Editing Botetourt County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Botetourt County
 | state                = Virginia 
 | flag                 = Flag of Botetourt County, Virginia.png
 | seal                 = Botetourtcountyseal.png 
 | logo                 = Logo of Botetourt County, Virginia.svg
 | founded              = 1770
 | named for            = [[Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt|Lord Botetourt]] 
 | seat wl              = Fincastle 
 | largest city wl      = Cloverdale 
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 546 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 541 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 4.7 
 | area percentage      = 0.9 
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 33596 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2024
 | population_est       = 34129 {{increase}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto 
 | web                  = https://botetourtva.gov/
 | ex image             = Fincastle, Virginia (14197862266) (2).jpg
 | ex image cap         = Botetourt County Courthouse
 | ex image size        = 225px
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 6th
}}

'''Botetourt County''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ɒ|t|ə|t|ɒ|t}} {{respell|BOT|ə-tot}}) is a [[US county]] that lies in the [[Roanoke Region]] of [[Virginia]]. Located in the mountainous portion of the state, the county is bordered by two major ranges, the [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] and the [[Appalachian Mountains]].

Botetourt County was created in 1770 from part of [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County]] and was named for [[Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt]]. It originally comprised a vast area, which included the southern portion of present-day [[West Virginia]] and all of [[Kentucky]]. Portions were set off to form new counties beginning in 1772, until the current borders were established in 1851.

Botetourt County is part of the [[Roanoke metropolitan area|Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area]], and the [[county seat]] is the town of [[Fincastle, Virginia|Fincastle]].<ref>[http://www.roanoke.org Roanoke Region of Virginia]</ref> As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the county population was 33,596.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Botetourt County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51023|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref>

==History==
[[Image:Botetourt County Virginia 1895.jpg|thumb|left|''Botetourt County, Virginia, from 1895 state map'']]

First proposed in the [[House of Burgesses]] in 1767, Botetourt County was created in 1770 from [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County]].<ref name=McClane>{{cite book|last1=McClane|first1=Debra Alderson|title=Botetourt County|date=2007|publisher=Arcadia Pub.|location=Charleston, SC|isbn=9780738543758}}</ref> The county is named for [[Norborne Berkeley, 4th Baron Botetourt]], who served as governor of the [[colony of Virginia]] from 1768 to 1770, when he died suddenly while in office.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Salmon|first1=Emily J.|last2=Campbell|first2=Edward D.C. Jr.|title=The hornbook of Virginia history : a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past|date=1994|publisher=Library of Virginia|location=Richmond|isbn=0884901777|pages=161|edition=4th}}</ref>

In 1772, the county was reduced to the area east of the [[New River (Kanawha River tributary)|New]] and [[Kanawha River|Kanawha]] rivers by the creation of [[Fincastle County, Virginia|Fincastle County]]. Most of that latter county became the Commonwealth of [[Kentucky]] in 1792.<ref name=McClane/> The other counties established directly from portions of Botetourt County are: [[Rockbridge County, Virginia|Rockbridge]] (1778), [[Bath County, Virginia|Bath]] (1791), [[Alleghany County, Virginia|Alleghany]] (1822), [[Roanoke County, Virginia|Roanoke]] (1833), and [[Craig County, Virginia|Craig]] (1851).

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|546|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|541|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|4.7|sqmi}} (0.9%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> The [[Blue Ridge Mountains]] run along the eastern part of the county, while the [[Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians]] run along the western portion. The two mountain ranges come close together, separated by the town of Buchanan and the [[James River (Virginia)|James River]].

The James River originates in Botetourt County, near the village of [[Iron Gate, Virginia|Iron Gate]], just south of the Alleghany County line and near the merger of the [[Cowpasture River]] and the [[Jackson River (Virginia)|Jackson River]]. The James River runs south until [[Eagle Rock, Virginia|Eagle Rock]], where it turns east and meanders through the county, passing [[Springwood, Virginia|Springwood]] and [[James River High School (Buchanan, Virginia)|James River High School]] until entering [[Buchanan, Virginia|Buchanan]]. In Buchanan, the river turns northward and flows into Rockbridge County towards [[Glasgow, Virginia|Glasgow]].

Botetourt County is a part of the [[Roanoke, VA MSA|Roanoke Metropolitan Statistical Area]], and the southern parts of the county have become increasingly suburban in recent decades. Much of the area's former farmland and orchards have been developed into residential subdivisions and businesses.

