Accomack County, Virginia

Accomack County, Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1671
Seat	Accomac
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	1,310 sq mi (3,393 km²) 455 sq mi (1,178 km²) 855 sq mi (2,214 km²), 65.25%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	33,164 73/sq mi (28.1/km²)
Website	www.co.accomack.va.us

Accomack County, formerly Accomac Shire, is a U.S. county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 33,164.^[1] Its county seat is Accomac.^[2]

Accomack and Northampton Counties comprise the Eastern Shore of Virginia, part of the Delmarva Peninsula.

History

An English expedition landed in the region in 1603, some years before the Jamestown Colony. Captain John Smith visited again in 1608. The native Accawmacke nation numbered around 2000, and were governed by a paramount chief Debedeavon, also known as "The Laughing King". He became a staunch ally to the English, and bestowed them several large land grants within his dwindling territory.

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".^[3] In 1642 the name was changed to Northampton by the English, 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 1940, the General Assembly officially added a "k" to the end of the county's name to arrive at its current spelling. The name of "Accomack County" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.^[4]

The first Sheriff in the United States, William Stone, was appointed to serve Accomack County in 1634.

In 1670, the Virginia Colony's Royal Governor William Berkeley abolished Accomac County, but the Virginia General Assembly re-created it in 1671.^[5]

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.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,310 square miles (3,400 km²), the largest county in Virginia, of which 455 square miles (1,180 km²) is land and 855 square miles (2,210 km²) (65.25%) is water.

The state of Delaware is roughly 36 miles away from the Virginia and Maryland state-line in Greenbackville.

Transportation

• Accomack County Airport

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)
• Martin National Wildlife Refuge (part, Watts Island portion)
• Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

As of the census^[6] of 2010, there were 33,164 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 65.3% White, 28.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Black or African American (32%), English American (15%), German (9%), Irish (9%) and Mexican(4%)

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.

Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.^[7]

Towns

Education

The county is served by Accomack County Public Schools.^[8]

The schools in this district are:^[9]

Elementary schools

• Accawmacke Elementary School
• Chincoteague Elementary School
• Kegotank Elementary School
• Metompkin Elementary School
• Pungoteague Elementary School

Middle schools

• Arcadia Middle School
• Nandua Middle School

High schools

• Arcadia High School
• Chincoteague High School
• Nandua High School
• Tangier Combined School
• Badger Technical Center

Media

The county maintains and is the licensee of eight television translator stations on two towers, with four located on a tower off US 13 in unincorporated Mappsville licensed to Onancock, and the other four licensed to unincorporated Craddockville on a tower near Route 178. Each translator tower has four signals to relay the signals of Hampton Roads's major network affiliates to the county, including WAVY, WHRO, WTKR and WVEC. Meanwhile, Fox programming via WVBT is provided by WPMC-CA (Channel 36) from the Mappsville tower, a station owned by LIN Media, the parent company of WAVY/WVBT.

Notable residents

• William Anderson, born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Pennsylvania^[10]
• Thomas Evans, (c.1755-1815), born in Accomack County, United States Congressman from Virginia^[10]
• George T. Garrison, (1835–1889), born in Accomack County, member of Virginia state legislature and United States Congressman from Virginia^[10]
• James Hamilton, (c.1710-1783), born in Accomack County, lawyer and mayor of Philadelphia^[10]
• James Henry, (1731–1804), born in Accomack County, lawyer and delegate to the Continental Congress^[10]
• Henry_A._Wise, (1806-1876), Minister to Brazil, Governor of Virginia and Confederate General ^[10]

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Accomack County, Virginia

References

External links

• Official Website of Accomack County, VA
• Accomack County, Virginia Genealogy, History and Records

	Somerset County, Maryland		Worcester County, Maryland
	Chesapeake Bay		Atlantic Ocean
		Accomack County, Virginia
		Northampton County

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Accomack County, Virginia

v t e Municipalities and communities of Accomack County, Virginia, United States County seat: Accomac Towns Accomac Belle Haven‡ Bloxom Chincoteague Hallwood Keller Melfa Onancock Onley Painter Parksley Saxis Tangier Wachapreague CDPs Atlantic Bayside Bobtown Boston Captains Cove Cats Bridge Chase Crossing Deep Creek Gargatha Greenbackville Greenbush Harborton Horntown Lee Mont Makemie Park Mappsburg Mappsville Metompkin Modest Town Nelsonia New Church Oak Hall Pastoria Pungoteague Quinby Sanford Savage Town Savageville Southside Chesconessex Tasley Temperanceville Wattsville Whitesville Unincorporated communities Assawoman Allentown Belinda Birch Town Black Point Landing Bullbegger Cashville Cedar View Centerville Chancetown Chesconessex Clam Coal Kiln Crossing Coocheyville Craddockville Crockett Town Daugherty Davis Wharf Deep Hole East Point Flag Pond Landing Franklin City Graysville Groton Town Grotons Guilford Hacksneck High Woods Hopeton Hopkins Horsey Johnson Corner Jordan Justisville Lecato Little Hell Locksville Locust Mount Locustville Macedonia Mears Station Mearsville Messongo Middlesex Miona Mount Nebo Mount Zion Mutton Hunk Nandua Nash Corner The Oaks Old Trower Parker Landing Pennyville Persimmon Point Piggen Poulson Red Hill Rue Shad Landing Shields Sign Post Sinnickson Smithville South Point Ticktown Trower Tunnels Mill Winterville Wishart Withams Footnotes ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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Coordinates: 37°46′N 75°46′W / 37.76°N 75.76°W / 37.76; -75.76