Mecklenburg County, Virginia

Mecklenburg County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 32,727.[2] Its county seat is Boydton.[3]

Mecklenburg County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°41′N 78°22′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1765
Named forCharlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz
SeatBoydton
Largest townSouth Hill
Area
 • Total679 sq mi (1,760 km2)
 • Land625 sq mi (1,620 km2)
 • Water54 sq mi (140 km2)  7.9%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total32,727
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
30,650
 • Density48/sq mi (19/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district5th
Websitewww.mecklenburgva.com
Queen Charlotte of Mecklenburg, the county's namesake

History

Mecklenburg County was organized on March 1, 1765, having split from Lunenburg County in 1764 as the result of the passage of an act by the Virginia General Assembly. Due to new settlement and population increases in the area, the legislature divided Lunenburg into three counties: Lunenburg, Charlotte County, and Mecklenburg.[4] It was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,[5] a British queen consort of German origin.

The first county government consisted of 13 members; Robert Munford, Richard Witton, John Speed, Henry Delony, Edmund Taylor, Benjamin Baird, John Camp, Thomas Erskine, John Potter, John Cox, Thomas Anderson, John Speed, Jr., and Samuel Hopkins; with Benjamin Baird acting as the first mayor.[4]

Government

Mecklenburg County is governed by a 9-member Board of Supervisors, each elected from a single-member district. They serve as the legislating and policy body for the county enacting laws, ordinances, and taxes. They appoint a County Administrator to conduct day-to-day operations. H. Wayne Carter, III is the current County Administrator, Judy P. Sheffield is the current Assistant County Administrator.

The board members are:

  • District 1 - Andy Hargrove
  • District 2 - Glanzy M. Spain, Jr.,
  • District 3 - Evans D. Tanner, Jr.,
  • District 4 - Claudia Lundy
  • District 5 - Glenn E. Barbour-Chair,
  • District 6 - P. Sterling Wilkinson,
  • District 7 - James D. Jennings,
  • District 8 - David A. Brankley,
  • District 9 - Greg V. Gordon-Vice Chair

Constitutional officers

Under the Virginia Constitution, each county and city within the state must install Constitutional Officers. Counties under the Traditional Form of Government must install all five officers. The majority of Virginia counties operate under the Traditional Form. Counties with the County Executive Form, Urban County Executive, or County Manager Plan of Government usually install just three (Clerk, Commonwealth Attorney, and Sheriff) opting for a Director of Finance appointed by the Board to take the place of the Commissioner of Revenue and Treasurer. Examples are (Fairfax, Henrico and Prince William Counties). These officers are heads of their respective departments. They consist of:

  • Clerk of Circuit Court - responsible for all circuit court records civil and criminal, along with all deeds, wills, plats and other records.
  • Commonwealth's Attorney - responsible to represent the Commonwealth of Virginia in Mecklenburg County Court in all cases, chief prosecuting officer for their jurisdiction.
  • Commissioner of Revenue - chief assessor of all real estate and personal property within the county and recommends a tax rate to the Board of Supervisors and maintains accurate real estate records for the Land Book.
  • Treasurer - manages all finances within the county, helps prepare the budget for submission to the Board, and is responsible for the collection of all taxes.
  • Sheriff - Chief law enforcement officer for their jurisdiction.

Officers
  • Clerk of Court - Michelle Gordon
  • Commonwealth Attorney - Allen Nash
  • Commissioner of Revenue - Joseph E.(Ed) Taylor
  • Treasurer - Sandra P. Langford
  • Sheriff - Robert (Bobby) Hawkins

Education

The county's education department is called the Mecklenburg County Public Schools. It is currently managed by the Board of Education. It seats Mr. Paul Nichols as the County Schools Superintendent.

Government and infrastructure

County departments and department heads

Listed below are the County facilities, the department housed in that facility and its head.

