Warren County, Virginia

Warren County is a U.S. county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The 2020 United States census places Warren County within the Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area with a population of 40,727.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The county was established in 1836. The county seat is Front Royal.<ref name="GR6">Template:Cite web</ref>

History

By 1672, the entire Shenandoah Valley was claimed for hunting by the Iroquois Confederation following the Beaver Wars. Some bands of the Shawnee settled in the area as client groups to the Iroquois and alternately to the Cherokee after 1721. The Iroquois formally sold their entire claim east of the Alleghenies to the Virginia Colony at the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> Warren County was established in 1836 from Frederick and Shenandoah Counties.<ref name="Wayland">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp At that time the county had a population of 7,000 people, a quarter of which were enslaved.<ref name="Wayland" />Template:Rp Wedding records show marriages of people born in the 1770s marrying in the 1800s who head households of four to eight "free colored" so the early demographics of the population are unclear.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp Joist Hite lead the Sixteen Families into the Lower Shenandoah Valley.<ref name="Pioneers and Descendants">Template:Cite book</ref> Some consider that group the first European settlers of the area, others believe different claims.<ref name="Pioneers and Descendants" />Template:Rp Either way, Presbyterians of Scotch-Irish lineage and Quakers followed.<ref>Presbyterians: Template:Hanging indent Quakers: Template:Hanging indent</ref>

Rail service was established in 1854 with the construction of the Alexandria, Orange and Manassas Gap Railroad between Manassas and Riverton. This line was soon extended to Strasburg in time to become a factor in the Battle of Front Royal on May 23, 1862, and throughout the Civil War. Lumber, agriculture, manufacturing and grain mills provided employment in the region for decades after the Civil War. The county is named for Joseph Warren. During the Civil War the Battle of Front Royal took place in the county on May 23, 1862.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp On September 23, 1864, William Thomas Overby and five others of then Lt. Col. John S. Mosby's 43rd Virginia Battalion of Partisan Rangers were captured by cavalry troops under the command of then Brig. Gen. George A. Custer in Front Royal out of uniform and were executed as spies.<ref>Executions: Template:Hanging indent Template:Hanging indent</ref>

2019 Warren County Economic Development Authority Executive Director Jennifer McDonald Scandal

In 2017, questions were raised about the validity of an alleged $40 million economic development deal that had been brought to the community by Curt Tran, the owner of a company called IT Federal, over the redevelopment of the Avtex Superfund site.<ref name="roanoke.com">Casey, Dan. "CASEY: Scandals rock northern Shenandoah Valley town", The Roanoke Times, Virginia, April 27, 2019.</ref>

In 2018, Warren County Economic Development Authority executive director Jennifer McDonald was charged with filing false police reports about an alleged rock-throwing incident that she claimed had occurred at her home.<ref>Gully, Josh. "EDA Director Charged With Filing False Police Reports"</ref>

In 2019, McDonald and other parties were embroiled in a massive financial scandal that some observers have characterized as the largest embezzlement scheme in the history of the state of Virginia.<ref name= IndictmentStory>Template:Cite news</ref> The fraud scheme, which involved the alleged embezzlement of $21 million in county funds through fictitious development schemes and insider deals, was uncovered by the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation's Culpeper field office.

The Virginia State Police launched a probe into the business practices of McDonald in conjunction with the Front Royal Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation.<ref name= IndictmentStory/>

Sheriff McEathron, who had been indicted after it was revealed he was McDonald's business partner, committed suicide.<ref>Bria Llyod. ", Local DVM, May 28, 2019.</ref>

Jennifer McDonald was charged with 32 felony counts for her role in the scheme.<ref>Gully, Josh. ", Northern Virginia Daily, Virginia, October 28, 2019.</ref> 14 current and former municipal officials were indicted and faced criminal charges, including the entire Warren County board of supervisors as well as the former Warren County Attorney and the head of the Warren County schools division.<ref name="IndictmentStory" /><ref name="WaPoExpose">Template:Cite news</ref> These charges were later dropped as the judge ruled there was no basis for the allegations.<ref>Carey, Julie.[1]NBC4 Washington, Virginia, October 28, 2019.</ref>

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of Template:Convert, of which Template:Convert is land and Template:Convert (1.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">Template:Cite web</ref> The highest point is Hogback Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, along the border with Rappahannock County.

