Warren County, Virginia

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.{{cite book|last=Hofstra|first=Warren|title=The Planting of New Virginia: Settlement and Landscape in the Shenandoah Valley|year=2005|publisher=The Johns Hopkins University Press|location=Baltimore, MD|isbn=0801882710|pages=10–12}} Warren County was established in 1836 from Frederick and Shenandoah Counties.{{cite book|last1=Wayland|first1=John Walter|title=A History of Shenandoah County, Virginia|publisher=Genealogical|date=1969|pages=894}}{{rp|33}} At that time the county had a population of 7,000 people, a quarter of which were enslaved.{{rp|289}} 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.{{cite book|last1=Heinegg|first1=Paul|title=Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia, and South Carolina from the Colonial Period to about 1820, Volume 2|date=2005|publisher=Genealogical}}{{rp|823–824}} Joist Hite lead the Sixteen Families into the Lower Shenandoah Valley.{{cite book|last1=Kemp Cartmell|first1=Thomas|title=Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908 |date=1909|publisher=Eddy|pages=587}} Some consider that group the first European settlers of the area, others believe different claims.{{rp|ix}} Either way, Presbyterians of Scotch-Irish lineage and Quakers followed.Presbyterians: {{Hanging indent | {{cite book|last1=Kemp Cartmell|first1=Thomas|title=Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and Their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia (illustrated) from Its Formation in 1738 to 1908|date=1909|publisher=Eddy|pages=587}}{{rp|ix}}}} Quakers: {{Hanging indent | {{cite book|last1=Kretzschmar|first1=William A.|title=Handbook of the Linguistic Atlas of the Middle and South Atlantic States|date=September 15, 1993|publisher=University of Chicago Press|pages=454}}{{rp|334}}}}

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.{{cite book|last1=Forman|first1=Sam|title=Dr. Joseph Warren: The Boston Tea Party, Bunker Hill, and the Birth of American Liberty|date=November 21, 2011|publisher=Pelican|pages=400}}{{rp|368}} 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.Executions: {{Hanging indent |{{cite book|last1=Simson|first1=Jay W.|title=Custer and the Front Royal Executions of 1864|date=November 11, 2008|publisher=McFarland|pages=211}}{{rp|1}}}} {{Hanging indent |{{cite journal|last1=Boyle|first1=William E.|title=Under the Black Flag: Execution and Retaliation in Mosby's Confederacy|journal=Military Law Review|date=Spring 1994|volume=144}}{{rp|155}}}}

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.Casey, Dan. [https://www.roanoke.com/news/casey-scandals-rock-northern-shenandoah-valley-town/article_fd9aaacb-a221-5909-a6c3-0ef3d03b0076.html "CASEY: Scandals rock northern Shenandoah Valley town"], The Roanoke Times, Virginia, April 27, 2019.

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.Gully, Josh. [https://www.nvdaily.com/news/front-royal/eda-director-charged-with-filing-false-police-report/article_15f15e69-5787-5b2e-86c9-8570df6355dc.html"EDA Director Charged With Filing False Police Reports"]

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.{{cite news |last=McCaslin |first=John |date=September 24, 2019 |title=Warren County's top officials indicted in Front Royal embezzlement scam |url=https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/warren-county-s-top-officials-indicted-in-front-royal-embezzlement/article_bbbaa17c-df28-11e9-bf04-e78ba7699e79.html |work=The Rappahannock News |location=online |access-date=September 26, 2019 }} 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.

Sheriff McEathron, who had been indicted after it was revealed he was McDonald's business partner, committed suicide.Bria Llyod. [https://www.localdvm.com/news/virginia/former-warren-county-sheriff-daniel-mceathron-found-dead/ "], Local DVM, May 28, 2019.

