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Caroline County, Virginia

Caroline County is a United States county located in the eastern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The northern boundary of the county borders on the Rappahannock River, notably at the historic town of Port Royal. The Caroline county seat is Bowling Green.[1]

Caroline County
Caroline County Courthouse (built 1803–1809) in Bowling Green
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°02′N 77°21′W / 38.03°N 77.35°W / 38.03; -77.35
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1727
Named forCaroline of Ansbach
SeatBowling Green
Largest townBowling Green
Area
 • Total537 sq mi (1,390 km2)
 • Land528 sq mi (1,370 km2)
 • Water9 sq mi (20 km2)  1.7%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total30,887
 • Density58/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.caroline.va.us

Caroline County was established in 1728 and was named in honor of the British queen Caroline of Ansbach. Developed in the colonial and antebellum years for tobacco and later mixed crops, worked by generations of enslaved African Americans, such agriculture gradually became less important. In the 20th century it was known for thoroughbred horse farms. It is the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat, winner of the 1973 Triple Crown: the Kentucky Derby, Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 30,887.[2] It has doubled in the last fifty years.[3] Caroline is now considered part of the Greater Richmond Region and benefited by suburban and related development.

History edit

Founding, and colonial era edit

 
Portrait of Queen Caroline, for whom the county was named

Caroline County was established in the British Colony of Virginia in 1727 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. It was named for the new queen of Great Britain, Caroline of Ansbach.[4]

During the Colonial Period, Caroline County was the birthplace of thoroughbred horse racing in North America. Arabian horses were imported from England to provide the basis for American breeding stock. The economy was based on tobacco cultivation as a commodity crop, and later mixed crops, much of which was worked by enslaved Africans and African Americans into the antebellum period.

The planter elite of Virginia became active in seeking independence from Great Britain. Patriot Edmund Pendleton played a large role in the Virginia Resolution for Independence (1775). Caroline native John Penn, who later lived in and represented North Carolina as a delegate, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence,[5] albeit as a delegate from North Carolina.

19th century edit

Explorers William Clark and his slave York were members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1803–1805), commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase area west of the Mississippi River. William's older brother, General George Rogers Clark, was considered a conqueror of the old Northwest Territory and a Revolutionary War hero. Both were born near what is now Ladysmith.

In 1847, after being a member of the first graduating class of Virginia Military Institute (VMI), William "Little Billy" Mahone (1826–1895) of Southampton County began teaching at Rappahannock Academy in Caroline County. He was to become prominent as a railroad builder and developer, Confederate general, leader of Virginia's short-lived Readjuster Party, and a United States Senator.

On May 10, 1863, Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson died of complications from pneumonia at the Chandler plantation in Guinea Station (also known as Guiney's Station), in the unincorporated Caroline County community of Woodford. The Chandler residence has been preserved and is now known as the "Jackson Shrine."[6]

During the American Civil War, Union General Ulysses S. Grant's Overland Campaign, Confederate troops under General George E. Pickett fought Union troops near Milford. Just as the Civil War was concluding in April 1865, President Lincoln was assassinated in Washington, D.C., as part of a conspiracy to kill the leaders of the United States. As the conspirators fled, a manhunt was launched. After 10 days, in the wee hours of April 26, federal troops tracked down John Wilkes Booth, Lincoln's assassin, and fellow conspirator David E. Herold at Garrett's farm about 3 miles west of Port Royal. Booth was fatally shot during their capture by federal troops. Herold was returned to Washington, where he was executed by hanging with 3 co-conspirators on July 7, 1865.

20th century edit

While racial segregation was the law under Jim Crow, in many small communities, residents made friendships across racial lines. In 1958, Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter decided to marry. They went to Washington, D.C., but returned to their home in Central Point in this county. Living as a married interracial couple, they challenged state miscegenation laws. They were soon arrested and charged under the state's anti-miscegenation statute, the Racial Integrity Act of 1924. Forced to leave the state to avoid jail, they lived in Washington, D.C., for years but wanted to return home; they filed suit against the state's law. Their case reached the Supreme Court of the United States on appeal, which in 1967 found anti-miscegenation statutes to be unconstitutional in Loving v. Virginia, based on violating due process and equal rights under the law.

At the southern edge of the county, The Meadow, a plantation originally established in 1810, became a premier facility in the 20th century for breeding, raising and training Thoroughbred racehorses. In 1972, Riva Ridge, raised and trained at The Meadow, won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes, two of the three events of the Triple Crown. In 1973 Secretariat, born at The Meadow, won the Triple Crown for the Chenery family's Meadow Stable.

21st century edit

In 2003, The State Fair of Virginia purchased Meadow Farm for development as a new site for the annual Virginia State Fair. Long held at locations in the capital of Richmond and Henrico County, the fair was increasingly squeezed out by expanding development around it and the growth of the event. Before development of Meadow Farm, it was held at Strawberry Hill in central Henrico County, at the facility which later became the Richmond International Raceway.

Beginning in September 2009, the annual Virginia State Fair has been held at the new Meadow Event Park in Caroline County.[7] The annual Meadow Celtic Games and Festival (formerly Richmond Celtic Games and Festival) will also be held at the new facility.[8]

In 2009 the National Civic League presented Caroline County with one of ten annual All-America City Awards.[9]

Geography edit

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 537 square miles (1,390 km2), of which 528 square miles (1,370 km2) is land and 9 square miles (23 km2) (1.7%) is water.[10] Caroline County is 30 miles (48 km) north of the capital in Richmond and 32 miles (51 km) south of Fredericksburg.

