Alleghany County, Virginia

Alleghany County, Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1822
Seat	Covington
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	446 sq mi (1,155 km²) 445 sq mi (1,153 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.22%
Population  -  Density	16,250 36.5/sq mi (14/km²)
Website	www.co.alleghany.va.us

Alleghany County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is the northernmost part of the Roanoke Region. As of 2010, the population was 16,250. Its county seat is Covington.

Note: The town of Clifton Forge is not included in any Alleghany County population data in the main article. In 2000, Clifton Forge was an independent city separate from the county. However, in 2001, Clifton Forge relinquished its city charter and reincorporated as a town; as a town, it is now a part of Alleghany County. The 2000 population of what is now Alleghany County (including Clifton Forge) was 17,215. The article includes geographic data from before and after the reincorporation of Clifton Forge into the county.

History

Alleghany County was established on January 5, 1822, from parts of Botetourt, Bath, and Monroe counties. It was named for the Allegheny Mountains, in which it is located. During the Civil War, the iron for the Merrimac came from Longdale Furnace in the county. Regiments from Alleghany County were at the surrender at Appomattox.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county had a total area of 446 square miles (1,160 km²) in 2000. 445 square miles (1,150 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.23%) is water.

After Clifton Forge rejoined the county in 2001, the county's total area increased to 449 square miles (1,160 km²). The land area is now 448 square miles (1,160 km²), and the water area was unchanged. The total area is now 0.22% water.

Adjacent counties

• Bath County - north
• Rockbridge County - east
• Botetourt County - southeast
• Craig County - south
• Monroe County, West Virginia - southwest
• Greenbrier County, West Virginia - west

National protected areas

• George Washington National Forest (part)
• United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	2,816		—
1840	2,749		−2.4%
1850	3,515		27.9%
1860	6,765		92.5%
1870	3,674		−45.7%
1880	5,586		52.0%
1890	9,283		66.2%
1900	16,330		75.9%
1910	14,173		−13.2%
1920	15,332		8.2%
1930	20,188		31.7%
1940	22,688		12.4%
1950	23,139		2.0%
1960	12,128		−47.6%
1970	12,461		2.7%
1980	14,333		15.0%
1990	13,176		−8.1%
2000	12,926		−1.9%
2010	16,250		25.7%

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.35% White, 2.45% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.24% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.20% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.36% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 42.9% were of American, 11.6% German, 11.0% English and 9.8% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 5,149 households out of which 29.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 63.20% were married couples living together, 8.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.90% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution is 22.80% under the age of 18, 6.20% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 28.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $38,545, and the median income for a family was $45,843. Males had a median income of $35,120 versus $20,855 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,635. About 4.90% of families and 7.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.60% of those under age 18 and 10.80% of those age 65 or over.

Transportation

Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides service to the Clifton Forge station (12 miles (19 km) away from Covington) with the Cardinal route. Also Clifton Forge serves a major locomotive fuel facility for CSX Transportation.

The area is serviced by Interstate 64 ( east west) and Route 220 a (north south) offering interstate truck access to the area.

Economy

Its economy is dominated by MeadWestvaco, which operates a paperboard mill in Covington, the second largest on the East Coast and an extrusion and converting facility in Low Moor. Both Alleghany County and Covington, VA are known for the low cost of its housing market and close proximity to The Homestead in Bath County, VA, Lexington, VA, The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, Lewisburg, West Virginia, a 45 minute drive in any direction and Roanoke, VA about an hour away. Covington has a team in the Valley Baseball League called the Lumberjacks.

Schools

Alleghany County is serviced by One 9-12 High school Alleghany High School, One 6-8 Middle School Clifton Middle School, and Five PK-5 Elementary Schools, Boiling Spring Elementary,Callaghan Elementary, Falling Spring Elementary,Mountain View Elementary and Sharon Elementary. One Va State Governors School Jackson River Governor's School, One Technical Center Jackson River Technical Center and one college Dabney S Lancaster.

Politics

Presidential election results

Year	GOP	DEM	Others
2008	50.4% 3,715	48.2% 3,553	1.4% 101
2004	55.1% 3,962	44.5% 3,203	0.4% 30
2000	54.8% 2,808	43.2% 2,214	2.0% 101
1996	39.7% 2,015	47.3% 2,398	13.1% 661
1992	40.6% 2,294	42.4% 2,396	17.1% 967
1988	51.9% 2,555	47.0% 2,316	1.1% 55
1984	60.9% 3,067	38.4% 1,932	0.8% 38
1980	45.9% 2,185	50.7% 2,411	3.3% 160
1976	41.2% 1,756	57.7% 2,462	1.1% 47
1972	67.5% 2,584	27.9% 1,069	4.6% 177
1968	43.5% 1,649	26.0% 988	30.5% 1,156
1964	41.1% 1,104	58.8% 1,580	0.0% 1
1960	48.8% 1,214	50.8% 1,265	0.4% 9

Towns

• Clifton Forge
• Iron Gate
• Low Moor (CDP)
• Selma (CDP)

As an independent city, Covington is not part of Alleghany County, despite its status as the county seat.

See also

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

External links

• “Powerlessness and Pollution in Alleghany County, Virginia: A Historical Analysis of Paternalism and Economic Coercion in Appalachia and its Relationship with Environmental Degradation″
• History and Photographs of the Alleghany Highlands
• Alleghany Highlands Genealogy Society
• Alleghany County, Virginia
• Travel & Tourism