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Roanoke County, Virginia]] - southwest
*[[Craig County, Virginia]] - west
*[[Alleghany County, Virginia]] - northwest
*[[Rockbridge County, Virginia]] - northeast
*[[Bedford County, Virginia]] - southeast

===National protected areas===
* [[Blue Ridge Parkway]] (part)
* [[George Washington National Forest]] (part)
* [[Jefferson National Forest]] (part)

===Major highways===
*{{Jct|state=VA|I|81}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|11}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|220}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|221}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|460}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|SR|43}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 10524
|1800= 10427
|1810= 13301
|1820= 13589
|1830= 16354
|1840= 11679
|1850= 14908
|1860= 11516
|1870= 11329
|1880= 14809
|1890= 14854
|1900= 17161
|1910= 17727
|1920= 16557
|1930= 15457
|1940= 16447
|1950= 15766
|1960= 16715
|1970= 18193
|1980= 23270
|1990= 24992
|2000= 30496
|2010= 33148
|2020= 33596
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790-1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref> 1900-1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref><br />1990-2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 1, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''Botetourt County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition'''<br><small>{{nobold|''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.''}}</small>
!Race / Ethnicity <small>(''NH = Non-Hispanic'')</small>
!Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Botetourt County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51023&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Botetourt County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51023&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|31,212
|30,506
|94.16%
|90.80%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|987
|905
|2.98%
|2.69%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|76
|43
|0.23%
|0.13%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|174
|234
|0.52%
|0.70%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|2
|3
|0.01%
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|9
|102
|0.03%
|0.30%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|332
|1,027
|1.00%
|3.06%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|356
|776
|1.07%
|2.31%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''33,148'''
|'''33,596'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}

===2000 Census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 30,496 people, 11,700 households, and 9,114 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|56|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 12,571 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.91% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.52% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.47% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.19% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|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 [[Marriage|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 aged 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.

==Government==

===Board of Supervisors===
*Amsterdam District: Steve P. Clinton (Chairman) (R)
*Blue Ridge District: Walter Michael (R)
*Buchanan District: Amy S. White (Vice chairman) (R)
*Fincastle District: Dr. Richard G. "Dick" Bailey (R)
*Valley District: Dr. Donald M. "Mac" Scothorn (R)

===Constitutional officers===
*Clerk of the Circuit Court: Tommy L. Moore (I)
*Commissioner of the Revenue: Chris T. Booth (R)
*Commonwealth's Attorney: John R. H. Alexander II (R)
*Sheriff: Matthew T. Ward (R)
*Treasurer: Donna Boothe (R)

Botetourt County is represented by Republican [[Chris T. Head]] in the Virginia Senate, Republican [[Terry Austin (politician)|Terry L. Austin]] in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican [[Ben Cline]] in the U.S. House of Representatives.

==Education==
[[Botetourt County Public Schools]] operates public schools serving the county, with students attending one of two high schools:
* [[Lord Botetourt High School]] opened in Daleville in the fall of 1959 and serves the southern parts of the county, including the communities of [[Blue Ridge, Virginia|Blue Ridge]], [[Cloverdale, Virginia|Cloverdale]], parts of [[Fincastle, Virginia|Fincastle]] and [[Troutville, Virginia|Troutville]], and the northernmost suburbs of Roanoke.
* [[James River High School (Buchanan, Virginia)|James River High School]] in the [[Springwood, Virginia|Springwood]] area of [[Buchanan, Virginia|Buchanan]] also opened in 1959. It serves the northern parts of the county including Buchanan, [[Eagle Rock, Virginia|Eagle Rock]], Springwood, and parts of Fincastle and Troutville.

==Politics==
The Republican candidate for president has won the support of Botetourt County in seventeen of the last nineteen races. The county also voted Republican for governor in [[2005 Virginia gubernatorial election|2005]], [[2009 Virginia gubernatorial election|2009]], [[2013 Virginia gubernatorial election|2013]], [[2017 Virginia gubernatorial election|2017]] and [[2021 Virginia gubernatorial election|2021]]. It voted in 2008 for [[Mark Warner]] in [[2008 United States Senate election in Virginia|the U.S. Senate election]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Virginia Elections Database » 2008 U.S. Senate General Election |url=https://historical.elections.virginia.gov/elections/view/39027 |website=Virginia Elections Database |access-date=January 13, 2023}}</ref>

{{PresHead|place=Botetourt County, Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 8, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,796|5,915|267|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|15,099|5,700|321|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|13,375|4,494|870|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|12,479|5,452|310|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|11,471|5,693|242|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|10,865|4,801|131|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|8,867|4,627|346|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|6,404|4,576|1,400|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,904|4,349|1,956|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,687|3,763|141|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,959|3,243|87|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,408|3,698|496|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,343|4,021|209|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,806|1,519|156|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,598|1,272|1,270|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,098|2,377|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,159|1,621|22|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,280|1,377|101|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|2,021|1,264|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|1,363|1,026|242|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|1,272|1,275|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,085|1,329|8|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,343|1,544|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,209|1,808|41|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|1,575|1,200|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,264|1,427|63|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|1,240|1,331|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|775|900|16|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|517|889|202|Virginia}}

