Isle of Wight County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth
of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2000, the population was 29,728. Its county seat
is Isle of Wight6
History
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the settlement at Jamestown in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling
the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. Captain
John Smith in 1608 crossed the James River and obtained fourteen bushels
of corn from a tribe of Native Americans called
Warrosquyoackes.
In the next few years, several plantations were established along the shore in the area
south of the river.
By 1634, the Virginia Colony consisted of eight
shires or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000
inhabitants. One of these was Warrosquyoake Shire, renamed Isle of Wight County in
1637, after the island in the English channel of the same name. The name was probably changed due
to the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing its Native American name and because the Isle of
Wight had been the home of some of the principal colonists.
National Historic Landmark, St. Luke's Church [1], built in 1632, the nation's only original Gothic church and the oldest existing
church of English foundation in America is located in the county.
In 1732 a considerable portion of the northwestern part of the original shire was added to Brunswick County; and in 1748 the entire county of Southampton was carved out of it.
During the American Civil War, Company F of the 61st Virginia Infantry of the
Confederate Army was called the "Isle of Wight Avengers."
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 940
km² (363 mi²). 818 km² (316 mi²) of it is land and
121 km² (47 mi²) of it (12.93%) is water.
The county is bounded by the James River on the north and the Blackwater
River to the south. The land is generally low-lying, with many swamps and pocosins.
Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were
29,728 people, 11,319 households, and 8,670 families residing in the county. The population
density was 36/km² (94/mi²). There were 12,066 housing units at an average density of 15/km² (38/mi²). The racial makeup
of the county was 71.08% White, 27.15% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.28% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.85% of the population
were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,319 households out of which 34.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.40% were
married couples living together, 12.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and
23.40% were non-families. 20.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.60% had someone living alone who was 65
years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was
2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44,
26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years.
For every 100 females there were 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $45,387, and the median income for a family was $52,597. Males had a
median income of $37,853 versus $22,990 for females. The per capita income for the
county was $20,235. About 6.60% of families and 8.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.80% of those under age 18 and 11.90% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated towns
Unincorporated towns & communities
Trivia
- As one of the original eight Shires of Virginia established in 1634, of which
five have survived continously in their original form, Isle of Wight County is one of the oldest county governments in the United
States of America.
External links
Coordinates: 36°′N 76°′W / 36.91, -76.71bpy:ইসল অফ ৱিঘট কাউন্টি, ভার্জিনিয়া
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