Caroline County is bounded on the north by Spotsylvania and King George counties; on the south by Hanover County; on the east by King William, King and Queen, and Essex counties; and on the west by Spotsylvania County.

The county is home to a quarry that has proved a rich source of pre-historic whale and shark skeletons. The whole county is located in what was in ancient times land under an ocean. It is known to paleontologists as the middle Miocene Calvert Formation of Virginia. A whale skeleton discovered there in 1990 was proved to be a new whale species (see Eobalaenoptera harrisoni).

Caroline County is served by Interstate 95, US 1 and US 301. These three routes are important for inter-regional travel.

Adjacent counties edit

Major highways edit

  •   I-95, the major north–south highway on the Eastern Seaboard runs through Caroline County. Exits 104 and 110 are located in the county and provide numerous motorist services. A pair of rest areas are located between the two interchanges at Milepost 108.
  •   US 1, a principal route connecting Richmond, Petersburg, and beyond enters Caroline County after the North Anna River Bridge. The road is known locally as Jefferson Davis Highway, and George Washington Boulevard, depending on which communities it runs through. The road is a four-lane, undivided highway with occasional left turn lanes and dividers at many intersections. It runs through Chandler Crossing, Ruther Glen, Golansville, Ladysmith, Ryland Corner, Cedon, and Ann Wrights Corner, before crossing into the Spotsylvania County Line.
  •   US 17, a principal route connecting the Hampton Road area with Fredericksburg as it runs through Caroline County along close proximity to the Rappahannock River. The road is known locally as Tidewater Trail. U.S. 17 is a four-lane, divided highway until it reaches Port Royal Crossroads and becomes a four-lane undivided highway. Dividers briefly return at the intersection with US 301, and then the road becomes a two-lane highway throughout the rest of the county before crossing into Spotsylvania County.
  •   US 301, a principal route connecting Richmond, Petersburg, and beyond enters Caroline County shortly after crossing a bridge over the Pamunkey River. The road is known locally as Richmond Turnpike for points south of the Bowling Green Bypass and as A.P. Hill Boulevard north of the bypass, and Main Street north of US 17 until it crosses the bridge over the Rappahannock River. The road is a two-lane undivided highway until reaching Antioch Forks, where it becomes a four-lane divided highway almost entirely throughout the county. U.S. 301 runs winds through Fort A.P. Hill until approaching Port Royal Crossroads at US 17, where the divider ends as it becomes Main Street until the bridge over the Rappahannock.
  •   SR 2, a south-to-north state route that runs concurrent with US 301 until Bowling Green. North of the Bowling Green Bypass it becomes Main Street, and north of the town limits, it becomes Fredericksburg Turnpike, until it crosses the Spotsylvania County Line.
  •   SR 30, a west to east state route that winds through southern Caroline County as Dawn Boulevard. It enters the county from Doswell in Hanover County and crosses the King William county line before entering Calno.
  •   SR 207, a major state route that runs from Ruther Glen to Bowling Green 11.93 miles (19.20 km) and connects US 1 and I-95 to US 301. The road is known for most of its length as Rogers Clark Boulevard, until it moves onto the Bowling Green Bypass.

National protected area edit

Demographics edit

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
179017,489
180017,438−0.3%
181017,5440.6%
182018,0082.6%
183017,760−1.4%
184017,8130.3%
185018,4563.6%
186018,4640.0%
187015,128−18.1%
188017,24314.0%
189016,681−3.3%
190016,7090.2%
191016,596−0.7%
192015,954−3.9%
193015,263−4.3%
194013,945−8.6%
195012,471−10.6%
196012,7252.0%
197013,9259.4%
198017,90428.6%
199019,2177.3%
200022,12115.1%
201028,54529.0%
202030,8878.2%
2021 (est.)31,332[11]1.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010[16] 2020[17]

2020 census edit

Caroline County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[16] Pop 2020[17] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 18,145 18,841 63.57% 61.00%
Black or African American alone (NH) 8,297 7,627 29.07% 24.69%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 189 160 0.66% 0.52%
Asian alone (NH) 170 296 0.60% 0.96%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 18 15 0.06% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 49 163 0.17% 0.53%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 718 1,817 2.52% 5.88%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 959 1,968 3.36% 6.37%
Total 28,545 30,887 100.00% 100.00%

2000 census edit

As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 22,121 people, 8,021 households, and 6,007 families residing in the county. The population density was 42 people per square mile (16 people/km2). There were 8,889 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile (6.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 62.57% White, 34.37% Black or African American, 0.78% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.52% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.33% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,021 households, out of which 31.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.30% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.10% were non-families. 20.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.69 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.80% under the age of 18, 7.40% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 25.00% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 99.10 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 97.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,845, and the median income for a family was $43,533. Males had a median income of $31,701 versus $22,455 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,342. About 7.20% of families and 9.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.00% of those under age 18 and 11.70% of those age 65 or over.

As noted, Caroline County gained the State Fair of Virginia (previously in Richmond since 1854 when the first State Fair opened in Monroe Park), which facility will be a venue for other events. New businesses and developments include Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders, The Virginia Sports Complex, the multi-national electrical contracting firm, M.C. Dean, and the Fortune 14 Company McKesson Corporation. The latter developed a 340,000 square foot distribution center, the largest private square footage investment in Virginia in 2010.

