Campbell County, Virginia

File:Green Hill Plantation Campbell County Virginia.jpg, Campbell County, Historic American Buildings Survey{{cite web|url=https://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/item/va0274.photos.160023p/|title=- Green Hill Plantation & Main House, State Route 728, Long Island, Campbell County, VA|website=www.loc.gov|year=1960 |access-date=April 10, 2018}}]]

The Native American tribes of the Monacan, Iroquois, and Cherokee were the original inhabitants of the Campbell County area, but were later forced west due to the settlers' progress. Sir William Gooch, in 1727, created a couple of "inducements" in order to lure settlers to the Campbell County area. These inducements were that if one settled on the Staunton River "in the bounds of the newly formed County of Brunswick" then they would be freed from paying levies for ten years. The second "inducement" was that the settler could claim 400 acres simply by building a cabin on the land and by "planting a patch of grain".{{Citation needed|date=May 2019}}

Throughout the 18th century, multiple Scotch-Irish families would begin settling in the area, these names included the Irvins, the Mitchells, the McCues, the McElroys, McDowells, Campbells, and others. These families arrived on a ship known as the George and Ann, sailed by Captain Rymer, who, instead of going towards Philadelphia from Derry, planned to keep sailing around the coast until the passengers starved to death, so he could loot their valuables. However, a captain named Captain Lothrop spotted the ship in distress nearby Monomoy. Afterwards, the passengers were landed at Orleans, and these future settlers of Campbell County would travel south to investigate Sir William Gooch's inducements.{{Cite book |last=Popek |first=Diane |title=TRACKS Along the Staunton: A History of Leesville, Lynch Station, Hurt, & Altavista |publisher=Altavista Printing Company |year=1984 |edition=1st |language=en |asin=}}{{Cite web |title=VOYAGE OF THE SHIP GEORGE AND ANNE |url=http://thefamilyforest.weebly.com/voyage-of-the-ship-george-and-anne.html |access-date=December 9, 2023 |website=OUR FAMILY FOREST |language=en}}

These inducements successfully attracted only a few new settlers, and the Governor soon took mention of his inducements to the ocean ports in which immigrants were arriving in America, as well as to the ports back in their homelands. This great difficulty in gaining new settlers for Campbell County is one of the reasons that the Governor allowed the Scotch-Irish immigrants with Presbyterian beliefs to gain religious freedom, in order to secure as many new settlers as possible for the newly founded county.{{cite book|title=An Historical Sketch of Campbell County, Virginia|last1=Fawcett|first1=Marian|date=1963|page=2}}

The area that would become Campbell County was first settled by Europeans, initially Scotch-Irish Presbyterians, in the late 1730s. After nearly fifty years of immigration and development, the newly formed county was established in 1782 from part of Bedford County, and was the first county formed after the American Revolution.{{cite web|url=https://www.campbellcountyvahistoricalsociety.org/index.html|title=First Facts|publisher=Campbell County Historical Society|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150622033613/http://campbellcountyvahistoricalsociety.org/index.html |archive-date=June 22, 2015 }} Campbell County was named for Revolutionary War hero, General William Campbell, who is known for the 1780 Battle of Kings Mountain. The independent city of Lynchburg, Virginia was subsequently formed from the county's land in 1786.{{cite web|title=About Campbell County|url=http://www.co.campbell.va.us/Pages/about.aspx|publisher=Campbell County, Virginia|access-date=February 9, 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209224728/http://www.co.campbell.va.us/Pages/about.aspx|archive-date=February 9, 2015}}

File:Map of Campbell Co. LOC 2002627426.jpg

File:Sanborn Fire Insurance Map from Altavista, Campbell County, Virginia. LOC sanborn08969 002-2.jpg

Jeremiah Rust donated the land that would become the county's seat named Rustburg.{{cite web |title=County History {{!}} Campbell County, VA |url=https://www.co.campbell.va.us/377/County-History |website=www.co.campbell.va.us |access-date=March 13, 2019}} The towns of Altavista and Brookneal were created due to their business advantages as well as the "intersection of trails". Altavista was planned by a group of businessmen in 1907, due to its "strategic" location and "potential" as a new location for a railroad.{{cite web|url=https://www.campbellvirginia.com/160/History-of-Campbell-County|title=History of Campbell County {{!}} Campbell County ED, VA|website=www.campbellvirginia.com|access-date=February 28, 2019}}

