Frederick County, Virginia

The area that would become Frederick County, Virginia, was inhabited and transited by various indigenous peoples for thousands of years before European colonization.

Colonization efforts began with the Virginia Company of London, but European settlement did not flourish until after the company lost its charter and Virginia became a royal colony in 1624. In order to stimulate migration to the colony, the headright system was used. Under this system, those who funded an emigrant's transportation costs (not the actual colonizers) were compensated with land.{{Cite book|title=Dividing the Land: Early American Beginnings of Our Private Property Mosaic|last=Price|first=Edward T.|publisher=University of Chicago Press |year= 1995|isbn=9780226680651|location=Chicago|pages=[https://archive.org/details/dividinglandearl0000pric/page/91 91, 105–107]|url= https://archive.org/details/dividinglandearl0000pric/page/91}} In 1649 the exiled King Charles II granted several acres of colonial Virginia lands to "seven loyal supporters", including Lord Fairfax. The Fairfax lands passed to Thomas Fairfax, 5th Lord Fairfax of Cameron (1657-1710), who married the daughter of Thomas Colepeper, who also owned several acres of land. After their son, Lord Thomas Fairfax, inherited the combined grants, he controlled over 5,000,000 acres of land in Virginia, including much of the land that became Frederick County.{{Cite web|url= http://www.lva.virginia.gov/|title= About the Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants/Northern Neck Grant and Surveys|website=Library of Virginia |access-date=October 25, 2018}}

Frederick County was created from Orange County in 1738, and was officially organized in 1743.{{Cite web|url=http://www.mapofus.org|title=Maps of Virginia|website=Maps of US|access-date=October 25, 2018}} The Virginia Assembly named the new county for Frederick Louis, Prince of Wales{{cite book|url= https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ|title= The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |author= Gannett, Henry|publisher=Govt. Print. Off.|year=1905|pages=[https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ/page/n120 131]}} (1707–1751), the eldest son of King George II of Great Britain. At that time, "Old Frederick County" encompassed all or part of four counties in present-day Virginia and five in present-day West Virginia:

• Hampshire (West Virginia), created 1754
• Dunmore, created 1772 and renamed Shenandoah in 1778
• Berkeley (West Virginia), created 1772
• Hardy (West Virginia), created 1786
• Jefferson (West Virginia), created 1801
• Morgan (West Virginia), created 1820
• Page, created 1831
• Clarke, created 1836
• Warren, created 1836

As commanding officer of the new Colonial Virginia regiment in 1754, Colonel George Washington located his headquarters in Winchester before and during the French and Indian War. He resigned from military service in 1758. He represented Frederick County in his first elective office, having been elected to the House of Burgesses in 1758 and 1761.

Seventeen years later, on June 15, 1775, the Continental Congress "elected" George Washington as commander-in-chief of the yet-to-be-created Continental Army. He accepted the appointment the next day.{{cite web|url= http://www.loc.gov/teachers/classroommaterials/presentationsandactivities/presentations/timeline/amrev/contarmy/accepts.html |title=Creating a Continental Army|work=The American Revolution 1763-1783|publisher=Library of Congress |date=n.d.|access-date=August 26, 2020}} This preceded the Congress's declaration of independence and the outbreak of the American Revolutionary War.

Winchester was a site of volatile conditions during the Civil War of 1861–1865, with control shifting between the Confederate and Union armies on average once every three weeks during the war. Many battles were fought in Frederick County. Some of those battles included:

• First Battle of Kernstown, March 1862
• First Battle of Winchester, May 1862
• Second Battle of Winchester, June 1863
• Second Battle of Kernstown, July 1864
• Third Battle of Winchester (Battle of Opequon), September 1864
• Battle of Cedar Creek, October 1864

The first constitution of West Virginia provided for Frederick County to be added to the new state if approved by a local election.{{cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/HISTORY/statehood/constitution.html|title=West Virginia Constitution|website=www.wvculture.org|access-date=February 12, 2009|archive-date=January 19, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170119011204/http://www.wvculture.org/History/statehood/constitution.html|url-status=dead}}

Unlike neighboring Berkeley and Jefferson counties, Frederick County remained in Virginia; as it was occupied by the Confederate army, no vote was permitted to ascertain the residents' wishes.Virginia v. West Virginia, 78 U.S. 39, 42.

