Scottsville, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Scottsville is a town in Albemarle
and Fluvanna
counties in the U.S. state
of Virginia. The population was 555 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Charlottesville
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
. Scottsville was the largest port town along this route, called the James River and Kanawha Canal
. The ultimate goal of this project was to connect the Atlantic with the Ohio River
via the Kanawha River
. These aims were not achieved, due to interruption by the American Civil War
and the rise of the train. It did however succeed in making Scottsville a busy, prominent town. In fact, thanks to a wagon road connecting Staunton
to Scottsville, all of the agricultural wealth of the Shenandoah Valley
poured into town en route to Richmond and the sea, thereby making Scottsville the largest grain market in the state. Trade died down when Union soldiers broke the canal works in the area. Then the train came, the tracks being laid directly on the towpath of the old canal, a monument to its demise. Eventually, the train too stopped taking passengers, leaving Scottsville a sleepy country town on a coal line. Located near Scottsville, the Hatton Ferry
serves as a seasonal crossing of the James River and has been the location of a ferry since the late 1870s.
Scottsville was the birthplace of Thomas Staples Martin, who served five terms as a Democrat in the United States Senate
representing Virginia. Born at Scottsville in 1847, Martin served in the Confederate Army, then went on to practice law.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (4.0 km2), all land.
of 2000, there were 555 people, 256 households, and 145 families residing in the town. The population density
was 360.2 people per square mile (139.1/km2). There were 300 housing units at an average density of 194.7 per square mile (75.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.51% White, 4.68% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.36% Asian, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.
There were 256 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,903, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $31,369 versus $22,656 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,432. About 11.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.
Albemarle County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 79,236 people, 31,876 households, and 21,070 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile . There were 33,720 housing units at an average density of 47 per square mile...
and Fluvanna
Fluvanna County, Virginia
As of 2002, Fluvanna County's population was 20,047. There are 7,387 households, and 5,702 families residing in the county. The population density was 70 people per square mile . There were 8,018 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Virginia. The population was 555 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia
Charlottesville is an independent city geographically surrounded by but separate from Albemarle County in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States, and named after Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, the queen consort of King George III of the United Kingdom.The official population estimate for...
Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
According to Scottsville's website, the town "served as Virginia's westernmost center of government and commerce during the 1700s, when rivers were the primary means of travel in the new American wilderness." During the late 18th and the 19th centuries attempts were made to improve navigability along the James, as well as other central Virginian rivers. Part of this was the construction of a canal running roughly parallel with the James west from RichmondRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
. Scottsville was the largest port town along this route, called the James River and Kanawha Canal
James River and Kanawha Canal
The James River and Kanawha Canal was a canal in Virginia, which was built to facilitate shipments of passengers and freight by water between the western counties of Virginia and the coast....
. The ultimate goal of this project was to connect the Atlantic with the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
via the Kanawha River
Kanawha River
The Kanawha River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 97 mi long, in the U.S. state of West Virginia. The largest inland waterway in West Virginia, it has formed a significant industrial region of the state since the middle of the 19th century.It is formed at the town of Gauley...
. These aims were not achieved, due to interruption by the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
and the rise of the train. It did however succeed in making Scottsville a busy, prominent town. In fact, thanks to a wagon road connecting Staunton
Staunton, Virginia
Staunton is an independent city within the confines of Augusta County in the commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 23,746 as of 2010. It is the county seat of Augusta County....
to Scottsville, all of the agricultural wealth of the Shenandoah Valley
Shenandoah Valley
The Shenandoah Valley is both a geographic valley and cultural region of western Virginia and West Virginia in the United States. The valley is bounded to the east by the Blue Ridge Mountains, to the west by the eastern front of the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians , to the north by the Potomac River...
poured into town en route to Richmond and the sea, thereby making Scottsville the largest grain market in the state. Trade died down when Union soldiers broke the canal works in the area. Then the train came, the tracks being laid directly on the towpath of the old canal, a monument to its demise. Eventually, the train too stopped taking passengers, leaving Scottsville a sleepy country town on a coal line. Located near Scottsville, the Hatton Ferry
Hatton Ferry
Hatton Ferry is a cable ferry located 5.5 miles west of Scottsville, Virginia on the James River. It is the last poled ferry in the United States. The ferry crosses the river upstream of Scottsville between Albemarle County and Buckingham County....
serves as a seasonal crossing of the James River and has been the location of a ferry since the late 1870s.
Scottsville was the birthplace of Thomas Staples Martin, who served five terms as a Democrat in the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
representing Virginia. Born at Scottsville in 1847, Martin served in the Confederate Army, then went on to practice law.
Geography
Scottsville is located at 37.8022°N 78.4969°W (37.8022, -78.4969).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 1.5 square miles (4.0 km2), all land.
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 555 people, 256 households, and 145 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 360.2 people per square mile (139.1/km2). There were 300 housing units at an average density of 194.7 per square mile (75.2/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 93.51% White, 4.68% African American, 0.72% Native American, 0.36% Asian, and 0.72% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.36% of the population.
There were 256 households out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.2% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.0% were non-families. 35.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.82.
In the town the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.7% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 17.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 85.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $30,903, and the median income for a family was $41,667. Males had a median income of $31,369 versus $22,656 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 $17,432. About 11.1% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.8% of those under age 18 and 11.1% of those age 65 or over.