Editing Mecklenburg County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Mecklenburg County
 | state              = Virginia 
 | seal                 = Mecklenburg Seal.jpg 
 | founded              = 1765
 | named for            = [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]] 
 | seat wl             = Boydton 
 | largest city wl  = South Hill
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 679 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 625 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 54 
 | area percentage      = 7.9 
 | population_as_of     = 2020 
 | population_total     = 30319 {{loss}}
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2025
 | population_est       = 
 | density_sq_mi        = 45 
 | web                  = www.mecklenburgva.com
 | ex image             = Mecklenburg County Courthouse.JPG
 | ex image cap         = [[Mecklenburg County Courthouse (Virginia)|Mecklenburg County Courthouse]]
 | ex image size        = 225px
 | time zone           = Eastern
 | district             = 5th }}
[[File:Charlotte Mecklenburg.JPG|thumb|right|Queen [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg]], the county's namesake]]

'''Mecklenburg County''' is a [[county (United States)|county]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 30,319.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US37119|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Boydton, Virginia|Boydton]].<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}}</ref>

==History==
Mecklenburg County was organized on March 1, 1765, having split from [[Lunenburg County, Virginia|Lunenburg County]] in 1764 as the result of the passage of an act by the [[Virginia General Assembly]]. Due to new settlement and population increases in the area, the legislature divided Lunenburg into three counties: Lunenburg, [[Charlotte County, Virginia|Charlotte]], and Mecklenburg.<ref name="Bracey, S. 1977">Bracey, S. (1977). ''Life by the Roaring Roanoke'', Whittet and Shepperson.</ref> It was named after [[Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz]],<ref>{{cite book|last=Gannett|first=Henry|title=The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9V1IAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA204|year=1905|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|page=204}}</ref> a British queen of German origin.

The first county government consisted of 13 members: Robert Munford, Richard Witton, John Speed, Henry Delony, Edmund Taylor, Benjamin Baird, John Camp, Thomas Erskine, John Potter, John Cox, Thomas Anderson, John Speed, Jr., and Samuel Hopkins, with Benjamin Baird acting as the first mayor.<ref name="Bracey, S. 1977"/>

==Government==
Mecklenburg County is governed by a nine-member Board of Supervisors, each elected from a single-member district. They serve as the county's legislative and policy body, enacting laws, ordinances, and taxes. They appoint a county administrator to conduct day-to-day operations. H. Wayne Carter, III is the current county administrator and Judy P. Sheffield is the current assistant county administrator.

The board members are:<ref>{{Cite web | url=https://mecklenburgva.com/218/Board-of-Supervisors | title=Board of Supervisors &#124; Mecklenburg County, VA }}</ref>
* District 1 - Andy R. Hargrove
* District 2 - Glanzy M. Spain, Jr.―Vice Chairman
* District 3 - Tom Tanner
* District 4 - Claudia H. Lundy
* District 5 - Glenn E. Barbour—Chairman
* District 6 - Sterling Wilkinson
* District 7 - James D. Jennings
* District 8 - David A. Brankley
* District 9 - Charles Jones

===Constitutional officers===
Mecklenburg County operates under what is commonly referred as the "traditional form" of county government under the [[Virginia Constitution]], under which voters elect five countywide "constitutional officers":
* [[Court clerk|Clerk of Circuit Court]]  - Michelle Gordon
* [[Commonwealth's Attorney]] - Allen Nash
* [[Commissioner of Revenue]] - Lisa Carlton Wagstaff
* Treasurer - Marsha Coleman Seamans
* Sheriff - Robert (Bobby) Hawkins

===County departments and department heads===
Listed below are the County facilities, the department housed in that facility and its head.
* Goode Bank Building
** Board of Supervisors (See Supervisor's List Above)
** County Administrator's Office- H. Wayne Carter, III (Administrator)
** Economic Development Director's Office- Angela D. Kellett (Director)
** Tourism Office- Jacob P. Bower (Coordinator)
** Building Inspector's Office- Eddie Harris (Chief Inspector)
** Zoning Administrator's Office- Robert L. Hendrick (Zoning Administrator)
** Animal Warden's Office- Doug Blanton (Animal Warden)
** Information Technology Department (IT) - Alex Wells (IT Specialist)
* Courthouse
** Circuit Court-Leslie M. Osborn (Judge)
** Circuit Court Clerk's Office- Michelle Gordon (Clerk)
** Commonwealth Attorney's Office- J. Miller (Commonwealth's Attorney)
* Mark I. Burnett Building
** Commissioner of Revenue's Office- Lisa Carlton Wagstaff (Commissioner)
*** Real Estate Department- Jo Harrell McLellan (Chief Deputy Commissioner/Real Estate Assessor)
*** Personal Property Department- Violet Puryear(Chief Deputy Commissioner)
** Treasurer's Office- Marsha Coleman Seamans(Treasurer)
** VPI Extension Office- C. Taylor Clarke (Unit Coordinator/ANR Extension Agent)
* Hudgins Court Facility
** Social Services- Sandra S. Gregory (Director)
** General District Court- Charles Warren (Judge)
*** General District Clerk's Office- Tammy T. Taylor (Clerk)
** Juvenile & Domestic Court- M. Rand (Judge), S. Anderson Nelson (Judge)
*** J&D Court Clerk's Office- Rebecca D. Inge (Clerk)
*** J&D Court Service Unit
** Sheriff's Office- R.W. (Bobby) Hawkins (Sheriff)
* 911 Center
** 911 Emergency Communications Office and Dispatch- Ben Duncan (Director)
* Jail
** Jail Division of the Sheriff's Office- Roosevelt Terry (Jail Captain)
* Post Office Building
** Piedmont Court Services- Jackie T. Boxley (Director)
* White Building
** Voter Registrar- Jason Corwin (General Registrar)