Jennifer McDonald was charged with 32 felony counts for her role in the scheme.Gully, Josh. [https://www.nvdaily.com/nvdaily/mcdonald-charged-on-four-additional-felonies/article_e2a3aee2-b835-514f-89b9-ada3c2548f06.html"], Northern Virginia Daily, Virginia, October 28, 2019. 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.{{cite news |last=Olivo |first=Antonio |date=September 24, 2019 |title=Millions of dollars are missing. The sheriff is dead. A small Virginia town wants answers.

|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-news/millions-of-dollars-are-missing-the-sheriff-is-dead-a-small-virginia-town-wants-answers/2019/09/24/1a0be2fe-c061-11e9-b873-63ace636af08_story.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |location=Internet |access-date=September 26, 2019 }}

These charges were later dropped as the judge ruled there was no basis for the allegations.Carey, Julie.[https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/charges-dropped-against-14-warren-county-leaders/2049641/]NBC4 Washington, Virginia, October 28, 2019.

{{Location map+ | USA Virginia Warren

| caption =Warren and adjacent counties

| width=300

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

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| lon_deg =-78.26

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

| label =Fauquier

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| lat_deg =38.9

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

| label =Rappahannock

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

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{{Location map~ | USA Virginia Warren

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|217|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|213|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|3.3|sqmi}} (1.5%) 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}} The highest point is Hogback Mountain in Shenandoah National Park, along the border with Rappahannock County.

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

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

{{US Census population

|1840= 5627

|1850= 6607

|1860= 6442

|1870= 5716

|1880= 7399

|1890= 8280

|1900= 8837

|1910= 8589

|1920= 8852

|1930= 8340

|1940= 11352

|1950= 14801

|1960= 14655

|1970= 15301

|1980= 21200

|1990= 26142

|2000= 31584

|2010= 37575

|2020= 40727

|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 5, 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 5, 2014}}
1990–2000{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=March 27, 2010 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 5, 2014}} 2010 2020

}}

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.

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 31,584 people, 12,087 households, and 8,521 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|148|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 13,299 housing units at an average density of {{convert|62|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. 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.

For many years, Avtex Fibers (formerly known as the American Viscose Corporation from 1910 to 1976), was the county's largest employer and taxpayer.{{cite web |url=https://www.warrencountyva.net/press-releases/board-of-supervisors-reacts-to-eda-allegations |title=Board Of Supervisors Reacts To EDA Allegations

|author= |website=County of Warren website |publisher=Warren County Board of Supervisors |access-date=November 26, 2019 }} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/21/us/jobs-are-lost-in-plant-shutdown-but-so-is-foul-smelling-air.html |title=Jobs Are Lost in Plant Shutdown, but So Is Foul-Smelling Air |newspaper=The New York Times |date=November 21, 1989 |author=Ayres, B. Drummond Jr. |access-date=January 14, 2017}} 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.{{cite web |url=http://wceda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Bylaws102717.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://wceda.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Bylaws102717.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Bylaws of the Industrial Development Authority of the Town of Front Royal and the County of Warren, Virginia

|author= |date=December 20, 1994 |website=WCEDA.com |publisher=Warren County Economic Development Agency |access-date=September 26, 2019 }}

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

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

• Front Royal Area Transit (FRAT){{cite web|url=http://www.ci.front-royal.va.us/frat.asp?M=2&P=10&S=0|title=Front Royal Area Transit|access-date=February 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071009091334/http://www.ci.front-royal.va.us/frat.asp?M=2&P=10&S=0|archive-date=October 9, 2007}} provides weekday transit for the town of Front Royal.
• Page County Transit[http://www.vatransit.org/info_page.htm Page County Transit] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113204053/http://www.vatransit.org/info_page.htm |date=January 13, 2009 }} - the People Movers provides weekday transit for the town of Luray and weekday service between Luray and Front Royal.

