Editing Laurel, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                   = Laurel, Virginia
| settlement_type        = [[Census-designated place]]
| nickname               = 
| motto                  = 

<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline          = Laurel District.JPG
| image_alt              = Building from the Laurel Industrial School in Laurel, Virginia
| imagesize              = 
| image_caption          = A building from the [[Laurel Industrial School Historic District]]
| image_flag             = 
| image_seal             = 

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

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

<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes   = 
| government_type        = 
| leader_title           = 
| leader_name            = 
| leader_title1          = 
| leader_name1           = 
| established_title      = 
| established_date       = <!-- Area -->
| unit_pref              = Imperial
| area_footnotes         = 
| area_magnitude         = 
| area_total_km2         = 14.1
| area_land_km2          = 14.0
| area_water_km2         = 0.1
| area_total_sq_mi       = 5.4
| area_land_sq_mi        = 5.4
| area_water_sq_mi       = 0.0

<!-- Population -->
| population_as_of       = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes   = <ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=QuickFacts: Laurel CDP, Virginia|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/laurelcdpvirginia|access-date=March 20, 2024}}</ref>
| population_total       = 17769
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = 

<!-- General information -->
| timezone               = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset             = &minus;5
| timezone_DST           = EDT
| utc_offset_DST         = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes    = 
| elevation_m            = 74
| elevation_ft           = 243
| coordinates            = {{coord|37|38|2|N|77|30|24|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type       = [[ZIP Code]]s
| postal_code            = 23075, 23228, 23229, 23231, 23233, 23238, 23242, 23255, 23288, 23294
| area_code              = 
| blank_name             = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info             = 51-44280<ref name="GR2" />
| blank1_name            = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info            = 1469155<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                = 
| footnotes              = 
}}
'''Laurel''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in western [[Henrico County, Virginia]], United States, named after the number of laurel trees in the area.<ref name=":1" /> The population was 17,769 at the [[2020 United States Census]].<ref name="QF"/> 

Laurel is the location of the Laurel Skate Park. The bowl was recently filled in with smooth concrete and the vertical ramp removed to make way for safer amenities.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Laurel Recreation Area & Skate Park - Henrico County, Virginia|url=https://henrico.us/rec/places/laurel/|access-date=2022-01-03|website=henrico.us}}</ref>

Laurel is the location of the [[Laurel Industrial School Historic District]].

==History==
Laurel's previous names include Hungary; Hungary Station; Jenningsville, so named because the Jennings family, who were large landholders and have a family gravesite at the site of the historic district;<ref name=":1" /> and School. <ref>{{Citation|title=An Opportunity to Reform: The Laurel Industrial School & History of Juvenile Corrections in Henrico|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQQv8c4GOMM|language=en|access-date=2022-01-03}}</ref> In the 19th century, Laurel was a stop on the [[Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad|Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac]] (RF&P) Railroad. It was a spur line that connected the coalfields in western Henrico with the rail network. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], the station was burned. Union Army Colonel [[Ulric Dahlgren|Ulric Dahlgren's]] body was secretly buried there in March 1864; the body was later re-interred to Philadelphia.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=History of Laurel|url=http://laurelgalleryrva.com/history.html|access-date=2022-01-03|website=laurelgalleryrva.com}}</ref>  The RF&P railroad is succeeded by [[CSX Transportation]], which still operates on the same rights-of-way.

The A.A. Harvey General Store was built {{Circa|1910}} to serve the community. Over the years, the building has undergone several transformations. It went from general store to housing. It then became the Crystal Ice Co. and the Laurel Post Office, where Lillian Merkle was Postmaster{{When|date=January 2022}}. The Post Office was one of only a few in the United States that was privately owned.<ref name=":1">{{Citation |date=June 12, 1987|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form: Lauren Industrial School Historic District|url=https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/VLR_to_transfer/PDFNoms/043-0292_Laurel_Industrial_School_Historic_District_1987_Final_Nomination.pdf}}</ref> The building was completely restored in 1991 to its present use as the Laurel Gallery. Robert Bluford, the preservationist, made efforts to ensure that the restored building stayed true to its original style.<ref name=":0"/>

==Geography==
Laurel is located at {{coord|37|38|2|N|77|30|24|W|type:city}} (37.634012, &minus;77.506661).<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>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the CDP has a total area of {{convert|14.1|sqkm|disp=flip}}, of which {{convert|14.0|sqkm|disp=flip}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqkm|disp=flip|2}}, or 0.71%, is water.<ref>{{Cite web| url=https://www.census.gov| title=Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Laurel CDP, Virginia| publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]| access-date=August 6, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1980= 10569
|1990= 13011
|2000= 14875
|2010= 16713
|2020= 17769
|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>
}}
As of the [[census]]<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> of 2000, there were 14,875 people, 6,288 households, and 3,634 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was {{convert|2,713.6|pd/sqmi}}. There were 6,522 housing units at an average density of {{cvt|1,189.8|sqmi}}. The racial makeup of the CDP was 64.98% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 24.30% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.33% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 6.16% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.05% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 2.08% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 2.08% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 4.15% of the population.

There were 6,288 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 12.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. 32.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 20.2% under the age of 18, 10.6% from 18 to 24, 38.5% from 25 to 44, 19.6% from 45 to 64, and 11.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $42,128, and the median income for a family was $52,579. Males had a median income of $31,495 versus $30,158 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $21,893. About 3.8% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 4.7% of those under age 18 and 2.0% of those age 65 or over.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Henrico County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Census-designated places in Henrico County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Census-designated places in Virginia]]