Halifax County, Virginia

History

Occupied by varying cultures of indigenous peoples for thousands of years, in historic times English colonists encountered Siouan language-speaking Native Americans. Halifax County was established in 1752 by English colonists from Lunenburg County. The county was named for George Montagu-Dunk, 2nd Earl of Halifax.

Through the 1990 Census, South Boston was an independent city, but it became a town again and rejoined Halifax County in 1995.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 830 sqmi, of which 818 sqmi is land and 12 sqmi (1.4%) is water.

Adjacent counties

• Campbell County - northwest
• Charlotte County - northeast
• Mecklenburg County - east
• Granville County, North Carolina - southeast
• Person County, North Carolina - south
• Caswell County, North Carolina - southwest
• Pittsylvania County - west

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 34,022. The median age was 47.7 years. 20.0% of residents were under the age of 18 and 25.2% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.

The racial makeup of the county was 60.0% White, 34.7% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 1.3% from some other race, and 3.1% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 2.2% of the population.

21.8% of residents lived in urban areas, while 78.2% lived in rural areas.

There were 14,698 households in the county, of which 24.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 32.5% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 17,275 housing units, of which 14.9% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.8% were owner-occupied and 29.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 37,355 people, 15,018 households, and 10,512 families residing in the county. The population density was 46 /mi2. There were 16,953 housing units at an average density of 21 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 60.32% White, 38.02% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.44% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 1.23% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,018 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.20% were married couples living together, 14.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% 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 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.40% under the age of 18, 6.90% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 90.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $29,929, and the median income for a family was $37,845. Males had a median income of $27,498 versus $20,684 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,353. About 11.50% of families and 15.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 19.60% of those age 65 or over.

Government

Board of Supervisors

• District 1: Maurice Riddle, Jr.
• District 2: Larry D Roller
• District 3: Hubert Pannell
• District 4: Dennis Witt
• District 5: Robbie Smart
• District 6: Stanley Brandon
• District 7: Keith McDowell
• District 8: William Bryant Claiborne
• Tie Breaker: Wayne Smith

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Cathy M. Cosby (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Brenda P. Powell (I)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: Tracy Quackenbush Martin (I)
• Sheriff: Fred S. Clark (I)
• Treasurer: Shana Lynn Hetzell (I)

Halifax is represented by Republicans Tammy Brankley Mulchi in the Virginia Senate, Republicans Danny Marshall and Thomas C. Wright in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican John McGuire in the U.S. House of Representatives. Halifax is represented in the United States Senate by Democrats Mark Warner and Tim Kaine.

Communities

Towns

• Halifax
• Scottsburg
• South Boston
• Virgilina

Census-designated places

• Clover
• Cluster Springs
• Mountain Road
• Nathalie
• Riverdale

Other unincorporated communities

• Alton
• Cody
• Crystal Hill
• Delila
• Ingram
• Midway (near Scottsburg)
• Turbeville
• Vernon Hill

Education

The school district is the Halifax County Public Schools school district.

Notable people

• Jay Blackton, who won an Academy Award for Best Music, Scoring of a Musical Picture for Oklahoma! (1955), is buried in South Boston.

• Frances Webb Bumpass, newspaper publisher

• James Coles Bruce, Virginia House of Delegates

• Burton family of NASCAR. Brothers Ward and Jeff Burton are from South Boston and prepared for their racing careers at South Boston Speedway. Their children Jeb (Ward) and Harrison (Jeff) are from South Boston.

• Clement Comer Clay, Governor of the U.S. state of Alabama, U.S. House of Representatives, and the United States Senate

• Tyrone Davis, NFL player for the New York Jets and Green Bay Packers, is from South Boston.

• Earl Ferrell, National Football League player

• Luther Hilton Foster (1888-1949), President of Virginia Normal and Industrial School, now Virginia State University, near Petersburg

• Colin Garrett, racing driver

• Henry E. Garrett (1894-1973), prominent psychologist at Columbia and UVa, and supporter of racial segregation

• Grandmaster Slice, American hip-hop musician

• J. Steven Griles (b. 1947), former United States Deputy Secretary of the Interior (2001–04) in the George W. Bush administration, coal lobbyist, implicated in the Jack Abramoff scandal

• Jeremy Jeffress, former pitcher for the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays

• Henrietta Lacks (1920–1951), source of the HeLa cell line, subject of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (2010) and The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks (film) (2017)

• Willie Lanier (b. 1945), Pro Football Hall of Fame linebacker for Kansas City Chiefs

• Robert Llewellyn, born in Roanoke, Virginia, is a professional photographer who grew up in South Boston and now lives in Earlysville, Virginia.

• Adam Page, professional wrestler known for tenure in All Elite Wrestling, world champion

• Vivian Pinn, physician and scientist

• Walter B. Scates, Chief Justice of the Illinois Supreme Court and Illinois Attorney General, born in South Boston

• Shelby Shackelford, artist

• Carrie Sutherlin, college president

• William M. Tuck, 55th Governor of Virginia, born in Halifax County, Virginia and rests in South Boston.

• Michael Tucker, played for seven teams in Major League Baseball

• Greg Vanney, former professional soccer player and head coach of the LA Galaxy

• G. C. Waldrep, poet and historian, was born and raised in South Boston.

• Tisha Waller, Olympic high jumper, is from South Boston.

References

References

1. "Halifax County, Virginia".
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (February 12, 2011). "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". [[United States Census Bureau]].
4. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". [[US Census Bureau]].
5. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
6. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
7. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
8. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Halifax County, Virginia".
9. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Halifax County, Virginia".
10. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
12. (2023). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)".
13. "U.S. Census website". [[United States Census Bureau]].
14. "Board of Supervisors - Halifax County, VA".
15. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".
16. Geography Division. (January 8, 2021). "2020 CENSUS - SCHOOL DISTRICT REFERENCE MAP: Halifax County, VA". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].
17. [https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1086/JNHv34n4p489?journalCode=jnh Personal: Luther Hilton Foster], ''The Journal of Negro History'': Vol 34, No 4, October 1949, page 489. Verified December 19, 2021.
18. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR2007061501607.html "Prison Time Is Urged for Griles"], ''[[The Washington Post]]'', June 16, 2007
19. Smith, Van. (April 17, 2002). "The Life, Death, and Life After Death of Henrietta Lacks, Unwitting Heroine of Modern Medical Science.". [[Baltimore City Paper]].