Northampton County
County
Northampton County Courthouse Historic District
Northampton County Courthouse Historic District
Flag of Northampton County
Flag
Official seal of Northampton County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Northampton County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°18′03″N 75°55′43″W / 37.30078°N 75.92854°W / 37.30078; -75.92854
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1634
SeatEastville
Largest townExmore
Area
 • Total795 sq mi (2,060 km2)
 • Land212 sq mi (550 km2)
 • Water584 sq mi (1,510 km2)  73.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total12,282
 • Density15/sq mi (6.0/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.co.northampton.va.us

Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,282.[1] Its county seat is Eastville.[2] Northampton and Accomack Counties are a part of the larger Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The county is the center of the late Eocene meteor strike that resulted in the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. The Northampton County Courthouse Historic District is part of the Eastville Historic District at the county seat.

History

When English colonists first arrived in the area in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore region was governed by Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King"), who was the paramount chief of the Accomac people, which numbered around 2,000 at the time. The former name of the county was Accomac Shire, one of the original eight shires of Virginia after the founding of the first settlement at Jamestown in 1607. In 1642, the name was changed to Northampton County by the colonists. In 1663, Northampton County was split into two counties that still exist today. The northern two-thirds took the original "Accomac" name (Accomack County), while the southern third to the Point Cape Charles remained as Northampton.

Slavery

Notice to persons "desiring to establish supply stores" in Accomac and Northampton Counties, Virginia, September 19, 1864

Northampton County is notable for a colonial court case involving an indentured servant. The first free negro (a term used prior to the abolition of slavery) in North America was Anthony Johnson of Northampton County. Johnson was one of the first black Americans to own land in America.[3] In 1653, Johnson brought suit in Northampton County Court to argue that one of his servants, John Casor, was indentured to him for life. Casor had left him and was working for a neighbor. This was the first instance of a judicial determination in the Thirteen Colonies holding that a person who had committed no crime could be held in servitude for life.[4]

This court ruling decision also gives insight to how owners of indentured servants could easily choose to ignore the expiration of indentured contracts and force their servants into lifetime slavery. Although Casor, an African, had well-known white planters taking his part, he was reduced to lifetime slavery. Some planters sought more profitable methods of labor by taking advantage of Negro indentured servants, who had little recourse in the legal and social system to protect their rights.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 795 square miles (2,060 km2), of which 212 square miles (550 km2) is land and 584 square miles (1,510 km2) (73.4%) is water.[6]

Adjacent county and independent city

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17906,889—
18006,763−1.8%
18107,47410.5%
18207,7053.1%
18308,64112.1%
18407,715−10.7%
18507,498−2.8%
18607,8324.5%
18708,0462.7%
18809,15213.7%
189010,31312.7%
190013,77033.5%
191016,67221.1%
192017,8527.1%
193018,5654.0%
194017,597−5.2%
195017,300−1.7%
196016,966−1.9%
197014,442−14.9%
198014,6251.3%
199013,061−10.7%
200013,0930.2%
201012,389−5.4%
202012,282−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790-1960[8] 1900-1990[9]
1990-2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

2020 census

Northampton County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,755 6,932 54.52% 56.44%
Black or African American alone (NH) 4,491 3,756 36.25% 30.58%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 26 58 0.21% 0.47%
Asian alone (NH) 81 80 0.65% 0.65%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 8 0.02% 0.07%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 15 30 0.12% 0.24%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 145 350 1.17% 2.85%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 874 1,068 7.05% 8.70%
Total 12,389 12,282 100.00% 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.

2020 Census

Courthouse, Confederate Monument, and Lawyers Row in Eastville

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was 63 people per square mile (24 people/km2). There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of 32 units per square mile (12 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% White, 36.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Northampton County include: African American (36%), English American (15%), German (7%), Irish (6%) and Italian (3%)

There were 5,321 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,276, and the median income for a family was $385,034. Males had a median income of $26,842 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,591. About 15.80% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton County is home to the United States' oldest continuous court records.

Transportation

Major highways

Education

Northampton County Public Schools operates public schools in the county.

Communities

Cape Charles, Virginia

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

Northampton County leans towards the Democratic Party. In presidential elections, it has voted for the Democratic nominee every time since 1992.

United States presidential election results for Northampton County, Virginia[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,955 43.89% 3,667 54.47% 110 1.63%
2016 2,686 43.55% 3,255 52.77% 227 3.68%
2012 2,676 41.23% 3,741 57.63% 74 1.14%
2008 2,713 41.19% 3,800 57.70% 73 1.11%
2004 2,669 48.54% 2,775 50.46% 55 1.00%
2000 2,299 47.00% 2,340 47.83% 253 5.17%
1996 1,763 35.63% 2,569 51.92% 616 12.45%
1992 2,088 37.17% 2,568 45.71% 962 17.12%
1988 2,562 52.00% 2,242 45.50% 123 2.50%
1984 2,906 55.81% 2,226 42.75% 75 1.44%
1980 2,165 45.65% 2,363 49.82% 215 4.53%
1976 2,043 43.15% 2,459 51.93% 233 4.92%
1972 2,587 66.45% 1,246 32.01% 60 1.54%
1968 1,410 35.48% 1,418 35.68% 1,146 28.84%
1964 1,586 51.11% 1,516 48.86% 1 0.03%
1960 995 41.60% 1,387 57.98% 10 0.42%
1956 1,264 51.03% 1,132 45.70% 81 3.27%
1952 1,307 50.12% 1,289 49.42% 12 0.46%
1948 525 29.86% 997 56.71% 236 13.42%
1944 381 25.52% 1,108 74.21% 4 0.27%
1940 359 29.23% 866 70.52% 3 0.24%
1936 277 22.07% 975 77.69% 3 0.24%
1932 298 18.90% 1,264 80.15% 15 0.95%
1928 688 42.39% 935 57.61% 0 0.00%
1924 180 15.53% 941 81.19% 38 3.28%
1920 217 18.42% 954 80.98% 7 0.59%
1916 109 11.85% 802 87.17% 9 0.98%
1912 83 9.37% 726 81.94% 77 8.69%

Notable people

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Northampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ↑ "Anthony Johnson". pbs.org. Retrieved January 15, 2018.
  4. ↑ Federal Writers' Project (1954). Virginia: A Guide to the Old Dominion. US History Publishers. p. 76. ISBN 978-1603540452.
  5. ↑ Foner, Philip S. (1975). Slaves and Free Blacks in the Southern Colonies. The African American Experience. Westport, CT: Greenwood Publishing Group. Archived from the original on October 14, 2013. Retrieved April 27, 2022. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  6. ↑ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  7. ↑ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  11. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Northampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. 1 2 "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Northampton County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ↑ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. ↑ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
  15. ↑ Edgar Toppin (1973). The Black American in United States History, Allyn & Bacon. ISBN 9781475961720, p. 46
  16. ↑ William J. Wood, "The Illegal Beginning of American Slavery", ABA Journal, 1970, American Bar Association, accessed 2 May 2011
  17. ↑ "Abel Parker Upshur - People - Department History - Office of the Historian". history.state.gov. Retrieved April 5, 2018.
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