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

• {{Jct|state=VA|I|66}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|I|81}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|US|11}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|US|340}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|US|522}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|SR|55}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|SR|79}}
• {{Jct|state=VA|road|Skyline Drive}}

{{div col end}}

File:Sonner Hall RMC 20150328.jpg at Randolph-Macon Academy]]

{{div col }}

• Christendom College

• Skyline High School (9–12)
• Warren County High School (9–12)
• Warren County Middle School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/wcms/|title=Welcome to Warren County Middle School|access-date=February 17, 2017}} (6–8)
• Skyline Middle School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/sms/|title=Home - Skyline Middle School}} (6–8)
• A.S. Rhodes Elementary School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/asr/|title=Welcome to A.S. Rhodes Elementary|access-date=February 17, 2017}} (K–5)
• E. Wilson Morrison Elementary School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/ewm/|title=Welcome to E. Wilson Morrison Elementary|access-date=February 17, 2017}} (K–5)
• Hilda J. Barbour Elementary School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/hjb/|title=Welcome to Hilda J. Barbour Elementary|access-date=February 17, 2017}} (PreK–5)
• Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/lfk/|title=Welcome to Leslie Fox Keyser Elementary|access-date=February 17, 2017}} (K–5)
• Ressie Jefferies Elementary School{{cite web|url=http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/rjes/|title=Welcome to Ressie Jeffries Elementary|access-date=February 17, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061009231944/http://www.wcps.k12.va.us/rjes/|archive-date=October 9, 2006}} (K–5)

• Randolph-Macon Academy (6–12)

{{div col end}}

• Front Royal (county seat)

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

{{div col|colwidth=22em}}

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

{{div col end}}

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.

{{PresHead|place=Warren County, Virginia|source={{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 8, 2020}}}}

{{PresRow|2024|Republican|15,400|6,910|369|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2020|Republican|14,069|6,603|475|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2016|Republican|11,773|5,169|1,009|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2012|Republican|9,869|6,452|377|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,879|6,997|250|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2004|Republican|8,600|5,241|227|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,335|4,313|518|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,657|3,814|1,181|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,319|3,554|1,803|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1988|Republican|4,700|2,769|129|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1984|Republican|5,016|2,551|64|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,861|2,597|462|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|2,985|3,221|311|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,718|1,508|131|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1968|Republican|2,297|1,513|1,486|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|1,886|2,494|10|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|1,842|1,850|28|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1956|Republican|2,003|1,322|80|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1952|Republican|1,888|1,362|11|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|1,016|1,291|176|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|761|1,034|3|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|491|1,338|4|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|426|1,174|4|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|367|1,096|9|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|564|710|0|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|150|699|39|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1920|Democratic|293|720|21|Virginia}}

{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|214|583|10|Virginia}}

{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|122|571|47|Virginia}}

• Thomas Ashby, born in Warren County, physician and Maryland state legislator{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aVMDAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA439|title=Genealogical and Memorial Encyclopedia of the State of Maryland: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of a Commonwealth and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2|publisher=American Historical Society, Inc.|year=1919|pages=439–442}}
• Thomas M. Allen, born in Warren County, clergyman and university official in Missouri{{cite book|last1=Richardson|first1=Robert|title=Memoirs of Alexander Campbell: Embracing a View of the Origin, Progress and Principles of the Religious Reformation which He Advocated|date=1870|publisher=J.B. Lippincott & Company|page=[https://archive.org/details/memoirsalexande00richgoog/page/n385 376]|url=https://archive.org/details/memoirsalexande00richgoog|access-date=May 14, 2018|language=en}}

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

{{Commons category|Warren County, Virginia}}

{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Geographic Location

|Centre = Warren County, Virginia

|North = Frederick County

|Northeast = Clarke County

|East = Fauquier County

|Southeast = Rappahannock County

|South =

|Southwest = Page County

|West = Shenandoah County

|Northwest =

}}

{{Warren County, Virginia}}

{{Virginia}}

{{DCMetroArea}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|38.91|-78.21|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Virginia counties

Category:Northern Virginia counties

Category:Washington metropolitan area

Category:1836 establishments in Virginia

Category:Populated places established in 1836