New Kent County, Virginia

New Kent County, Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1654
Seat	New Kent
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	223 sq mi (578 km²) 14 sq mi (36 km²), 6.23%
Population  -  Density	18,429 65/sq mi (25/km²)
Website	www.co.new-kent.va.us

New Kent County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. In 2010, the population was 18,429.^[1] Its county seat is New Kent^[2]. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

History

New Kent County was established in 1654 from York County. The county is named for Kent, England. New Kent County is the birthplace of two U. S. Presidents' wives - Martha Washington and Letitia Christian Tyler. The church where George and Martha Washington are believed to have been wed, St. Peters, still holds services today. The Chickahominy Indians frequented this area as well as nearby Charles City County and two tribes are still well-established in this area.

Among the earliest settlers of New Kent County was Nicholas Gentry, who settled in New Kent in 1684. The parish register books of St. Peter's Parish show that Nicholas Gentry's daughter was baptized in the church in 1687. The records also reflect other Gentrys, probably Nicholas Gentry's relations, Peter and Samuel Gentry.^[3] Many later county records were burned, making identifying relationships between family members difficult.

In 2006, the U.S. Census Bureau rated New Kent County among the top 100 fastest growing counties in America.^[4]

New Kent County Courthouse, ca.1907.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 223 square miles (579 km²), of which 210 square miles (543 km²) is land and 14 square miles (36 km²) (6.23%) is water. The Chickahominy River borders the county to the south, the Pamunkey and York rivers border it to the north and east.

Adjacent counties

• King William County - north
• King and Queen County - east
• James City County - southeast
• Charles City County - south
• Henrico County - southwest
• Hanover County - west

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	6,239		—
1800	6,363		2.0%
1810	6,478		1.8%
1820	6,630		2.3%
1830	6,458		−2.6%
1840	6,230		−3.5%
1850	6,064		−2.7%
1860	5,884		−3.0%
1870	4,381		−25.5%
1880	5,515		25.9%
1890	5,511		−0.1%
1900	4,865		−11.7%
1910	4,682		−3.8%
1920	4,541		−3.0%
1930	4,300		−5.3%
1940	4,092		−4.8%
1950	3,995		−2.4%
1960	4,504		12.7%
1970	5,300		17.7%
1980	8,781		65.7%
1990	10,445		19.0%
2000	13,462		28.9%
2010	18,429		36.9%

At the 2000 census^[5], there were 13,462 people, 4,925 households and 3,895 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 per square mile (25/km²). There were 5,203 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (10/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 80.26% White, 16.20% Black or African American, 1.29% Native American, 0.53% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.53% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. 1.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,925 households of which 34.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 66.60% were married couples living together, 9.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 20.90% were non-families. 16.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 5.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.65 and the average family size was 2.97.

Age distribution was 25.00% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 32.00% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 9.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.90 males.

The median household income was $53,595, and the median family income was $60,678. Males had a median income of $40,005 versus $28,894 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,893. 4.90% of the population and 3.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.40% are under the age of 18 and 7.00% are 65 or older.

Communities and towns

There are no incorporated towns in New Kent County. Unincorporated towns and communities include:

• Baltimore Crossroads
• Barhamsville
• Bottoms Bridge
• Eltham
• Lanexa
• New Kent
• Providence Forge
• Quinton
• Talleysville
• White House

Schools

New Kent County has four schools within the school system. There are two elementary schools, New Kent Elementary, and George W. Watkins Elementary. The school system also includes New Kent Middle School and New Kent High School. All four schools are fully accredited by the Virginia Department of Education. At the high school level various honors and advanced placement courses are available along with dual enrollment through Rappahannock Community College. Gifted and enrichment programs are offered in all grades K-12.

There are over 430 employees including 220 licensed teachers, four principals, and five assistant principals. The current superintendent is Rick Richardson, and the assistant superintendent is Ed Smith.

Transportation

Highways

• Interstate 64 traverses the county, with four exits (205, 211, 214 and 220), roughly paralleling U.S. 60.
• Major state highways include State Routes 30, 33, 106, 155, and 249.

Railroads

The county is crossed by the railroad tracks of CSX Transportation and Norfolk Southern, but has no passenger rail stations. The nearest Amtrak service is at stations in Williamsburg and Richmond.

Air

New Kent Airport (W96) is in the county's western end near Quinton. It is a general aviation facility. Commercial passenger services and cargo services are offered at Richmond International Airport, which is located in adjacent Henrico County, about 10 miles west of Bottoms Bridge.

Attractions

Colonial Downs is Virginia's premier thoroughbred and standardbred horse racing facility.

New Kent Winery & Vineyards Opened on May 31, 2008 after eight years of planning, planting and building... all of which have resulted in some of the finest wines produced in Virginia by one of her most unequalled wineries. Planting the first vines in 2001, the founders started molding reality from their dream of opening a winery in New Kent County, Virginia. Since that beginning, they planted a variety of vines including... Chardonnay, Vidal Blanc, Cabernet Franc, and Norton ~ a grape native to Virginia this makes an excellent stopping off place between Williamsburg and Richmond at I-64 Exit 211.

Notable residents

• Gideon Macon, (1648–1702), member of the House of Burgesses and great-grandfather of Martha Washington
• David Crawford, (c. 1625 - 1710), plantation owner and member of the House of Burgesses
• Thomas Adams, (1730–1788), born in New Kent County, member of the House of Burgesses and signer of the Articles of Confederation^[6]
• Martha Washington, (1731–1802), born in New Kent County, wife of president George Washington
• Letitia Christian Tyler, (1790–1842), born in New Kent County, first wife of president John Tyler
• Benjamin W. Lacy, (1839–1895), born in New Kent County, member of the Virginia House of Delegates and the Supreme Court of Virginia

Media

• New Kent - Charles City Chronicle: Community newspaper, published every other week, with an advertising supplement published in weeks between.
• New Kent Cablevision

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in New Kent County, Virginia

References

1. ^ [1]. Weldon Cooper Center 2010 Census Count Retrieved September 9, 2011
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
3. ^ The Gentry Family in America: 1676 to 1909, Richard Gentry, The Grafton Press, New York, 1909
4. ^ "100 Fastest Growing Counties". U.S. Census Bureau. http://www.census.gov/popest/counties/CO-EST2006-08.html. 
5. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 
6. ^ Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Marquis Who's Who. 1967. 

External links

• The Official Site of New Kent County
• New Kent's Web Site
• New Kent County Public Schools
• New Kent County, Virginia - Economic Development Authority
• New Kent Travel and Tourism
• New Kent Winery

Coordinates: 37°31′N 77°00′W / 37.51°N 77.00°W / 37.51; -77.00