Government edit

Board of Supervisors edit

  • Bowling Green District: Jeffrey M. "Jeff" Sili (R)
  • Madison District: Clayton T. Forehand (I)
  • Mattaponi District: Floyd W. Thomas, Jr. (D)
  • Port Royal District: Nancy Long (R)
  • Reedy Church District: Reggie L. Underwood (D)
  • Western Caroline District: Jeffrey S. Black (I)

Administration edit

  • County Administrator: Charles M. Culley, Jr.
  • Deputy County Administrator: Alan Partin

Constitutional officers edit

  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Susan Minarchi (R)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Mark Bissoon (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: John Mahoney (I)
  • Sheriff: C.S. Moser (I)
  • Treasurer: Elizabeth Beale Curran (I)

Caroline County is represented by Republican Ryan T. McDougle in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Robert D. "Bobby" Orrock, Hyland F. "Buddy" Fowler, and Margaret Bevans Ransone in the Virginia House of Delegates and Republican Robert J. "Rob" Wittman in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Caroline County, Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 8,336 51.18% 7,657 47.01% 295 1.81%
2016 7,147 50.16% 6,432 45.14% 669 4.70%
2012 6,151 45.06% 7,276 53.30% 225 1.65%
2008 5,617 43.48% 7,163 55.45% 139 1.08%
2004 4,999 50.22% 4,878 49.01% 77 0.77%
2000 3,873 46.38% 4,314 51.66% 164 1.96%
1996 2,816 38.65% 3,897 53.49% 572 7.85%
1992 2,947 38.01% 3,770 48.63% 1,036 13.36%
1988 3,065 48.71% 3,186 50.64% 41 0.65%
1984 2,949 48.04% 3,111 50.68% 78 1.27%
1980 2,071 40.18% 2,924 56.73% 159 3.08%
1976 1,648 34.36% 3,064 63.89% 84 1.75%
1972 2,086 52.80% 1,814 45.91% 51 1.29%
1968 1,162 26.25% 2,165 48.92% 1,099 24.83%
1964 1,166 35.95% 2,064 63.64% 13 0.40%
1960 864 36.50% 1,483 62.65% 20 0.84%
1956 907 46.06% 853 43.32% 209 10.61%
1952 858 47.01% 954 52.27% 13 0.71%
1948 397 30.26% 731 55.72% 184 14.02%
1944 383 27.53% 1,004 72.18% 4 0.29%
1940 305 21.08% 1,136 78.51% 6 0.41%
1936 258 18.87% 1,104 80.76% 5 0.37%
1932 270 19.79% 1,076 78.89% 18 1.32%
1928 638 49.96% 639 50.04% 0 0.00%
1924 223 20.59% 840 77.56% 20 1.85%
1920 308 31.30% 665 67.58% 11 1.12%
1916 198 23.57% 637 75.83% 5 0.60%
1912 144 16.63% 590 68.13% 132 15.24%

Communities edit

There are two incorporated towns in Caroline County. They are:

Bowling Green edit

The town of Bowling Green was earlier known as New Hope Village. 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 prior to 1700, and the area around it became known as New Hope Village.[20]

The town was renamed for "Bowling Green", the plantation of town founder, Colonel John Hoomes. He donated considerable land when the community became the county seat in 1803. The Bowling Green estate took its name from the Hoomes family's ancestral seat in England, "Bolling Green". Such naming was a tradition in the Colony of Virginia. The Bowling Green estate was the site of one of the first tracks for horse racing in North America.[21]

The manor home of the Hoomes family, built on plantation land patented by Major Thomas Hoomes in 1667, was constructed in 1741. A prominent town landmark, it is one of the oldest residences in original condition in Virginia.[20] Bowling Green Farm is now on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places.[21]

The present Caroline County Court House was built in 1835, and Bowling Green was incorporated as a town in 1837. The town is best known as the "cradle of American horse racing". It also is the site of the second oldest Masonic Lodge in the nation.[which?][22]

The Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad (chartered in 1834) was built through nearby Milford (just west of town) and reached Fredericksburg by 1837. This important rail link between several major northern railroads at Washington, D.C., and other major southern railroads at Richmond was partially owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia for years. It was purchased by CSX Transportation in the 1990s. A major freight railroad line for north–south traffic, the corridor also carries many Amtrak trains. Although the closest Virginia Railway Express (VRE) commuter passenger rail service to Northern Virginia is accessed at Spotsylvania,[23] future VRE extensions southward may include service at Milford. This would increase convenience for Bowling Green and the surrounding area.

Bowling Green is located along Virginia State Route 2, one of the two earlier highways between Richmond and Fredericksburg. In later years, U.S. Route 301 was built through the area, connecting Richmond with Baltimore, Maryland, by what was effectively an eastern bypass of the Washington, D.C., area. A new road, Virginia State Route 207, was established from Bowling Green west to Carmel Church. It intersects Interstate 95 and U.S. Route 1, major north–south highways.

In 1941, the United States government acquired 77,000 acres (310 km2) of Caroline County to the north and east of Bowling Green. It established the A.P. Hill Military Reservation. Known in modern times as Fort A.P. Hill, the facility was named for Virginia military hero of the United States Army and later Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill. Thousands of regular military and reserve troops undergo training at the complex each year. It was also the site of national Jamboree gatherings of the Boy Scouts of America for 29 years between 1981 and 2010.[24]

Port Royal edit

Port Royal is one of the area's more historic towns. It was first established in 1652 as a port on a navigable portion of the Rappahannock River during an era when waterways were the major method of transportation of people and property in the British Colony of Virginia. It was an important point for export of tobacco, Virginia's cash crop.

