Fluvanna County, Virginia

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Fluvanna County, Virginia

Map
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Statistics
Founded	1777
Seat	Palmyra
Area - Total - Land - Water	290 sq mi (751 km²) 3 sq mi (8 km²), 0.98%
Population - (2000) - Density	20,047 70/sq mi (27/km²)
Website: www.co.fluvanna.va.us

Fluvanna is also the name of a community in Texas.

Fluvanna County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 20,047. Its county seat is Palmyra^[1].

1 History
2 Geography
3 Demographics
4 Towns
- 4.1 Incorporated towns
- 4.2 Unincorporated communities
5 References
6 External links

[edit] History

The area which is now Fluvanna County was once part of Henrico County, one of the original shires of the Virginia Colony. Henrico was divided in 1727 and the Fluvanna County area became a part of Goochland County. In 1744 Goochland was divided and the area presently known as Fluvanna became a part of Albemarle County. Finally, in 1777, Albemarle County was divided and Fluvanna County established. The County was named for the Fluvanna River, the name given to James River west of Columbia. Fluvanna means "Annie's River" in honor of Queen Anne of England. The county has the James and Rivanna Rivers running through it. The Point of Fork (near Columbia where the James and Rivanna Rivers meet) was the site of a major Monacan Indian village in pre-colonial times. In the late eighteenth century the Rivanna River was made navigable by the efforts of Thomas Jefferson who owned much of the lands along its upper course, eg. Shadwell and Monticello. Improvements included in the first generation (through 1830) were sluice cuts, small dams and batteaux locks. Second generation (1840-1870) improvements had long stretches of canal, serviced by large locks, many of which are still visible along the river. Shortly after the completion of the initial Rivanna navigational works Virginia requested that the river be opened to public usage. It is said Jefferson initially refused, but the state would not be denied, and the Rivanna became an integral part of the central Virginian transportation network.

The route serviced a large community of farmsteads, plantations throughout Albemarle and Fluvanna counties. It also bore ever-growing numbers of industrial facilities, like those at Union Mills. It was the construction of these larger mills which prompted the great improvements to navigation. Union Mills alone featured a two and a half mile long canal and towpath, and one upper and two massive lower locks, all directly upon the river.

Where the Rivanna meets the James River at Columbia so too did the Rivanna Connexion canal, the longest canal on the river, merge with the James River and Kanawha Canal, itself an altogether impressive work intended to connect Richmond, Va with the Ohio and the West. The series of locks which connected the two works lie just outside of the town, and are mostly buried by sediment today.

In the batteaux era Milton was the head of navigation along the river, but by the early nineteenth century horse-drawn canal boats were traveling all the way upstream to Charlottesville, where the head of navigation was located at the very point where the Fredericksburg Road (now VA 20) and Three Chopt Road (U.S. Route 250), the primary road to Richmond, met and entered the city at the Free Bridge, establishing the city as a major commercial hub.

Fluvanna was defended by six militia companies during the Revolution. The county was invaded by British forces in 1781 when the Point of Fork Arsenal was destroyed. While no Civil War battles were fought in Fluvanna, Union soldiers burned mills, bridges and damaged the James River canal. During the American Civil War over 1,200 of its citizens served in the Confederate forces during the American Civil War. Its citizens served in Infantry, Cavalry, and Artillery units during the war. See Fluvanna Artillery for more information.

[edit] Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 290 square miles (752 km²), of which, 287 square miles (744 km²) of it is land and 3 square miles (7 km²) of it (100%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^[2] of 2003, there were 20,047 people, 7,387 households, and 5,702 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile (27/km²). There were 8,018 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 79.44% White, 18.41% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 1.25% from two or more races. 1.17% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,387 households out of which 32.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 0.9% were married couples living together, 99.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 100% were non-families. 18.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.59 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.60% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 31.70% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 86.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,372, and the median income for a family was $51,141. Males had a median income of $32,346 versus $24,774 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,338. About 3.90% of families and 5.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.60% of those under age 18 and 7.30% of those age 65 or over.

Although Fluvanna County's population remains very small, in percentage terms it has one of the highest growth rates in the State.