Four (alkaline, saline, chalybeate, and sulphured) types of mineral water springs naturally occur on the land that would later be named Rock Enon Springs.{{cite book|last1=Engelhard|first1=G.P.|title=The Standard medical directory of North America|date=1902|pages=924}}{{rp|868}} The area was once called Capper Springs, named for area settler John Capper.{{cite book|last1=Peale|first1=Albert Charles|title=Lists and Analyses of the Mineral Springs of the United States|url=https://archive.org/details/listsandanalyse00pealgoog|date=1886|publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office|pages=[https://archive.org/details/listsandanalyse00pealgoog/page/n239 235]}}{{rp|57}} William Marker bought the {{convert|942|acre}} in 1856 and built a hotel, the first building of the Rock Enon Springs Resort. It survived the American Civil War.{{cite book|last1=Bell|first1=Stewart Jr.|title=Rock Enon Springs Records #1303|publisher=Handley Regional Library|location=Winchester, VA, USA|url=http://www.youseemore.com/handley/contentpages.asp?loc=490|access-date=February 27, 2017}} On March 24, 1899, the Shenandoah Valley National Bank purchased the property for $3,500.{{cite news|title=Rock Enon Springs Sold: Property Purchased by Bank to Protect Deed of Trust |newspaper=Washington Post|date=March 25, 1899}}{{rp|9}} During the summer of 1914 botanists found a variety of ferns on the property: polypodium vulgare, phegopteris hexagonoptera, adiantum pedatum, pteris aquilina, and cheilanthes lanosa.{{cite journal|last1=Tuttle|first1=Mary Louise|title=Fern Trips in Virginia|journal= American Fern Journal|date=1915|volume=5|issue=4|pages=108–113|doi=10.2307/1544094|jstor=1544094|url=https://www.biodiversitylibrary.org/part/229984 }}

The idea that soaking in the natural spring water had medical value made this and other springs popular tourist destinations through the early 20th century.Tourism: {{Hanging indent |{{cite book|last1=Bell|first1=Stewart Jr.|title=Rock Enon Springs Records #1303|publisher=Handley Regional Library|location=Winchester, VA, USA|url=http://www.youseemore.com/handley/contentpages.asp?loc=490|access-date=February 27, 2017}}}} {{Hanging indent |{{cite news|title=The Movements of Officials|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 24, 1888}}{{rp|2}}}} {{Hanging indent |{{cite news|title=At Rock Enon Springs Several Washingtonians Enjoy Vacations in Quiet Virginia Resort|issue=Special|newspaper=Washington Post|date=July 30, 1911}}{{rp|E1}}}}

In 1944, people no longer had as much faith in the springs, and there was much more competition for tourists at other sites. Due to declining business, the Glaize family sold the property to the Shenandoah Area Council. They adapted the resort to operate as a Boy Scout site, Camp Rock Enon. In 1944 the {{convert|5|acre|km2}} Miller Lake was created by adding a {{convert|200|ft|m}} earth dam across Laurel Run using equipment, owned by the Federal fish hatchery in Leestown.{{cite news|title=Dam to Back Up Water For Scout Camp Lake|newspaper=Washington Post|date=February 27, 1944}}{{rp|M4}} In 1958 "walnut, chestnut and persimmon trees" were planted on the property.{{cite book|title=Annual Report, Volume 49|date=1958|publisher=Northern Nut Growers Association}}{{rp|50}}

