Greene County, Virginia

Greene County is a county in Virginia in the eastern United States. As of the 2020 census, the population was 20,552.[1] Its county seat is Stanardsville.[2]

Greene County
Courthouse, built 1838, in Stanardsville
Courthouse, built 1838, in Stanardsville
Official seal of Greene County
Map of Virginia highlighting Greene County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°18′N 78°28′W / 38.3°N 78.47°W / 38.3; -78.47
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1838
Named forNathanael Greene
SeatStanardsville
Largest communityTwin Lakes
Area
 • Total
157 sq mi (410 km2)
 • Land156 sq mi (400 km2)
 • Water0.7 sq mi (2 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
20,552
 • Density130/sq mi (51/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district7th
Websitewww.greenecountyva.gov

Greene County is part of the Charlottesville, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

In recent years, Greene County has become a tourist destination for metropolitan areas to escape to the Shenandoah National Park and Virginia's scenic foothills.

History

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Nathanael Greene, for whom the county was named.

Greene County was established in 1838 from Orange County. The county is named for American Revolutionary War hero Nathanael Greene, who was a general in the Continental Army.[3]

A major incident occurred on October 24, 1979, when a natural gas main ruptured, causing an explosion. The resulting fire destroyed the bell tower of the county courthouse and county office building. However, quick action by the firefighters on the scene saved the county records secured in the vault.[4]

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 156.8 square miles (406.1 km2), of which 156.1 square miles (404.3 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) (0.4%) is water.[5] It is the second-smallest county in Virginia by total area.

Adjacent counties

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National protected areas

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18404,232
18504,4004.0%
18605,02214.1%
18704,634−7.7%
18805,83025.8%
18905,622−3.6%
19006,21410.5%
19106,93711.6%
19206,369−8.2%
19305,980−6.1%
19405,218−12.7%
19504,745−9.1%
19604,715−0.6%
19705,24811.3%
19807,62545.3%
199010,29735.0%
200015,24448.0%
201018,40320.7%
202020,55211.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census

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Greene 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[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 15,785 16,214 85.77% 78.89%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,160 1,442 6.30% 7.02%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 38 26 0.21% 0.13%
Asian alone (NH) 247 456 1.34% 2.22%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 4 0.01% 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 46 92 0.25% 0.45%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 344 988 1.87% 4.81%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 781 1,330 4.24% 6.47%
Total 18,403 20,552 100.00% 100.00%

2020 Census

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As of the census[12] of 2010, there were 18,403 people, 6,780 households, and 5,072 families residing in the county. The population density was 117.8 people per square mile (45.5 people/km2). There were 7,509 housing units at an average density of 48.1 per square mile (18.6/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 87.6% White, 6.3% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.45% Asian, 0.2% Pacific Islander, 0.64% from other races, and 2.2% from two or more races. 4.2% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,780 households, out of which 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.2% were non-families. 20.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.6% 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. The median age for all individuals in the county was 59.3 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $54,307 and median family income was $60,414. The per capita income for the county was $24,696. 8.4% of the population and 4.9% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 8.6% of those under the age of 18 and 11.8% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Government

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Local Representation at Federal and State Level

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History

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Before the 2024 session, Greene County had been part of Virginia's 58th House of Delegates district and Virginia's 24th Senate district.[citation needed]

Before the 2022 session, Greene County had been part of the Virginia's 5th congressional district.[citation needed]

In May 2022, County Commissioner of Revenue Larry Vernon Snow resigned and pled guilty to federal charges of witness tampering. He had held the position since 1987 and had been reelected while under indictment. His son, Bryant Austin Snow, also pled guilty to charges of drug distribution.[13][14]

Board of Supervisors

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The Board of Supervisors contains five members:[15]

  • At-Large District: Francis X. McGuigan
  • Midway District: Marie Durrer (I)
  • Monroe District: Timothy L Goolsby
  • Ruckersville District: Davis Lamb (I)
  • Stanardsville District: Abbey Heflin (I)

Constitutional officers

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  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Ashby Lamb-Gomez[16]
  • Commissioner of Revenue: Kim Tate (I)[17]
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Edwin "Win" Consolvo (I)[18]
  • Sheriff: Steven S. Smith (I) [19]
  • Treasurer: Stephanie Allen Deal (I)[20]

Law enforcement

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Greene County Sheriff's Office
AbbreviationGCSO
Agency overview
Formed1838
Employees56
Jurisdictional structure
Constituting instrument
  • Yes
General nature
Operational structure
HeadquartersStanardsville, Virginia
Deputys39
Civilians17
Agency executive
Website
Official Website

The Greene County Sheriff's Office (GCSO) is Greene County, Virginia's primary law enforcement agency.

