Louisa County is a
county
A county () is a geographic region of a country used for administrative or other purposesL. Brookes (ed.) '' Chambers Dictionary''. Edinburgh: Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd, 2005. in some nations. The term is derived from the Old French denoti ...
located in the
Commonwealth
A commonwealth is a traditional English term for a political community founded for the common good. The noun "commonwealth", meaning "public welfare, general good or advantage", dates from the 15th century. Originally a phrase (the common-wealth ...
of
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
. As of the
2020 census, the population was 37,596. The
county seat
A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or parish (administrative division), civil parish. The term is in use in five countries: Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, and the United States. An equiva ...
is
Louisa.
History
Prior to colonial settlement, the area comprising Louisa County was occupied by several indigenous peoples including the
Tutelo
The Tutelo (also Totero, Totteroy, Tutera; Yesan in Tutelo) were Native American people living above the Fall Line in present-day Virginia and West Virginia. They spoke a dialect of the Siouan Tutelo language thought to be similar to that of th ...
, the
Monacan, and the
Manahoac peoples, who eventually fled to join the
Cayuga Iroquois
The Iroquois ( ), also known as the Five Nations, and later as the Six Nations from 1722 onwards; alternatively referred to by the Endonym and exonym, endonym Haudenosaunee ( ; ) are an Iroquoian languages, Iroquoian-speaking Confederation#Ind ...
(Haudenosaunee) people in New York state under pressure from English settlers.
Louisa County was established in 1742 from
Hanover County. The county is named for Princess
Louise of Great Britain, youngest daughter of King
George II, and wife of King
Frederick V of Denmark
Frederick V (Danish language, Danish and Norwegian language, Norwegian: ''Frederik V''; 31 March 1723 – 14 January 1766) was King of Denmark–Norway, Denmark and Norway and Duke of Schleswig-Holstein from 6 August 1746 until his death in 1766. ...
.
lived for some time in Louisa County on Roundabout Creek in 1764. Henry was being mentored at that time by the Louisa County magnate Thomas Johnson the representative of Louisa County in the
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776. It existed during the colonial history of the United States in the Colony of Virginia in what was then British America. From 1642 to 1776, the Hou ...
. In 1765,
won his first election to represent Louisa County in the
House of Burgesses
The House of Burgesses () was the lower house of the Virginia General Assembly from 1619 to 1776. It existed during the colonial history of the United States in the Colony of Virginia in what was then British America. From 1642 to 1776, the Hou ...
. At the end of the eighteenth century and in the early nineteenth century, numerous free
mixed-race
The term multiracial people refers to people who are mixed with two or more
races and the term multi-ethnic people refers to people who are of more than one ethnicities. A variety of terms have been used both historically and presently for mul ...
families migrated together from here to Kentucky, where neighbors began to identify them as
Melungeon.
The
Virginia Central Railroad was completed through Louisa County in 1838–1840. During the
Civil War
A civil war is a war between organized groups within the same Sovereign state, state (or country). The aim of one side may be to take control of the country or a region, to achieve independence for a region, or to change government policies.J ...
, it was an important supply line for the Confederate armies. As a result, several significant cavalry actions took place in the county, particularly one fought at
Trevilians in 1864.
20th century to present

The
Twin Oaks Community
Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on in Louisa County, Virginia. It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring ...
is one of the country's oldest secular
communes, established by its first eight members in 1967. This was part of a national movement among numerous young people to "get back to the land" and live in more simple ways based in community. Louisa is also home to the
Acorn Community, a rural, cooperative, income sharing community on about 80 acres, founded in 1993 by one of the founding members of Twin Oaks, Kat Kincade. Another newly forming community as of 2011 is the
Living Energy Farm, a 'neo-
Amish
The Amish (, also or ; ; ), formally the Old Order Amish, are a group of traditionalist Anabaptism, Anabaptist Christianity, Christian Christian denomination, church fellowships with Swiss people, Swiss and Alsace, Alsatian origins. As they ...
' farm, where no fossil fuels will be used but new technologies such as solar will be embraced.
Lake Anna, a
artificial lake
A lake is often a naturally occurring, relatively large and fixed body of water on or near the Earth's surface. It is localized in a basin or interconnected basins surrounded by dry land. Lakes lie completely on land and are separate from t ...
, and the associated
North Anna Nuclear Generating Station were built by
Virginia Power in the 1970s. In recent years the predominantly rural county has grown because of
retiree
A pensioner is a person who receives a pension, most commonly because of retirement from the workforce. This is a term typically used in the United Kingdom (along with OAP, initialism of old-age pensioner), Ireland and Australia where someone of p ...
s' settling near Lake Anna, and because of its convenient location for
commuters. It is an hour's drive or less from
Richmond,
Fredericksburg and
Charlottesville.
