Spotsylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia . As of the 2000 census , the population was 90,395, growing to 122,397 by 2010, a 35.40% increase since 2000, making it the 84th fastest growing county in the nation during this time period. [ citation needed ] Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse . [ 1 ] The independent city of Fredericksburg is located northeast of the county but is politically separate.

The county is a part of the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Area because of the number of commuters who travel north on Interstate 95 or the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) for work. [ citation needed

History

Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from Essex , King and Queen , and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood .

Many battles were fought in this county during the Civil War , including the battles of Chancellorsville , the Wilderness , Fredericksburg , and Spotsylvania Court House .

Stonewall Jackson was shot and mortally wounded in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville when a group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina who were in the woods heard General Jackson's party returning from a reconnaissance of Union lines. They mistook him for a Federal patrol and shot him in both arms. His left was amputated, but he was unable to recover and died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station, where Confederate wounded were being gathered for evacuation to hospitals further south away from enemy lines.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 412 square miles (1,068 km²), of which 401 square miles (1,038 km²) is land and 11 square miles (30 km²) (2.77%) is water.

It is bounded on the north by the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, the independent city of Fredericksburg , and the counties of Stafford and Culpeper ; on the south by the North Anna River and its impoundment, Lake Anna , and by the counties of Hanover and Louisa ; on the west by Orange County and Culpeper County; and on the east by Caroline County .

As of the census [ 2 ] of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile (87/km²). There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was:

• 82.89% White
• 12.45% Black or African American
• 0.32% Native American
• 1.38% Asian
• 0.05% Pacific Islander
• 1.04% from other races , and
• 1.88% from two or more races.

2.81% of the population were Hispanic or 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 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 age 18 and over, there were 93.00 males.

The 2006 median income for a household in the county was $72,453, and the median income for a family was $75,507. Males had a median income of $49,166 versus $38,076 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,458. About 3.90% of families and 5.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.70% of those under age 18 and 5.20% of those age 65 or over. [ 3 ]