Elkton, Virginia
Elkton, Virginia | ||
---|---|---|
FIPS code 51-25408[4] | | |
GNIS feature ID | 1494217[2] | |
Website | Official website |
Elkton (formerly Conrad's Store) is an
It is located along the south fork of the Shenandoah River at the intersections of east-west U.S. Route 33 and north-south U.S. Route 340. The town celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2008.
History
One of the first European-Americans to settle permanently in the area was
Conrads Store was a general store built by George Conrad about 1812. George Conrad was a son of Captain Stephen Conrad who served during the American Revolution. In 1816, Conrads Store became a United States post office with George Conrad as its first postmaster. During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Conrads Store operated as a Confederate post office. In September 1866, postal service was briefly discontinued at Conrads Store, and intermittently resumed and discontinued over the next decade until 1881 when the name, Elkton, was adopted as the name of new passenger station of the
An important building in the town's history is the Jennings House. Built in 1840 by Dr. Samuel B. Jennings, the house was transformed into a hospital during the Civil War. The historic Jennings House was converted to house the local government. In the Summer of 2016, local government offices & the Elkton Police Department were moved out of the Jennings building in favor of the Elkton Area Community Center. On December 11, 2020, the Jennings House was opened as the Elkton Town Hall after a nearly 8 month restoration process to restore the home and add modern amenities like updated electric, plumbing, HVAC, ADA compliant restrooms, and a wheelchair lift. The town Christmas tree can be found across the street from the house.
Located on Rockingham Street, the
In addition to the Miller-Kite House, Bon Air and the Kite Mansion are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[13]
Geography
Elkton is located at 38°24′30″N 78°37′13″W / 38.40833°N 78.62028°W (38.408298, −78.620321).[14] It is located on the northeast portion of Rockingham County, Virginia. Elkton is bordered by Page County to the north, the Blue Ridge Mountains to the east, the Massanutten Mountain range to the west, and the Merck manufacturing plant and MillerCoors brewery and distribution center to the south. Norfolk Southern's Virginia Division's rail line, Route 33, and the South Fork of the Shenandoah River all cut through the town. The general area is agricultural, filled with farm lands and rural scenes.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2), of which, 1.4 square miles (3.5 km2) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2) of it (1.43%) is water.
Transportation
The main roads providing access to Elkton are
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 873 | — | |
1920 | 905 | 3.7% | |
1930 | 965 | 6.6% | |
1940 | 1,050 | 8.8% | |
1950 | 1,361 | 29.6% | |
1960 | 1,506 | 10.7% | |
1970 | 1,511 | 0.3% | |
1980 | 1,520 | 0.6% | |
1990 | 1,935 | 27.3% | |
2000 | 2,042 | 5.5% | |
2010 | 2,726 | 33.5% | |
2019 (est.) | 2,903 | [3] | 6.5% |
U.S. Decennial Census[15] |
As of the
Major ancestry groups reported by Elkton residents include: United States or American - 23.9%, German - 15.3%, English - 8.4%, Irish - 6.9%, Scotch-Irish - 4.6%, Dutch - 2.3%, Scottish - 2.2%, Norwegian - 1.2%, French - 1.6%, Welsh - 1.1%, Italian - 0.8%, Polish - 0.9%, French Canadian - 0.3%, Hungarian - 0.2%, Russian - 0.2%, Slovak - 0.2%, West Indian (excluding Hispanic groups) - 0.2%, Other ancestries - 12.1%.[16]
There were 862 households, out of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.5% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.86.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.9% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.6% from 25 to 44, 22.4% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $35,556, and the median income for a family was $41,500. Males had a median income of $30,032 versus $21,996 for females. The
Education
Although incorporated towns may operate their own schools under Virginia law, Elkton area schools are operated by Rockingham County Public Schools, a Virginia public school division.
Elkton houses three public schools: Elkton Elementary School,
In 2010, the County Board of Education opened a new high school for the eastern Rockingham area, East Rockingham High School, located in Solsburg beside River Bend Elementary School. Its attendance district encompasses the Elkton, McGaheysville, River Bend, and South River elementary school districts.
Events
Since 1908, the town has held a carnival called Elkton Field Day. It is held in early July and features rides, good food, yard sales, live bluegrass music, fireworks, and a greased pole climbing contest in which contestants try to retrieve prize money at the top of the 25 foot pole covered in hand soap. The event is sponsored by the Junior Order of the United American Mechanics in Elkton. The group gives out scholarships and help for those in need.[19]
Sports
The town has a team in the Rockingham County Baseball League called the Elkton Blue Sox.[20]
References
- ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Elkton, Virginia
- ^ 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.
- ^ Wayland, John, “A History of Rockingham County, Virginia,” 1912: Ruebush-Elkins Co, Dayton, VA, pp 33-37
- ^ “The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography” Vol X – No 1, July 1902, The Virginia Historical Society, Richmond, VA, pp 84-86
- ^ Strickler, Harry, “A Short History of Page County Virginia” 1952: The Dietz Press, Richmond VA, pps 50-51
- ^ Wayland, John, “The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley,” 1907: Michie Company Printers, Charlottesville, VA, p 38-39
- ^ Wayland, John, “Virginia Valley Records,” p 311
- ^ Wayland, “The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley,” p 42
- ^ Wayland, John, “A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," pp 33-37
- ^ “ The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," pp 84-86
- ^ "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.
- ^ "Profile of General Demographic Characteristics" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. 2000. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 18, 2011. Retrieved March 21, 2008.
- ^ "Elkton Elementary School webpage". rockingham.k12.va.us. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Elkton Middle School webpage". rockingham.k12.va.us. Archived from the original on September 5, 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2018.
- ^ "Elkton Field Day". Retrieved July 6, 2018.
- ^ "Elkton Blue Sox - Rockingham County Baseball League - team home". Pointstreak Sports Technologies. Retrieved April 19, 2018.