Northampton County, Virginia

Northampton County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,282. Its county seat is Eastville. Northampton and Accomack Counties are a part of the larger Eastern Shore of Virginia.

The county is the center of the late Eocene meteor strike that resulted in the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. The Northampton County Courthouse Historic District is part of the Eastville Historic District at the county seat.

History

When English colonists first arrived in the area in the early 1600s, the Virginia Eastern Shore region was governed by Debedeavon (aka "The Laughing King"), who was the paramount chief of the Accomac people, which numbered around 2,000 at the time. The former name of the county was Accomac Shire, one of the original eight shires of Virginia created in 1634 after the founding of the first settlement at Jamestown in 1607. In 1642, the name was changed to Northampton County by the colonists. In 1663, Northampton County was split into two counties that still exist today. The northern two-thirds took the original " Accomac" name (Accomack County), while the southern third to the Point Cape Charles remained as Northampton.

Slavery

Northampton County is notable for a colonial court case involving an indentured servant. The first free negro (a term used prior to the abolition of slavery) in North America was Anthony Johnson of Northampton County. Johnson was one of the first black Americans to own land in America. In 1653, Johnson brought suit in Northampton County Court to argue that one of his servants, John Casor, was indentured to him for life. Casor had left him and was working for a neighbor. This was the first instance of a judicial determination in the Thirteen Colonies holding that a person who had committed no crime could be held in servitude for life.

This court ruling decision also gives insight to how owners of indentured servants could easily choose to ignore the expiration of indentured contracts and force their servants into lifetime slavery. Although Casor, an African, had well-known white planters taking his part, he was reduced to lifetime slavery. Some planters sought more profitable methods of labor by taking advantage of Negro indentured servants, who had little recourse in the legal and social system to protect their rights.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (73.4%) is water.

Adjacent county and independent city

* Accomack County – north
* Virginia Beach, Virginia – south

National protected areas

* Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge
* Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge

Demographics

2020 census

2020 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 12,389 people, 5,321 households, and 3,543 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 6,547 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 57.9% White, 36.5% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.7% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. 7.1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Northampton County include: African American (36%), English American (15%), German (7%), Irish (6%) and Italian (3%)

There were 5,321 households, out of which 25.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.30% were married couples living together, 17.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.40% were non-families. 29.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the age distribution of the population shows 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.10% from 18 to 24, 23.60% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 21.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 87.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 84.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,276, and the median income for a family was $385,034. Males had a median income of $26,842 versus $21,839 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,591. About 15.80% of families and 20.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.20% of those under age 18 and 16.50% of those age 65 or over.

Northampton County is home to the United States' oldest continuous court records.

Transportation

Airports

* Campbell Field Airport

Major highways

*
*
*
*
*

Public transportation

STAR Transit provides public transit services for both Northampton and Accomack counties.

Education

Northampton County Public Schools operates public schools in the county. High schoolers in Northampton county are served by Northampton High School.

Communities

Towns

* Belle Haven (Partly in Accomack County)
* Cape Charles
* Cheriton
* Eastville
* Exmore
* Nassawadox

Census-designated places

* Franktown
* Willis Wharf

Other unincorporated communities

* Arlington
* Bacon Hill
* Bay Ridge
* Bayford
* Bayview
* Beverly
* Birdsnest
* Bridgetown
* Broadwater
* Capeville
* Cedar Grove
* Cheapside
* Cherrystone
* Chesapeake
* Clearview
* Culls
* Dalbys
* Eastville Station
* Fairview
* Hadlock
* Hare Valley
* Highland Heights
* Hungars Point
* James Crossroads
* Jamesville
* Johnson Cove
* Johnsontown
* Kendall Grove
* Kiptopeke
* Little Johnsontown
* Little Salisbury
* Machipongo
* Magotha
* Marionville
* Middletown
* Nottingham
* Oakland Park
* Oyster
* Pat Town
* Red Bank
* Reedtown
* Seaview
* Shadyside
* Sheps End
* Silver Beach
* Simpkins
* Smith Beach
* Stumptown
* The Meadows
* Townsend
* Treherneville
* Wardtown
* Weirwood
* Woodstock

Politics

Northampton County leans towards the Democratic Party. In presidential elections, it has voted for the Democratic nominee every time since 1992. However, it has been shifting toward the Republican Party, with the party improving in its percentage share since 2008, as well as narrowing margins, except in 2020.

Notable people

* John Casor, the first person of African descent in England's Thirteen Colonies to be declared as a slave for life as the result of a civil suitWilliam J. Wood, "The Illegal Beginning of American Slavery"
''ABA Journal'', 1970, American Bar Association, accessed May 2, 2011
* Adrian "Ace" Custis (1974-), former NCAA All-America basketball player at Virginia Tech, which retired his jersey. He is a 1992 graduate of Northampton High School.
* Alvy Powell (1955-), opera singer, performed National Anthem at inauguration of President George H.W. Bush. He is a 1974 graduate of Northampton High School.
* Ralph Northam (1959-), 40th Lieutenant Governor of Virginia (2014-2018) and 73rd Governor of Virginia (2018-2022).
* Abel Upshur (1791–1844), born in Northampton County, United States Secretary of State and United States Secretary of the Navy
* Tyler Webb (1990-), MLB relief pitcher who played for four different teams over five seasons.

See also

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Northampton County, Virginia

References

External links

*

{{coord, 37.30078, -75.92854, format=dms, display=title, type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:wikidata

Populated places established in 1642
1642 establishments in the Colony of Virginia
Virginia counties
Virginia counties on the Chesapeake Bay