Rockbridge County, Virginia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Rockbridge County
state = Virginia




map size = 225
founded =
seat = Lexington | area_total_sq_mi =601
area_water_sq_mi =1
area percentage = 0.22%
census yr = 2000
pop = 20808
density_km2 =13
web = www.co.rockbridge.va.us
|

Rockbridge County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 20,808. Its county seat is LexingtonGR|6. This population figure excludes those residing in the independent cities of Buena Vista (6,349) and Lexington (6,867), both enclaved within the county's geographical borders.

Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge.

Cyrus McCormick invented the reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,557 km²), of which, 600 square miles (1,553 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (4 km²) of it (0.22%) is water. The land area figures do not include the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington.

Adjacent counties

* Bath County, Virginia - northwest
* Augusta County, Virginia - northeast
* Nelson County, Virginia - east
* Amherst County, Virginia - southeast
* Bedford County, Virginia - south
* Botetourt County, Virginia - southwest
* Alleghany County, Virginia - west
* Lexington, Virginia - center (enclave)
* Buena Vista, Virginia - east of center (enclave)

National protected areas

* Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
* George Washington National Forest (part)
* Jefferson National Forest (part)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families residing in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (13/km²). There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 2.97% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino 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 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 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
*Goshen
*Brownsburg (unincorporated)
*Raphine (unincorporated)

The independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington 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

* [http://rockbridgeadvocate.com The Rockbridge Advocate] (monthly magazine)
* [http://maisestudio.com/rock/ Rockbridge Forum] (free public web discussion by/for Rockbridge folk)
*The News-Gazette (weekly newspaper)
* [http://www.rockbridgeweekly.com Rockbridge Weekly] (weekly newspaper)
* [http://rockbridgereport.wlu.edu The Rockbridge Report] (weekly broadcast and website, W&L)
* [http://www.eyeonvirginia.com EyeOnVirginia.com] (videos and interviews with Rockbridge area newsmakers)

Notable residents

*Robert H. Adams, (1792-1832), born in Rockbridge County, United States Senator from Mississippi cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | date = 1967]
*Adam Rankin Alexander, (1772-1851), born in Rockbridge County, United States Congressman from Tennessee
*Archibald Alexander, (1772-1851), born in Rockbridge County, noted Presbyterian clergyman, president of Hampden-Sydney College and one of the founders of and the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary
*Samuel Houston, the only man to be Governor of two U.S. states (Texas, Tennessee). Also commander of the Alamo and founder of Texas.
*Stonewall Jackson, General in the CSA Army lived in Lexington, the county seat.
*Robert E. Lee, former commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War, who, after the war, accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee University (then Washington College).
*Cyrus McCormick, inventor of the reaper.
*O.W. Riegel, [http://journalism.wlu.edu/OWR]
*Pat Robertson
*Archibald Stuart, Founder of Phi Beta Kappa
*Cy Twombly
*Rick Mast , Fan favorite Winston Cup and Busch Series driver

References