Frederick County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 78,305. Its county seat is Winchester. The county was formed in 1743 by the splitting of Orange County. It is Virginia's northernmost county.
Frederick County is included in the Winchester, VA-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Washington-Baltimore-Northern Virginia, DC-MD-VA-WV-PA Combined Statistical Area.
History
What Is The County Of Winchester VA? - Marriage information winchester frederick county circuit court best places to live in winchester, virginia sperling's. Frederick county is a located in the commonwealth of virginia. Virginia...
The area that would become Frederick County, Virginia was inhabited and transited by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European colonization. The "Indian Road" refers to a historic pathway made by local tribes.
Frederick County was established in 1743 from parts of Orange County. (At that time, "Old Frederick County" encompassed all or part of four counties in present-day Virginia â€" Shenandoah, Clarke, Warren, and Frederick â€" and five in present-day West Virginia â€" Hardy, Hampshire, Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan.) The Virginia Assembly named the new county for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales (1707â€"1751), the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain.
Colonial Era
As Commander-in-Chief of the new Colonial Virginia regiment in 1754, Colonel George Washington's headquarters were located in Winchester before and during the French and Indian War. He resigned from military service in 1758; only to be appointed General by the Continental Congress sixteen years later. Meanwhile, Washington represented Frederick County in his first elective office, having been elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758 and 1761. Daniel Morgan was another famous General during the American Revolutionary War, from (present day Clarke County).
War of 1812
American Civil War
Four (alkaline, saline, chalybeate, and sulphuretted) types of mineral water springs naturally occur on the land that would latter be named Rock Enon Springs. The area was once called Capper Springs, named for area settler John Capper. William Marker bought the 942 acres (381Â ha) in 1856 and built a hotel, the first building of the Rock Enon Springs Resort, that survived the American Civil War. On March 24, 1899 the Shenandoah Valley National Bank purchased the property for $3,500. During the summer of 1914 botanists found polypodium vulgare, phegopteris hexagonoptera, adiantum pedatum, pteris aquilina, and cheilanthes lanosa on the property. The idea that soaking in the spring water had medical value was likely a large part of the tourism. In 1944, when that healing idea was likely no longer generally accepted as true, the Glaize family sold the property to the Shenandoah Area Council who turned what was once a resort into Camp Rock Enon. In 1944 the 5 acres (0.020Â km2) Miller Lake was created by adding a 200 feet (61Â m) earth dam across Laruel Run using equipment owned by the Federal Fish Hatchery in Leestown. In 1958 "walnut, chestnut and persimmon trees" were planted on the property.
Winchester changed hands between the Confederate and Union Armies on average once every three weeks during the war. Many battles were fought in Frederick County. Some of those battles include:
- First Battle of Kernstown, March 1862
- First Battle of Winchester, May 1862
- Second Battle of Winchester, June 1863
- Second Battle of Kernstown, July 1864
- Third Battle of Winchester (Battle of Opequon), September 1864
- Battle of Cedar Creek, October 1864
The first constitution of West Virginia provided for Frederick County to be added to the new state if approved by a local election. Unlike those of neighboring Berkeley and Jefferson counties, Frederick County residents voted to remain in Virginia despite being occupied by the Union Army at the time.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 416 square miles (1,080Â km2), of which 414 square miles (1,070Â km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2Â km2) (0.5%) is water. This is the northernmost county in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Adjacent counties
National protected areas
- Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park (part)
- George Washington National Forest (part)
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 59,209 people, 22,097 households, and 16,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 143 people per square mile (55/km²). There were 23,319 housing units at an average density of 56/square mile (22/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.99% White, 2.62% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 22,097 households out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.02.
In the county, the population was spread out with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $46,941, and the median income for a family was $52,281. Males had a median income of $35,705 versus $25,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,080. About 4.00% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.
Government
Board of Supervisors
- Chairman: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. (R)
- Back Creek District: Gary A. Lofton (R)
- Gainesboro District: Bill Ewing (R)
- Opequon District: Robert Wells (R)
- Red Bud District: Blaine P. Dunn (R)
- Shawnee District: Gene E. Fisher (R)
- Stonewall District: Judith McCann-Slaughter. (R)
Constitutional Officers
- Clerk of the Circuit Court: Rebecca P. "Becky" Hogan (D)
- Commissioner of the Revenue: Ellen E. Murphy (R)
- Commonwealth's Attorney: Ross Spicer (R)
- Sheriff: R.T. "Bob" Williamson (R)
- Treasurer: C. William Orndoff, Jr. (R)
Frederick is represented by Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel in the Virginia Senate, Wendy Gooditis (D), Chris Collins (R), and Dave LaRock (R) and in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Barbara Comstock in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Transportation
- Winchester Transit provides weekday transit for the city of Winchester.
Major Highways
Education
Frederick County is served by Frederick County Public Schools, which includes several elementary, middle, and high schools. Frederick County is also part of the region served by the Mountain Vista Governor's School that offers upper level classes to intellectually gifted high school students.
Schools
Elementary Schools
Middle Schools
- Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School
- Frederick County Middle School
- James Wood Middle School
- Robert E. Aylor Middle School
High Schools
- James Wood High School
- Millbrook High School
- Sherando High School
Colleges
- Lord Fairfax Community College
Universities
- Shenandoah University
Libraries
- Handley Regional Library
Communities
Despite being the county seat, Winchester, like all cities under Virginia law, is an independent cityâ€"politically independent of any county.
Towns
- Middletown
- Stephens City
Census-designated places
- Lake Holiday
- Shawneeland
Other unincorporated communities
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Frederick County, Virginia
- List of routes in Frederick County, Virginia
References
External links
Media related to Frederick County, Virginia at Wikimedia Commons
- Official Website for the County of Frederick
- Frederick County Public Schools
- Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
- Winchester Frederick County Convention and Visitor Bureau
- Winchester Frederick County Circuit Court Clerks