virginia state line. As of the 2010 census, the population was 4,731.[1] In 2018, the population was estimated at 4,292;[2] it is the second-least populous county in Virginia. Bath's county seat is Warm Springs.[3]

Bath County
U.S. county
Bath County Courthouse in Warm Springs
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°04′N 79°44′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1790
Named forBath, England
SeatWarm Springs
Largest communityHot Springs
Area
 • Total535 sq mi (1,390 km2)
 • Land529 sq mi (1,370 km2)
 • Water5 sq mi (10 km2)  1.0%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total4,470
 • Estimate 
(2018)
4,292
 • Density8.4/sq mi (3.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district6th
Websitewww.bathcountyva.org

History and economy

Bath County was created on December 14, 1790, from parts of Augusta, Botetourt, and Greenbrier counties. Due to the many mineral springs found in the area, the county was named for the English spa and resort city of Bath.[4]

Like its namesake, Bath County's economy is focused on tourism and recreation. The county's major employer is The Omni Homestead, a resort and historic hotel built in 1766 as "The Homestead" in Hot Springs.[5] Additional recreational opportunities are provided by camping and fishing at Lake Moomaw in the southern part of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 535 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 529 square miles (1,370 km2) are land and 5 square miles (13 km2) (1.0%) are water.[6] 89% of Bath County is forest, with 51% in George Washington National Forest and 6% in Douthat State Park. The Nature Conservancy owns more than 9,000 acres (36 km2) of forest habitat in the county.[5]

Located along the western central border with West Virginia, Bath County contains a number of villages, including Hot Springs, Warm Springs, Millboro and Mountain Grove. Hot Springs and Warm Springs are the most well known of the villages, given their natural mineral springs. Bath County is one of the few counties in Virginia without a traffic signal. (Mathews County, and Rappahannock County are the others.)

Adjacent counties
Warm Springs Valley

National protected areas

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18005,508—
18104,837−12.2%
18205,2378.3%
18304,002−23.6%
18404,3007.4%
18503,486−18.9%
18603,6765.5%
18703,7953.2%
18804,48218.1%
18904,5872.3%
19005,59522.0%
19106,53816.9%
19206,389−2.3%
19308,13727.4%
19407,191−11.6%
19506,296−12.4%
19605,335−15.3%
19705,192−2.7%
19805,86012.9%
19904,799−18.1%
20005,0485.2%
20104,731−6.3%
2018 (est.)4,292[2]−9.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010-2013[1]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km2). There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile (2/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.29% White, 6.28% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,053 households, out of which 28.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.60% were married couples living together, 7.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.30% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.10% 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 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.00% under the age of 18, 5.50% from 18 to 24, 28.20% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 100.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,013, and the median income for a family was $41,276. Males had a median income of $30,238 versus $21,974 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,092. 7.80% of the population and 5.80% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 5.40% are under the age of 18 and 12.90% are 65 or older.

Government

Board of Supervisors
  • Cedar Creek district: Ron Shifflett (I)
  • Millboro district: Eddy T. Hicklin (I)
  • Valley Springs district: Richard B. Byrd (I)
  • Warm Springs district: Bart Perdue (I)
  • Williamsville district: Stuart L. Hall (I)

Constitutional officers
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Annette T. Loan (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Angel M. Grimm (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: John C. Singleton (I)
  • Sheriff: Robert W. Plecker (I)
  • Treasurer: Pam Webb (I)

Bath County is represented by Democrat Creigh Deeds in the Virginia Senate, Republican Ronnie R. Campbell in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Ben Cline in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[12]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 73.3% 1,834 25.8% 646 0.8% 21
2016 68.7% 1,548 26.8% 603 4.5% 102
2012 57.3% 1,274 40.2% 894 2.5% 55
2008 55.5% 1,349 42.9% 1,043 1.6% 40
2004 62.8% 1,432 36.3% 828 1.0% 22
2000 59.3% 1,311 37.2% 822 3.5% 77
1996 41.3% 847 45.0% 922 13.8% 282
1992 46.1% 1,075 36.7% 855 17.2% 400
1988 58.7% 1,273 40.7% 881 0.6% 13
1984 65.9% 1,434 33.4% 727 0.6% 14
1980 45.9% 921 49.8% 999 4.3% 87
1976 46.0% 888 53.3% 1,029 0.8% 15
1972 68.9% 1,127 28.2% 462 2.9% 47
1968 46.0% 872 26.0% 494 28.0% 531
1964 40.1% 516 59.9% 770
1960 50.6% 646 49.3% 629 0.2% 2
1956 58.5% 739 37.9% 479 3.6% 46
1952 62.7% 765 36.9% 451 0.4% 5
1948 52.0% 488 40.0% 375 8.0% 75
1944 46.3% 504 53.4% 581 0.4% 4
1940 45.3% 527 54.2% 630 0.5% 6
1936 45.5% 514 54.3% 614 0.2% 2
1932 38.7% 384 59.9% 594 1.4% 14
1928 64.1% 731 35.9% 409
1924 48.7% 407 48.4% 404 2.9% 24
1920 51.0% 362 48.3% 343 0.7% 5
1916 35.8% 219 63.2% 387 1.0% 6
1912 29.2% 159 60.5% 329 10.3% 56

Economy

Tourism and recreation have been the focus of the economy from the time the county was established.[5] The Omni Homestead, a luxury mountain resort in Hot Springs, is the county's major employer.

The resort grew around the area's mineral springs, such as the Jefferson Pools. (As of July 1, 2018, the Jefferson Pools have been closed by the resort. The pools are anticipated to reopen once the safety of their surrounding structures is verified.)

Bath County is also home to the Bath County Pumped Storage Station, a pumped storage hydroelectric power plant.

Education

The county has two elementary schools (serving students from pre-kindergarten to seventh grade) and one high school (serving students in grades 8 through 12). Around 555 students are enrolled in the school system.[13]

Communities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
  2. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Salmon, edited by Emily J.; Jr, Edward D.C. Campbell (1994). The Hornbook of Virginia History : A Ready-Reference Guide to the Old Dominion's People, Places, and Past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. p. 161. ISBN 0884901777.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  5. "About Bath County". County of Bath, Virginia. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2020-12-08.
  13. Virginia Department of Education. "Fall Membership Data". Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
  14. Layman, Sara (1987-10-22). "Homestead's New President Plans Emphasis on Tradition, Service". The Recorder. Retrieved 2019-02-02.
  15. Oxendine, Margo (1993-12-17). "Growing up at The Homestead". The Recorder. Retrieved 2019-02-02.

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