{{Location map+ | USA Virginia Frederick

| caption =

| width=300

| places =

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Winchester

| label_size=100

| marksize=5

| position =right

| lat_deg =39.183333

| lon_deg =-78.166667

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Hardy

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.01

| lon_deg =-78.86

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Morgan

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.56

| lon_deg =-78.26

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Berkeley

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.47

| lon_deg =-78.03

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Hampshire

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =top

| lat_deg =39.31

| lon_deg =-78.61

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

| label =Shenandoah

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =38.9

| lon_deg =-78.3

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Clarke

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =39.05

| lon_deg =-78

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Frederick

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =top

| lat_deg =39.05

| lon_deg =-78.26

}}

{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Frederick

| label =Warren

| label_size=100

| marksize=0

| position =bottom

| lat_deg =38.93

| lon_deg =-78.2

}}

}}

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|416|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|414|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2|sqmi}} (0.5%) is water.{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}} This is the northernmost county in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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

{{US Census population

|1790= 19681

|1800= 24744

|1810= 22574

|1820= 24706

|1830= 26046

|1840= 14242

|1850= 15975

|1860= 16546

|1870= 16596

|1880= 17553

|1890= 17880

|1900= 13239

|1910= 12787

|1920= 12461

|1930= 13167

|1940= 14008

|1950= 17537

|1960= 21941

|1970= 28893

|1980= 34150

|1990= 45723

|2000= 59209

|2010= 78305

|2020= 91419

|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 2, 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 2, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 2, 2014}} 2010 2020
The drop from 1830 to 1840 was because
Clarke and Warren counties were split off.

}}

As of the census{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }} of 2000, there were 59,209 people, 22,097 households, and 16,727 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|143|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 23,319 housing units at an average density of {{convert|56|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 94.99% White, 2.62% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.56% from other races, and 1.01% from two or more races. 1.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 22,097 households, out of which 36.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.50% were married couples living together, 8.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.30% were non-families. 19.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.64 and the average family size was 3.02.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 26.40% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 31.90% from 25 to 44, 24.10% from 45 to 64, and 10.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 100.10 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $46,941, and the median income for a family was $52,281. Males had a median income of $35,705 versus $25,046 for females. The per capita income for the county was $21,080. About 4.00% of families and 6.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.30% of those under age 18 and 6.90% of those age 65 or over.

• Chairman: Charles S. DeHaven, Jr. (R)
• Back Creek District: Shawn Graber (R)
• Gainesboro District: Douglas McCarthy (R)
• Opequon District: Robert Wells (R)
• Red Bud District: Blaine P. Dunn (R)
• Shawnee District: David Stegmaier (R)
• Stonewall District: Judith McCann-Slaughter (R)

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Rebecca P. "Becky" Hogan (D)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Seth T. Thatcher (R)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Ross Spicer (R)
• Sheriff: Lenny Millholland (I)
• Treasurer: C. William Orndoff, Jr. (R)

Frederick is represented by Republican Jill Holtzman Vogel (R), in the Virginia Senate, Wendy Gooditis (D), Chris Collins (R), and Dave LaRock (R), in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Ben Cline (R) in the U.S. House of Representatives.

{{PresHead|place=Frederick 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}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|33,117|18,331|815|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|30,558|17,207|938|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|26,083|11,932|2,425|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|22,858|12,690|846|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|20,149|12,961|502|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|19,386|8,853|301|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|14,574|7,158|660|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|10,608|5,976|1,828|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|9,425|4,942|3,101|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|9,921|3,707|89|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|9,542|2,671|54|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|7,293|2,948|546|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,162|3,389|121|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,367|1,604|168|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,696|1,612|2,146|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,585|2,880|9|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,061|1,757|17|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|1,882|1,405|73|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,803|1,326|5|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|921|1,244|239|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|938|1,213|5|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|773|1,631|2|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|665|1,386|7|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|456|1,536|24|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|1,006|1,140|0|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|484|1,314|29|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|875|1,337|24|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|366|1,194|21|Virginia}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|181|922|132|Virginia}}

File:2019-07-09 12 21 47 View south along Interstate 81 from the overpass for Virginia State Route 277 (Fairfax Pike) just southeast of Stephens City in Frederick County, Virginia.jpg

• Winchester Transit{{cite web|url=http://www.winchesterva.gov/transit/|title=Public Transportation|last=winDev|date=August 17, 2012|website=www.winchesterva.gov}} provides weekday transit for the city of Winchester.

