Editing King and Queen County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county= King and Queen County
 | state              = Virginia
 | flag                 = Flag of King and Queen County, Virginia.png
 | seal                 = King and Queen County, Virginia seal.png
 | founded              = 1691
 | seat wl              = King and Queen Court House
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 326
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 315
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 11
 | area percentage      = 3.4
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 6608
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 6662 {{gain}}
 | density_km2          = auto
 | web  = www.kingandqueenco.net
 | ex image             = KING AND QUEEN COURTHOUSE GREEN HISTORIC DISTRICT.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Old King and Queen County Courthouse
 | ex image size        = 225px
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | district             = 1st
 | named for            = [[William III of England|William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Mary II]] }}

'''King and Queen County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Virginia]], located in the state's [[Middle Peninsula]] on the eastern edge of the [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]], VA, [[Greater Richmond Region|metropolitan area]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 6,608.<ref>{{Cite web|title=King and Queen County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51097|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[King and Queen Court House, Virginia|King and Queen Court House]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |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=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

== History ==
King and Queen County was established in 1691 from [[New Kent County, Virginia|New Kent County]], and was named for [[William III of England|King William III]] and [[Mary II of England|Queen Mary II]] of England.<ref>{{cite book | url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ | title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States | publisher=Govt. Print. Off. | author=[[Henry Gannett]] | year=1905 | pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n174 175]}}</ref> King and Queen County is notable as one of the few counties in the United States to have recorded a larger population in the 1790 census than in 2020, this has been the case since 1920.

Among the earliest settlers of King and Queen County was Roger Shackelford, an English emigrant from [[Old Alresford, Hampshire]], after whom the county's village of [[Shacklefords, Virginia|Shacklefords]] is named. Shackelford's descendants continued to live in the county, and by the nineteenth century had intermarried with several local families, including Taliaferro, Beverley, Thornton, and Sears.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vn62G6ONvRIC&q=shackelford+california+kentucky&pg=PA376|title=King and Queen County, Virginia|first=Alfred|last=Bagby|date=April 10, 2018|publisher=Neale Publishing Company|isbn=9780722246290|access-date=April 10, 2018|via=Google Books}}</ref>

In 1762 when he was 11, future president [[James Madison]] was sent to a boarding school run by Donald Robertson at the Innes plantation in King and Queen County. Robertson was a Scottish teacher who tutored numerous prominent plantation families in the South. From Robertson, Madison learned mathematics, geography, and modern and classical languages, becoming especially proficient in Latin. He attributed his instinct for learning "largely to that man (Robertson)."<ref>Boyd-Rush, Dorothy. "Molding a founding father". James Madison University. Retrieved March 25, 2013.</ref><ref>"James Madison's Biography". The Montpelier Foundation. Retrieved March 25, 2013.</ref>  At age 16, Madison returned to his father's [[Montpelier (Orange, Virginia)|Montpelier estate]] in [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]].

On March 2, 1864, the [[Battle of Walkerton]], an engagement of the [[American Civil War]], took place here, resulting in a [[Confederate States of America|Confederate]] victory.

Virginia Longest, national director of the Nursing Service for the [[U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs]] in the late 1970s, was a county native.

[[Loving v. Virginia|Richard and Mildred Loving]] lived in a remote part of the county in the 1960s, hoping to avoid arrest by the authorities while their legal challenge to Virginia's [[anti-miscegenation laws]] moved through the courts.

For many years, county publications noted that the county lacked any traffic lights. This is now no longer the case, as a traffic light has been installed on [[U.S. Route 360]] and [[Virginia State Route 14]] at St. Stephen's Church.

Even in the 21st century, King and Queen County contains no incorporated towns or cities, and remains one of Virginia's most sparsely populated counties. For example, as of 2024 it does not have a grocery store{{citation needed|date=December 2024}}.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|326|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|315|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|11|sqmi}} (3.4%) 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>

Measuring {{convert|63|miles}} in length, it is one of the longest counties in the state of Virginia, as well as one of the narrowest, measuring less than {{convert|10|miles}} across at its widest point.

