Courtland, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Courtland is an incorporated town
in Southampton County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Southampton County
.
Originally named Jerusalem, the town was given its present name in 1888. It served as Southampton County's only town through the 18th century, and was, as it remains, the county seat. This quiet little town was formed in 1791 on the north shore of the Nottoway River
on a parcel of ten acres (40,000 m²) beside the courthouse.
In 1831, the town became famous as the site of the trials and subsequent executions of Nat Turner
and those involved in the Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion of 1831. At this time, according to a letter written by Solon Borland
to the governor of North Carolina
, it was but a small hamlet of approximately 175 people, with only three stores, one saddler, one carriage maker, two hotels, two attorneys and two physicians in the town.
The town was also the boyhood home of Confederate
Major General William Mahone
, whose father, Fielding Mahone, ran a tavern. General George H. Thomas, "Rock of Chickamauga
", and a native of Southampton County, was a Union
general and graduate of the United States Military Academy
, likely visited his uncle James Rochelle, clerk of court for Southampton County, located just three houses away from Mahone's Tavern, home of William Mahone.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all of it land.
Average Annual Temperature: 77 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Summer Temperatures - Highs: 80's-90's with high humidity, heat indexes of 105 or more, Lows: 60's-70's.
Winter Temperatures - Highs: 30's-low 50's with wind chills as low as the 20's and teens occasionally, Lows: 30's-10's with wind chills sometimes down to zero.
Average Rainfall - 44 Inches.
Average Snowfall - 7-12 inches.
of 2000, there were 1,270 people, 460 households, and 300 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,373.2 people per square mile (533.0/km²). There were 498 housing units at an average density of 538.5 per square mile (209.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 52.28% White, 47.01% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 460 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples
living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,750, and the median income for a family was $43,229. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,474. About 19.2% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated town
-Canada:Incorporated towns are a form of local government in Canada, which is a responsibility of provincial rather than federal government.-United States:...
in Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,270 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Southampton County
Southampton County, Virginia
As of the census of 2010, there were 18,570 people, 6,279 households, and 4,502 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 7,058 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile...
.
Originally named Jerusalem, the town was given its present name in 1888. It served as Southampton County's only town through the 18th century, and was, as it remains, the county seat. This quiet little town was formed in 1791 on the north shore of the Nottoway River
Nottoway River
The Nottoway River is in southern Virginia and northeastern North Carolina. It is part of the Chowan River system, which flows into Albemarle Sound in North Carolina.-Cities and towns:Cities and towns along the river include:* Courtland, Virginia...
on a parcel of ten acres (40,000 m²) beside the courthouse.
In 1831, the town became famous as the site of the trials and subsequent executions of Nat Turner
Nat Turner
Nathaniel "Nat" Turner was an American slave who led a slave rebellion in Virginia on August 21, 1831 that resulted in 60 white deaths and at least 100 black deaths, the largest number of fatalities to occur in one uprising prior to the American Civil War in the southern United States. He gathered...
and those involved in the Nat Turner's Slave Rebellion of 1831. At this time, according to a letter written by Solon Borland
Solon Borland
Solon Borland was a newspaperman, soldier, diplomat, Democratic United States Senator from the State of Arkansas and a Confederate officer during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
to the governor of North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, it was but a small hamlet of approximately 175 people, with only three stores, one saddler, one carriage maker, two hotels, two attorneys and two physicians in the town.
The town was also the boyhood home of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
Major General William Mahone
William Mahone
William Mahone was a civil engineer, teacher, soldier, railroad executive, and a member of the Virginia General Assembly and U.S. Congress. Small of stature, he was nicknamed "Little Billy"....
, whose father, Fielding Mahone, ran a tavern. General George H. Thomas, "Rock of Chickamauga
Battle of Chickamauga
The Battle of Chickamauga, fought September 19–20, 1863, marked the end of a Union offensive in southeastern Tennessee and northwestern Georgia called the Chickamauga Campaign...
", and a native of Southampton County, was a Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
general and graduate of the United States Military Academy
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
, likely visited his uncle James Rochelle, clerk of court for Southampton County, located just three houses away from Mahone's Tavern, home of William Mahone.
Geography
Courtland is located at 36°42′57"N 77°3′58"W (36.715702, -77.066063).According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 0.9 square miles (2.4 km²), all of it land.
Climate
Climate Zone: Humid Subtropical.Average Annual Temperature: 77 Degrees Fahrenheit.
Summer Temperatures - Highs: 80's-90's with high humidity, heat indexes of 105 or more, Lows: 60's-70's.
Winter Temperatures - Highs: 30's-low 50's with wind chills as low as the 20's and teens occasionally, Lows: 30's-10's with wind chills sometimes down to zero.
Average Rainfall - 44 Inches.
Average Snowfall - 7-12 inches.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,270 people, 460 households, and 300 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,373.2 people per square mile (533.0/km²). There were 498 housing units at an average density of 538.5 per square mile (209.0/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 52.28% White, 47.01% African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.08% Asian, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.24% of the population.
There were 460 households out of which 33.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 20.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.6% were non-families. 32.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.96.
In the town the population was spread out with 23.1% under the age of 18, 7.6% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 93.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,750, and the median income for a family was $43,229. Males had a median income of $34,464 versus $20,714 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,474. About 19.2% of families and 21.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.6% of those under age 18 and 22.1% of those age 65 or over.