Editing Spotsylvania County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Spotsylvania County
 | state                = Virginia
 | type                 = [[County (United States)|County]]
 | seal                 = Seal of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.png
 | flag                 = Flag of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.png
 | logo                 = Coat of arms of Spotsylvania County, Virginia.png
 | founded              = 1721
 | motto                = {{Language with name/for|la|Patior Ut Potiar|I suffer to obtain|break=yes}}<ref>{{Cite web|title=Latin Lovers|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/nov/4/20021104-095922-9245r|work=The Washington Times|date=November 4, 2002|access-date=August 30, 2016|url-status=bot: unknown|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160830065516/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2002/nov/4/20021104-095922-9245r|archive-date=August 30, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jsasoc.com/Family_archive/motto.htm|title=motto|website=www.jsasoc.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.scotclans.com/scottish-clans/clan-spottiswood/|title=Clan Spottiswood - ScotClans - Scottish Clans}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.surnamedb.com/Surname/Spens|title=Surname Database: Spens Last Name Origin|website=The Internet Surname Database}}</ref>
 | named for            = [[Alexander Spotswood]]
 | seat wl              = Spotsylvania Courthouse
 | largest city wl      = Spotsylvania
 | city type            = community
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 414
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 401
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 13
 | area percentage      = 3.1
 | population_est     = 149,588
 | pop_est_as_of      = July 2023
 | pop_est_footnotes  = <ref name=Estimate2023/>
 | population_total     = 140,092
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_footnotes = <ref name="QF">{{cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/us-counties/va/spotsylvania-county-population |access-date=March 28, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | web                  = http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/
 | ex image             = St. Julien (Spotsylvania County, Virginia).png
 | ex image cap         = Historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania County
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 7th
 | ZIP codes            = 22407, 22408, 22551, 22553, 22534, 22508, 22580, 23024
}}

'''Spotsylvania County''' is a [[county (United States)|county]] in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]]. It is a suburb approximately 60 miles (90km) south of D.C. It is a part of the [[Northern Virginia]] region and the D.C. area. As of 2024, Spotsylvania County is the 14th most populated county in Virginia with 149,588 residents.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-06-22 |title=Spotsylvania County, VA population by year, race, & more |url=https://usafacts.org/data/topics/people-society/population-and-demographics/our-changing-population/state/virginia/county/spotsylvania-county/ |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=USAFacts |language=en}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia|Spotsylvania Courthouse]].<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>

Located along the Rappahannock River bordering the City of [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]] and Stafford County, Spotsylvania County is part of the [[Washington metropolitan area|Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area]]. Since 2010, the population has increased by 19.3%; for comparison, Virginia's population has only increased 7.7% in that time period. Spotsylvania County is currently the 74th highest-income county in America.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov/data-portal/social/table?socialtopic=030&socialtopic_options=social_6&demo=00011&demo_options=income_3&race=00&race_options=race_7&sex=0&sex_options=sexboth_1&age=001&age_options=ageall_1&statefips=51&statefips_options=area_states |access-date=2024-07-03 |website=hdpulse.nimhd.nih.gov}}</ref>

==History==

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Spotsylvania County were a [[Siouan languages|Siouan]]-speaking tribe called the [[Manahoac]].<ref name=swanton>{{cite book |last=Swanton |first=John R. |title=The Indian Tribes of North America |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |year=1952 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtHI5pkJOGMC |isbn=0-8063-1730-2 |pages=61–62 |oclc=52230544}}</ref>

As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of [[Essex County, Virginia|Essex]], [[King and Queen County, Virginia|King and Queen]], and [[King William County, Virginia|King William]] counties. The county was named in Latin for [[Lieutenant Governor of Virginia]] [[Alexander Spotswood]] who incidentally was also the second great-grandfather of [[Robert E. Lee]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://famouskin.com/famous-kin-chart.php?name=4640+robert+e+lee&kin=4667+alexander+spotswood|title = Family relationship of General Robert e. Lee and Alexander Spotswood via Alexander Spotswood}}</ref>

Many major battles were fought in this county during the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], including the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]], [[Battle of the Wilderness]], [[Battle of Fredericksburg]], and [[Battle of Spotsylvania Court House]]. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river.<ref name="trail">[http://rrhthistory.umwblogs.org/trail-of-freedom/#comment-11452 "Trail of Freedom"], Rappahannock River Heritage Trail, University of Mary Washington blog</ref>

General [[Stonewall Jackson]] was shot and seriously wounded by [[friendly fire]] in Spotsylvania County during the [[Battle of Chancellorsville]]. A group of Confederate soldiers from [[North Carolina]] were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from [[pneumonia]] at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.