Local tradition holds that Port Royal was named after the Roy family. Dorothy Roy and her husband John owned a warehouse chartered by the crown, a ferry service across the Rappahannock River to King George County and a tavern. In the 21st century, the chimneys of the Roy house are preserved landmarks in the town.[25]

Port Royal was incorporated as a town in 1744. The "town green", upon which stands today the Town Hall and the firehouse, was forever reserved "for public and civic use".[26]

Shipping of property from the port began to decline after completion of railroads which began in Virginia in the 1830s. The last scheduled passenger ship service ended in 1932, supplanted by highways. However, Port Royal was served by the new highways which became U.S. Route 17 and U.S. Route 301, with their crossroads at Port Royal.

Census-designated places edit

There are two unincorporated census-designated places in Caroline County:

Education edit

Caroline County Public Schools provides public education in the county. For the 2020–2021 school year, Caroline County Public Schools had 490 total employees with 209 of them being teachers.[27]

Notable people edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ . National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. ^ "Caroline County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. ^ . United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  4. ^ Wingfield, Marshall (1998). A History of Caroline County, Virginia : from its formation in 1727 to 1924. Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books. p. 1. ISBN 978-0788409387.
  5. ^ "Signers of the Declaration of Independence". National Archives. November 6, 2015. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  6. ^ . National Park Service. Archived from the original on February 17, 2015. Retrieved February 17, 2015.
  7. ^ . Archived from the original on March 30, 2009. Retrieved January 22, 2009.
  8. ^ "Home". Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  9. ^ "All-America City Award", National Civic League
  10. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  11. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved April 6, 2022.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  13. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  14. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  15. ^ "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 1, 2014.
  16. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Caroline County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  17. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Caroline County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  18. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  20. ^ a b History 2007-08-18 at the Wayback Machine
  21. ^ a b Acknowledgment For Codification 2005-11-12 at the Wayback Machine
  22. ^ http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Caroline/284-0015_Townfield_1994_Final_Nomination.pdf 2016-12-24 at the Wayback Machine, see Sect. 8 page 5, or page 10 of 19.
  23. ^ Lazo, Luz (October 26, 2015). "VRE's Spotsylvania station to open next month". Washington Post. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  24. ^ Fort AP Hill, Va • History 2007-04-09 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ^ "Historic Port Royal". Retrieved May 29, 2016.
  26. ^ Welcome to Historic Port Royal! 2007-12-18 at the Wayback Machine
  27. ^ "Search for Public School Districts - District Detail for CAROLINE CO PBLC SCHS". nces.ed.gov. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  28. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who. 1963.
  29. ^ "'I'll Take You Home Again, Kathleen'". Fredericksburg.com. February 9, 2002. Retrieved July 30, 2016.

External links edit

  • Caroline County, Virginia website
  • Wingfield's History of Caroline County, Virginia (1924)
  • Central Rappahannock Heritage Center—nonprofit all-volunteer archive which preserves Caroline County historical documents and photographs

38°02′N 77°21′W / 38.03°N 77.35°W / 38.03; -77.35

caroline, county, virginia, caroline, county, sheriff, office, redirects, here, sheriff, caroline, county, maryland, caroline, county, sheriff, department, caroline, county, united, states, county, located, eastern, part, commonwealth, virginia, northern, boun. Caroline County Sheriff s Office redirects here For the sheriff of Caroline County Maryland see Caroline County Sheriff s Department Caroline County is a United States county located in the eastern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia The northern boundary of the county borders on the Rappahannock River notably at the historic town of Port Royal The Caroline county seat is Bowling Green 1 Caroline CountyCountyCaroline County Courthouse built 1803 1809 in Bowling GreenFlagSealLocation within the U S state of VirginiaVirginia s location within the U S Coordinates 38 02 N 77 21 W 38 03 N 77 35 W 38 03 77 35Country United StatesState VirginiaFounded1727Named forCaroline of AnsbachSeatBowling GreenLargest townBowling GreenArea Total537 sq mi 1 390 km2 Land528 sq mi 1 370 km2 Water9 sq mi 20 km2 1 7 Population 2020 Total30 887 Density58 sq mi 22 km2 Time zoneUTC 5 Eastern Summer DST UTC 4 EDT Congressional district1stWebsitewww wbr co wbr caroline wbr va wbr usCaroline County was established in 1728 and was named in honor of the British queen Caroline of Ansbach Developed in the colonial and antebellum years for tobacco and later mixed crops worked by generations of enslaved African Americans such agriculture gradually became less important In the 20th century it was known for thoroughbred horse farms It is the birthplace of the renowned racehorse Secretariat winner of the 1973 Triple Crown the Kentucky Derby Preakness Stakes and Belmont Stakes As of the 2020 census the county population was 30 887 2 It has doubled in the last fifty years 3 Caroline is now considered part of the Greater Richmond Region and benefited by suburban and related development Contents 1 History 1 1 Founding and colonial era 1 2 19th century 1 3 20th century 1 4 21st century 2 Geography 2 1 Adjacent counties 2 2 Major highways 2 3 National protected area 3 Demographics 3 1 2020 census 3 2 2000 census 4 Government 4 1 Board of Supervisors 4 2 Administration 4 3 Constitutional officers 5 Communities 5 1 Bowling Green 5 2 Port Royal 5 3 Census designated places 6 Education 7 Notable people 8 See also 9 References 10 External linksHistory editFounding and colonial era edit nbsp Portrait of Queen Caroline for whom the county was namedCaroline County was established in the British Colony of Virginia in 1727 from parts of Essex King and Queen and King William counties It was named for the new queen of Great Britain Caroline of Ansbach 4 During the Colonial Period Caroline County was the birthplace of thoroughbred horse racing in North America Arabian horses were imported from England to provide the basis for American breeding stock The economy was based on tobacco cultivation as a commodity crop and later mixed crops much of which was worked by enslaved Africans and African Americans into the antebellum period The planter elite of Virginia became active in seeking independence from Great Britain Patriot Edmund Pendleton played a large role in the Virginia Resolution for Independence 1775 Caroline native John Penn who later lived in and represented North Carolina as a delegate was a signer of the Declaration of Independence 5 albeit as a delegate from North Carolina 19th century edit Explorers William Clark and his slave York were members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803 1805 commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase area west of the Mississippi River William s older brother General George Rogers Clark was considered a conqueror of the old Northwest Territory and a Revolutionary War hero Both were born near what is now Ladysmith In 1847 after being a member of the first graduating class of Virginia Military Institute VMI William Little Billy Mahone 1826 1895 of Southampton County began teaching at Rappahannock Academy in Caroline County He was to become prominent as a railroad builder and developer Confederate general leader of Virginia s short lived Readjuster Party and a United States Senator On May 10 1863 Confederate Lieutenant General Thomas Stonewall Jackson died of complications from pneumonia at the Chandler plantation in Guinea Station also known as Guiney s Station in the unincorporated Caroline County community of Woodford The Chandler residence has been preserved and is now known as the Jackson Shrine 6 During the American Civil War Union General Ulysses S Grant s Overland Campaign Confederate troops under General George E Pickett fought Union troops near Milford Just as the Civil War was concluding in April 1865 President Lincoln was assassinated in Washington D C as part of a conspiracy to kill the leaders of the United States As the conspirators fled a manhunt was launched After 10 days in the wee hours of April 26 federal troops tracked down John Wilkes Booth Lincoln s assassin and fellow conspirator David E Herold at Garrett s farm about 3 miles west of Port Royal Booth was fatally shot during their capture by federal troops Herold was returned to Washington where he was executed by hanging with 3 co conspirators on July 7 1865 20th century edit While racial segregation was the law under Jim Crow in many small communities residents made friendships across racial lines In 1958 Richard Loving and Mildred Jeter decided to marry They went to Washington D C but returned to their home in Central Point in this county Living as a married interracial couple they challenged state miscegenation laws They were soon arrested and charged under the state s anti miscegenation statute the Racial Integrity Act of 1924 Forced to leave the state to avoid jail they lived in Washington D C for years but wanted to return home they filed suit against the state s law Their case reached the Supreme Court of the United States on appeal which in 1967 found anti miscegenation statutes to be unconstitutional in Loving v Virginia based on violating due process and equal rights under the law At the southern edge of the county The Meadow a plantation originally established in 1810 became a premier facility in the 20th century for breeding raising and training Thoroughbred racehorses In 1972 Riva Ridge raised and trained at The Meadow won the Kentucky Derby and the Belmont Stakes two of the three events of the Triple Crown In 1973 Secretariat born at The Meadow won the Triple Crown for the Chenery family s Meadow Stable 21st century edit In 2003 The State Fair of Virginia purchased Meadow Farm for