Editing Matoaca, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}}
{{Infobox settlement
| official_name      = Matoaca, Virginia
| settlement_type    = [[Census-designated place|CDP]]
| nickname           = 
| motto              = <!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = Appomattox River.jpg
| imagesize          = 250px
| image_caption      = The [[Appomattox River]] at Matoaca
| image_flag         = 
| image_seal         = <!-- Maps -->
| image_map          = VAMap-doton-Matoaca.PNG
| mapsize            = 250px
| map_caption        = Location of Matoaca, 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  = [[Chesterfield County, Virginia|Chesterfield]]

<!-- 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     = 6.9
| area_land_km2      = 6.6
| area_water_km2     = 0.3
| area_total_sq_mi   = 2.7
| area_land_sq_mi    = 2.5
| area_water_sq_mi   = 0.1

<!-- Population -->| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
| population_footnotes = 
| population_total   = 2725
| population_density_km2 = auto
| population_density_sq_mi = auto

<!-- General information -->| timezone           = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset         = &minus;5
| timezone_DST       = EDT
| utc_offset_DST     = &minus;4
| elevation_footnotes = 
| elevation_m        = 43
| elevation_ft       = 141
| coordinates        = {{coord|37|13|41|N|77|28|14|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
| postal_code_type   = 
| postal_code        = 
| area_code          = 
| blank_name         = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
| blank_info         = 51-50136<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
| blank1_name        = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
| blank1_info        = 1497010<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|accessdate=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
| website            = 
| footnotes          = 
}}
'''Matoaca''' is a [[census-designated place]] (CDP) in [[Chesterfield County, Virginia|Chesterfield County]], [[Virginia]], United States. The population was 2,725 at the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]].<ref name="Census 2010">{{Cite web |title=Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2020 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Matoaca CDP, Virginia |url=https://www.census.gov |accessdate=October 13, 2024 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> It is named after the [[Pamunkey]] princess Matoaka who was better known by her nickname "[[Pocahontas]]".<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n202 203]}}</ref> It was near the site of an [[Appomattoc]] village Matoka or Matoks, which was reputedly her girlhood home, and the palace town of the ''[[weroance|weroansqua]]'' Oppussoquionuske.<ref>Francis E. Lutz, 1954, ''Chesterfield - An Old Virginia County'', p. 10, 15.</ref>

In 2016 it was listed as No. 42 in [[CNN Money]]'s Top 50 Places to Live in the United States.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20140602084318/http://time.com/money/collection/best-places-to-live/ ''Time'', Sept. 19, 2016]</ref>

==History==
[[Olive Hill (Matoaca, Virginia)|Olive Hill]] was listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1975.<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

The Appomattox River is a nearly 160-mile-long water source once used as a pathway for early colonists.  Its name is derived from the Indian tribe that once inhabited its banks.  Because the Appomattox runs into the James River, it was a crucial port in Virginia during the Civil War as it allowed for larger ships to dock when necessary. In the spring of 1865, after the town of Petersburg had been taken over and destroyed during the Appomattox Campaign, the Confederates attempted to slow the persecution by the Union Army by burning the high bridge that ran across the Appomattox River. Failing to do so, the Confederate Army was later forced to surrender at Appomattox Court House.

==Geography==
Matoaca is located at {{coord|37|13|41|N|77|28|14|W|type:city}} (37.228138, &minus;77.470437).<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=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|2.7|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2.5|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.1|sqmi}}, or 4.49%, is water.

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
| 1970 = 829
| 1980 = 1967
| 2000 = 2273
| 2010 = 2403
| 2020 = 2725
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census/decade.html|title=Decennial Census by Decade|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=}}</ref><br> 2000<ref name=2000CensusVA>{{Cite web|title= 2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Virginia|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/2003/dec/phc-3-48.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusVA>{{Cite web|title= 2010 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Virginia|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/2010/cph-2/cph-2-6.pdf|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> 2020
}}

Matoaca was first listed as a [[census designated place]] in the [[2000 U.S. Census]].<ref name=2000CensusVA/>

As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,273 people, 866 households, and 651 families residing in the CDP. The [[population density]] was 892.0 people per square mile (344.2/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 911 housing units at an average density of 357.5/sq&nbsp;mi (137.9/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the CDP was 65.55% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 32.12% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.22% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.04% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.26% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 1.50% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.75% of the population.

There were 866 households, out of which 34.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.8% were non-families. 20.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.62 and the average family size was 3.03.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 27.2% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 22.9% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.6 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $50,000, and the median income for a family was $56,163. Males had a median income of $33,722 versus $26,071 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the CDP was $19,810. About 5.8% of families and 6.2% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 2.9% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==
{{See also|Chesterfield County Public Schools}}

The local schools are [[Matoaca Elementary School]], [[Matoaca Middle School]] and [[Matoaca High School]].

In relation to education levels in Matoaca, Virginia, roughly 89% of residents have earned a high school diploma. Though the area is known for its small population, specifically about 2,400 people, nearly 1,500 of those are enrolled in school. Of those who furthered their education beyond high school, about 10% have graduated and received a college degree. To be more specific, 6% have earned an associate degree, 7% have earned a bachelor's degree, and 3% have earned a professional degree.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Chesterfield County, Virginia}}

{{authority control}}

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