{{div col}}

• {{jct|state=VA|I|66}}
• {{jct|state=VA|I|81}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|11}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|17}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|48}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|50}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|340}}
• {{jct|state=VA|US|522}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|7}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|37}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|55}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|127}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|259}}
• {{jct|state=VA|VA|277}}

{{div col end}}

Frederick County is served by Frederick County Public Schools, which includes several elementary, middle, and high schools. Frederick County is also part of the region served by the Mountain Vista Governor's School, which offers upper-level classes to intellectually gifted high school students.

• Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School
• Frederick County Middle School
• James Wood Middle School
• Robert E. Aylor Middle School

• James Wood High School
• Millbrook High School
• Sherando High School

• Laurel Ridge Community College

• Shenandoah University

• Handley Regional Library

File:Map of Frederick County, Virginia with Municipal and District Labels.png

Although designated as the county seat, Winchester, like all cities under Virginia law, is an independent city, politically independent of any county.

• Middletown
• Stephens City

• Lake Holiday
• Shawneeland

{{columns-list|colwidth=20em|

• Albin
• Armel
• Bartonsville
• Brucetown
• Burnt Factory
• Canterburg
• Cedar Grove
• Cedar Hill
• Clear Brook
• Cross Junction
• De Haven
• Gainesboro
• Good
• Gore
• Gravel Springs
• Greenwood
• Green Spring
• Grimes
• Hayfield
• Indian Hollow
• Jordan Springs
• Kernstown
• Lake Frederick
• Leetown
• Lehew
• Marlboro
• McQuire
• Meadow Mills
• Mill Race Estates
• Mount Pleasant
• Mount Williams
• Mountain Falls
• Mountain Falls Park
• Nain
• Opequon
• Parkins Mills
• Rest
• Reynolds Store
• Ridings Mill
• Rock Enon Springs
• Round Hill
• Shockeysville
• Siler
• Star Tannery
• Stephenson
• Vaucluse
• Welltown
• Whitacre
• White Hall
• Wilde Acres

}}

• William McGuire (judge) (1765-1820), lawyer, first chief justice of the Mississippi Territory

• National Register of Historic Places listings in Frederick County, Virginia
• List of routes in Frederick County, Virginia

{{Reflist}}

{{commons category|Frederick County, Virginia}}

• [http://www.fcva.us/ Official Website for the County of Frederick]
• [http://www.frederick.k12.va.us/ Frederick County Public Schools]
• [https://regionalchamber.biz Winchester-Frederick County Chamber of Commerce]
• [http://www.visitwinchesterva.com/ Winchester Frederick County Convention and Visitor Bureau]
• [http://www.winfredclerk.com/ Winchester Frederick County Circuit Court Clerks]

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Frederick County, Virginia

|North = Morgan County, West Virginia

|Northeast = Berkeley County, West Virginia

|East = Clarke County

|Southeast =

|South = Warren County

|Southwest = Hardy County, West Virginia, and Shenandoah County

|West = Hampshire County, West Virginia

|Northwest =

}}

{{FrederickCountyVA}}

{{Virginia}}

{{Frederick County, Virginia in the American Civil War}}

{{authority control}}

Category:Virginia counties

Category:Northern Virginia counties

Category:Northwestern Turnpike

Category:Winchester, VA–WV MSA

Category:1743 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies