Lancaster County, Virginia

Lancaster County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 10,919.^[1] Its county seat is Lancaster.^[2]

Lancaster County
County
Central Lancaster, the county seat, with the county courthouse visible
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 76°25′W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1651
Seat	Lancaster
Largest town	Kilmarnock
Area
• Total	231 sq mi (600 km2)
• Land	133 sq mi (340 km2)
• Water	98 sq mi (250 km2)  42.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	10,919
• Density	47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.lancova.com

Located on the Northern Neck near the mouth of the Rappahannock River, Lancaster County is part of the Northern Neck George Washington Birthplace wine-growing region recognized by the United States as an American Viticultural Area.^{[citation needed]} Lancaster County is the most densely populated county in the Northern Neck.^{[citation needed]} The largest town in Lancaster County is Kilmarnock, Virginia. The county's area code is 804.

History

The historic church of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, in Lancaster County, St. Mary's parish was the birthplace of Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington

Lancaster County was established in 1651 from Northumberland and York counties, and large land patents (subject to terms including clearing and settlement) were issued that year.^[3] It was home to Robert King Carter in the 18th century, and remaining buildings from that time include Christ Church and St. Mary's, Whitechapel. Other historic attractions open to the public include the Lancaster Courthouse Historic District including the Mary Ball Washington Museum and Library, Belle Isle State Park, and the Village of Morattico Historic District.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 231 square miles (600 km²), of which 133 square miles (340 km²) is land and 98 square miles (250 km²) (42.4%) is water.^[4]

Adjacent counties

• Richmond County – northwest
• Northumberland County – north
• Middlesex County – south and southwest

Major highways

• SR 3
• SR 200
• SR 201
• SR 222
• SR 354

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	5,638		—
1800	5,375		−4.7%
1810	5,592		4.0%
1820	5,517		−1.3%
1830	4,801		−13.0%
1840	4,628		−3.6%
1850	4,708		1.7%
1860	5,151		9.4%
1870	5,355		4.0%
1880	6,160		15.0%
1890	7,191		16.7%
1900	8,949		24.4%
1910	9,752		9.0%
1920	9,757		0.1%
1930	8,896		−8.8%
1940	8,786		−1.2%
1950	8,640		−1.7%
1960	9,174		6.2%
1970	9,126		−0.5%
1980	10,129		11.0%
1990	10,896		7.6%
2000	11,567		6.2%
2010	11,391		−1.5%
2020	10,919		−4.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[5] 1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7] 1990–2000[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

2020 census

Lancaster County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010[9]	Pop 2020[10]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	7,925	7,441	69.57%	68.15%
Black or African American alone (NH)	3,166	2,946	27.79%	26.98%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	16	14	0.14%	0.13%
Asian alone (NH)	65	77	0.57%	0.71%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	1	0.00%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	5	39	0.04%	0.36%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	96	276	0.84%	2.53%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	118	125	1.04%	1.14%
Total	11,391	10,919	100.00%	100.00%

2000 Census

As of the census^[11] of 2000, there were 11,567 people, 5,004 households, and 3,412 families residing in the county. The population density was 87 people per square mile (34 people/km²). There were 6,498 housing units at an average density of 49 units per square mile (19 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 69.95% White, 28.88% Black or African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.06% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.61% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,004 households, out of which 21.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 11.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.71.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.00% under the age of 18, 5.00% from 18 to 24, 19.60% from 25 to 44, 28.00% from 45 to 64, and 28.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 50 years. For every 100 females there were 86.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.50 males.

Type of workers for this country are: Private wage or salary (72%); Government (15%); and Self-employed (12%).^[12] The median income for a household in the county was $33,239, and the median income for a family was $42,957. Males had a median income of $30,592 versus $23,039 for females. The per capita income for the county was $24,663. Approximately 9.90% of families and 12.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.00% of those under age 18 and 11.20% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The economy in Lancaster County is primarily composed of services industries with education, health care, social service administration, scientific, professional, administrative, and retail work making up about 56% of the workforce. Secondarily, trades such as construction, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, and utilities make up about 21% of the workforce.^[13]

Most businesses in the county are small businesses with 64% of businesses employing 0 to 4 employees. 81% of employers in the county employ fewer than 10 employees. Larger employers (50+ employees) make up just 3% of employers, with the largest among those including health care providers such as the Bon Secours Health System (Rappahannock General Hospital) and Rappahannock Westminster Canterbury—local governments such as the Lancaster County School Board and Lancaster County government—and retail including Walmart.^[14]

Lancaster County overall had an unemployment rate of about 2.9%, similar to Virginia's of about 2.5% in September 2023, however, the county's unemployment rate tends to spike in off-season months from January through April due to seasonal employment.^[14]

Government

Lancaster County is governed by a five-member board of supervisors. The board meets in the Lancaster County Administration Building at 7 p.m. on the last Thursday of every month. The Administration building is located at 8311 Mary Ball Road in Lancaster, Virginia.^[15]

Board of Supervisors

• District 1: Craig H. Giese (R)
• District 2: Ernest W. Palin, Jr., Chair (I)
• District 3: Jason D. Bellows, Vice Chair (I)
• District 4: William R. Lee (I)
• District 5: William C. Smith (I)

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Diane H. Mumford (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Elizabeth Cornwell
• Commonwealth Attorney: Anthony Spencer (R)
• Sheriff: Patrick McCranie (R)
• Treasurer: Bonnie J. Dickson

Lancaster is represented by Republican Richard Stuart in the Virginia Senate, Republican Hillary Pugh Kent 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 Lancaster County, Virginia^[16]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,866	52.86%	3,355	45.88%	92	1.26%
2020	3,697	51.69%	3,368	47.09%	87	1.22%
2016	3,523	53.02%	2,869	43.18%	253	3.81%
2012	3,753	53.91%	3,149	45.24%	59	0.85%
2008	3,647	52.57%	3,235	46.63%	56	0.81%
2004	3,724	59.78%	2,477	39.76%	29	0.47%
2000	3,411	62.53%	1,937	35.51%	107	1.96%
1996	2,709	55.36%	1,844	37.69%	340	6.95%
1992	2,841	51.39%	1,812	32.78%	875	15.83%
1988	3,380	67.02%	1,551	30.76%	112	2.22%
1984	3,416	67.72%	1,559	30.91%	69	1.37%
1980	2,780	61.01%	1,567	34.39%	210	4.61%
1976	2,381	58.44%	1,581	38.81%	112	2.75%
1972	2,683	71.64%	1,009	26.94%	53	1.42%
1968	1,640	44.93%	1,134	31.07%	876	24.00%
1964	1,663	57.13%	1,245	42.77%	3	0.10%
1960	1,340	59.56%	895	39.78%	15	0.67%
1956	1,380	70.66%	373	19.10%	200	10.24%
1952	1,228	61.49%	753	37.71%	16	0.80%
1948	459	39.10%	560	47.70%	155	13.20%
1944	390	36.76%	666	62.77%	5	0.47%
1940	317	30.60%	711	68.63%	8	0.77%
1936	322	31.76%	689	67.95%	3	0.30%
1932	272	29.34%	639	68.93%	16	1.73%
1928	520	62.28%	315	37.72%	0	0.00%
1924	90	13.47%	564	84.43%	14	2.10%
1920	138	25.27%	404	73.99%	4	0.73%
1916	58	11.11%	461	88.31%	3	0.57%
1912	82	14.04%	479	82.02%	23	3.94%

Communities

Towns

• Irvington
• Kilmarnock - partly in Northumberland County
• White Stone

Census-designated places

• Lancaster
• Weems

Outskirts of Lively, in Lancaster County

Other unincorporated communities

• Litwalton
• Lively
• Merry Point
• Mollusk
• Morattico
• Ottoman

Points of interest

Lancaster County is home to the historic church of St. Mary's, Whitechapel, founded in 1669. Mary Ball Washington, mother of George Washington, was born in the parish of St. Mary's. Rappahannock General Hospital is in Kilmarnock, it is the only hospital on the Northern Neck. Other attractions are:

• Irvington Steamboat Museum
• Windmill Point Beach
• Belle Isle State Park
• Chilton Woods State Forest
• Ampro Shipyard
• Historic Christ Church

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Lancaster County, Virginia