development as a new site for the annual Virginia State Fair Long held at locations in the capital of Richmond and Henrico County the fair was increasingly squeezed out by expanding development around it and the growth of the event Before development of Meadow Farm it was held at Strawberry Hill in central Henrico County at the facility which later became the Richmond International Raceway Beginning in September 2009 the annual Virginia State Fair has been held at the new Meadow Event Park in Caroline County 7 The annual Meadow Celtic Games and Festival formerly Richmond Celtic Games and Festival will also be held at the new facility 8 In 2009 the National Civic League presented Caroline County with one of ten annual All America City Awards 9 Geography editAccording to the U S Census Bureau the county has a total area of 537 square miles 1 390 km2 of which 528 square miles 1 370 km2 is land and 9 square miles 23 km2 1 7 is water 10 Caroline County is 30 miles 48 km north of the capital in Richmond and 32 miles 51 km south of Fredericksburg Caroline County is bounded on the north by Spotsylvania and King George counties on the south by Hanover County on the east by King William King and Queen and Essex counties and on the west by Spotsylvania County The county is home to a quarry that has proved a rich source of pre historic whale and shark skeletons The whole county is located in what was in ancient times land under an ocean It is known to paleontologists as the middle Miocene Calvert Formation of Virginia A whale skeleton discovered there in 1990 was proved to be a new whale species see Eobalaenoptera harrisoni Caroline County is served by Interstate 95 US 1 and US 301 These three routes are important for inter regional travel Adjacent counties edit King George County north Hanover County south King William County east King and Queen County east Essex County east Spotsylvania County northwestMajor highways edit nbsp I 95 the major north south highway on the Eastern Seaboard runs through Caroline County Exits 104 and 110 are located in the county and provide numerous motorist services A pair of rest areas are located between the two interchanges at Milepost 108 nbsp US 1 a principal route connecting Richmond Petersburg and beyond enters Caroline County after the North Anna River Bridge The road is known locally as Jefferson Davis Highway and George Washington Boulevard depending on which communities it runs through The road is a four lane undivided highway with occasional left turn lanes and dividers at many intersections It runs through Chandler Crossing Ruther Glen Golansville Ladysmith Ryland Corner Cedon and Ann Wrights Corner before crossing into the Spotsylvania County Line nbsp US 17 a principal route connecting the Hampton Road area with Fredericksburg as it runs through Caroline County along close proximity to the Rappahannock River The road is known locally as Tidewater Trail U S 17 is a four lane divided highway until it reaches Port Royal Crossroads and becomes a four lane undivided highway Dividers briefly return at the intersection with US 301 and then the road becomes a two lane highway throughout the rest of the county before crossing into Spotsylvania County nbsp US 301 a principal route connecting Richmond Petersburg and beyond enters Caroline County shortly after crossing a bridge over the Pamunkey River The road is known locally as Richmond Turnpike for points south of the Bowling Green Bypass and as A P Hill Boulevard north of the bypass and Main Street north of US 17 until it crosses the bridge over the Rappahannock River The road is a two lane undivided highway until reaching Antioch Forks where it becomes a four lane divided highway almost entirely throughout the county U S 301 runs winds through Fort A P Hill until approaching Port Royal Crossroads at US 17 where the divider ends as it becomes Main Street until the bridge over the Rappahannock nbsp SR 2 a south to north state route that runs concurrent with US 301 until Bowling Green North of the Bowling Green Bypass it becomes Main Street and north of the town limits it becomes Fredericksburg Turnpike until it crosses the Spotsylvania County Line nbsp SR 30 a west to east state route that winds through southern Caroline County as Dawn Boulevard It enters the county from Doswell in Hanover County and crosses the King William county line before entering Calno nbsp SR 207 a major state route that runs from Ruther Glen to Bowling Green 11 93 miles 19 20 km and connects US 1 and I 95 to US 301 The road is known for most of its length as Rogers Clark Boulevard until it moves onto the Bowling Green Bypass National protected area edit Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge part Port Royal unitDemographics editHistorical population CensusPop Note 179017 489 180017 438 0 3 181017 5440 6 182018 0082 6 183017 760 1 4 184017 8130 3 185018 4563 6 186018 4640 0 187015 128 18 1 188017 24314 0 189016 681 3 3 190016 7090 2 191016 596 0 7 192015 954 3 9 193015 263 4 3 194013 945 8 6 195012 471 10 6 196012 7252 0 197013 9259 4 198017 90428 6 199019 2177 3 200022 12115 1 201028 54529 0 202030 8878 2 2021 est 31 332 11 1 4 U S Decennial Census 12 1790 1960 13 1900 1990 14 1990 2000 15 2010 16 2020 17 2020 census edit Caroline County Virginia Racial and ethnic composition NH Non Hispanic 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 may be of any race Race Ethnicity Pop 2010 16 Pop 2020 17 2010 2020White alone NH 18 145 18 841 63 57 61 00 Black or African American alone NH 8 297 7 627 29 07 24 69 Native American or Alaska Native alone NH 189 160 0 66 0 52 Asian alone NH 170 296 0 60 0 96 Pacific Islander alone NH 18 15 0 06 0 05 Some Other Race alone NH 49 163 0 17 0 53 Mixed Race Multi Racial NH 718 1 817 2 52 5 88 Hispanic or Latino any race 959 1 968 3 36 6 37 Total 28 545 30 887 100 00 100 00 2000 census edit As of the census 18 of 2000 there were 22 121 people 8 021 households and 6 007 families residing in the county The population density was 42 people per square mile 16 people km2 There were 8 889 housing units at an average density of 17 units per square mile 6 6 units km2 The racial makeup of the county was 62 57 White 34 37 Black or African American 0 78 Native American 0 36 Asian 0 03 Pacific Islander 0 52 from other races and 1 37 from two or more races 1 33 of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race There were 8 021 households out of which 31 70 had children under the age of 18 living with them 56 30 were married couples living together 13 20 had a female householder with no husband present and 25 10 were non families 20 50 of all households were made up of individuals and 8 20 had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older