==Fire, Emergency medical services, and Law enforcement==
'''Botetourt County Fire & EMS''' uses a combination of career staff and volunteers to provide [[firefighting|fire protection]], [[emergency medical services]], [[fire prevention|fire safety education]], [[swiftwater rescue]], and other emergency services to the county. The department operates out of seven stations with a range of [[fire apparatus]] and [[ambulances]] to provide these services.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fire Stations|url=http://www.botetourtfireems.org/content/station/|website=Botetourt County Fire and EMS |access-date=June 24, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Fincastle Fire and Rescue Merger|date=August 24, 2016 |url=http://wsls.com/2016/08/23/merger-of-fincastle-fire-department-and-rescue-squad-complete/ |publisher=[[WSLS 10]] |access-date=October 1, 2016}}</ref>

'''Botetourt County Sheriff's Office''' is the policing body within Botetourt County. They are stationed in [[Fincastle, Virginia]] along with the county jail.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office & E911 Center {{!}} Botetourt County, VA |url=https://www.botetourtva.gov/281/Sheriffs-Office-E911-Center |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=www.botetourtva.gov}}</ref> The Sheriff is Matthew T. Ward, who was elected in November 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Botetourt County Sheriff's Office {{!}} A full service Law Enforcement Agency |url=http://www.botetourtsheriff.com/command-staff.html |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=BOTETOURT COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE |language=en}}</ref> Botetourt County Sheriff's Office works closely with [[Virginia State Police]], as the county only has 69 officers within their force.<ref name="botetourtva.gov">{{Cite web |title=Sheriff's Office & E911 Center {{!}} Botetourt County, VA |url=https://www.botetourtva.gov/281/Sheriffs-Office-E911-Center#:~:text=Accredited%20through%20the%20Virginia%20Law,and%20dedicated%20law%20enforcement%20officers. |access-date=August 6, 2022 |website=www.botetourtva.gov}}</ref> The county also has their own Emergency Communications Center, which serves to take [[9-1-1]] calls and help direct law enforcement and first responders to emergency scenes.<ref name="botetourtva.gov"/>

==Communities==
===Towns===
*[[Buchanan, Virginia|Buchanan]]
*[[Fincastle, Virginia|Fincastle]]
*[[Troutville, Virginia|Troutville]]

===Census-designated places===
*[[Blue Ridge, Virginia|Blue Ridge]]
*[[Cloverdale, Virginia|Cloverdale]]
*[[Daleville, Virginia|Daleville]]
*[[Eagle Rock, Virginia|Eagle Rock]]
*[[Glen Wilton, Virginia|Glen Wilton]]
*[[Hollins, Virginia|Hollins]]
*[[Laymantown, Virginia|Laymantown]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=30em}}
*[[Arcadia, Botetourt County, Virginia|Arcadia]]
*[[Haden, Virginia|Haden]]
*[[Lithia, Virginia|Lithia]]
*[[Nace, Virginia|Nace]]
*[[Oriskany, Virginia|Oriskany]]
*[[Springwood, Virginia|Springwood]]
{{div col end}}

==Notable people==
* [[George A. Anderson]] (1853–1896), [[United States Congressman]] from [[Illinois]]
* [[Samuel Barton]] (1749–1810), Explorer, pioneer, early settler of [[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] and patriot
*George Louis Alfonso Pogue (1887–1956), African American doctor who opened an integrated pharmacy in the 1920s in [[Bedford, Virginia|Bedford]]<ref>Woodcock, Noelle. “Dr. George Louis Alfonso Pogue – Pharmacist, Doctor & Civil Rights Activist in Bedford.” ''[[Bedford Museum & Genealogical Library]]'', Find G Local, February 1, 2021, www.findglocal.com/US/Bedford/311951041346/Bedford-Museum-%26-Genealogical-Library.</ref>
* [[Edward Rumsey]] (1796–1868), United States Representative from [[Kentucky]]
* [[Angela Tincher]], [[Virginia Tech Hokies softball|Virginia Tech]] softball pitcher from 2005 to 2008
* [[Matthew Ramsey (songwriter)|Matthew Ramsey]], Songwriter and lead vocalist of the band [[Old Dominion (band)|Old Dominion]]

==See also==
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Botetourt County, Virginia]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://botetourtva.gov/ Botetourt County Official Website]
*[http://explorebotetourt.com/ Botetourt County Tourism Website]

{{coord|37.55|-79.80|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Botetourt County, Virginia
|North     =
|Northeast = [[Rockbridge County, Virginia|Rockbridge County]]
|East      =
|Southeast = [[Bedford County, Virginia|Bedford County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Roanoke County, Virginia|Roanoke County]]
|West      = [[Craig County, Virginia|Craig County]]
|Northwest = [[Alleghany County, Virginia|Alleghany County]]
}}

{{Botetourt County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Botetourt County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Virginia counties]]
[[Category:1770 establishments in the Colony of Virginia]]
[[Category:Counties on the James River (Virginia)]]