Editing Fincastle, Virginia

{{Distinguish|Fincastle County, Virginia}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Fincastle, Virginia
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = Botetourt_County_Courthouse_Fincastle.jpg
|image_caption            = The historic Botetourt County Courthouse in Fincastle, Virginia.
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Seal of Fincastle, Virginia.png

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = VAMap-doton-Fincastle.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Fincastle, Virginia
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Botetourt County, Virginia|Botetourt]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = <ref name="Council">{{cite web |title=Town Council and Town Staff |url=https://www.townoffincastle.org/town-council.php |website=Town of Fincastle |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref>
|government_type          = [[Council–manager government|Council–manager]]
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Mary Bess Smith
|leader_title1            = [[City manager|Town Manager]]
|leader_name1             = Melanie Young McFadyen
|established_title        = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date         = 1772

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 2.06
|area_land_sq_mi          = 2.05
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 755
|population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_m              = 378
|elevation_ft             = 1240
|coordinates              = {{coord|37|29|58|N|79|52|36|W|region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP Code]]
|postal_code              = 24090
|area_code                = [[Area codes 540 and 826|540 and 826]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-27824<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=2008-01-31 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1498478<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
|website                  = {{URL|https://www.townoffincastle.org/}}
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 
|pop_est_footnotes = 
|population_est = 
|area_total_km2 = 5.32
|area_land_km2 = 5.30
|area_water_km2 = 0.02
|population_density_km2 = auto
}}

'''Fincastle''' is a town in [[Botetourt County, Virginia]], United States. The population was 755 at the [[2020 United States Census|2020 census]]. It is the [[county seat]] of Botetourt County.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=2011-06-07 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=2011-05-31 }}</ref> It is part of the [[Roanoke metropolitan area]].

==History==
The town of Fincastle was originally settled by [[Ulster Scots people|Scotch-Irish]] and [[Germans|German]] immigrants from [[Pennsylvania]] who arrived in the region in the mid-18th century. John Miller erected a sawmill which became the nucleus of the early village of Fincastle. In 1770, Botetourt County was separated from [[Augusta County, Virginia|Augusta County]], and Miller's home was selected as the meeting place for the court. Two years later, Israel Christian donated {{convert|45|acre}} of land and laid out the streets and lots for the new town of Fincastle. The town's name was selected to honor [[George Murray, 5th Earl of Dunmore|George, Lord Fincastle]], the eldest son of Virginia's Lieutenant Governor, [[John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore|Lord Dunmore]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Botetourt Heritage Book Committee|title=Botetourt County, Virginia Heritage Book 1770-2000|date=2000|publisher=Walsworth Publishing Company |location=Summersville, WV|pages=21–22|edition=Millenium}}</ref>

In 1773, the first log courthouse was built on the designated court square at the center of Fincastle. Around the same time, a brick church was constructed on land donated by Israel Christian to serve as the established ([[Church of England|Anglican]]) house of worship for the town. The church closed after the disestablishment of the Anglican Church in Virginia during the [[American Revolutionary War|Revolutionary War]] and was later occupied by [[Presbyterians]] who rebuilt the structure to its present [[Greek Revival]] style.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Fincastle Presbyterian Church|title=History of Fincastle Presbyterian Church|date=3 July 2015 |url=http://www.fincastlepresbyterian.org/resources/history/}}</ref> By the early-19th century, the village had grown into an important regional center of commerce, especially for the wool industry, aided by the construction of taverns, hotels, and shops. A second courthouse was erected in 1818 and replaced by a third, a larger brick structure of Greek Revival style in 1850. This courthouse continues to serve Botetourt County today, having been rebuilt after a disastrous fire in 1970.

The [[Bowyer-Holladay House]], [[Breckinridge Mill]], [[Fincastle Historic District]], [[Greenfield (Fincastle, Virginia)|Greenfield]], [[Hawthorne Hall]], [[Prospect Hill (Fincastle, Virginia)|Prospect Hill]], [[Santillane]], [[Wheatland Manor]], and [[Wiloma]] are listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Fincastle is located at {{coord|37.499421|-79.876674|type:city_region:US|format=dms|display=inline}} (37.499421, -79.876674).<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=2011-04-23|date=2011-02-12|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref>