The average household size was 2 69 and the average family size was 3 08 In the county the population was spread out with 24 80 under the age of 18 7 40 from 18 to 24 29 90 from 25 to 44 25 00 from 45 to 64 and 12 90 who were 65 years of age or older The median age was 38 years For every 100 females there were 99 10 males For every 100 females aged 18 and over there were 97 50 males The median income for a household in the county was 39 845 and the median income for a family was 43 533 Males had a median income of 31 701 versus 22 455 for females The per capita income for the county was 18 342 About 7 20 of families and 9 40 of the population were below the poverty line including 12 00 of those under age 18 and 11 70 of those age 65 or over As noted Caroline County gained the State Fair of Virginia previously in Richmond since 1854 when the first State Fair opened in Monroe Park which facility will be a venue for other events New businesses and developments include Remuda Programs for Eating Disorders The Virginia Sports Complex the multi national electrical contracting firm M C Dean and the Fortune 14 Company McKesson Corporation The latter developed a 340 000 square foot distribution center the largest private square footage investment in Virginia in 2010 Government editBoard of Supervisors edit Bowling Green District Jeffrey M Jeff Sili R Madison District Clayton T Forehand I Mattaponi District Floyd W Thomas Jr D Port Royal District Nancy Long R Reedy Church District Reggie L Underwood D Western Caroline District Jeffrey S Black I Administration edit County Administrator Charles M Culley Jr Deputy County Administrator Alan PartinConstitutional officers edit Clerk of the Circuit Court Susan Minarchi R Commissioner of the Revenue Mark Bissoon I Commonwealth s Attorney John Mahoney I Sheriff C S Moser I Treasurer Elizabeth Beale Curran I Caroline County is represented by Republican Ryan T McDougle in the Virginia Senate Republicans Robert D Bobby Orrock Hyland F Buddy Fowler and Margaret Bevans Ransone in the Virginia House of Delegates and Republican Robert J Rob Wittman in the U S House of Representatives United States presidential election results for Caroline County Virginia 19 Year Republican Democratic Third partyNo No No 2020 8 336 51 18 7 657 47 01 295 1 81 2016 7 147 50 16 6 432 45 14 669 4 70 2012 6 151 45 06 7 276 53 30 225 1 65 2008 5 617 43 48 7 163 55 45 139 1 08 2004 4 999 50 22 4 878 49 01 77 0 77 2000 3 873 46 38 4 314 51 66 164 1 96 1996 2 816 38 65 3 897 53 49 572 7 85 1992 2 947 38 01 3 770 48 63 1 036 13 36 1988 3 065 48 71 3 186 50 64 41 0 65 1984 2 949 48 04 3 111 50 68 78 1 27 1980 2 071 40 18 2 924 56 73 159 3 08 1976 1 648 34 36 3 064 63 89 84 1 75 1972 2 086 52 80 1 814 45 91 51 1 29 1968 1 162 26 25 2 165 48 92 1 099 24 83 1964 1 166 35 95 2 064 63 64 13 0 40 1960 864 36 50 1 483 62 65 20 0 84 1956 907 46 06 853 43 32 209 10 61 1952 858 47 01 954 52 27 13 0 71 1948 397 30 26 731 55 72 184 14 02 1944 383 27 53 1 004 72 18 4 0 29 1940 305 21 08 1 136 78 51 6 0 41 1936 258 18 87 1 104 80 76 5 0 37 1932 270 19 79 1 076 78 89 18 1 32 1928 638 49 96 639 50 04 0 0 00 1924 223 20 59 840 77 56 20 1 85 1920 308 31 30 665 67 58 11 1 12 1916 198 23 57 637 75 83 5 0 60 1912 144 16 63 590 68 13 132 15 24 Communities editThere are two incorporated towns in Caroline County They are Bowling Green Port RoyalBowling Green edit The town of Bowling Green was earlier known as New Hope Village 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 prior to 1700 and the area around it became known as New Hope Village 20 The town was renamed for Bowling Green the plantation of town founder Colonel John Hoomes He donated considerable land when the community became the county seat in 1803 The Bowling Green estate took its name from the Hoomes family s ancestral seat in England Bolling Green Such naming was a tradition in the Colony of Virginia The Bowling Green estate was the site of one of the first tracks for horse racing in North America 21 The manor home of the Hoomes family built on plantation land patented by Major Thomas Hoomes in 1667 was constructed in 1741 A prominent town landmark it is one of the oldest residences in original condition in Virginia 20 Bowling Green Farm is now on the Virginia Landmarks Register and the National Register of Historic Places 21 The present Caroline County Court House was built in 1835 and Bowling Green was incorporated as a town in 1837 The town is best known as the cradle of American horse racing It also is the site of the second oldest Masonic Lodge in the nation which 22 The Richmond Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad chartered in 1834 was built through nearby Milford just west of town and reached Fredericksburg by 1837 This important rail link between several major northern railroads at Washington D C and other major southern railroads at Richmond was partially owned by the Commonwealth of Virginia for years It was purchased by CSX Transportation in the 1990s A major freight railroad line for north south traffic the corridor also carries many Amtrak trains Although the closest Virginia Railway Express VRE commuter passenger rail service to Northern Virginia is accessed at Spotsylvania 23 future VRE extensions southward may include service at Milford This would increase convenience for Bowling Green and the surrounding area Bowling Green is located along Virginia State Route 2 one of the two earlier highways between Richmond and Fredericksburg In later years U S Route 301 was built through the area connecting Richmond with Baltimore Maryland by what was effectively an eastern bypass of the Washington D C area A new road Virginia State Route 207 was established from Bowling Green west to Carmel Church It intersects Interstate 95 and U S Route 1 major north south highways In 1941 the United States government acquired 77 000 acres 310 km2 of Caroline County to the north and east of Bowling Green It established the A P Hill Military Reservation Known in modern times as Fort A P Hill the facility was named for Virginia military hero of the United States Army and later Confederate General Ambrose Powell Hill Thousands of regular military and reserve troops undergo training at the complex each year It was also the site of national Jamboree gatherings of the Boy Scouts of America for 29 years between 1981 and 2010 24 Port Royal edit Port Royal is one of the area s more historic towns It was first established in 1652 as a port on a navigable portion of the Rappahannock River during an era when waterways were the major method of transportation of people and property in the British Colony of Virginia It was an important point for