==Geography==
{{Location map+ | Southern Northern Virginia
| caption =
|width=400
| places =
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Charles County, Maryland|Charles]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.48
    | lon_deg =-77.01
    }}
 {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Alexandria, Virginia|Alexandria]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=5
    | position =bottom
    | lat_deg =38.79
    | lon_deg =-77.047222
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Fauquier County, Virginia|Fauquier]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =left
    | lat_deg =38.74
    | lon_deg =-77.81
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Manassas, Virginia|Manassas]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=5
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.751415
    | lon_deg =-77.47
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Manassas Park, Virginia|Manassas{{nbsp}}Park]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=5
    | position =left
    | lat_deg =38.773564
    | lon_deg =-77.46
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Prince William County, Virginia|Prince{{nbsp}}William]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =left
    | lat_deg =38.7
    | lon_deg =-77.48
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =Spotsylvania
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.18
    | lon_deg =-77.65
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.41
    | lon_deg =-77.45
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=5
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.301829
    | lon_deg =-77.470778
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Culpeper County, Virginia|Culpeper]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.49
    | lon_deg =-77.96
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =37.99
    | lon_deg =-77.96
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Orange County, Virginia|Orange]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.24
    | lon_deg =-78.01
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =right
    | lat_deg =38.03
    | lon_deg =-77.35
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[Hanover County, Virginia|Hanover]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =top
    | lat_deg =37.8
    | lon_deg =-77.49
    }}
  {{Location map~ | Southern Northern Virginia
    | label =[[King George County, Virginia|King{{nbsp}}George]]
    | label_size=100
    | marksize=0
    | position =bottom
    | lat_deg =38.26
    | lon_deg =-77.15
    }}
}}

It is bounded on the north by the [[Rappahannock River|Rappahannock]] and [[Rapidan River|Rapidan]] rivers, the [[Independent city (United States)|independent city]] of [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|Fredericksburg]] (all of which were part of the area's early history), and the counties of [[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford]] and [[Culpeper County, Virginia|Culpeper]]; on the south by the [[North Anna River]] and its impoundment, [[Lake Anna]], and by the counties of [[Hanover County, Virginia|Hanover]] and [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa]]; on the west by [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]] and Culpeper County; and on the east by [[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline County]].

===Adjacent counties and independent city===
* [[Culpeper County, Virginia]] – north
* [[Stafford County, Virginia]] – northeast
* City of [[Fredericksburg, Virginia]] – northeast
* [[Caroline County, Virginia]] – southeast
* [[Hanover County, Virginia]] – south
* [[Louisa County, Virginia]] – southwest
* [[Orange County, Virginia]] – west and northwest

===National protected area===
* [[Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park]] (part)

=== Points of interest ===
* [[Lake Anna State Park]]
* [[Spotsylvania County Public Schools]]
* [[Spotsylvania Courthouse]]
* [[Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park]]
* [[Spotsylvania Towne Centre]]
* [[Central Rappahannock Regional Library]]
* [[Dominion Raceway]]

=== Communities ===
There are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:

==== Census-designated places ====
* [[Lake Wilderness, Virginia|Lake Wilderness]]
* [[Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia|Spotsylvania Courthouse]]

==== Other unincorporated communities ====
{{div col|colwidth=15em}}
* [[Alsop, Virginia|Alsop]]
* [[Arcadia, Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Arcadia]]
* [[Artillery Ridge, Virginia|Artillery Ridge]]
* [[Bells Crossroad, Virginia|Bells Crossroad]]
* [[Belmont, Spotsylvania County, Virginia|Belmont]]
* [[Blades Corner, Virginia|Blades Corner]]
* [[Brandon, Virginia|Brandon]]
* [[Brockroad, Virginia|Brockroad]]
* [[Brokenburg, Virginia|Brokenburg]]
* Carters Store
* [[Chancellor, Virginia|Chancellor]]
* Chancellor Green, a local Hispanic enclave
* [[Chancellorsville, Virginia|Chancellorsville]]
* [[Chewnings Corner, Virginia|Chewnings Corner]]
* [[Cookstown, Virginia|Cookstown]]
* [[Cosner's Corner]]
* [[Dunavant, Virginia|Dunavant]]
* [[Five Mile Fork, Virginia|Five Mile Fork]]
* [[Four Mile Fork, Virginia|Four Mile Fork]]
* [[Granite Springs, Virginia|Granite Springs]]
* [[Lanes Corner, Virginia|Lanes Corner]]
* [[Leavells, Virginia|Leavells]]
* [[Lewiston, Virginia|Lewiston]]
* [[Margo, Virginia|Margo]]
* [[Marye, Virginia|Marye]]
* [[Massaponax, Virginia|Massaponax]]
* [[McHenry, Virginia|McHenry]]
* [[Old Trap, Virginia|Old Trap]]
* [[Olivers Corner, Virginia|Olivers Corner]]
* [[Partlow, Virginia|Partlow]]
* [[Paytes, Virginia|Paytes]]
* [[Post Oak, Virginia|Post Oak]]
* [[Shady Grove Corner, Virginia|Shady Grove Corner]]
* [[Snell, Virginia|Snell]]
* [[Stubbs, Virginia|Stubbs]]
* [[Thornburg, Virginia|Thornburg]]
* [[Todds Tavern, Virginia|Todds Tavern]]
{{div col end}}
[[File:Spotsylvania Towne Centre Main Entrance.jpg|thumb|[[Spotsylvania Towne Centre]]]]
Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.

===Major highways===
[[File:2019-06-24 10 14 32 View north along Interstate 95 from the overpass for U.S. Route 17 (Mills Drive) in Fourmile Fork, Spotsylvania County, Virginia.jpg|thumb|right|I-95 northbound in Spotsylvania County]]
* {{Jct|state=VA|I|95}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|1}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|17}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|522}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|2}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|3}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|208}}

== Governance ==

===County government===
Spotsylvania County's highest level of management is that of County Administrator. This post oversees all county departments and agencies and serves as the Spotsylvania County's Board of Supervisors' liaison to state and regional agencies.

====Board of Supervisors====
Spotsylvania is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The board consists of seven members (one from each district within the county). The Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, appropriates funds, approves land rezoning and special exceptions to the zoning ordinance, and carries out other responsibilities set forth by the county code.<ref name=test>{{cite web|url=http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/content/27452/20931/ |title=Spotsylvania County Home : Departments: Board of Supervisors |publisher=Spotsylvania.va.us |access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>

The following is the current list of supervisors and districts which they represent:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/1200/Members|title=Members of the Board of Supervisors|publisher=Spotsylvania.ua.us|access-date=January 14, 2021}}</ref>

{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Position
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
!  style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Chair
| Chris Yakabouski
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Battlefield
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Vice-Chair
| Lori Hayes
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Lee Hill
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Member
| Kevin Marshall
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Berkeley
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Member
| Gerald Childress
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Chancellor
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Member
| Drew Mullins
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Courtland
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)|Republican}}" |&nbsp;
| Member
| Jacob Lane
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Livingston
|-
|style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Member
| Deborah H. Frazier
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
| style="text-align:center;" | Salem
|}

===County wide offices===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Office
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Affiliation
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commonwealth's Attorney
| Ryan Mehaffey
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Commissioner of the Revenue
| Deborah F Williams
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Sheriff
| Roger Harris
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Independent Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Treasurer
| Larry Keith Pritchett
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Independent (United States)|Independent]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |&nbsp;
| Clerk of Circuit Court
| Christalyn Mitchell Jett
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|}

===State representation===
{| class=wikitable
|+[[Virginia House of Delegates]]
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Office
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Party
!  style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Delegate
| [[Phillip Scott (Virginia politician)|Phillip Scott]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 63
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Democratic Party (United States)}}" |
| Delegate
| [[Joshua G. Cole]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 65
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Delegate
| [[Bobby Orrock]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 66
|}

