Northampton County, Virginia

Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 12,389.[2] Its county seat is Eastville.[3] Northampton and Accomack Counties are a part of the larger Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Northampton County
U.S. county
Northampton County Courthouse Historic District
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°18′N 75°56′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1634
SeatEastville
Largest townExmore
Area
 • Total795 sq mi (2,060 km2)
 • Land212 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Water584 sq mi (1,510 km2)  73.4%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total12,389
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
11,735
 • Density16/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.northampton.va.us

The county is the center of the late Eocene meteor strike that resulted in the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. The Northampton County Courthouse Historical District is part of the Eastville Historical District at the county seat.

History

When English colonists first arrived in the area in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore region was governed by Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King"), paramount chief of the Accawmacke clans who numbered around 2000 at the time. The former name of the county was Accomac Shire, one of the original eight shires of Virginia after the founding of the first settlement at Jamestown in 1607. In 1642, the name was changed to Northampton County by the English, to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World. In 1663, Northampton County was split into two counties that still exist today. The northern two-thirds took the original "Accomac" name (Accomack County), while the southern third to the Point Cape Charles remained as Northampton.

Slavery
Notice to persons "desiring to establish supply stores" in Accomac and Northampton Counties, Virginia, September 19, 1864

Northampton County is notable for a colonial court case involving an indentured servant. The first free negro (a term used prior to the abolition of slavery) in North America was Anthony Johnson of Northampton County. Johnson was one of the first African-Americans to own land in America.[4]

In 1653, Johnson brought suit in Northampton County Court to argue that one of his servants, John Casor, was indentured to him for life. Casor had left him and was working for a neighbor.

Courthouse, Confederate Monument, and Lawyers Row in Eastville

The court ruled in Johnson's favor, making Northampton County the first jurisdiction to legally acknowledge that Negros could own slaves.[5] This court ruling decision also gives insight to how owners of indentured servants could easily choose to ignore the expiration of indentured contracts and force their servants into lifetime slavery. Although Casor, an African, had well-known white planters taking his part, he was reduced to lifetime slavery. Some planters sought more profitable methods of labor by taking advantage of Negro indentured servants, who had little recourse in the legal and social system to protect their rights.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 795 square miles (2,060 km2), of which 212 square miles (550 km2) is land and 584 square miles (1,510 km2) (73.4%) is water.[7]

Adjacent county and independent city

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17906,889—
18006,763−1.8%
18107,47410.5%
18207,7053.1%
18308,64112.1%
18407,715−10.7%
18507,498−2.8%
18607,8324.5%
18708,0462.7%
18809,15213.7%
189010,31312.7%
190013,77033.5%
191016,67221.1%
192017,8527.1%
193018,5654.0%
194017,597−5.2%
195017,300−1.7%
196016,966−1.9%
197014,442−14.9%
198014,6251.3%
199013,061−10.7%
200013,0930.2%
201012,389−5.4%
2018 (est.)11,735[1]−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2013[2]

As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile (24/km2). There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile (12/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% White, 36.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Northampton County include: African American (36%), English American (15%), German (7%), Irish (6%) and Italian (3%)

There were 5,321 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,276, and the median income for a family was $35,034. Males had a median income of $26,842 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,591. About 15.80% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton County is home to the United States' oldest continuous court records.

Transportation

Major highways

Education

Northampton County Public Schools operates public schools in the county.

Communities
Cape Charles, VA

Politics

Northampton County leans towards the Democratic Party. In presidential elections, it has voted for the Democratic nominee every time since 1992.

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 43.9% 2,955 54.5% 3,667 1.6% 110
2016 43.6% 2,686 52.8% 3,255 3.7% 227
2012 41.2% 2,676 57.6% 3,741 1.1% 74
2008 41.2% 2,713 57.7% 3,800 1.1% 73
2004 48.5% 2,669 50.5% 2,775 1.0% 55
2000 47.0% 2,299 47.8% 2,340 5.2% 253
1996 35.6% 1,763 51.9% 2,569 12.5% 616
1992 37.2% 2,088 45.7% 2,568 17.1% 962
1988 52.0% 2,562 45.5% 2,242 2.5% 123
1984 55.8% 2,906 42.8% 2,226 1.4% 75
1980 45.7% 2,165 49.8% 2,363 4.5% 215
1976 43.2% 2,043 51.9% 2,459 4.9% 233
1972 66.5% 2,587 32.0% 1,246 1.5% 60
1968 35.5% 1,410 35.7% 1,418 28.8% 1,146
1964 51.1% 1,586 48.9% 1,516 0.0% 1
1960 41.6% 995 58.0% 1,387 0.4% 10
1956 51.0% 1,264 45.7% 1,132 3.3% 81
1952 50.1% 1,307 49.4% 1,289 0.5% 12
1948 29.9% 525 56.7% 997 13.4% 236
1944 25.5% 381 74.2% 1,108 0.3% 4
1940 29.2% 359 70.5% 866 0.2% 3
1936 22.1% 277 77.7% 975 0.2% 3
1932 18.9% 298 80.2% 1,264 1.0% 15
1928 42.4% 688 57.6% 935
1924 15.5% 180 81.2% 941 3.3% 38
1920 18.4% 217 81.0% 954 0.6% 7
1916 11.9% 109 87.2% 802 1.0% 9
1912 9.4% 83 81.9% 726 8.7% 77

Notable people

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 4, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Anthony Johnson". pbs.org. Retrieved 15 January 2018.
  5. Klein, Herbert S. (1967). Slavery In The Americas: A Comparative Study of Cuba and Virginia. University of Chicago Press.
  6. Foner, Philip S. (1980). "History of Black Americans: From Africa to the Emergence of the Cotton Kingdom". Oxford University Press. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  14. Edgar Toppin (1973). The Black American in United States History, Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 9781475961720, p. 46
  15. William J. Wood, "The Illegal Beginning of American Slavery", ABA Journal, 1970, American Bar Association, accessed 2 May 2011
  16. "Abel Parker Upshur - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved 5 April 2018.

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