Henrico County, Virginia
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Template:Infobox U.S. County Template:Greater Richmond Region Henrico County is a county located in the state of Virginia. As of 2000, the population is 262,300. It is located in the Richmond-Petersburg region and is a portion of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).
The land within Henrico County encompasses much of Richmond's West End as well as its "North Side."
Richmond International Raceway is located in Henrico County near Mechanicsville, just north of the City of Richmond corporate limits.
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History
Henrico County is an original shire established in 1634. The county is named for Henricus (also known as Henricopolis and Henrico Town), founded in 1611 by Sir Thomas Dale. Henricus and the county were named for Henry Frederick, Prince of Wales, the eldest son of King James I of England. It originally extended to both the north and south sides of the James River (named for the King). Henrico's first boundaries incorporated an area from which 10 Virginia counties were later formed in whole or in part, as well as the independent cities of Richmond, Charlottesville and Colonial Heights.
The original county seat was at Varina, at the Varina Farms plantation estate near the James River where John Rolfe and Pocahontas had lived, and their son Thomas Rolfe was born. The Henrico-Glebe house at Varina was the location where Reverend Dr. James Blair, rector of Henrico Parish, is believed to have drawn up the plans for new school which became the College of William and Mary in 1693 after his mission to England at the request of the House of Burgesses. Varina remained the county seat until 1752, when it was relocated to the new Henrico County Court House, located at 20th and Main Streets in what is now the City of Richmond. (In modern times, Varina Farm is still actively cultivated, and can be seen from Interstate 295 to the east just north of the Varina-Enon Bridge, not far from the WRVA transmitter site and dual radio towers).
During the Civil War the battles of Seven Pines, Savage's Station, Oak Grove, Garnett's and Golding's Farms, White Oak Swamp, Glendale, and Malvern Hill took place in this county in 1862 during the Peninsula Campaign. Additional significant battles took place in 1864 prior to and during the Siege of Petersburg which led to the fall of Richmond. Confederate General J.E.B. Stuart was killed in Henrico County at the Battle of Yellow Tavern on May 12, 1864.
Transportation
Henrico County is one of only two counties in Virginia which maintain their own roads, the other being Arlington County. This special status was due to the existence of county highway departments prior to the creation of the state agency which is now VDOT in 1927, and the assumption of local roads by that agency in 1932. The control of the roads system is considered a powerful advantage for community urban planners, who can require developers to contribute to funding needed for road needs serving their projects.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 634 km² (245 mi²). 617 km² (238 mi²) of it is land and 17 km² (7 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.67% water.
Census-designated places
- Chamberlayne
- Dumbarton
- East Highland Park
- Glen Allen
- Highland Springs
- Lakeside
- Laurel
- Montrose
- Sandston
- Short Pump
- Tuckahoe
- Varina
- Wyndham
No new municipalities can now be created within Henrico County. There are no existing incorporated towns. It has become the third Virginia county (after Arlington and Fairfax Counties) to be affected by a state law that prohibits the creation of any new towns or cities within the boundaries of a county with a population density of 1,000 or more per square mile.
Demographics
As of the census2 of 2000, there were 262,300 people, 108,121 households, and 69,846 families residing in the county. The population density was 425/km² (1,102/mi²). There were 112,570 housing units at an average density of 183/km² (473/mi²). The racial makeup of the county was 68.91% White, 24.71% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 3.60% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.98% from other races, and 1.42% from two or more races. 2.27% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 108,121 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.30% were married couples living together, 13.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.40% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out with 24.70% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 32.90% from 25 to 44, 22.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 88.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.60 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $49,185, and the median income for a family was $59,298. Males had a median income of $40,203 versus $29,795 for females. The per capita income for the county was $26,410. 6.20% of the population and 4.50% of families were below the poverty line. 8.10% of those under the age of 18 and 4.50% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.
Board of Supervisors
- Brookland District - Richard W. Glover
- Fairfield District - Frank J. Thornton
- Three Chopt District - David A. Kaechele
- Tuckahoe District - Patricia S. O'Bannon
- Varina District - James B. Donati Jr.
Education
- The school division known as Henrico County Public Schools consists of 43 elementary schools, 11 middle schools, and 9 high schools subdivided into five school districts.
- In the year 2001, HCPS began distributing Apple iBooks to every high school student. In 2003 they extended the program to middle schools.
- In the year 2005, the HCPS School Board decided to replace the iBooks with Dell's Inspiron 600M at the High School level.
- In the year 2006, the HCPS School Board decided to continue using Apple iBooks at the Middle School level, purchasing nearly 13,000 laptops in a contract worth $15.8 million.
Notable Facts
- Henrico County was the location of the August 16th, 2005 "iRiot", where 1,000 of the public school system's iBooks were being sold for only $50 each. Seventeen people were hurt and/or trampled in the ensuing fracas, four of which had to be treated at a hospital for non-serious injuries. While the mayhem that was seen on the news worldwide seemed terrible, the actual distributing of the 1000 laptops was much smoother.