Rockingham County, Virginia
Rockingham County | |
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UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 6th |
Website | www |
Rockingham County is a
Along with Harrisonburg, Rockingham County forms the Harrisonburg, VA, Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is also home of the Rockingham County Baseball League.
History
Settlement of the county began in 1727, when Adam Miller (Mueller) staked out a claim on the south fork of the Shenandoah River, near the line that now divides Rockingham County from Page County.[3][4][5][6] On a trip through eastern Virginia, the German-born Miller had heard reports about a lush valley to the west which had been discovered by Governor Alexander Spotswood's legendary Knights of the Golden Horseshoe Expedition, and then moved his family down from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.[7][8][9] In 1741, Miller purchased 820 acres (3.3 km2), including a large lithia spring, near Elkton, Virginia, and lived on this property for the remainder of his life.[10][11]
Much-increased settlement of this portion of the
Rockingham County was established in 1778 from Augusta County. Harrisonburg was named as the county seat and incorporated as a town in 1780.[12] Harrisonburg was incorporated as a city in 1916 and separated from Rockingham County (all cities in Virginia are independent of any county), but it remains the county seat.[13]
The county is named for
Rockingham County is the birthplace of Thomas Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln's father.[14] In 1979 when the Adolf Coors Brewing Company came to Rockingham County it caused an uproar; some citizens thought it would corrupt the morals of the area while others wanted the new jobs.[15]
In 2018, a series of strikes and protests were held in Dayton's Cargill plant.[16][17]
Geography
According to the
Adjacent counties
- Pendleton County, West Virginia – west
- Hardy County, West Virginia – north
- Shenandoah County, Virginia – northeast
- Page County, Virginia – east
- Greene County, Virginia – southeast
- Albemarle County, Virginia – southeast
- Augusta County, Virginia – southwest
- enclave)
National protected areas
- George Washington National Forest(part)
- Shenandoah National Park (part)
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 7,449 | — | |
1800 | 10,374 | 39.3% | |
1810 | 12,753 | 22.9% | |
1820 | 14,784 | 15.9% | |
1830 | 20,683 | 39.9% | |
1840 | 17,344 | −16.1% | |
1850 | 20,294 | 17.0% | |
1860 | 23,408 | 15.3% | |
1870 | 23,668 | 1.1% | |
1880 | 29,567 | 24.9% | |
1890 | 31,299 | 5.9% | |
1900 | 33,527 | 7.1% | |
1910 | 34,903 | 4.1% | |
1920 | 30,047 | −13.9% | |
1930 | 29,709 | −1.1% | |
1940 | 31,289 | 5.3% | |
1950 | 35,079 | 12.1% | |
1960 | 40,485 | 15.4% | |
1970 | 47,890 | 18.3% | |
1980 | 57,038 | 19.1% | |
1990 | 57,482 | 0.8% | |
2000 | 67,725 | 17.8% | |
2010 | 76,314 | 12.7% | |
2020 | 83,757 | 9.8% | |
U.S. Decennial Census[19]
1790–1960[20] 1900–1990[21] 1990–2000[22] 2010[23] 2020[24] |
2020 census
Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[23] | Pop 2020[24] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH)
|
69,640 | 71,367 | 91.25% | 85.21% |
Black or African American alone (NH)
|
1,216 | 1,768 | 1.59% | 2.11% |
Alaska Native alone (NH)
|
83 | 80 | 0.11% | 0.10% |
Asian alone (NH) | 454 | 920 | 0.59% | 1.10% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 8 | 9 | 0.01% | 0.01% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 44 | 243 | 0.06% | 0.29% |
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 793 | 2,277 | 1.04% | 2.72% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 4,076 | 7,093 | 5.34% | 8.47% |
Total | 76,314 | 83,757 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Census 2000
As of the
Of 25,355 households, 32.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were not families. About 21.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.10% 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 3.02.
In the county, the population was distributed as 24.60% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 23.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $40,748, and for a family was $46,262. Males had a median income of $30,618 versus $21,896 for females. The
Education
Colleges and universities
- Bridgewater College, Bridgewater, Virginia
- Eastern Mennonite University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
- James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Virginia
Transportation
Railroads
Rockingham County is principally served by
Highways
Interstate 81 runs north–south and meets east–west Interstate 64 near Staunton to the south in adjacent Augusta County.
There are three major Primary State Highways in the county. (A primary road provides service which is relatively continuous and of relatively high traffic volume, long average trip length, high operating speed and high mobility importance).[26] Interstate highways and primary highways in Virginia are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
These primary state highways are:
- Valley Turnpike.
- wind gap located at an elevation of 2,365 feet (721 m). The bucolic Skyline Drive, which is part of Shenandoah National Park, has an entry point at Swift Run Gap and the Appalachian Trail also passes through nearby. The mountain ridge forms the border between Rockingham County and Greene County. (U.S. 33 continues east to Richmond).
- U.S. Route 340in a north–south roadway which runs along the western slope of the Blue Ridge Mountains in the Valley.
Secondary roads: As provided by the Byrd Road Act of 1932, secondary roads in Rockingham County are also maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT).
