Accomack County, Virginia

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




map size = 300
founded = 1671
seat = Accomac | area_total_sq_mi =1310
area_water_sq_mi =855
area percentage = 65.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 38305
density_km2 =32
web = www.co.accomack.va.us
|

Accomack County is a U.S. county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 38,305. Its county seat is AccomacGR|6.

Accomack and Northampton Counties comprise the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

History

Accomac Shire was established in 1634 as one of the original eight shires of Virginia. The shire's name comes from the Native American word Accawmack, meaning "on the other side". [cite book|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|year=1905|pages=23|author=Gannett, Henry|url=http://books.google.com/books/pdf/The_Origin_of_Certain_Place_Names_in_the.pdf?id=BqwPAAAAIAAJ&output=pdf&sig=3IVIg6u-evPGlrv4j1uDL7rQ09c] In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton by the British, to eliminate "heathen" names in the New World. Northampton was split into two counties in 1663. The northern section assumed the original Accomac name, the southern, Northampton. In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671. Unlike most of Virginia, during the Civil War, the county was not under Confederate control, but held by the forces of the United States government. In 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling. The very first Sheriff in the United States, William Stone, was appointed to serve Accomack County in 1634.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,310 square miles (3,393 km²), of which, 455 square miles (1,179 km²) of it is land and 855 square miles (2,214 km²) of it (65.25%) is water.

Adjacent counties

* Somerset County, Maryland - northwest
* Worcester County, Maryland - northeast
* Northampton County, Virginia - south
* Middlesex County, Virginia - west (water boundary only, in Chesapeake Bay)
* Lancaster County, Virginia - west (water boundary only, in Chesapeake Bay)
* Northumberland County, Virginia - west (water boundary only, in Chesapeake Bay)

National protected areas

* Assateague Island National Seashore (part)
* Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (part)
* Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 38,305 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32/km²). There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 63.38% White, 31.56% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.22% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 3.57% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 5.38% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,299 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

State: VirginiaCounties (Census Tracts): Northampton (9901, 9902, 9903), Accomack (9907, 9908)Community Population: 12,955Community Area: 242 sq. mi.Poverty Rate: 27%Per Capita Income: $12,500Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia. [http://www.ezec.gov/ezec/va/accomack.html]

Towns

*Accomac
*Belle Haven, Partially within Northampton County as well
*Bloxom
*Chapa
*Hallwood
*Keller
*Melfa
*Onancock
*Onley
*Painter
*Parksley
*Saxis
*Tangier
*Wachapreague

Notable residents

*William Anderson, born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | location = Chicago | date = 1963]
*Thomas Evans, (c.1755-1815), born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Virginia
*George T. Garrison, (1835-1889), born in Accomack County, member of Virginia state legislature and United States Congressman from Virginia
*James Hamilton, (c.1710-1783), born in Accomack County, lawyer and mayor of Philadelphia
*James Henry, (1731-1804), born in Accomack County, lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress
*Abel P. Upshur, (1790-1844), born in Accomack County, United States Secretary of the Navy and United States Secretary of State.

References

External links

* [http://www.co.accomack.va.us/ Official Website of Accomack County, VA]