===Adjacent Counties===
* [[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline County]] – north
* [[Essex County, Virginia|Essex County]] – northeast
* [[Middlesex County, Virginia|Middlesex County]] – east
* [[Gloucester County, Virginia|Gloucester County]] – southeast
* [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]] – south
* [[New Kent County, Virginia|New Kent County]] – southwest
* [[King William County, Virginia|King William County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|360}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|14}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|33}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 9377
|1800= 9879
|1810= 10988
|1820= 11798
|1830= 11644
|1840= 10862
|1850= 10319
|1860= 10328
|1870= 9709
|1880= 10502
|1890= 9669
|1900= 9265
|1910= 9576
|1920= 9161
|1930= 7618
|1940= 6954
|1950= 6299
|1960= 5889
|1970= 5491
|1980= 5968
|1990= 6289
|2000= 6630
|2010= 6945
|2020= 6608
|estyear=2021
|estimate=6662
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021|access-date=April 6, 2022}}</ref>
|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 3, 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 3, 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 3, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|+'''King and Queen 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) - King and Queen County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51097&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) - King and Queen County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51097&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|4,547
|4,460
|65.47%
|67.49%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|1,970
|1,561
|28.37%
|23.62%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|109
|82
|1.57%
|1.24%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|17
|23
|0.24%
|0.35%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|3
|0.00%
|0.05%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|7
|19
|0.10%
|0.29%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race or Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|111
|278
|1.60%
|4.21%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|184
|182
|2.65%
|2.75%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''6,945'''
|'''6,608'''
|'''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 6,630 people residing in the county; these included 2,673 households and 1,897 families. The [[population density]] was {{convert|21|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 3,010 housing units, at an average density of {{convert|10|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 61.22% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 35.67% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 1.42% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.15% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.25% from two or more races. 0.87% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

Of the 2,673 households, 26.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.60% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 13.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.94.

The [[median]] age in the county was 41 years, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 27.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females, there were 95.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The [[median household income]] was $35,941, and the median family income was $40,563. Males had a median income of $33,217, versus $21,753 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,236. 10.90% of the population and 7.80% of families were below the [[poverty line]]. Of the total people living in poverty, 8.10% were under the age of 18 and 14.80% were 65 or older.

==Government==
===Board of Supervisors===
* Buena Vista District: Carolyn R. Billups (I)
* Newtown District: Sherrin C. Alsop (I)
* Shanghai District: Marie H. Norman (I)
* St. Stephens Church District: James Lawrence Simpkins (I)
* Stevensville District: Mark R. Berry (I)

===Constitutional officers===
* Clerk of the Circuit Court: Hattie M. Robinson (I)
* Commissioner of the Revenue: Kelly N. Lumpkin (I)
* Commonwealth's Attorney: Meredith D. Adkins (I)
* Sheriff: William Balderson (I)
* Treasurer: Stephanie Sears (I)

King and Queen County is represented by Republican Richard H. Stuart and Ryan T. McDougle in the [[Virginia Senate]], Republican M. Keith Hodges in the [[Virginia House of Delegates]], and Republican Robert J. "Rob" Wittman in the [[U.S. House of Representatives]].

Presidentially, King and Queen County is a [[bellwether county]] of sorts. It correctly predicted the winner of all but four presidential elections between 1928 and 2024, voting for losing candidates only in [[1968 United States Presidential Election|1968]], [[1980 United States Presidential Election|1980]], [[2012 United States Presidential Election|2012]], and [[2020 United States Presidential Election|2020]].

{{PresHead|place=King and Queen County, Virginia|source=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|2,608|1,536|44|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|2,450|1,590|75|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|2,099|1,468|123|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|1,865|1,745|45|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Democratic|1,763|1,918|24|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|1,737|1,506|43|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|1,423|1,387|49|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|1,073|1,393|290|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|1,206|1,363|348|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|1,376|1,309|42|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|1,449|1,201|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|949|1,128|73|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|778|1,111|103|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|1,033|708|31|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|568|882|623|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|699|786|4|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|432|536|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|495|289|122|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|415|387|8|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|171|293|83|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|166|363|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|124|365|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|124|372|1|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|154|368|13|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|319|280|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|134|314|4|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|181|347|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|127|271|0|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|68|246|48|Virginia}}

==Communities==

Census-designated Place

* [[King and Queen Court House, Virginia|King and Queen Court House]]

Unincorporated Communities

* [[Newtown, King and Queen County, Virginia|Newtown]]
* [[St. Stephen's Church, Virginia|St. Stephen's Church]]
* [[Shacklefords, Virginia|Shacklefords]]

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

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = King and Queen County, Virginia
|North     = [[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline County]]
|Northeast = [[Essex County, Virginia|Essex County]]
|East      = [[Middlesex County, Virginia|Middlesex County]]
|Southeast = [[Gloucester County, Virginia|Gloucester County]]
|South     = [[James City County, Virginia|James City County]]
|Southwest = [[New Kent County, Virginia|New Kent County]]
|West      = [[King William County, Virginia|King William County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{King and Queen County, Virginia}}
{{Greater Richmond Region}}
{{Virginia}}

{{coord|37.72|-76.90|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:King and Queen County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Virginia counties]]
[[Category:1691 establishments in the Colony of Virginia]]