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Mecklenburg 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 9, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|9,791|6,404|109|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|9,266|6,803|135|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|8,288|6,285|372|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,973|6,921|183|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,817|7,127|138|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,319|5,293|168|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,600|4,797|257|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,933|4,408|937|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,401|4,273|1,296|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,887|3,275|116|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,777|3,438|101|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,853|3,790|270|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,423|4,076|270|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,381|2,804|124|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|American Independent|2,750|2,667|4,061|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|4,976|3,238|13|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,936|2,533|65|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|1,498|2,004|932|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,891|2,525|38|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|513|2,117|423|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|430|2,561|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|308|2,402|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|202|2,730|2|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|275|2,188|15|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|784|1,752|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|286|1,649|21|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|264|1,619|7|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|222|1,317|5|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|191|1,039|97|Virginia}}

==Education==
The county's education department is the [[Mecklenburg County Public Schools]]. It is managed by the Board of Education. Scott Worner is the County Schools Superintendent.

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has an area of {{convert|679|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|625|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|54|sqmi}} (7.9%) 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>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Lunenburg County, Virginia|Lunenburg County]] - north
* [[Brunswick County, Virginia|Brunswick County]] - east
* [[Warren County, North Carolina]] - southeast
* [[Vance County, North Carolina]] - south
* [[Granville County, North Carolina]] - southwest
* [[Halifax County, Virginia|Halifax County]] - west
* [[Charlotte County, Virginia|Charlotte County]] - northwest

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=VA|I|85}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|1}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|15}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|58}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|4|name1=[[U.S. Bicycle Route 1]]}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|47}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|49}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|92}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|138}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 14733
|1800= 17008
|1810= 18453
|1820= 19786
|1830= 20477
|1840= 20724
|1850= 20630
|1860= 20096
|1870= 21318
|1880= 24610
|1890= 25359
|1900= 26551
|1910= 28956
|1920= 31208
|1930= 32622
|1940= 31933
|1950= 33497
|1960= 31428
|1970= 29426
|1980= 29444
|1990= 29241
|2000= 32280
|2010= 32727
|2020= 30319
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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;"
|+'''Mecklenburg 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) - Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51117&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!{{partial|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) - Mecklenburg County, North Carolina|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51117&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!{{partial|% 2020}}
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|19,215
|style='background: #ffffe6; |17,864
|58.71%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |58.92%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|11,958
|style='background: #ffffe6; |10,364
|36.54%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |34.18%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|73
|style='background: #ffffe6; |73
|0.22%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.24%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|213
|style='background: #ffffe6; |205
|0.65%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.68%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|10
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0
|0.03%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Other race]] alone (NH)
|22
|style='background: #ffffe6; |110
|0.07%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |0.36%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed race or Multiracial]] (NH)
|430
|style='background: #ffffe6; |882
|1.31%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.91%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|806
|style='background: #ffffe6; |821
|2.46%
|style='background: #ffffe6; |2.71%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''32,727'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''30,319'''
|'''100.00%'''
|style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%'''
|}

===2010 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 2010, there were 32,727 people, 12,951 households, and 8,962 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|52|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 17,403 housing units at an average density of {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 59.24% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 39.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.21% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.30% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.48% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.68% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 12,951 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 14.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 27.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.40% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,380, and the median income for a family was $37,752. Males had a median income of $26,852 versus $19,609 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,171. About 11.60% of families and 15.50% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

==Communities==
===Towns===
* [[Boydton, Virginia|Boydton]] (county seat)
* [[Brodnax, Virginia|Brodnax]] (partial)
* [[Chase City, Virginia|Chase City]]
* [[Clarksville, Virginia|Clarksville]]
* [[La Crosse, Virginia|La Crosse]]
* [[South Hill, Virginia|South Hill]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Baskerville, Virginia|Baskerville]]
* [[Bracey, Virginia|Bracey]]
* [[Fairview, Mecklenburg County, Virginia|Fairview]]
* [[Thynedale, Virginia|Thynedale]]
* [[Union Level, Virginia|Union Level]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Buffalo Junction, Virginia|Buffalo Junction]]
* [[Nelson, Virginia|Nelson]]
* [[Palmer Springs, Virginia|Palmer Springs]]
* [[Shiny Rock, Virginia|Shiny Rock]]
* [[Skipwith, Virginia|Skipwith]]

==See also==
{{Portal|Virginia}}
* [[Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office (Virginia)|Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Mecklenburg County, Virginia]]

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

==External links==
* {{official website|www.mecklenburgva.com}}
* [http://www.visitmeckva.com Official tourism site]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Mecklenburg County, Virginia
|North     = [[Lunenburg County, Virginia|Lunenburg County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Brunswick County, Virginia|Brunswick County]]
|Southeast = [[Warren County, North Carolina]]
|South     = [[Vance County, North Carolina]]
|Southwest = [[Granville County, North Carolina]]
|West      = [[Halifax County, Virginia|Halifax County]]
|Northwest = [[Charlotte County, Virginia|Charlotte County]]
}}

{{Mecklenburg County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}

{{coord|36.68|-78.37|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mecklenburg County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Virginia counties]]
[[Category:1765 establishments in the Colony of Virginia]]