From its earliest days, the county relied on tobacco as the primary cash crop and basis for the economy, though it also developed early manufacturing operations. Brookneal, with its strategic location on the Staunton River, was long an important tobacco and textile hub. However, the departure of manufacturing and the changing tobacco market has forced Campbell to transform from a mainly agricultural area into a mixture of suburban and rural communities. Campbell County was also an iron manufacturer and begun operations Pre-Revolutionary War and continued operations in Oxford Iron Works until it was closed in 1875. The building is still standing today.{{cite web|url=http://www.co.campbell.va.us/Pages/about.aspx|title=About Campbell County|publisher=Campbell County, Virginia|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150209224728/http://www.co.campbell.va.us/Pages/about.aspx|archive-date=February 9, 2015|url-status=dead|access-date=February 9, 2015}}

Campbell County opened its first public school in 1871 after the Civil War. In 1878, Campbell County and Lynchburg became two separate entities when Lynchburg was recognized as an independent city. The first school fair was held in Rustburg, the county seat, in 1908. This was the first school fair ever held in Virginia and was started by the Virginia Federation of Women's Club, "with the aid of J.S. Thomas, then school examiner in the district, and with the agreement of the Van Dyke League to help in Campbell." This fair was a showcase of "expert knowledge and training," as well as each child's best work.{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=98_0ohjiw4oC&q=the+first+school+fair+rustburg+va+1908&pg=PA88|title=Campbell Chronicles and Family Sketches: Embracing the History of Campbell County, Virginia, 1782-1926|last=Early|first=Ruth Hairston|date=1978|publisher=Genealogical Publishing Com|isbn=9780806307985|language=en}}

Campbell County and its residents have participated and given aid in many wars. They have had soldiers involved in the American Revolution, Civil War, World War I, World War II, the Korean War, Vietnam War, Gulf War, and the War in Afghanistan, Iraq War.{{cite book|title=An Historical Sketch of Campbell County, Virginia|last1=Fawcett|first1=Marian|date=1963|page=8}}

Campbell County's religious origin predominantly included Protestant Christianity, with denominations such as Quakerism and Presbyterianism strongly represented. Early religious adherents sought religious freedom. They migrated from many places, but most migrated from Colonial Williamsburg and surrounding areas where the Episcopal Church hampered the practice of other religions.{{cite book|title=An Historical Sketch of Campbell County, Virginia|last1=Fawcett|first1=Marian|date=1963|pages=2, 4–5}}

File:Quaker Meetinghouse Lynchburg Nov 08-1.JPG

The Quakers gained a foothold within the Campbell County area due to Sarah Clark Lynch, wife of Charles Lynch, the founder of the ferry boat service across the James River and mother of John Lynch, the founder of Lynchburg. Due to Sarah Lynch's influence their application for a meeting house was approved, and the South River Friends Meeting House was built. The Quakers later migrated from the area due to disagreements with the other Campbell County populace over issues such as slavery and the American Revolution. The Quakers maintained pacifist beliefs and during the American Revolution they espoused a standpoint of neutrality and stated that warfare went against their belief system. This apparent refusal to aid their neighbors in their fight for independence greatly angered many and created a wedge between the Quakers and the Non-Quakers.{{cite book|title=An Historical Sketch of Campbell County, Virginia|last1=Fawcett|first1=Marian|date=1963|pages=4–5}} The Quakers also adamantly believed in the abolition of slavery and preached how the institution was wrong and should be disallowed. In 1817 they freed all of their slaves. These actions created additional tension with their slave-holding neighbors and caused many Quakers to leave the Campbell County area and to move West.{{cite book|title=Our Quaker Friends of Ye Olden Time: Being in Part a Transcript of the Minute Books of Cedar Creek Meeting, Hanover County, and the South River Meeting|date=1905|publisher=J.P. Bell Co., Pub|location=Lynchburg|page=176}}

The Presbyterian religious faction mainly consisted of Scotch-Irish who originally came to America in order to gain religious freedom from the "Established Church in Ireland" and to create a better life for themselves. They originally settled in Pennsylvania, but then moved to Virginia due to Governor Gooch's inducements to entice settlers to come to Campbell County. The Presbyterians and their descendants then remained in Campbell County, and others who had been with them on the trip to America soon followed after, greatly aiding in the settlement process.{{cite book|title=An Historical Sketch of Campbell County, Virginia|last1=Fawcett|first1=Marian|date=1963|page=3}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|507|sqmi|1}}, of which {{convert|504|sqmi|1}} is land and {{convert|3|sqmi|1}} (0.55%) is water.