Adjacent counties

• Frederick County, Virginia – north
• Clarke County, Virginia – northeast
• Fauquier County, Virginia – east
• Rappahannock County, Virginia – southeast
• Page County, Virginia – southwest
• Shenandoah County, Virginia – west

National protected areas

• Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park (part)
• George Washington National Forest (part)
• Shenandoah National Park (part)

Demographics

2020 census

Warren County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>Template:Cite web</ref>	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	33,345	33,831	88.74%	83.07%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1,709	1,722	4.55%	4.23%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	103	130	0.27%	0.32%
Asian alone (NH)	350	462	0.93%	1.13%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	7	13	0.02%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	35	255	0.09%	0.63%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	708	1,901	1.88%	4.67%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	1,318	2,413	3.51%	5.92%
Total	37,575	40,727	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.

2000 Census

As of the census<ref name="GR8">Template:Cite web</ref> of 2000, there were 31,584 people, 12,087 households, and 8,521 families residing in the county. The population density was Template:Convert. There were 13,299 housing units at an average density of Template:Convert. The demographics of the county is (2000) 92.71% White, 4.83% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.46% from other races, and 1.29% from two or more races. 1.56% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 12,087 households, out of which 32.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.60% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.50% were non-families. 24.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 3.04.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.60% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 23.90% from 45 to 64, and 12.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,422, and the median income for a family was $50,487. Males had a median income of $37,182 versus $25,506 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,841. About 6.00% of families and 8.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.70% of those under age 18 and 10.40% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

For many years, Avtex Fibers (formerly known as the American Viscose Corporation from 1910 to 1976), was the county's largest employer and taxpayer.<ref name= WarrenCountyWebsite>Template:Cite web</ref> At its height, it employed over 800 residents throughout Front Royal and Warren County.

Towards the late 1980s, however, the company's main plant in Front Royal was forced to close as a result of numerous environmental violations, which eventually resulted in the site being declared a Superfund site.<ref name=NYT_FroRoClosed>Template:Cite web</ref> The county, reeling from the sudden loss of jobs and tax revenue, established the Warren County Economic Development Authority (WCEDA) to stimulate and diversify its economy as well as the economy of Town of Front Royal, its county seat. The purpose of the WCEDA is to foster and stimulate industry and economic development within Warren County and the town of Front Royal.<ref name= WCEDACharter>Template:Cite web</ref>

Top employers

According to the county's comprehensive annual financial reports, the top employers by number of employees in the county are the following.

Employer	Employees (2021)<ref name= cafr-2021>Template:Cite web</ref>
Warren County School Board	750–1,000
Family Dollar Services	250–499
Valley Health System–WMH	250–499
Axalta Coating Systems (DuPont)	250–499
Walmart	250–499
Warren County Government	250–499
Sysco Northeast Redistribution	250–499
Randolph-Macon Academy	250–499
UPS Customer Center	250–499

Transportation

File:2018-10-18 13 08 15 View east along Interstate 66 from the overpass for Sulphur Springs Road (Virginia State Route 842) in Reliance, Warren County, Virginia.jpg

I-66 in Warren County

• Front Royal Area Transit (FRAT)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> provides weekday transit for the town of Front Royal.
• Page County Transit<ref>Page County Transit Template:Webarchive</ref> - the People Movers provides weekday transit for the town of Luray and weekday service between Luray and Front Royal.

Major highways

• Template:Jct
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Education

File:Sonner Hall RMC 20150328.jpg

Sonner Hall at Randolph-Macon Academy

College

• Christendom College

Public schools

• Skyline High School (9–12)
• Warren County High School (9–12)
• Warren County Middle School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (6–8)
• Skyline Middle School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (6–8)
• A.S. Rhodes Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (K–5)
• E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (K–5)
• Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (PreK–5)
• Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (K–5)
• Ressie Jefferies Elementary School<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (K–5)

Preparatory school

• Randolph-Macon Academy (6–12)

Communities

Town

• Front Royal (county seat)

Census-designated places

• Apple Mountain Lake
• Chester Gap (mostly in Rappahannock County)
• Shenandoah Farms
• Shenandoah Shores
• Skyland Estates

Other unincorporated communities

• Ashby
• Bentonville
• Bethel
• Browntown
• Buckton
• Cedarville
• Happy Creek
• Howellsville
• Karo
• Limeton
• Linden
• Milldale
• Nineveh
• Overall
• Reliance
• Riverton
• Rockland
• Waterlick

Politics

Prior to 1952, the county was dominated by the Democratic Party like most counties in Virginia, but between then and 1976, it was a swing county. Since 1980, it has become consistently Republican.

Notable people

• Thomas Ashby, born in Warren County, physician and Maryland state legislator<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
• Thomas M. Allen, born in Warren County, clergyman and university official in Missouri<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

See also

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Warren County, Virginia