  • Goode Bank Building
    • Board of Supervisors (See Supervisor's List Above)
    • County Administrator's Office- H. Wayne Carter, III (Administrator)
    • Economic Development Director's Office- Angela D. Kellett (Director)
    • Tourism Office- Jacob P. Bower (Coordinator)
    • Building Inspector's Office- Eddie Harris (Chief Inspector)
    • Zoning Administrator's Office- Robert L. Hendrick (Zoning Administrator)
    • Animal Warden's Office- Doug Blanton (Animal Warden)
    • Information Technology Department (IT) - Alex Wells (IT Specialist)
  • Courthouse
    • Circuit Court-Leslie M. Osborn (Judge)
    • Circuit Court Clerk's Office- Michelle Gordon (Clerk)
    • Commonwealth Attorney's Office- J. Miller (Commonwealth's Attorney)
  • Mark I. Burnett Building
    • Commissioner of Revenue's Office- Joseph E. Taylor (Commissioner)
      • Real Estate Department-Lisa C. Wagstaff (Chief Deputy Commissioner/Real Estate Assessor)
      • Personal Property Department-Joseph E. Taylor (Commissioner)
    • Treasurer's Office- Sandra P. Langford (Treasurer)
    • VPI Extension Office- C. Taylor Clarke (Unit Coordinator/ANR Extension Agent)
  • Hudgins Court Facility
    • Social Services- Sandra S. Gregory (Director)
    • General District Court- Charles Warren (Judge)
      • General District Clerk's Office- Tammy T. Taylor (Clerk)
    • Juvenile & Domestic Court- M. Rand (Judge), S. Anderson Nelson (Judge)
      • J&D Court Clerk's Office- Rebecca D. Inge (Clerk)
      • J&D Court Service Unit
    • Sheriff's Office- R.W. (Bobby) Hawkins (Sheriff)
  • 911 Center
    • 911 Emergency Communications Office and Dispatch- Ben Duncan (Director)
  • Jail
    • Jail Division of the Sheriff's Office- Roosevelt Terry (Jail Captain)
  • Post Office Building
    • Piedmont Court Services- Jackie T. Boxley (Director)
  • White Building
    • Voter Registrar- Jason Corwin (General Registrar)

State representation

The Virginia Department of Corrections operates the Mecklenburg Correctional Center in unincorporated Mecklenburg County, near Boydton.[6] On August 3, 1998, the male death row moved to its current location, the Sussex I State Prison, from the Mecklenburg Correctional Center.[7]

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[8]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 57.2% 9,266 42.0% 6,803 0.8% 135
2016 55.5% 8,288 42.1% 6,285 2.5% 372
2012 52.9% 7,973 45.9% 6,921 1.2% 183
2008 51.8% 7,817 47.3% 7,127 0.9% 138
2004 57.3% 7,319 41.4% 5,293 1.3% 168
2000 56.6% 6,600 41.2% 4,797 2.2% 257
1996 48.0% 4,933 42.9% 4,408 9.1% 937
1992 49.2% 5,401 39.0% 4,273 11.8% 1,296
1988 63.5% 5,887 35.3% 3,275 1.3% 116
1984 65.7% 6,777 33.3% 3,438 1.0% 101
1980 54.5% 4,853 42.5% 3,790 3.0% 270
1976 50.4% 4,423 46.5% 4,076 3.1% 270
1972 68.6% 6,381 30.1% 2,804 1.3% 124
1968 29.0% 2,750 28.1% 2,667 42.9% 4,061
1964 60.5% 4,976 39.4% 3,238 0.2% 13
1960 42.7% 1,936 55.9% 2,533 1.4% 65
1956 33.8% 1,498 45.2% 2,004 21.0% 932
1952 42.5% 1,891 56.7% 2,525 0.9% 38
1948 16.8% 513 69.3% 2,117 13.9% 423
1944 14.4% 430 85.6% 2,561
1940 11.4% 308 88.5% 2,402 0.1% 3
1936 6.9% 202 93.1% 2,730 0.1% 2
1932 11.1% 275 88.3% 2,188 0.6% 15
1928 30.9% 784 69.1% 1,752
1924 14.6% 286 84.3% 1,649 1.1% 21
1920 14.0% 264 85.7% 1,619 0.4% 7
1916 14.4% 222 85.3% 1,317 0.3% 5
1912 14.4% 191 78.3% 1,039 7.3% 97

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 679 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 54 square miles (140 km2) (7.9%) is water.[9]

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179014,733—
180017,00815.4%
181018,4538.5%
182019,7867.2%
183020,4773.5%
184020,7241.2%
185020,630−0.5%
186020,096−2.6%
187021,3186.1%
188024,61015.4%
189025,3593.0%
190026,5514.7%
191028,9569.1%
192031,2087.8%
193032,6224.5%
194031,933−2.1%
195033,4974.9%
196031,428−6.2%
197029,426−6.4%
198029,4440.1%
199029,241−0.7%
200032,28010.4%
201032,7271.4%
2018 (est.)30,650[1]−6.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790-1960[11] 1900-1990[12]
1990-2000[13] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km2). There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.24% White, 39.08% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,951 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,380, and the median income for a family was $37,752. Males had a median income of $26,852 versus $19,609 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,171. About 11.60% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Bracey, S. (1977). Life by the Roaring Roanoke, Whittet and Shepperson.
  5. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 204.
  6. "Mecklenburg Correctional Center (male classification/intake institution) Archived 2010-02-05 at the Wayback Machine." Virginia Department of Corrections. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  7. "Virginia Death Row/Execution Facts." My FOX DC. Tuesday November 10, 2009. Retrieved on August 22, 2010.
  8. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2020-12-09.
  9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.

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