Communities
(Population according to the 2020 United States Census)
Towns
|
Census-designated places (CDP)
| ||
Unincorporated Communities | |||
Independent city
Since becoming an independent city in 1916, Harrisonburg is no longer politically located in Rockingham County, despite its status as the county seat.
Law enforcement
Rockingham County Sheriff's Office | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | RCSO |
Agency overview | |
Employees | 170+ |
Jurisdictional structure | |
Constituting instrument |
|
General nature | |
Operational structure | |
Headquarters | Harrisonburg, Virginia |
Deputys | 170 |
Agency executive |
|
Facilities | |
Sheriff's Offices | 1 |
Regional Jails | 1 |
Website | |
Official Website |
The Rockingham County Sheriff's Office (RCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Rockingham County, and also serves Harrisonburg.[27] The agency is currently headed by Sheriff Bryan F. Hutcheson. On May 26, 2005, the RCSO was accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission (VLEPSC). On September 9, 2021, the VLEPSC Executive Board granted re-accreditation status to the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office.[28]
Since the establishment of the Rockingham County Sheriff's Office, two deputies have died while on duty.[29]
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 30,349 | 69.27% | 12,644 | 28.86% | 818 | 1.87% |
2016 | 25,990 | 69.33% | 9,366 | 24.98% | 2,131 | 5.68% |
2012 | 24,186 | 69.37% | 10,065 | 28.87% | 615 | 1.76% |
2008 | 22,468 | 67.40% | 10,453 | 31.36% | 413 | 1.24% |
2004 | 21,737 | 74.40% | 7,273 | 24.89% | 206 | 0.71% |
2000 | 17,482 | 72.86% | 5,834 | 24.31% | 678 | 2.83% |
1996 | 14,035 | 64.66% | 5,867 | 27.03% | 1,805 | 8.32% |
1992 | 13,016 | 60.56% | 5,407 | 25.16% | 3,070 | 14.28% |
1988 | 13,241 | 72.59% | 4,716 | 25.85% | 284 | 1.56% |
1984 | 13,480 | 75.70% | 4,220 | 23.70% | 107 | 0.60% |
1980 | 11,397 | 63.82% | 5,294 | 29.64% | 1,168 | 6.54% |
1976 | 9,768 | 61.87% | 5,349 | 33.88% | 672 | 4.26% |
1972 | 10,025 | 81.67% | 2,026 | 16.51% | 224 | 1.82% |
1968 | 7,779 | 66.40% | 2,111 | 18.02% | 1,825 | 15.58% |
1964 | 4,155 | 49.68% | 4,205 | 50.28% | 3 | 0.04% |
1960 | 4,829 | 70.27% | 2,026 | 29.48% | 17 | 0.25% |
1956 | 4,324 | 71.74% | 1,605 | 26.63% | 98 | 1.63% |
1952 | 4,350 | 73.11% | 1,591 | 26.74% | 9 | 0.15% |
1948 | 3,219 | 62.12% | 1,680 | 32.42% | 283 | 5.46% |
1944 | 3,714 | 63.61% | 2,104 | 36.03% | 21 | 0.36% |
1940 | 2,922 | 52.71% | 2,569 | 46.34% | 53 | 0.96% |
1936 | 2,834 | 48.91% | 2,916 | 50.33% | 44 | 0.76% |
1932 | 2,194 | 42.96% | 2,750 | 53.85% | 163 | 3.19% |
1928 | 3,822 | 73.16% | 1,402 | 26.84% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 1,982 | 47.97% | 2,040 | 49.37% | 110 | 2.66% |
1920 | 2,464 | 53.71% | 2,068 | 45.07% | 56 | 1.22% |
1916 | 1,322 | 43.89% | 1,650 | 54.78% | 40 | 1.33% |
1912 | 937 | 29.36% | 1,761 | 55.19% | 493 | 15.45% |
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Rockingham County, Virginia
- Rockingham County Fair
- Rockingham County Sheriff's Office
References
- ^ "Rockingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
- ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
- ^ 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 "A History of Rockingham County, Virginia," p 37
- ^ " The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography," pp 84–86
- ^ Wayland, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," (The Michie Company, Charlottesville, Va., 1907)p 38-39
- ^ Wayland, John, "Virginia Valley Records," 1996: Clearfield Co, Baltimore, Md., pp 311–312
- ^ Wayland, "The German Element in the Shenandoah Valley," p 42
- ^ "RootsWeb.com Home Page". www.rootsweb.ancestry.com. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ "rockinghamcountyva.gov".
- ^ Thomas Lincoln
- ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 2, 2015.
- ^ Barnett, Marina (November 21, 2017). "Community Solidarity with Poultry Workers call for changes at Cargill". WHSV-TV. Gray Television. Retrieved May 13, 2018.
- ^ Wood, Victoria (April 5, 2018). "Nine protesters arrested outside Cargill in Dayton". WHSV-TV. Gray Television. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
- ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rockingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Rockingham County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
- ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
- ^ "TRANSPORTATION". www.highlandcova.org. Retrieved March 23, 2018.
- ^ "About Us". www.rcso-va.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "Accreditation". www.rcso-va.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ "In Memoriam". www.rcso-va.com. Retrieved April 15, 2022.
- ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.