{| class=wikitable
|+[[Senate of Virginia|Virginia State Senate]]
|-
! colspan="2"  style="text-align:center; vertical-align:bottom;"| Office
! style="text-align:center;" | Name
! valign=bottom | Party
!  style="vertical-align:bottom; text-align:center;"| District
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Senator
| [[Richard Stuart]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 25
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Senator
| [[Tara Durant]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 27
|-
| style="background-color:{{party color|Republican Party (United States)}}" |
| Senator
| [[Bryce Reeves]]
| style="text-align:center;" | [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 28
|}

===Federal representation===
Spotsylvania residents are represented by [[Eugene Vindman]] (D-7th District) in the House of Representatives. The current U.S. senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia are [[Mark Warner]] (D) and [[Tim Kaine]] (D).

{{PresHead|place=Spotsylvania County, Virginia|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|author=David Leip |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>|source2=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://geoelections.free.fr/EU/accueil.htm|title=Élections présidentielles aux États-Unis 1788-2004|trans-title=United States presidential elections 1788-2004|language=fr|access-date=November 10, 2021}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|42,531|35,747|1,236|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|39,411|34,307|1,599|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|34,623|24,207|3,719|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|31,844|25,165|965|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|28,610|24,897|562|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|28,527|16,623|295|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|20,739|13,455|827|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|13,786|10,342|2,069|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|11,829|8,133|4,052|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,978|5,486|129|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,207|4,012|78|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,385|4,039|581|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,210|4,210|140|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,577|1,775|90|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|1,675|1,647|1,604|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,261|2,097|9|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,288|1,482|29|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,244|993|158|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|1,174|1,194|29|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|517|818|175|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|504|744|3|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|365|785|4|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|453|836|5|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|346|784|17|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|654|439|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|255|448|33|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|380|440|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|249|398|2|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1912|Democratic|58|390|169|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1908|Democratic|282|346|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1904|Democratic|237|330|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1900|Republican|817|774|5|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1896|Republican|903|877|8|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1892|Democratic|679|849|65|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1888|Republican|922|876|2|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1884|Democratic|820|844|0|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1880|Democratic|576|771|0|Virginia}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 11252
|1800= 13002
|1810= 13296
|1820= 14254
|1830= 15134
|1840= 15161
|1850= 14911
|1860= 16076
|1870= 11728
|1880= 14828
|1890= 14233
|1900= 9239
|1910= 9935
|1920= 10571
|1930= 10056
|1940= 9905
|1950= 11920
|1960= 13819
|1970= 16424
|1980= 34435
|1990= 57403
|2000= 90395
|2010= 122397
|2020= 140032
|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 5, 2014|archive-date=June 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623053220/https://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu/|url-status=dead}}</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 5, 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 5, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Demographic Profile'''<br /> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!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) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51177&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) - Spotsylvania County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51177&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|88,077
|87,278
|71.96%
|62.33%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|18,298
|22,436
|14.95%
|16.02%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|323
|375
|0.26%
|0.27%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|2,768
|3,933
|2.26%
|2.81%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|135
|122
|0.11%
|0.09%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|272
|845
|0.22%
|0.60%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|3,246
|8,389
|2.65%
|5.99%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|9,278
|16,654
|7.58%
|11.89%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''122,397'''
|'''140,032'''
|'''100.00%'''
|'''100.00%'''
|}
''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 can be of any race.''

===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 122,397 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|226|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of {{convert|83|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was:
* 78.4% [[Race (United States Census)|White]]
* 15.8% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]]
* 0.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]]
* 2.4% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]]
* 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]]
* 2.8% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and
* 1.88% from two or more races.