After a 1994 study rated Greene County the second most dangerous county in Virginia for traffic, the Sheriff's office cracked down on speeding. In 1997, the office wrote 15 times more tickets than in 1992.[21]

In November 2016, a few days before election day, the Sheriff's department held a public seminar at Piedmont Virginia Community College on Islam and jihadism. Counter-protestors described the content as islamophobic, and the group that spoke at the seminar was later added to the Southern Poverty Law Center's list of hate groups.[22][23]

Presidential election results

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United States presidential election results for Greene County, Virginia[24]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,432 61.39% 4,456 36.81% 218 1.80%
2020 6,866 60.70% 4,163 36.80% 282 2.49%
2016 5,945 61.88% 2,924 30.44% 738 7.68%
2012 5,569 61.72% 3,290 36.46% 164 1.82%
2008 4,980 60.29% 3,174 38.43% 106 1.28%
2004 4,570 65.86% 2,240 32.28% 129 1.86%
2000 3,375 62.36% 1,774 32.78% 263 4.86%
1996 2,351 55.29% 1,440 33.87% 461 10.84%
1992 2,265 52.30% 1,353 31.24% 713 16.46%
1988 2,234 69.29% 899 27.88% 91 2.82%
1984 2,216 73.87% 760 25.33% 24 0.80%
1980 1,702 60.55% 925 32.91% 184 6.55%
1976 1,095 51.41% 895 42.02% 140 6.57%
1972 1,208 78.24% 318 20.60% 18 1.17%
1968 856 55.26% 255 16.46% 438 28.28%
1964 641 58.06% 460 41.67% 3 0.27%
1960 573 64.24% 314 35.20% 5 0.56%
1956 539 63.49% 246 28.98% 64 7.54%
1952 537 67.80% 250 31.57% 5 0.63%
1948 420 58.82% 261 36.55% 33 4.62%
1944 393 58.14% 282 41.72% 1 0.15%
1940 282 43.72% 363 56.28% 0 0.00%
1936 321 48.42% 341 51.43% 1 0.15%
1932 258 39.57% 394 60.43% 0 0.00%
1928 423 62.02% 259 37.98% 0 0.00%
1924 240 44.86% 285 53.27% 10 1.87%
1920 414 57.18% 306 42.27% 4 0.55%
1916 239 51.96% 221 48.04% 0 0.00%
1912 141 29.44% 238 49.69% 100 20.88%

Public services

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Jefferson-Madison Regional Library is the regional library system that provides services to the citizens of Greene.

Education

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Greene County is served by a high school, a middle school, and two elementary schools.

Greene County is the location of the Piedmont VA CC - Eugene Giuseppe Center.

Communities

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 Page CountyRockingham CountyAlbemarle CountyOrange CountyMadison CountyStanardsvilleTwin LakesRuckersville

(Population according to the 2020 United States Census)

Towns
  1. Stanardsville (349)
Census-designated places (CDP)
  1. Ruckersville (1,484)
  2. Twin Lakes (1,602)
Unincorporated Communities

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Greene County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp. 143.
  4. ^ "Blast Levels One Building In Va. County". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved September 22, 2020.
  5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Greene County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Greene County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Greene County Commissioner of Revenue Resigns and Pleads Guilty". www.justice.gov. May 6, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  14. ^ "Ex-official pleads guilty to attempted witness tampering". CBS 6 News Richmond WTVR. May 7, 2022. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  15. ^ "Board of Supervisors in Greene County, Virginia". www.greenecountyva.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  16. ^ "Greene County Clerk of the Court | Greene, Virginia". www.greenecountyva.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  17. ^ "Staff | Commissioner of Revenue in Greene County Virginia". www.greenecountyva.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  18. ^ "Staff | Commonwealth Attorney in Greene County Virginia". www.greenecountyva.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  19. ^ "Greene County Sheriff's Office | Putting Citizens First". www.greenecountysheriffva.com.
  20. ^ "Staff | Office of the Treasurer in Greene County Virginia". www.greenecountyva.gov. Retrieved February 16, 2024.
  21. ^ Lucy, William H. (2017). "The Myth of Exurban Safety and Rational Location Decisions". Tomorrow's cities, tomorrow's suburbs. David L. Phillips. London. ISBN 978-1-351-17783-2. OCLC 1022945238.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
  22. ^ "People Protest 'Muslim Threat' Seminar at PVCC". NBC29. November 6, 2016. Archived from the original on November 9, 2016. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  23. ^ Fitzgerald, Pat (October 24, 2016). "Seminar on Islam and jihad stirs controversy in Greene". The Daily Progress. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  24. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
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38°18′N 78°28′W / 38.30°N 78.47°W / 38.30; -78.47