• Lynchburg, Virginia – northwest (independent city)
• Amherst County, Virginia – north
• Appomattox County, Virginia – northeast
• Charlotte County, Virginia – east
• Halifax County, Virginia – southeast
• Pittsylvania County, Virginia – southwest
• Bedford County, Virginia – west

• {{Jct|state=VA|US|29}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|US|460}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|US|501}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|SR|24}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|SR|40}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|SR|43}}

{{US Census population

|1790= 7685

|1800= 9866

|1810= 11001

|1820= 16569

|1830= 20350

|1840= 21030

|1850= 23245

|1860= 26197

|1870= 28384

|1880= 36250

|1890= 41087

|1900= 23256

|1910= 23043

|1920= 26716

|1930= 22885

|1940= 26048

|1950= 28877

|1960= 32958

|1970= 43319

|1980= 45424

|1990= 47572

|2000= 51078

|2010= 54842

|2020= 55696

|estyear=

|estimate=

|estref=

|align-fn=center

|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census{{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}}
1790–1960{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 1, 2014}} 1900–1990{{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 1, 2014}}
1990–2000{{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 1, 2014}} 2010 2020

}}

As of the census of 2000, there were 51,078 people, 20,639 households, and 14,694 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|101|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people |people|}}. There were 22,088 housing units at an average density of {{convert|44|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 83.24% White, 14.71% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.62% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.33% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. 0.83% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|title=U.S. Census website|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011}}

There were 20,639 households, out of which 30.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.00% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 24.60% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the age distribution of the population showed 24.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 29.30% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 13.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $37,280, and the median income for a family was $42,901. Males had a median income of $32,108 versus $22,286 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,134. About 7.90% of families and 10.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.10% of those under age 18 and 10.90% of those age 65 or over.

{{Unreferenced section|date=May 2019}}

• Altavista district: Mr. Tom Lawton
• Brookneal district: Mr. Charlie Watts, II
• Concord district: Mr. Matt Cline
• Rustburg district: Mr. Jon Hardie
• Spring Hill district: Mr. Kenny Brown
• Sunburst district: Mr. Paul Dowdy
• Timberlake district: Mr. Justin Carwile

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Valerie Younger (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Michele Roakes (R)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Paul McAndrews (I)
• Sheriff: Winston W. Clark, III (I)
• Treasurer: Amanda R. Witkowski (R)

Campbell County is represented by Mark J. Peake in the Virginia Senate,{{cite web |title=Senate of Virginia: Mark J. Peake |url=https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/memberpage.php?id=S105 |website=apps.senate.virginia.gov |access-date=May 25, 2024}} Wendell Walker, Eric Zehr, and Mark Peake in the Virginia House of Delegates, and John McGuire in the U.S. House of Representatives.

{{PresHead|place=Campbell County, Virginia|source={{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 9, 2020}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|23,032|7,890|365|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|21,245|8,070|577|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|19,551|6,664|1,320|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|17,695|7,595|406|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|17,444|8,091|279|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|15,891|6,862|244|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|13,162|6,659|506|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|10,273|6,788|1,841|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|10,931|5,999|2,827|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|12,713|4,574|246|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,388|4,380|156|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|9,592|4,473|656|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|7,442|4,354|449|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|11,676|2,055|426|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,731|1,996|5,084|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1964|Republican|5,713|3,401|31|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|2,903|3,030|37|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,827|2,674|415|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,447|2,713|18|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|668|1,554|654|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|634|1,995|4|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|456|2,358|5|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|370|1,987|6|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|301|1,692|28|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|801|967|0|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|372|1,468|143|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|375|1,341|22|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|185|1,007|73|Virginia}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|97|810|145|Virginia}}

• Altavista
• Brookneal

• Concord
• Rustburg
• Timberlake

• Castle Craig
• Evington
• Gladys
• Kingston
• Long Island
• Lynch Station
• New London

Some of these unincorporated areas have Lynchburg mailing addresses.

{{Prose|section|date=May 2019}}

Campbell County is home to sporting events and organizations including:

• Altavista High School sports
• Altavista YMCA
• Brookville Bees Youth Athletic Association {{Webarchive|url= |date=August 20, 2016 }} - Nonprofit organization providing recreational football and basketball for area youth.
• Brookville High School sports {{Webarchive|url= |date=August 18, 2016 }}
• Brookville Soccer Club {{Webarchive|url= |date=July 23, 2016 }} - Nonprofit organization providing recreational Soccer for area youth.
• Campbell County Parks & Recreation
• Hiking areas include Timbrook Park.
• Rustburg High School sports
• Timber Lake - Fishing, paddle boating, swimming
• Timberlake Dixie Youth {{Webarchive|url= |date=September 21, 2016 }}
• William Campbell High School sports

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Campbell County, Virginia
• Campbell County Public Schools (Virginia)

{{reflist|30em}}

{{Adjacent communities

|Centre = Campbell County, Virginia

|North = City of Lynchburg and Amherst County

|Northeast = Appomattox County

|East = Charlotte County

|Southeast = Halifax County

|South =

|Southwest = Pittsylvania County

|West = Bedford County

|Northwest =

}}

{{Campbell County, Virginia}}

{{Virginia}}

{{coord|37.21|-79.09|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Virginia counties

Category:1782 establishments in Virginia

Category:Counties on the James River (Virginia)

Category:Populated places established in 1782