Botetourt County, Virginia
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Botetourt County, Virginia | |
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| Map | |
 Location in the state of Virginia |
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 Virginia's location in the USA |
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| Statistics | |
| Founded | 1770 |
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| Seat | Fincastle |
| Area - Total - Land - Water |
1,405 km² (543 mi²) sq mi ( km²) 8 km² (3 mi²), 0.60% |
| Population - (2000) - Density |
30,496 22/km² |
| Website: www.co.botetourt.va.us | |
Botetourt County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 30,496. Its county seat is Fincastle6.
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[edit] History
Botetourt County was established in 1770 from Augusta County. The county is named for Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt, more commonly know as Lord Botetourt, (1718-1770), who was a popular governor of the Virginia Colony from 1768 to 1770, when he died suddenly while in office. One of the county's two high schools is named after Lord Botetourt and found in the town of Daleville. The other high school is James River, in Buchanan.
[edit] Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,414 km² (546 mi²). 1,405 km² (543 mi²) of it is land and 8 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.60%) is water. The Blue Ridge Mountains run along the eastern part of the county. The Appalachian Mountains run along the western part of the county. The two mountain ranges come close together, separated by the town of Buchanan and the James River.
The James River originates in Botetourt County, near the village of Iron Gate, just south of the Alleghany County border by the merger of the pristine Cowpasture River and the heavily polluted Jackson River. The James River runs south until Eagle Rock, where it turns east and meanders through the county, passing James River High School until entering Buchanan. In Buchanan, the river turns northward and flows into Rockbridge County towards Glasgow.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census² of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The population density was 22/km² (56/mi²). There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (23/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% White, 3.52% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 11,700 households out of which 32.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 67.80% were married couples living together, 7.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.10% were non-families. 19.20% 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 2.56 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 5.80% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 28.80% from 45 to 64, and 13.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $48,731, and the median income for a family was $55,125. Males had a median income of $37,182 versus $25,537 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,218. About 3.60% of families and 5.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 5.40% of those under age 18 and 6.50% of those age 65 or over.
The population of the county has expanded recently, with many new housing developments, located primarily in the southern part of the county (near Roanoke). Most of these developments are upscale and out of the price range of most of the county's natives. There is resentment between the new and old residents of the county. This has recently boiled over with zoning issues around the town of Fincastle.
[edit] Towns and unincorporated communities
- Blue Ridge
- Buchanan
- Cloverdale
- Daleville
- Eagle Rock
- Fincastle
- Hollins
- Oriskany
- Springwood
- Troutville
[edit] Notable residents
- George A. Anderson, (1853-1896), born in Botetourt County, United States Congressman from Illinois[1]
- Samuel Barton, (1749-1810), Explorer,pioneer, early settler of Nashville, TN and Patriot.
[edit] References
[edit] External Links
http://www.co.botetourt.va.us/
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- ^ (1963) Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896. Chicago: Marquis Who's Who.
