Mecklenburg County
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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Virginia's location within the U.S.
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| Coordinates: 36°41′N 78°22′W / 36.68°N 78.37°W / 36.68; -78.37 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1765 |
| Named for | Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz |
| Seat | Boydton |
| Largest town | South Hill |
| Area | |
| • Total | 679 sq mi (1,760 km2) |
| • Land | 625 sq mi (1,620 km2) |
| • Water | 54 sq mi (140 km2) 7.9% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 30,319 |
| • Density | 45/sq mi (17/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 5th |
| Website | www |
Mecklenburg County is a county in the CommonwealthofVirginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 30,319.[1] Its county seatisBoydton.[2]
Mecklenburg County was organized on March 1, 1765, having split from Lunenburg County in 1764 as the result of the passage of an act by the Virginia General Assembly. Due to new settlement and population increases in the area, the legislature divided Lunenburg into three counties: Lunenburg, Charlotte County, and Mecklenburg.[3] It was named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz,[4] a British queen of German origin.
The first county government consisted of 13 members: Robert Munford, Richard Witton, John Speed, Henry Delony, Edmund Taylor, Benjamin Baird, John Camp, Thomas Erskine, John Potter, John Cox, Thomas Anderson, John Speed, Jr., and Samuel Hopkins, with Benjamin Baird acting as the first mayor.[3]
Mecklenburg County is governed by a nine-member Board of Supervisors, each elected from a single-member district. They serve as the county's legislative and policy body, enacting laws, ordinances, and taxes. They appoint a county administrator to conduct day-to-day operations. H. Wayne Carter, III is the current county administrator and Judy P. Sheffield is the current assistant county administrator.
The board members are:[5]
Mecklenburg County operates under what is commonly referred as the "traditional form" of county government under the Virginia Constitution, under which voters elect five countywide "constitutional officers":
Listed below are the County facilities, the department housed in that facility and its head.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 2020 | 9,266 | 57.18% | 6,803 | 41.98% | 135 | 0.83% |
| 2016 | 8,288 | 55.46% | 6,285 | 42.05% | 372 | 2.49% |
| 2012 | 7,973 | 52.88% | 6,921 | 45.90% | 183 | 1.21% |
| 2008 | 7,817 | 51.83% | 7,127 | 47.26% | 138 | 0.91% |
| 2004 | 7,319 | 57.27% | 5,293 | 41.42% | 168 | 1.31% |
| 2000 | 6,600 | 56.63% | 4,797 | 41.16% | 257 | 2.21% |
| 1996 | 4,933 | 48.00% | 4,408 | 42.89% | 937 | 9.12% |
| 1992 | 5,401 | 49.23% | 4,273 | 38.95% | 1,296 | 11.81% |
| 1988 | 5,887 | 63.45% | 3,275 | 35.30% | 116 | 1.25% |
| 1984 | 6,777 | 65.69% | 3,438 | 33.33% | 101 | 0.98% |
| 1980 | 4,853 | 54.45% | 3,790 | 42.52% | 270 | 3.03% |
| 1976 | 4,423 | 50.44% | 4,076 | 46.48% | 270 | 3.08% |
| 1972 | 6,381 | 68.55% | 2,804 | 30.12% | 124 | 1.33% |
| 1968 | 2,750 | 29.01% | 2,667 | 28.14% | 4,061 | 42.85% |
| 1964 | 4,976 | 60.48% | 3,238 | 39.36% | 13 | 0.16% |
| 1960 | 1,936 | 42.70% | 2,533 | 55.87% | 65 | 1.43% |
| 1956 | 1,498 | 33.78% | 2,004 | 45.20% | 932 | 21.02% |
| 1952 | 1,891 | 42.46% | 2,525 | 56.69% | 38 | 0.85% |
| 1948 | 513 | 16.80% | 2,117 | 69.34% | 423 | 13.86% |
| 1944 | 430 | 14.38% | 2,561 | 85.62% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1940 | 308 | 11.35% | 2,402 | 88.54% | 3 | 0.11% |
| 1936 | 202 | 6.88% | 2,730 | 93.05% | 2 | 0.07% |
| 1932 | 275 | 11.10% | 2,188 | 88.30% | 15 | 0.61% |
| 1928 | 784 | 30.91% | 1,752 | 69.09% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 286 | 14.62% | 1,649 | 84.30% | 21 | 1.07% |
| 1920 | 264 | 13.97% | 1,619 | 85.66% | 7 | 0.37% |
| 1916 | 222 | 14.38% | 1,317 | 85.30% | 5 | 0.32% |
| 1912 | 191 | 14.39% | 1,039 | 78.30% | 97 | 7.31% |
The county's education department is the Mecklenburg County Public Schools. It is managed by the Board of Education. Paul Nichols is the County Schools Superintendent.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has an area of 679 square miles (1,760 km2), of which 625 square miles (1,620 km2) is land and 54 square miles (140 km2) (7.9%) is water.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1790 | 14,733 | — | |
| 1800 | 17,008 | 15.4% | |
| 1810 | 18,453 | 8.5% | |
| 1820 | 19,786 | 7.2% | |
| 1830 | 20,477 | 3.5% | |
| 1840 | 20,724 | 1.2% | |
| 1850 | 20,630 | −0.5% | |
| 1860 | 20,096 | −2.6% | |
| 1870 | 21,318 | 6.1% | |
| 1880 | 24,610 | 15.4% | |
| 1890 | 25,359 | 3.0% | |
| 1900 | 26,551 | 4.7% | |
| 1910 | 28,956 | 9.1% | |
| 1920 | 31,208 | 7.8% | |
| 1930 | 32,622 | 4.5% | |
| 1940 | 31,933 | −2.1% | |
| 1950 | 33,497 | 4.9% | |
| 1960 | 31,428 | −6.2% | |
| 1970 | 29,426 | −6.4% | |
| 1980 | 29,444 | 0.1% | |
| 1990 | 29,241 | −0.7% | |
| 2000 | 32,280 | 10.4% | |
| 2010 | 32,727 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 30,319 | −7.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10] 1990-2000[11] 2010[12] 2020[13] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[12] | Pop 2020[13] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 19,215 | 17,864 | 58.71% | 58.92% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 11,958 | 10,364 | 36.54% | 34.18% |
| Native AmericanorAlaska Native alone (NH) | 73 | 73 | 0.22% | 0.24% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 213 | 205 | 0.65% | 0.68% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 10 | 0 | 0.03% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 22 | 110 | 0.07% | 0.36% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 430 | 882 | 1.31% | 2.91% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 806 | 821 | 2.46% | 2.71% |
| Total | 32,727 | 30,319 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 59.24% White, 39.08% BlackorAfrican American, 0.21% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.48% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were HispanicorLatino of any race.
There were 12,951 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were married couples living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $31,380, and the median income for a family was $37,752. Males had a median income of $26,852 versus $19,609 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,171. About 11.60% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.
Places adjacent to Mecklenburg County, Virginia
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Municipalities and communities of Mecklenburg County, Virginia, United States
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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36°41′N 78°22′W / 36.68°N 78.37°W / 36.68; -78.37
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