King William County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 17,810.[1] Its county seat is King William.[2] King William County is located in the Middle Peninsula and is included in the Greater Richmond Region.

King William County
King William County Courthouse, the oldest in continuous use in the United States
Official seal of King William County
Map of Virginia highlighting King William County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°43′N 77°05′W / 37.71°N 77.09°W / 37.71; -77.09
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1702
Named forWilliam III
SeatKing William
Largest townWest Point
Area
 • Total286 sq mi (740 km2)
 • Land274 sq mi (710 km2)
 • Water12 sq mi (30 km2)  4.1%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total17,810 Increase
 • Density62/sq mi (24/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.kingwilliamcounty.us

History

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For thousands of years before European contact, indigenous peoples of North America lived in the Tidewater area of present-day Virginia. At the time of the founding of Jamestown, 30 Virginia Native American tribes comprised the Powhatan paramountcy, numbering 14,000-21,000 people. The Algonquian-speaking Mattaponi Indian Tribe and Upper Mattaponi tribe, among the 11 tribes recognized by the state of Virginia, are located in the county. The Mattaponi are one of two Virginia Indian tribes who still occupy reservation land first allocated by the English under treaty in the 17th century.

One prominent family during Colonial Virginia times was that of William Aylett. The Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730 established a tobacco inspection warehouse at Aylett's. Aylett's daughters intermarried with other Northern Neck families.

English colonists formed King William County in 1702 out of King and Queen County. The county is named for William of Orange, King of England.[3] The courthouse, built in 1725, is the oldest courthouse in continuous use in the United States.

Geography

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 286 square miles (740 km2), of which 274 square miles (710 km2) is land and 12 square miles (31 km2) (4.1%) is water.[4] King William County is bounded by the Mattaponi River to the north and the Pamunkey River to the south. The two rivers combine to form the York River, at West Point, the county's largest town.

Adjacent counties

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note
17908,128
18009,05511.4%
18109,2852.5%
18209,6974.4%
18309,8121.2%
18409,258−5.6%
18508,779−5.2%
18608,530−2.8%
18707,515−11.9%
18808,75116.4%
18909,6059.8%
19008,380−12.8%
19108,5472.0%
19208,7392.2%
19307,929−9.3%
19407,855−0.9%
19507,589−3.4%
19607,563−0.3%
19707,497−0.9%
19809,33424.5%
199010,91316.9%
200013,14620.5%
201015,93521.2%
202017,81011.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[5]
1790-1960[6] 1900-1990[7]
1990-2000[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

2020 census

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King William 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) 12,107 13,499 75.98% 75.79%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,806 2,585 17.61% 14.51%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 223 277 1.40% 1.56%
Asian alone (NH) 118 129 0.74% 0.72%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 3 9 0.02% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 12 76 0.08% 0.43%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) 342 759 2.15% 4.26%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 324 476 2.03% 2.67%
Total 15,935 17,810 100.00% 100.00%

2010 Census

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As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 15,935 people living in the county. 77.2% were White, 17.7% Black or African American, 1.4% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.6% of some other race and 2.3% of two or more races. 2.0% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 18.6% were of English, 16.5% American, 8.7% German and 7.6% Irish ancestry.[11]

2000 Census

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As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 13,146 people, 4,846 households, and 3,784 families living in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 5,189 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 73.81% White, 22.81% Black or African American, 1.54% Native American, 0.37% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 1.15% from two or more races. 0.91% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,846 households, out of which 36.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.90% were married couples living together, 10.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.90% were non-families. 18.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.60% 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 3.06.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.10% under the age of 18, 5.90% from 18 to 24, 31.50% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 11.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $49,876, and the median income for a family was $54,037. Males had a median income of $34,616 versus $25,578 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,928. About 4.40% of families and 5.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.00% of those under age 18 and 9.00% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

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Town

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Two Indian reservations exist in the county. They are the only ones in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Government

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Board of Supervisors

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Source:[13]

  • First District: William L. Hodges (I)
  • Second District: Ben Edwards (I)
  • Third District: Justin Catlett (I)
  • Fourth District: Lindsay May Robinson (I)
  • Fifth District: Mary Sue Bancroft (I)

Constitutional Officers

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  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Tina Glazebrook (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Karena Funkhouser (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Tiffany Webb (I)
  • Sheriff: Thomas D. (Don) Lumpkin (I)
  • Treasurer: Abbi N. Carlton (I)

Stacey Davenport serves as the County Administrator for King William, having been appointed in September 2024.>

King William is represented by Republican Thomas K. "Tommy" Norment, Jr. in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Scott A. Wyatt and M. Keith Hodges in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Robert J. 'Rob" Wittman in the US House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for King William County, Virginia[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,320 68.18% 3,260 30.37% 156 1.45%
2016 5,975 65.33% 2,760 30.18% 411 4.49%
2012 5,466 61.26% 3,344 37.48% 113 1.27%
2008 4,966 59.20% 3,344 39.87% 78 0.93%
2004 4,397 63.98% 2,436 35.45% 39 0.57%
2000 3,547 61.48% 2,125 36.83% 97 1.68%
1996 2,346 52.49% 1,765 39.49% 358 8.01%
1992 2,591 49.54% 1,822 34.84% 817 15.62%
1988 2,735 62.89% 1,561 35.89% 53 1.22%
1984 2,803 65.43% 1,448 33.80% 33 0.77%
1980 2,036 56.54% 1,446 40.16% 119 3.30%
1976 1,597 50.60% 1,501 47.56% 58 1.84%
1972 1,839 69.14% 797 29.96% 24 0.90%
1968 1,046 43.03% 764 31.43% 621 25.55%
1964 1,065 53.92% 904 45.77% 6 0.30%
1960 793 51.19% 745 48.10% 11 0.71%
1956 887 62.16% 357 25.02% 183 12.82%
1952 730 57.39% 533 41.90% 9 0.71%
1948 348 35.84% 476 49.02% 147 15.14%
1944 280 28.06% 718 71.94% 0 0.00%
1940 235 25.21% 697 74.79% 0 0.00%
1936 211 23.19% 696 76.48% 3 0.33%
1932 177 22.01% 612 76.12% 15 1.87%
1928 329 43.29% 431 56.71% 0 0.00%
1924 148 27.77% 372 69.79% 13 2.44%
1920 176 32.90% 353 65.98% 6 1.12%
1916 119 25.81% 342 74.19% 0 0.00%
1912 69 15.72% 305 69.48% 65 14.81%
1908 228 44.88% 276 54.33% 4 0.79%
1904 195 38.77% 304 60.44% 4 0.80%
1900 871 64.81% 462 34.38% 11 0.82%
1896 990 62.15% 592 37.16% 11 0.69%
1892 844 54.10% 672 43.08% 44 2.82%
1888 1,093 59.43% 746 40.57% 0 0.00%
1884 1,033 56.91% 782 43.09% 0 0.00%
1880 792 53.91% 677 46.09% 0 0.00%

Education

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There are two school districts: King William County Public Schools (for all other areas), and West Point Town Public Schools (for areas in the Town of West Point).[15]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "King William 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. 176.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  9. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - King William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  10. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - King William County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ "Board of Supervisors". July 1, 2013. Retrieved March 19, 2018.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  15. ^ "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: King William County, VA" (PDF). U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved September 27, 2024. - Text list

37°42′N 77°06′W / 37.70°N 77.10°W / 37.70; -77.10