- Wakefield, Virginia
Infobox Settlement
official_name = Wakefield, Virginia
settlement_type =Town
nickname =
motto =
imagesize =
image_caption =
image_
mapsize = 250px
map_caption = Location of Wakefield, Virginia
mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name =United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 =Virginia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Sussexgovernment_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 3.3
area_land_km2 = 3.2
area_water_km2 = 0.1
area_total_sq_mi = 1.3
area_land_sq_mi = 1.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1038
population_density_km2 = 321.7
population_density_sq_mi = 833.2timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 30
elevation_ft = 98
latd = 36 |latm = 58 |lats = 13 |latNS = N
longd = 76 |longm = 59 |longs = 18 |longEW = Wpostal_code_type =
ZIP code
postal_code = 23888
area_code = 757
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 51-82384GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1496365GR|3
website =
footnotes =Wakefield is an
incorporated town in Sussex County,Virginia ,United States . The population was 1,038 at the 2000 census.Wakefield is famous for being the "Peanut Capital of the World" and the location of the famous Virginia Diner, as well as the site of
Airfield Conference and 4-H Educational Center .History
Popular legend has it that
William Mahone (1826-1895), builder of theNorfolk and Petersburg Railroad (nowNorfolk Southern ), and his cultured wife,Otelia Butler Mahone (1837-1911), of Smithfield traveled along the newly completed railroad around 1858 naming stations. Otelia was reading "Ivanhoe ", a book written by SirWalter Scott . From his historical Scottish novels, Otelia chose the place names of Wakefield, as well as Windsor and Waverley. She tapped the Scottish Clan "McIvor" for the name of Ivor, a small town in neighboring Southampton County. When they could not agree, it is said that they invented a new name, which is how the tiny community of Disputanta was created. The N&P railroad was completed in 1858.William Mahone became a
Major General in theConfederate Army during theAmerican Civil War , and later, a Senator in theUnited States Congress . A large portion ofU.S. Highway 460 between Petersburg and Suffolk is named in his honor.Geography
Wakefield is located at coor dms|36|58|13|N|76|59|18|W|city (36.970219, -76.988461)GR|1.
According to the
United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 1.3square mile s (3.3km² ), of which, 1.2 square miles (3.2 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (3.10%) is water.Demographics
As of the
census GR|2 of 2000, there were 1,038 people, 423 households, and 285 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density was 833.2 people per square mile (320.6/km²). There were 485 housing units at an average density of 389.3/sq mi (149.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 47.50% White, 51.25% African American, 0.19% Native American, and 1.06% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.39% of the population.There were 423 households out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 16.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.6% were non-families. 30.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% 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 3.05.
In the town the population was spread out with 24.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 24.6% from 45 to 64, and 18.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 79.3 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,500, and the median income for a family was $34,539. Males had a median income of $26,429 versus $21,595 for females. The
per capita income for the town was $15,290. About 9.9% of families and 13.4% of the population were below thepoverty line , including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 17.3% of those age 65 or over.References
External links
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.