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Rockbridge County
Rockbridge County
County
	Church Hill (Lexington, Virginia)
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
	Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 37°49′N 79°27′W / 37.81°N 79.45°W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	October 1777 (established); 1778 (organized)
Named for	Natural Bridge
Seat	Lexington
Largest town	Lexington
Area
• Total	601 sq mi (1,560 km2)
• Land	598 sq mi (1,550 km2)
• Water	3.4 sq mi (9 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	22,650
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	6th
Website	www.co.rockbridge.va.us

Rockbridge County is a county in the Shenandoah Valley on the western edge of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,650.^[1] Its county seat is the city of Lexington.^[2] Rockbridge County completely surrounds the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington with Rockbridge County for statistical purposes.

History

The Monacan Indian Nation inhabited the area for thousands of years before American settlers arrived in the area. Multiple mounds were constructed near the modern towns of Rockbridge and Rockbridge Baths.^[3]

Rockbridge County was established in October 1777, from parts of now neighboring Augusta and Botetourt counties, and the first county elections were held in May 1778. Rockbridge County was named for Natural Bridge, a notable landmark in the southern portion of the county. Rockbridge County was formed during an act of assembly intended to reduce the distance that residents had to travel to the nearest courthouse, and to ensure trials were held fairly, and among neighbors rather than strangers. The first court session in Rockbridge County was held at the home of Samuel Wallace on April 7, 1778.

Because there were many subsistence farmers in the area, residents held fewer enslaved African Americans in Rockbridge County than in many parts of Virginia. The anti-slavery movement was stronger in Rockbridge than in the Tidewater or Piedmont regions. Several faculty members at Washington College (now Washington and Lee University) vigorously opposed slavery.

But, many of the wealthiest residents of Rockbridge County were planters and large landowners; they held numerous slaves and bequeathed them as property to their widows and children, or gave them as wedding gifts.^[4]

Cyrus McCormick grew up on his father's plantation in Raphine. His father held 41 enslaved African Americans and was a major property owner in real estate as well. McCormick invented the mechanical reaper near Steele's Tavern at the northern end of the county.

Geography

The hilly terrain of Rockbridge County was densely wooded in the eighteenth century. Its more level areas have now been cleared and turned to agriculture. The county is bordered by high ridges along its NW and SE borders, with the crests running NE-SW. The terrain's highest point (4,072 feet/1,241 meters ASL) is Rocky Mountain on its SE border with Amherst County.^[5]

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 601 square miles (1,560 km²), of which 598 square miles (1,550 km²) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[6] Rockbridge County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,^[7] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.^[8]

Adjacent counties

Bath County – northwest
Augusta County – northeast
Nelson County – east
Amherst County – southeast
Bedford County – south
Botetourt County – southwest
Alleghany County – west

National protected areas

Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
George Washington National Forest (part)
Jefferson National Forest (part)
United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Major highways


I-64 I-81 US 11 US 60 US 501	SR 39 SR 56 SR 130 SR 251 SR 252

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	6,548	—
1800	8,945	36.6%
1810	10,318	15.3%
1820	11,945	15.8%
1830	14,244	19.2%
1840	14,284	0.3%
1850	16,045	12.3%
1860	17,248	7.5%
1870	16,058	−6.9%
1880	20,003	24.6%
1890	23,062	15.3%
1900	21,799	−5.5%
1910	21,171	−2.9%
1920	20,626	−2.6%
1930	20,902	1.3%
1940	22,384	7.1%
1950	23,359	4.4%
1960	24,039	2.9%
1970	16,637	−30.8%
1980	17,911	7.7%
1990	18,350	2.5%
2000	20,808	13.4%
2010	22,307	7.2%
2020	22,650	1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790–1960^[10] 1900–1990^[11] 1990–2000^[12] 2010^[13] 2020^[14]

2020 census

**Rockbridge County, Virginia - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[13]	Pop 2020^[14]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	20,915	20,357	93.76%	89.88%
Black or African American alone (NH)	585	565	2.62%	2.49%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	99	85	0.44%	0.38%
Asian alone (NH)	103	181	0.46%	0.80%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	3	6	0.01%	0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	15	82	0.07%	0.36%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	291	861	1.30%	3.80%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	296	513	1.33%	2.26%
Total	22,307	22,650	100.00%	100.00%

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.

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States census,^[15] there were 20,808 people, 8,486 households, and 6,075 families in the county. The population density was 35 people per square mile (14 people/km²). There were 9,550 housing units at an average density of 16 units per square mile (6.2 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.42% White, 2.97% Black or African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.44% Asian, 0.12% from other races, and 0.78% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 8,486 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 9.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.40% were non-families. 23.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 9.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.84.

The county population contained 22.20% under the age of 18, 7.90% from 18 to 24, 27.20% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 100.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,035, and the median income for a family was $41,324. Males had a median income of $28,217 versus $19,946 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,356. About 6.60% of families and 9.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.40% of those under age 18 and 9.60% of those age 65 or over.

