Spotsylvania Courthouse, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Spotsylvania Courthouse is an unincorporated community and the county seat of Spotsylvania County, Virginia
, located ten miles (16 km) southwest of Fredericksburg
. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place (CDP), the population was 3,833 at the 2000 census.
During the American Civil War
, the crossroads community became a Union objective during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
, fought May 8–21, 1864. The battle, which ended in stalemate, included a brutal 20-hour struggle over a section of the Confederate defenses that became known as the "Bloody Angle". The site of the Bloody Angle and other portions of the battlefield are preserved as part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
and administered by the National Park Service
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the census designated place (CDP) has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which, 8.6 square miles (22.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.
of 2000, there were 3,833 people, 1,233 households, and 1,009 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 443.1 people per square mile (171.1/km²). There were 1,268 housing units at an average density of 146.6/sq mi (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.93% White, 15.05% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.63% from other races
, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.
There were 1,233 households out of which 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% were married couples
living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,872, and the median income for a family was $60,893. Males had a median income of $42,004 versus $30,494 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $19,052. About 8.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.
Spotsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 90,395 people, 31,308 households, and 24,639 families residing in the county. The population density was 226 people per square mile . There were 33,329 housing units at an average density of 83 per square mile...
, located ten miles (16 km) southwest of Fredericksburg
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Fredericksburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia located south of Washington, D.C., and north of Richmond. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 24,286...
. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place (CDP), the population was 3,833 at the 2000 census.
During 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...
, the crossroads community became a Union objective during the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
Battle of Spotsylvania Court House
The Battle of Spotsylvania Court House, sometimes simply referred to as the Battle of Spotsylvania , was the second major battle in Lt. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign of the American Civil War. Following the bloody but inconclusive Battle of the Wilderness, Grant's army disengaged...
, fought May 8–21, 1864. The battle, which ended in stalemate, included a brutal 20-hour struggle over a section of the Confederate defenses that became known as the "Bloody Angle". The site of the Bloody Angle and other portions of the battlefield are preserved as part of Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania County Battlefields Memorial National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park is a unit of the National Park Service in Fredericksburg, Virginia, and elsewhere in Spotsylvania County, commemorating four major battles in the American Civil War.-Park:...
and administered by the National Park Service
National Park Service
The National Park Service is the U.S. federal agency that manages all national parks, many national monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations...
.
Geography
Spotsylvania Courthouse is located at 38°12′7"N 77°35′15"W (38.202080, -77.587499).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 census designated place (CDP) has a total area of 8.7 square miles (22.5 km²), of which, 8.6 square miles (22.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.23%) is water.
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 3,833 people, 1,233 households, and 1,009 families residing in the CDP. 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 443.1 people per square mile (171.1/km²). There were 1,268 housing units at an average density of 146.6/sq mi (56.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.93% White, 15.05% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.02% Asian, 0.63% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 2.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.79% of the population.
There were 1,233 households out of which 50.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 65.0% 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, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.1% were non-families. 13.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 4.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.11 and the average family size was 3.42.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 34.2% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 33.4% from 25 to 44, 19.4% from 45 to 64, and 5.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 32 years. For every 100 females there were 99.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.7 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $55,872, and the median income for a family was $60,893. Males had a median income of $42,004 versus $30,494 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 CDP was $19,052. About 8.1% of families and 7.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.0% of those under age 18 and 4.3% of those age 65 or over.