7.8% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 31,308 households, out of which 42.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 64.80% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 21.30% were non-families. 16.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 5.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.22.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 30.00% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 32.20% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 8.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.10 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The 2021 median income for a household in the county was $98,973 compared to $69,021 for the United States; the median income for a family was $87,922. Males had a median income of $49,166 versus $38,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $37,212. 6.6% of the population lives below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over.<ref>[http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_DP3&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-tree_id=306&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=05000US51177&-format=&-_lang=en Census Bureau Median Income Figures] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20200210223936/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/ADPTable?_bm=y&-context=adp&-qr_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_DP3&-ds_name=ACS_2006_EST_G00_&-tree_id=306&-redoLog=true&-_caller=geoselect&-geo_id=05000US51177&-format=&-_lang=en |date=February 10, 2020 }}, census.gov.</ref>

== Infrastructure ==

=== Emergency services ===
Fire and rescue services in Spotsylvania County are provided by a combination of career and volunteer organizations. The career staff of the Department of Fire, Rescue, and Emergency Management provide fire and rescue services 24/7/365 at all 11 stations, 1 (Courthouse), 2 (Brokenburg), 3 (Partlow), 4 (Four Mile Fork), 5 (Chancellor), 6 (Salem Church), 7 (Wilderness), 8 (Thornburg), 9 (Belmont), 10 (Salem Fields), 11 (Crossroads). Volunteers provide additional staffing nights and weekends at Stations 1, 2, 4, and 8. The volunteer organizations include The Spotsylvania Volunteer Fire Department, and The Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad.<ref name="spotsylvania.va.us">[http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/departments/fireandrescue/index.cfm?doc_id=519 Spotsylvania County Fire;Rescue and Emergency Services Volunteer Agencies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071014025959/https://www.spotsylvania.va.us/departments/fireandrescue/index.cfm?doc_id=519 |date=October 14, 2007 }}</ref>

== Education ==

===Public schools===
{{Main|Spotsylvania County Public Schools}}

===Private schools===
* [[Fredericksburg Academy]]
* Fredericksburg Christian School
* The Summit Academy
* Odyssey [[Montessori education|Montessori School]]
* Saint Patrick School
* [[Saint Michael the Archangel High School (Fredericksburg, Virginia)|Saint Michael the Archangel High School]]
* Faith Baptist Christian School
* Mount Hope Academy

===Colleges and universities===
[[Germanna Community College]] is part of the [[Virginia Community College System]] and serves the City of Fredericksburg, and the counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Orange, Culpeper, and King George.

'''The [[University of Mary Washington]]''' located in neighboring Fredericksburg, Virginia, is a four-year university and graduate school that also serves the area.