Media

The Rockbridge Advocate (monthly magazine)
The News-Gazette (weekly newspaper)
The Rockbridge Report (weekly broadcast and website, Washington & Lee University journalism students)
EyeOnVirginia.com (videos and interviews with Rockbridge area newsmakers)
Radio - 96.7 3WZ and 100.3 The Big Dawg

Communities

The independent cities of Buena Vista and Lexington (incorporated 1892 and 1966 respectively) are enclaves within the boundaries of Rockbridge County, and are not a part of the county. Lexington is the county seat, despite its independent status, and shares three constitutional officers with Rockbridge County: Sheriff, Clerk of the Circuit Court and Commonwealth's Attorney. Buena Vista does not share constitutional officers with either Rockbridge County or Lexington.

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

Robert H. Adams (1792–1832), born in Rockbridge County, United States Senator from Mississippi^[16]
John Allen (1771–1813), born in Rockbridge County, a Kentucky political figure and colonel of militia, killed in the War of 1812
Adam Rankin Alexander (1781–1848), born in Rockbridge County, United States Congressman from Tennessee^[16]
Archibald Alexander (1772–1851), born in Rockbridge County, noted Presbyterian clergyman, president of Hampden–Sydney College, and one of the founders of and the first professor of Princeton Theological Seminary^[16]
Samuel Dale (1772–1841), born in Rockbridge County, American frontiersman, known as the "Daniel Boone of Alabama" and a veteran of the Creek War of 1813–1814
Pierre Daura (1896–1976), Spanish/Catalan painter, naturalized American who lived in the county
Jessie Benton Frémont (1824–1902), born in Rockbridge County, American writer and political activist
William C. Friday (1920–2012), born in Raphine, Rockbridge County, American educator, public servant and President of University of North Carolina
Sam Houston (1793–1863), born in Rockbridge County, the only person to serve as governor of two U.S. states (Texas and Tennessee), victor at the Battle of San Jacinto, President of the Republic of Texas, and United States Senator
Stonewall Jackson (1824–1863), one-time resident of Lexington, the county seat; General in the Confederate Army
Robert E. Lee (1807–1870), former commander of the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the U.S. Civil War; after the war he accepted the presidency of Washington and Lee University (then Washington College)
Sally Mann (born 1951), celebrated American photographer
Charlie Manuel (born 1944), American and Japanese baseball player and World Series champion manager of the Philadelphia Phillies
Rick Mast (born 1957), Fan-favorite Winston Cup and Busch Series driver
Cyrus McCormick (1809–1884), inventor of the reaper
Miles Poindexter (1868-1946), Graduate of Fancy Hill Academy and Washington & Lee University, United States Senator from Washington, 1920 Republican Primary Presidential Candidate, United States Ambassador to Peru, Author, retired to and died in his home in Arnolds Valley
Samuel B. Pryor (1816–1866), First mayor of Dallas, TX. He was in the first class of the Virginia Military Institute.
Archibald Roane (1759/60–1819), lived in Rockbridge County in the 1780s, Governor of Tennessee
William Taylor (missionary) -- Nineteenth century missionary who spread and/or introduced Methodism around the world through his missionary work.
A. Willis Robertson (1887–1971), U.S. Senator, father of Pat Robertson
Pat Robertson (1930–2023), American minister, university president and media figure
Archibald Stuart (1795–1855), founder of Phi Beta Kappa
Cy Twombly (1928–2011), born in Lexington, American expatriate painter

Politics

United States presidential election results for Rockbridge County, Virginia^[17]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	8,468	66.01%	4,160	32.43%	200	1.56%
2020	8,088	65.37%	4,086	33.02%	199	1.61%
2016	6,680	61.88%	3,508	32.50%	607	5.62%
2012	5,898	57.95%	4,088	40.17%	191	1.88%
2008	5,732	56.22%	4,347	42.64%	116	1.14%
2004	5,412	58.95%	3,627	39.51%	142	1.55%
2000	4,522	57.77%	2,953	37.73%	352	4.50%
1996	3,274	44.98%	3,116	42.81%	889	12.21%
1992	3,228	43.02%	2,908	38.76%	1,367	18.22%
1988	3,541	58.41%	2,412	39.79%	109	1.80%
1984	4,067	65.66%	2,098	33.87%	29	0.47%
1980	2,784	49.04%	2,475	43.60%	418	7.36%
1976	2,157	43.66%	2,525	51.11%	258	5.22%
1972	3,009	74.28%	956	23.60%	86	2.12%
1968	2,280	56.80%	845	21.05%	889	22.15%
1964	2,200	45.78%	2,599	54.08%	7	0.15%
1960	2,170	60.53%	1,405	39.19%	10	0.28%
1956	2,273	66.50%	1,039	30.40%	106	3.10%
1952	2,068	65.90%	1,059	33.75%	11	0.35%
1948	1,062	46.50%	994	43.52%	228	9.98%
1944	961	36.85%	1,638	62.81%	9	0.35%
1940	902	35.58%	1,618	63.83%	15	0.59%
1936	868	34.50%	1,635	64.98%	13	0.52%
1932	811	30.97%	1,764	67.35%	44	1.68%
1928	1,206	47.91%	1,311	52.09%	0	0.00%
1924	680	31.89%	1,394	65.38%	58	2.72%
1920	1,054	43.34%	1,365	56.13%	13	0.53%
1916	601	36.18%	1,049	63.15%	11	0.66%
1912	433	26.81%	949	58.76%	233	14.43%