For a discussion and additional information on Louisa County history, see: ''Louisa County Historical Notes''.
2011 earthquake
The
U.S. Geological Survey reported that a magnitude 5.8 earthquake hit Virginia on Tuesday, August 23, 2011, at 1:51 PM EST. The quake occurred at an approximate depth of 3.7 miles and was centered in Louisa County (location at 37.944°N, 77.942°W), 5 miles SSW of
Mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2011): Mi ...
and 38 miles NW of
Richmond. According to Associated Press, "Shaking was felt at the White House and all over the East Coast, as far south as Charleston, S.C. Parts of the Pentagon, White House and Capitol were evacuated." It was also felt in parts of Canada.
Damage totals in Louisa County totaled over $70 million:
* $57.5 million in damage to public school structures
* $11.5 million in damage to residential structures
* $400,000 in damage to religious structures
* $400,000 in damage to commercial structures
* $500,000 in damage to government structures
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (2.9%) is water.
Adjacent counties
*
Orange County – north
*
Spotsylvania County – northeast
*
Hanover County – east
*
Goochland County – south
*
Fluvanna County – southwest
*
Albemarle County – west
Major highways
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Demographics
2020 census
2000 census
As of the
census
A census (from Latin ''censere'', 'to assess') is the procedure of systematically acquiring, recording, and calculating population information about the members of a given Statistical population, population, usually displayed in the form of stati ...
of 2000, there were 25,627 people, 9,945 households, and 7,259 families residing in the county. The
population density
Population density (in agriculture: Standing stock (disambiguation), standing stock or plant density) is a measurement of population per unit land area. It is mostly applied to humans, but sometimes to other living organisms too. It is a key geog ...
was . There were 11,855 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 50.96%
White
White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no chroma). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully (or almost fully) reflect and scatter all the visible wa ...
, 46.58%
Black
Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness.Eva Heller, ''P ...
or
African American
African Americans, also known as Black Americans and formerly also called Afro-Americans, are an Race and ethnicity in the United States, American racial and ethnic group that consists of Americans who have total or partial ancestry from an ...
, 0.42%
Native American, 0.25%
Asian, 0.01%
Pacific Islander
Pacific Islanders, Pasifika, Pasefika, Pacificans, or rarely Pacificers are the peoples of the list of islands in the Pacific Ocean, Pacific Islands. As an ethnic group, ethnic/race (human categorization), racial term, it is used to describe th ...
, 0.18% from
other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 0.71% of the population were
Hispanic
The term Hispanic () are people, Spanish culture, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or broadly. In some contexts, Hispanic and Latino Americans, especially within the United States, "Hispanic" is used as an Ethnici ...
or
Latino of any race.
There were 9,945 households, out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were
married couples
Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognised union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children (if any), and b ...
living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.00% were non-families. 22.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.00% 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 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.40% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,402, and the median income for a family was $44,722. Males had a median income of $31,764 versus $24,826 for females. The
per capita income
Per capita income (PCI) or average income measures the average income earned per person in a given area (city, region, country, etc.) in a specified year.
In many countries, per capita income is determined using regular population surveys, such ...
for the county was $19,479. About 7.10% of families and 10.20% of the population were below the
poverty line
The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line, or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for ...
, including 13.00% of those under age 18 and 12.50% of those age 65 or over.
Although the county's 2008 population is only 31,000, it is one of the fastest-growing in
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
, as people have moved near
Lake Anna. At least 15 new housing developments have sprouted in five years.
[
]
Communities
Towns
* Louisa
* Mineral
In geology and mineralogy, a mineral or mineral species is, broadly speaking, a solid substance with a fairly well-defined chemical composition and a specific crystal structure that occurs naturally in pure form.John P. Rafferty, ed. (2011): Mi ...
Census-designated place
* Blue Ridge Shores
Other unincorporated communities
* Apple Grove
* Bumpass
* Cuckoo
Cuckoos are birds in the Cuculidae ( ) family, the sole taxon in the order Cuculiformes ( ). The cuckoo family includes the common or European cuckoo, roadrunners, koels, malkohas, couas, coucals, and anis. The coucals and anis are somet ...
* Ferncliff
* Gum Spring
* Holly Grove
* Orchid
Orchids are plants that belong to the family Orchidaceae (), a diverse and widespread group of flowering plants with blooms that are often colourful and fragrant. Orchids are cosmopolitan plants that are found in almost every habitat on Eart ...