export of tobacco Virginia s cash crop Local tradition holds that Port Royal was named after the Roy family Dorothy Roy and her husband John owned a warehouse chartered by the crown a ferry service across the Rappahannock River to King George County and a tavern In the 21st century the chimneys of the Roy house are preserved landmarks in the town 25 Port Royal was incorporated as a town in 1744 The town green upon which stands today the Town Hall and the firehouse was forever reserved for public and civic use 26 Shipping of property from the port began to decline after completion of railroads which began in Virginia in the 1830s The last scheduled passenger ship service ended in 1932 supplanted by highways However Port Royal was served by the new highways which became U S Route 17 and U S Route 301 with their crossroads at Port Royal Census designated places edit There are two unincorporated census designated places in Caroline County Lake Caroline Lake Land OrEducation editCaroline County Public Schools provides public education in the county For the 2020 2021 school year Caroline County Public Schools had 490 total employees with 209 of them being teachers 27 Notable people editGeorge Armistead commander of Fort McHenry during the Battle of Baltimore 28 John Wilkes Booth well known American actor and assassin of U S President Abraham Lincoln Reuben Chapman the thirteenth Governor of Alabama 1847 1849 Christopher Chenery one of the founders of the New York Racing Association and the owner breeder of Thoroughbred horse racing s U S Triple Crown champion Secretariat William Clark and his slave York and other members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were born in Caroline County Clark s family taking their slaves moved to Louisville Kentucky when William was 15 General George Rogers Clark 1752 1818 Revolutionary war hero conqueror of the old Northwest Territory modern day Midwest of the US hero of the Battle of Fort Sackville Vincennes Indiana February 1779 father and founder of the Midwest George was basically already living in Kentucky in 1784 when the Clark family left Virginia and settled there General Clark made his home in Southern Indiana on the Ohio River at what is known as Clark s Point Peter Durrett c 1733 1823 founder with his wife of the First African Baptist Church of Lexington Kentucky the oldest black Baptist church in the state and the third oldest in the US George Fitzhugh lawyer and pro slavery sociologist Lex Luger record producer owns a home in Milford Virginia Mildred and Richard Loving successful plaintiffs in Loving v Virginia the U S Supreme Court decision ruling which determined miscegenation laws were unconstitutional and legalized interracial marriage in the United States Subject of the 2016 Netflix movie Loving Mi tro rapper Edmund Pendleton September 9 1721 October 23 1803 was a Virginia politician lawyer and judge active in the American Revolutionary War John Taylor of Caroline December 19 1753 August 21 1824 was a politician and writer He served in the Virginia House of Delegates 1779 1781 1783 1785 1796 1800 and in the United States Senate 1792 1794 1803 1822 1824 He was the author of several books on politics and agriculture Thomas P Westendorf 1848 1923 a notable composer 29 William Woodford officer in the French and Indian War and American Revolutionary War See also editCaroline County Sheriff s Office National Register of Historic Places listings in Caroline County Virginia Caroline County Public Schools Virginia References edit Find a County National Association of Counties Archived from the original on May 31 2011 Retrieved June 7 2011 Caroline County Virginia United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 30 2022 State amp County QuickFacts United States Census Bureau Archived from the original on June 7 2011 Retrieved January 1 2014 Wingfield Marshall 1998 A History of Caroline County Virginia from its formation in 1727 to 1924 Bowie Md Heritage Books p 1 ISBN 978 0788409387 Signers of the Declaration of Independence National Archives November 6 2015 Retrieved January 23 2023 Stonewall Jackson Shrine National Park Service Archived from the original on February 17 2015 Retrieved February 17 2015 The Meadow Event Park Archived from the original on March 30 2009 Retrieved January 22 2009 Home Retrieved May 29 2016 All America City Award National Civic League US Gazetteer files 2010 2000 and 1990 United States Census Bureau February 12 2011 Retrieved April 23 2011 Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties April 1 2020 to July 1 2021 Retrieved April 6 2022 Census of Population and Housing from 1790 2000 US Census Bureau Retrieved January 24 2022 Historical Census Browser University of Virginia Library Retrieved January 1 2014 Population of Counties by Decennial Census 1900 to 1990 United States Census Bureau Retrieved January 1 2014 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 1 2014 a b P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE 2010 DEC Redistricting Data PL 94 171 Caroline 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 Caroline County Virginia United States Census Bureau U S Census website United States Census Bureau Retrieved May 14 2011 Leip David Dave Leip s Atlas of U S Presidential Elections uselectionatlas org Retrieved December 9 2020 a b History Archived 2007 08 18 at the Wayback Machine a b Acknowledgment For Codification Archived 2005 11 12 at the Wayback Machine http www dhr virginia gov registers Counties Caroline 284 0015 Townfield 1994 Final Nomination pdf Archived 2016 12 24 at the Wayback Machine see Sect 8 page 5 or page 10 of 19 Lazo Luz October 26 2015 VRE s Spotsylvania station to open next month Washington Post Retrieved October 27 2015 Fort AP Hill Va History Archived 2007 04 09 at the Wayback Machine Historic Port Royal Retrieved May 29 2016 Welcome to Historic Port Royal Archived 2007 12 18 at the Wayback Machine Search for Public School Districts District Detail for CAROLINE CO PBLC SCHS nces ed gov Retrieved September 22 2022 Who Was Who in America Historical Volume 1607 1896 Chicago Marquis Who s Who 1963 I ll Take You Home Again Kathleen Fredericksburg com February 9 2002 Retrieved July 30 2016 External links editCaroline County Virginia website Wingfield s History of Caroline County Virginia 1924 Central Rappahannock Heritage Center nonprofit all volunteer archive which preserves Caroline County historical documents and photographs 38 02 N 77 21 W 38 03 N 77 35 W 38 03 77 35 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Caroline County Virginia amp oldid 1206094117, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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