Buckingham County, Virginia

History

Buckingham County, lying south of the James River and in the Piedmont at the geographic center of the state, was established on May 1, 1761, from the southeastern portion of Albemarle County. The origin of the county name probably comes from the Duke of Buckingham (Buckinghamshire, England). Some sources say that the county was named for Archibald Cary's estate "Buckingham," which was located on Willis Creek. This is the only Buckingham County in the United States.

In 1778 a small triangular area bordering the James River was given to Cumberland County. In 1845, another part was taken from Buckingham to form the northern portion of Appomattox County. A final adjustment of the Appomattox-Buckingham county line was made in 1860, and Buckingham's borders then became fixed in their current form. A fire destroyed the courthouse (designed by Thomas Jefferson) in 1869, and most of the early records of this county were lost.

In the nineteenth century the county was settled more heavily by people migrating from the Tidewater area. It was devoted chiefly to plantations, worked by enslaved black Americans. These were converted from tobacco cultivation to mixed farming and pulpwood harvesting as the markets changed and the soil became exhausted from tobacco. These new types of uses required fewer slaves, and many were sold from the Upper South in the domestic slave trade to the Deep South, where cotton cultivation expanded dramatically in the antebellum period.

During the twentieth century, Joe Thompson bought the Buckingham Mill. In 1945 he put into place the long system of utilizing grain which used sifters as the grain was ground. Seven years later he added grain elevators. This was the last mill to make flour in Buckingham County and represents a time when America relied on small farms and small business owners.

In the 21st century, large tracts of land are held by companies such as WestVaco, which sell pulpwood and other timber products to the paper mills and wood product producers. It is still largely rural, with areas devoted to recreation such as fishing and hunting.

During the American Civil War, General Robert E. Lee's army marched through the county during his retreat on their way to surrender at Appomattox, Virginia. A marker in the cemetery of Trinity Presbyterian Church in New Canton reads:

In 2011, the county celebrated its 250th anniversary.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 sqmi, of which 580 sqmi is land and 3.9 sqmi (0.7%) is water.

The geographical center of Virginia is located in Buckingham County, near the Mt. Rush community.

Adjacent counties

• Fluvanna County - northeast
• Cumberland County - east
• Prince Edward County - south
• Appomattox County - southwest
• Nelson County - west
• Albemarle County - northwest

Major highways

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 16,824. The median age was 44.1 years. 19.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 19.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 119.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 121.8 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 62.3% White, 32.3% Black or African American, 0.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.5% of the population.

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.

There were 5,991 households in the county, of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 7,133 housing units, of which 16.0% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.8% were owner-occupied and 26.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.9% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.9%.

2010 Census

As of the census of 2010, there were 17,146 people and 5,695 households residing in the county. The population density was 29.6 /mi2. There were 7,294 housing units. The racial makeup of the county was 62.5% White, 35.1% Black or African American alone, 0.3% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 1.7% Hispanic or Latino, and 1.6% from two or more races. 60.9% of the population identified as White Alone, not Hispanic or Latino.

The largest ancestry groups are listed as 18.7% American, 9.2% English, and 5.4% German. People of African American descent comprise 35.1% of the population, usually having European ancestry as well.

There were 5,965 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.1% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6 had a male householder with no wife present, and 31.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 19.2% under the age of 18, .6% from 20 to 24, 13% from 25 to 34, 22.8% from 35 to 49, and 22% from 50 to 64, and 14.3% who were 65 years of age or older. There were 9,493 males and 7,653 females. The median age was 41.7.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,378. Males had a median income of $36,420 versus $32,327 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,938. About 21.1% of the population were below the poverty line.

In education, 38.2% of the population over age 25 graduated high school (or equivalent), 13.9% had some college, no degree, 3.8% hold an associate degree, 10.9% hold a bachelor's degree, and 10.9% hold a Graduate or Professional degree.

Industry

Traditional sectors

Buckingham County's economy has historically been rooted in agriculture and forestry. Livestock—particularly beef and feeder cattle—constitute a large share of agricultural revenue, while hay and other feed crops support local farms. Timberland is a significant county resource, with large areas of privately owned forest contributing to local timber harvests and wood-related employment.

Other important employment sectors include construction, retail trade, and health care and social assistance.

Emerging: solar industry

Since the early 2020s, Buckingham County has become a focal point for utility-scale solar development. Several projects have been proposed, permitted, or constructed in the county, representing new investment in renewable energy infrastructure and changes to the county's land use profile.

Notable projects cited in local and regional coverage include smaller agrivoltaic projects and larger utility arrays. One reported facility, Black Bear Solar, was described in local reporting as adopting agrivoltaic practices, pairing solar arrays with beekeeping to support pollinators and compatible agricultural uses. Larger projects such as Riverstone Solar (reported to cover substantial acreage and produce on the order of tens to hundreds of megawatts) have also been reported in the regional press.

Controversies and regulatory issues

The expansion of industrial solar in Buckingham County has generated controversy and legal/regulatory scrutiny. Reported issues include environmental compliance failures, erosion and sediment control problems, and disputes over local land-use authority and permit conditions.

Some renewable energy companies operating in or near Buckingham have been subject to enforcement actions by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) for violations such as failure to stabilize stormwater basins, sediment discharge, and inadequate site inspections. For example, enforcement actions and consent orders involving DEQ fines have been reported in local advocacy coverage. Reports indicate cumulative fines for multiple sites have been in the hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases.

