Bowling Green, Virginia
Bowling Green, Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
Town | ||
FIPS code 51-08888[3] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 1498454[4] | |
Website | Official website |
Bowling Green is an
The
History
The town of Bowling Green was earlier known as New Hope. One of the earliest stage roads in the colony ran through the area from Richmond to the Potomac River, where a ferry crossing was operated to Charles County, Maryland. One of the first stage lines in America to maintain a regular schedule operated along this road. New Hope Tavern was built along the road in the 18th century and the area around it became known as New Hope.[6]
The town was renamed for "The Bowling Green" which was the plantation of town founder, Major John Thomas Hoomes,[7] who donated the land and funds for a new courthouse when the community became the county seat in 1803. The origin of the plantation's name is not definitive but may be based on the 2-acre (8,100 m2) green sward in front of the plantation house itself. The Bowling Green Estate was the site of one of the first tracks built to race horses in America.[8] The plantation house, pre-Georgian tidewater colonial in style, was built circa 1741. A prominent colonial landmark, it is one of the oldest houses in original condition in Virginia[6] and is listed on both the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.[8]
The present Caroline County Court House was built in 1835 and Bowling Green was incorporated as a town about 2 years later, in 1837. The town is best known as the "cradle of American
The
In 1855, a gazetteer described the town as having "2 churches, 3 stores, 2 mills, and about 300 inhabitants".[9]
Today, Bowling Green is located along
In 1941, the United States government acquired 77,000 acres (310 km2) of Caroline County to the north and east of Bowling Green and established the A.P. Hill Military Reservation. Now known as
In addition to "The Bowling Green," Auburn, the Bowling Green Historic District, Caroline County Courthouse, and Green Falls are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[11]
Geography
Bowling Green is located at 38°3′12″N 77°20′51″W / 38.05333°N 77.34750°W (38.053428, −77.347404).[12]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.2 km2), of which 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (1.24%) is water.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1850 | 377 | — | |
1860 | 237 | −37.1% | |
1870 | 395 | 66.7% | |
1880 | 426 | 7.8% | |
1890 | 511 | 20.0% | |
1900 | 458 | −10.4% | |
1910 | 433 | −5.5% | |
1920 | 463 | 6.9% | |
1930 | 422 | −8.9% | |
1940 | 541 | 28.2% | |
1950 | 616 | 13.9% | |
1960 | 528 | −14.3% | |
1970 | 528 | 0.0% | |
1980 | 665 | 25.9% | |
1990 | 727 | 9.3% | |
2000 | 936 | 28.7% | |
2010 | 1,111 | 18.7% | |
2019 (est.) | 1,175 | [2] | 5.8% |
U.S. Decennial Census[13] |
As of the census
There were 387 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 45.0% were non-families. 39.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.81.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.1% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 21.7% from 45 to 64, and 32.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 48 years. For every 100 females, there were 69.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 66.9 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $32,250, and the median income for a family was $49,792. Males had a median income of $30,750 versus $25,341 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,223. About 8.5% of families and 14.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.7% of those under age 18 and 22.6% of those age 65 or over.
References
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ a b History Archived August 18, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Dyson, Cathy (July 20, 2003). "History and legend unlock origins of unusual names". The Free Lance-Star. pp. A7. Retrieved May 3, 2015.
- ^ a b Acknowledgment For Codification Archived November 12, 2005, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Edwards, Richard (1855). Statistical Gazetteer of the State of Virginia. Richmond, Virginia: Richard Edwards. p. 183.
- ^ Fort AP Hill, Va • History Archived April 9, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.