* Twin Oaks Community
Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on in Louisa County, Virginia. It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring ...
* Trevilians
* Yanceyville
* Zion Crossroads
Historical places and points of interest
* Green Springs Historic District
* Jerdone Castle
* Lake Anna
* Twin Oaks Community
Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on in Louisa County, Virginia. It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring ...
, a secular commune, is located in Louisa County.
* Acorn Community, another income sharing community in the county, which runs the Southern Exposure Seed Exchange business as its principal source of income.
Notable people
* James Waddel Alexander (1804–1859), born in Louisa County, noted Presbyterian
Presbyterianism is a historically Reformed Protestant tradition named for its form of church government by representative assemblies of elders, known as "presbyters". Though other Reformed churches are structurally similar, the word ''Pr ...
minister and professor at Princeton Theological Seminary
Princeton Theological Seminary (PTSem), officially The Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church, is a Private university, private seminary, school of theology in Princeton, New Jersey, Princeton, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. Establish ...
* Arthur P. Bagby (1794–1858), born in Louisa County, tenth Governor of Alabama
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of a state's official representative. Depending on the type of political region or polity, a ''governor'' ma ...
from 1837 to 1841.
* Henry "Box" Brown (c.1816–after 1889), a slave who escaped to freedom by having himself mailed in a wooden crate to Pennsylvanian abolitionists.
* Paxus Calta (b. 1957), anti-nuclear activist, blogger and member of Twin Oaks Community
Twin Oaks Community is an ecovillage and intentional community of about one hundred people living on in Louisa County, Virginia. It is a member of the Federation of Egalitarian Communities. Founded in 1967, it is one of the longest-enduring ...
and Acorn Community.
* Dabney Carr (1743–1773), celebrated Louisa County patriot.
* (1736–1799), at Roundabout Plantation, eight miles southwest of Louisa Court House, Patrick Henry lived in Louisa County from 1765 to 1768, when he sat for Louisa County in the House of Burgesses. This was the beginning of his political career.Virginia Historical Markers
, Virginia Historical Marker W-211: Patrick Henry's Home
*
Charles W. Kent (1860–1917), English scholar
*
Charles Henry Langston (1817–1892), born free and of mixed racial ancestry, one of two men tried and convicted after
Oberlin-Wellington Rescue, abolitionist and political activist in Ohio and
Kansas
Kansas ( ) is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Nebraska to the north; Missouri to the east; Oklahoma to the south; and Colorado to the west. Kansas is named a ...
.
*
John Mercer Langston (1829–1899), abolitionist, activist, educator and politician; in 1855 first black person in Ohio elected to public office, first dean of
Howard University
Howard University is a private, historically black, federally chartered research university in Washington, D.C., United States. It is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity" and accredited by the Mid ...
law school, first president of
Virginia State University, in 1888 first black person to be elected to the
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the legislature, legislative branch of the federal government of the United States. It is a Bicameralism, bicameral legislature, including a Lower house, lower body, the United States House of Representatives, ...
from
Virginia
Virginia, officially the Commonwealth of Virginia, is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States between the East Coast of the United States ...
.
*
Flora Molton (1908–1990), singer.
*
John Overton (1766–1833), born in Louisa County, notable political leader who was an adviser to
Andrew Jackson
Andrew Jackson (March 15, 1767 – June 8, 1845) was the seventh president of the United States from 1829 to 1837. Before Presidency of Andrew Jackson, his presidency, he rose to fame as a general in the U.S. Army and served in both houses ...
and co-founder of
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in Shelby County, Tennessee, United States, and its county seat. Situated along the Mississippi River, it had a population of 633,104 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in Tenne ...
.
*
James Waddel (1739–1805), celebrated Presbyterian preacher
Politics
See also
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Louisa County, Virginia
References
External links
Official Louisa County Website The Healthy Living DirectoryLouisa County VAGenWeb Genealogy Project* 2014
Fresh Air
''Fresh Air'' is an American radio talk show broadcast on National Public Radio stations across the United States since 1985. It is produced by WHYY-FM in Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The show's hosts are Terry Gross and Tonya Mosl ...
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piece(audi
here and
Atlantic
The Atlantic Ocean is the second largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, with an area of about . It covers approximately 17% of Earth's surface and about 24% of its water surface area. During the Age of Discovery, it was known for se ...
br>
articleon a
sexting scandal in Louisa County
{{Coord, 37.99, -77.96, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990
Virginia counties
1742 establishments in the Colony of Virginia
Greater Richmond Region