Local officials and residents have also expressed concern about the scale of some proposals, the adequacy of county inspection capacity, and whether state policy changes could affect local control over siting and acreage limits for industrial solar. Specific projects (for example, Riverstone Solar and proposals associated with companies such as Energix/Gabriel Solar) have faced public hearings, petitions, and scrutiny over compliance with permit conditions; local reporting has documented investigations and potential enforcement actions related to these concerns.

Economic and social impacts

Industrial solar development in Buckingham County has been framed by proponents as an opportunity to diversify the local tax base, create temporary construction jobs, and produce renewable energy. Some projects incorporating agrivoltaic practices have been presented as models for co-existence between solar generation and agricultural uses.

Critics emphasize environmental risks (such as erosion and impacts to water quality), long-term changes to rural landscapes, potential impacts on property values, and the burden placed on county staff for monitoring and enforcement. These debates have been a recurring feature of public hearings and local media coverage related to several Buckingham County solar projects.

Government

County Administration

• County Administrator - Karl Carter

Board of Supervisors

Source:

• District 1: Dennis H. Davis Jr.
• District 2: L. Cameron Gilliam
• District 3: Michael E. Palmore
• District 4: Paul W. Garrett
• District 5: Harry W. Bryant Jr.
• District 6: Joe N. Chambers Jr.-Chairman 2025
• District 7: Danny R. Allen-Vice Chairman 2025

Planning Commission

Source:

• District 1: John E. Bickford
• District 2: Ashley Shumaker
• District 3: Pete R. Kapuscinski
• District 4: J. D. Crews
• District 5: Steven Dorrier
• District 6: Joyce Gooden
• District 7: Calvin Bachrach
• Board of Supervisors Representative: Dennis Davis (D. 1)
• Zoning Administrator / Planner: Cheryl T. “Nicci” Edmondston

School Board

Source:

• District 1: Traquan Gregory
• District 2: Todd Jamerson
• District 3: Pamela P. Morris
• District 4: Joii W. Goodman
• District 5: Joseph Snoddy
• District 6: Maynard Ritchie
• District 7: Theresa D. Bryant
• Superintendent: Dr. Cynthia Reasoner

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Justin Midkiff
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Stephanie Love (D)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Kemper Beasley
• Sheriff: W.G. "Billy" Kidd, Jr. (I)
• Treasurer: Christy L. Christian (D)
• Chief of Police: None

State officials

• Luther Henry Cifers, III (R) Virginia Senate
• Tom Garrett (R) Virginia House of Delegates

Federal officials

John McGuire (R, VA-5) in the U.S. House of Representatives

Education

• Buckingham County High School
• Buckingham County Middle School
• Buckingham County Elementary School
• Buckingham County Primary School
• Buckingham Preschool
• Central Virginia Christian School
• Buckingham County Public Library

Communities

Town

• Dillwyn

Census-designated places

• Buckingham Courthouse (Buckingham)
• Yogaville

Unincorporated communities

• Arvonia
• Mt. Rush
• New Canton
• Sprouses Corner
• Union Hill
• Glenmore

Notable people

• Brigadier General William Lewis Cabell, Confederate States of America Brigadier General, and three term Mayor of Dallas, Texas.
• John Wayles Eppes, United States Senator, Virginia; member, United States House of Representatives, Virginia; member, Virginia House of Delegates; son-in-law of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.
• Peter Francisco, American Revolutionary War hero.
• Carter G. Woodson, historian, founder of Black History Month, "Father of Black History."
• Clarice Taylor, American stage, film, and television actress.
• Randolph Jefferson, younger brother of U.S. President Thomas Jefferson.
• Satchidananda Saraswati (1922 – 2002), Indian spiritual teacher, helped bring yoga to America.
• Eugene Allen, Head Butler at the White House for 34 years.
• Uncle John Scruggs, Blues musician.

References

References

1. "Geographical Center of Virginia Historical Marker".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "Buckingham County, Virginia".
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5. (1994). "The Hornbook of Virginia History : a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past". Library of Virginia.
6. Pennington, M. & Scott, L. (1977). The Courthouse Burned: Buckingham County. Waynesboro: McClung.
7. "ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT".
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9. Yeck, Joanne L. '' "At a Place Called Buckingham" ... Historic Sketches of Buckingham County, Virginia'' (Kettering, OH: Slate River Press, 2011).
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12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Buckingham County, Virginia".
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Buckingham County, Virginia".
17. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
18. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
19. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
20. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
21. "Virginia Cooperative Extension: Buckingham County Agriculture & Forestry". Virginia Cooperative Extension.
22. "Buckingham County, VA". Data USA.
23. (18 October 2024). "Dominion Energy pairs solar with honey bees to preserve agricultural land". Virginia Mercury.
24. (September 2025). "Riverstone Solar faces potential penalties". Farmville Herald.
25. "DEQ fines Energix Renewable Energies over $150,000 for violations". Friends of Buckingham.
26. "General Assembly places at risk local control of industrial solar". Friends of Buckingham.
27. (December 2024). "Gabriel Solar goes for hearing; commission makes a decision". Farmville Herald.
28. (March 2025). "Gabriel Solar goes to a vote; county makes decision on project". Farmville Herald.
29. "Buckingham County Board of Supervisors".
30. "Buckingham County Planning Commission".
31. "Buckingham County Public Schools".
32. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
33. (August 21, 2002). "Swami Satchidananda, Woodstock's Guru, Dies at 87". The New York Times.
34. "Eugene Charles Allen".