==Notable people==
* [[John Day Andrews]] (1795–1882), Mayor of Houston<ref>{{cite web| url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/andrews-john-day | website=Texas Handbook Online |title=Andrews, John Day |access-date=January 7, 2023 | publisher=Texas State Historical Association |last=Benham |first=Priscilla Myers}}</ref>
* [[Thomas Dickens Arnold]], [[United States Congressman]] from Virginia<ref name="Marquis 1607-1896">{{cite book |title=Who Was Who in America, Historical Volume, 1607–1896 |publisher=Marquis Who's Who |location=Chicago |year=1963}}</ref>
* [[Francis Asbury]] (1745–1816), one of the first two bishops of the [[Methodist Episcopal Church]]{{refn|now the United Methodist Church in the United States}}
* [[Caressa Cameron]],  [[Miss Virginia]] 2009 and [[Miss America 2010]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Covering Caressa Cameron|publisher=www.fredericksburg.com|first=Edie|last=Gross|url=http://fredericksburg.com/topics/caressa-cameron-pictures-miss-virginia/index_html|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130123103934/http://fredericksburg.com/topics/caressa-cameron-pictures-miss-virginia/index_html|archive-date=January 23, 2013}}</ref>
* [[Elijah Craig]], Baptist minister arrested in Fredericksburg for preaching without a license from the Anglican Church before the American Revolution<ref>[http://www.fredericksburgbaptistchurch.org/NHist.htm "Fredericksburg Baptist Church"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221165948/http://www.fredericksburgbaptistchurch.org/NHist.htm |date=February 21, 2014 }}, Nomination for National Register of Historic Places, State of Virginia; cf. {{cite news|newspaper=The Free Lance-Star|location=Fredericksburg, Virginia|title=The First Hundred Years Were The Hardest|date=November 18, 1967|page=8|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1298&dat=19671118&id=uc1NAAAAIBAJ&pg=6038,4648029}}</ref>
* [[Evelyn Magruder DeJarnette]] (1842–1914), author<ref name="WillardLivermore1893">{{cite book|last1=Willard|first1=Frances Elizabeth|last2=Livermore|first2=Mary Ashton Rice|title=A Woman of the Century: Fourteen Hundred-seventy Biographical Sketches Accompanied by Portraits of Leading American Women in All Walks of Life|url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zXEEAAAAYAAJ|edition=Public domain|year=1893|publisher=Moulton|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_zXEEAAAAYAAJ/page/n241 237]–}}</ref><ref name="Frost1954">{{cite book|last=Frost|first=May (Miller)|title=De Jarnette and Allied Families in America (1699-1954)|url=https://archive.org/details/dejarnetteallied00fros|year=1954|publisher=San Bernardino, Calif. [1954]}}</ref>
* [[Joe Gibbs]], former [[Washington Redskins]] coach<ref>{{cite news|last=Couloumbis |first=Angela E. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/realestate/1996/03/02/fawn-lake-on-the-water-in-spotsylvania/b732232c-89e6-406e-9e94-93348ec221cd/ |title=Fawn Lake: On The Water In Spotsylvania |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=March 2, 1996 |access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>
* [[Rahman "Rock" Harper]], chef, television personality, and [[restaurateur]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/25/AR2008122501172.html|title="Hell's Kitchen" winner Rahman "Rock" Harper Readying Menu for New D.C. Eatery|last=Black|first=Jane|newspaper=[[The Washington Post]]|date=December 26, 2008|access-date=February 17, 2018|language=en-US|issn=0190-8286}}</ref>
* [[Alexander Holladay]] (1811–1877), [[United States House of Representatives|U. S. Representative]]{{citation needed|date=May 2017}}
* [[Danny McBride (actor)|Danny McBride]], actor<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/012008/01242008/351013/index_html?page=1 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130124083300/http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/012008/01242008/351013/index_html?page=1 |archive-date=January 24, 2013 |title=Movie, TV projects fall in line for local native |publisher=Fredericksburg.com |date=January 24, 2008 |access-date=September 8, 2013 }}</ref>
* [[Phil Short]], former member of the [[Louisiana State Legislature|Louisiana State Senate]] and [[United States Marine Corps]] officer<ref>{{cite web|url=http://lakeannarentals.org/virginian-short|title=A Virginian in Short|publisher=enlou.com|access-date=November 3, 2009}}</ref>
* [[Matthew Fontaine Maury]], father of modern oceanography<ref>Birth: Stevens, J. A., DeCosta, B. F., Johnston, H. P., Lamb, M. J., & Pond, N. G. (1887). The Magazine of American History with Notes and Queries. A. S. Barnes.</ref>{{rp|452}}<ref>Father of modern oceanography: [[Willi H. Hager|Hager, W. H.]] (2015). Hydraulicians in the USA 1800-2000: A biographical dictionary of leaders in hydraulic engineering and fluid mechanics. CRC Press.</ref>{{rp|2318}}

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

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

==External links==
{{commons category|Spotsylvania County, Virginia}}
* [http://www.spotsylvania.va.us/ Spotsylvania County Official Website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20060101165405/http://www.spotsylvania.org/index2.html Spotsylvania County Department of Economic Development]
* [http://www.fredericksburg.com Fredericksburg.com], site of ''The Free Lance-Star''
* Spotsylvania County Virginia [https://web.archive.org/web/20140410114101/http://www.zip-code-database.org/Spotsylvania-(Virginia)_Zip_Codes.aspx Zip Codes]
* [http://www.spotsylvaniasheriff.org/ Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Office]

{{Geographic location
|Centre = Spotsylvania County, Virginia
|North = [[Culpeper County, Virginia|Culpeper County]]
|Northeast = [[Stafford County, Virginia|Stafford County]] and [[Fredericksburg, Virginia|City of Fredericksburg]]
|East =
|Southeast = [[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline County]]
|South = [[Hanover County, Virginia|Hanover County]]
|Southwest = [[Louisa County, Virginia|Louisa County]]
|West = [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]]
|Northwest = [[Orange County, Virginia|Orange County]]
}}

{{Spotsylvania County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}
{{DCMetroArea}}
{{Coord|38.18|-77.65|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Spotsylvania County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Virginia counties]]
[[Category:Northern Virginia counties]]
[[Category:Washington metropolitan area]]
[[Category:1721 establishments in the Colony of Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1721]]