In May 2018, a boundary line adjustment increased the town's total area from 0.2&nbsp;square mile (0.6&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) to 2.06 square miles (5.32&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.townoffincastle.org/fincastle-boundaries |access-date=18 September 2021|title=Fincastle Boundaries &#124; fincastle-web-page }}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1860= 896
|1880= 675
|1900= 652
|1910= 479
|1920= 457
|1930= 517
|1940= 442
|1950= 405
|1960= 403
|1970= 397
|1980= 282
|1990= 236
|2000= 359
|2010= 353
|2020= 755
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}

===2020 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2020, there were 755 people residing in the town. There were 342 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 85.0% [[Non-Hispanic whites|White]], 8.2% [[African Americans|African American or Black]], 0.3% [[Native Americans in the United States|American Indian]], 1.2% [[Asian Americans|Asian]], 0.0% [[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]], 1.3% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|other races]], and 4.0% from [[Multiracial Americans|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] of any race were 2.4% of the population.

===2010 census===
At the [[2010 United States census|2010 census]], there were 353 people residing in the town. There were 143 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 89.0% White, 9.3% African American, 0.0% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 1.1% from other races, and 0.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.7% of the population.

===2000 census===
At the [[2000 United States census|2000 census]] there were 359 people, 129 households, and 83 families living in the town. The population density was 1,480.8 people per square mile (577.5/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 142 housing units at an average density of 585.7 per square mile (228.4/km<sup>2</sup>).  The [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#2000 census|racial makeup]] of the town was 89.69% White, 7.52% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 1.67% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.95%.<ref name="GR2" />

Of the 129 households 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.9% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.9% were non-families. 32.6% of households were one person and 13.2% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 3.04.

The age distribution was 19.8% under the age of 18, 11.1% from 18 to 24, 32.3% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 12.5% 65 or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 117.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 126.8 males.

The median household income was $33,438 and the median family income  was $54,688. Males had a median income of $32,500 versus $21,563 for females. The per capita income for the town was $19,954. None of the families and 2.3% of the population were living below the [[poverty line]], including no under eighteens and 10.2% of those over 64.

==Government==
Fincastle operates a [[council–manager government|council–manager]] form of government. Fincastle Town Council is composed of a mayor and six council members who are elected at-large.<ref name="Council" />

The [[United States Postal Service]] operates the Fincastle Post Office within the town.

==Education==
The town is served by [[Botetourt County Public Schools]]. Public school students residing in Fincastle are zoned to attend Breckenridge Elementary School, Central Academy Middle School, and [[James River High School (Buchanan, Virginia)|James River High School]]. Brekenridge Elementary School, Central Academy Middle School, and the Botetourt Technical Education and Training Center are located within the town limits.

Greenfield Education & Training Center is located south of Fincastle in the [[Daleville, Virginia#Botetourt Center at Greenfield|Botetourt Center at Greenfield]]. The center is operated by [[Virginia Western Community College]] and provides career studies certificates in welding, commercial [[HVAC]], and healthcare programs.<ref>{{cite web |title=Off-Campus Facilities |url=https://www.virginiawestern.edu/about/campus-facilities/off-campus/ |website=Virginia Western Community College |access-date=19 January 2025}}</ref> Additional higher education institutions are located in Roanoke and Hollins.

==Transportation==
===Air===
The [[Roanoke-Blacksburg Regional Airport]] is the closest airport with commercial service to the town.

===Highways===
*[[Image:US 220.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 220 in Virginia|U.S. Route 220]] (Botetourt Road/Roanoke Road)

==Notable people==
* [[Jacob Ammen]], (1807–1894), born in Fincastle, Union Army general<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book | title = Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607-1896 | publisher = Marquis Who's Who | year = 1967}}</ref>
* [[Joseph R. Anderson]], (1813–1892), born in Fincastle, Confederate Army general and iron manufacturer<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896"/>
* [[Ben Cline]] (born 1972), U.S. Representative for [[Virginia's 6th congressional district]]
* [[John Strother Griffin]] (1816–1898), physician and land developer, Los Angeles, California
* [[John M. Peck]] (died 1985), member of the Virginia House of Delegates<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-roanoke-times-john-m-peck-former-d/156155375/ |title=John M. Peck, Former Delegate, Supervisor Dies |date=1985-07-04 |newspaper=The Roanoke Times |page=B4 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2024-09-28}}{{Open access}}</ref>
* [[William Radford]] (1808–1890), Union Navy officer and later Admiral

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Botetourt County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Botetourt County, Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1772]]
[[Category:1772 establishments in the Colony of Virginia]]