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James City County (formally, the County of James City) is a county located on the Virginia Peninsula, in the U.S. state of Virginia. Its population is 48,102 (as of 2000), and it is often associated with Williamsburg, a city that borders James City County.

First settled by the English colonists in 1607 at Jamestown, the county was formally created in 1634 as James City Shire by order of King Charles I. James City County is considered one of only five original shires of the Virginia Colony to still be extant today in essentially the same political form.

Beginning in 2006, and extending into 2008, the county will host the Jamestown 2007 celebration to mark the 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown Settlement.

History

This section incorporates text from the 1911 edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, which is in the public domain.

17th & 18th centuries

Soon after the establishment of the Jamestown Settlement in 1607 in the new Colony of Virginia, English settlers first explored and then began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads and along the James River. Downriver from Jamestown, Wolstenholme Towne was established in the eastern end of the current county on a land grant known as Martin's Hundred, located on property which is now part of Carter's Grove Plantation.

The privately-owned Virginia Company lost its charter in 1624, and Virginia became a royal colony. In 1634, the English Crown created eight shires (i.e. counties) in the colony of Virginia, with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. James City Shire, as well as the James River and Jamestown which had been named earlier, took its name from King James I, the father of the then-king, Charles I. About 1642-43, the name of the James City Shire was changed to James City County.

On high ground midway across the Virginia Peninsula, Middle Plantation was established in 1632 as a fortress in the ongoing conflicts with Native Americans. It became the site of the College of William and Mary in 1693 and became the location of the capital in 1699 after Jamestown was burned (again) in 1698. Shortly thereafter, Middle Plantation was renamed Williamsburg in honor of King William III of England. The capital was moved to Richmond in 1780 at the outset of the American Revolution. The Battle of Green Spring was fought in the county just a short time before the British surrender at Yorktown. (Green Spring Plantation was the former home of Royal Governor William Berkeley).

19th & 20th centuries

During the American Civil War, the Battle of Williamsburg was waged in York and James City County during the Peninsula Campaign in 1862. Some earthworks remain at the site of the Confederate Fort Magruder. After the War, Collis P. Huntington extended the new Chesapeake and Ohio Railway through the county to reach new coal piers he had built at Newport News on Hampton Roads. Railroad stations were established at Diascund, Toano, Norge, Kelton, Williamsburg, and Grove. In Williamsburg, the temporary tracks initially laid ran down the middle of Duke of Gloucester Street.

After a change in the Virginia constitution in 1871, Williamsburg became an independent city from the county in 1884, although it remained the county seat. Williamsburg and James City County share a combined school system, courts, and some constitutional officers.

Beginning in the early 20th century, preservation and restoration efforts resulted in a major increase in tourism to the county and surrounding area. Attractions developed included Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown Settlement, the Colonial Parkway, Carter's Grove Plantation, and Busch Gardens. At the turn of the 21st century, new archaeological work was underway at Jamestown and nearby Green Spring Plantation, with the promise of new historical discoveries.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 180 mi² (465 km²), of which 143 mi² (370 km²) is land, and 37 mi² (95 km², or 20.47%) is water.

James City County straddles two major watersheds, the James River Watershed and the York River Watershed. (Both are subwatersheds of the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which stretches from Pennsylvania to Virginia). Within the James River and York watersheds are eleven subwatersheds - Diascund Creek, Ware Creek, Yarmouth Creek, Gordon Creek, Powhatan Creek, Mill Creek, College Creek, James River, York River, Skiffe's Creek and Chickahominy River. *

Demographics

As of the 2000 censusGeographic references: Main sources, #2, there were 48,102 people, 19,003 households, and 13,986 families residing in the county. The population density was 337/mi² (130/km²). There were 20,772 housing units at an average density of 145/mi² (56/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 82.05% White, 14.37% Black or African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.46% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 1.36% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the total 19,003 households, 30.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.80% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.40% were non-families. 21.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 9.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.86.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.30% under the age of 18, 6.40% from 18 to 24, 27.30% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 93.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there are 91.00 males.

Education

The public school system is jointly operated by the City of Williamsburg and James City County. The Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools system consists approximately 9,000 students in 12 schools, of which there are 7 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, and 2 high schools. The two high schools, both of which are within the county's boundaries, are Jamestown and Lafayette High Schools. Both are considered above average institutions, and a third is under construction in the Lightfoot area. For the 2001-2002 academic year, the public school system was ranked among the top five school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in the top 15% nationwide by Expansion Management Magazine. There are also two regional Governor's Schools in the area that serve gifted and talented students.

A small portion of the College of William and Mary (primarily located within Williamsburg's city limits) and a branch of Thomas Nelson Community College are located in the county.

Economy

The median income for a household in the county was $55,594, and the median income for a family was $66,171. Males had a median income of $43,339 versus $27,016 for females. The per capita income for the county was $29,256. 6.40% of the population and 4.10% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 7.30% are under the age of 18 and 4.80% are 65 or older.

Towns and communities

There are no incorporated towns in the county. Unincorporated communities include:

Military bases

Fort Magruder, an earthen fortification, was located in the county at the juncture of the roads from Lee's Mill and Yorktown to Williamsburg during the American Civil War. A few earthworks and a small memorial remain along present-day Penniman Road in a residential area.

No military installations are currently headquartered in the county. Small portions of Camp Peary and Yorktown Naval Weapons Station are located in James City County, although most portions of each of these large installation are located in neighboring York County. Also, a very small portion of Fort Eustis property adjacent to Skiffe's Creek Reservoir is also located in the county, although almost all of that facility is located in the independent city of Newport News.

The Grove Community in the southeastern end of the county was populated with many African-American families displaced during World War I and World War II as the military reservations for the Naval Weapons Station Yorktown and Camp Peary respectively were created.

Sources

  • McCartney, Martha W. (1977) James City County: Keystone of the Commonwealth; James City County, Virginia; Donning and Company; ISBN 089865999

References

External links

Government

Political parties

Attractions

Virginia counties | James City County, Virginia

James City County | ジェームズシティ郡 (バージニア州) | Condado de James City | 詹姆斯市縣

 

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the "James City County, Virginia".

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