Stuarts Draft, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Stuarts Draft is a census-designated place
(CDP) in Augusta County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 8,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Staunton
–Waynesboro
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
The Bare House and Mill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Stuarts Draft is located at 38°1′39"N 79°1′44"W (38.027515, -79.028760).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the CDP has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.4 km²), of which, 19.8 square miles (51.4 km²) of it is land and 0.05% is water.
of 2000, there were 8,367 people, 3,124 households, and 2,436 families residing in the CDP. The population density
was 422.0 people per square mile (162.9/km²). There were 3,279 housing units at an average density of 165.4/sq mi (63.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.27% White, 3.44% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races
, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 3,124 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples
living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,342, and the median income for a family was $52,308. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $26,414 for females. The per capita income
for the CDP was $18,463. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Distribution Center, completed in 1996, has a footprint of 1.65 million ft² (153,000 m²) and is listed as the sixth largest tilt-up building in the US. Stuarts Draft is also home to several other factories. There are a Hershey's Chocolate Factory (The Hershey Company
), a McKee Foods
factory, and many other smaller factories.
s and provides three lit baseball fields, one unlit baseball field, a pavilion and a large horseshoes
court. Friendship Park provides a single lit baseball field. A baseball field behind the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant has been redeveloped, and is currently used for the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks, a county league team, and for younger American Legion baseball teams. This field was the sports field for the elementary school system until the 1980s.
Stuarts Draft Park is a county park administered that opened in 2005. It has a 25 m swimming pool, a pavilion and two unlit baseball fields that are now used often. There are three multipurpose fields; the main field is used for the annual Sweet Dreams festival. The multipurpose fields are divided up and used as several soccer fields. There are now horseshoe pits also, that are used. The park adjoins Guy K. Stump Elementary School— the school has a large playground accessible to the community.
Shenandoah Acres
was a popular resort that was operated and owned by the Blacka family from 1935 to 2004. Billed as "America's Finest Inland Beach" it featured 250 camp sites, cabins, horseback riding a sand-bottom swimming lake.
: Stuarts Draft Elementary School, Stuarts Draft Middle School, Stuarts Draft High School
, and Guy K. Stump Elementary School.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in Augusta County
Augusta County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 65,615 people, 24,818 households, and 18,911 families residing in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile . There were 26,738 housing units at an average density of 28 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 8,367 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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....
–Waynesboro
Waynesboro, Virginia
Waynesboro, deriving its name from General Anthony Wayne, is an independent city surrounded by Augusta County in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 21,006 in 2010.....
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Staunton-Waynesboro micropolitan area
The Staunton–Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area is a United States Micropolitan Statistical Area in Virginia, as defined by the Office of Management and Budget as of June, 2003...
.
The Bare House and Mill are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
History
In 1749, Thomas Stuart purchased 353 acres (1.4 km²) near the South River, a tribuary of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. 'Draft' probably refers to the document drafting the land sale or is a reference to the river itself (draft is an old term for river or creek and is part of the name of several such in the area). The plain on the south side of the river tends to channel the wind, thus forming a rather constant draft.Geography
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 CDP has a total area of 19.8 square miles (51.4 km²), of which, 19.8 square miles (51.4 km²) of it is land and 0.05% 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 8,367 people, 3,124 households, and 2,436 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 422.0 people per square mile (162.9/km²). There were 3,279 housing units at an average density of 165.4/sq mi (63.8/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.27% White, 3.44% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.29% 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 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 3,124 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% 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, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,342, and the median income for a family was $52,308. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $26,414 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 $18,463. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
The TargetTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
Distribution Center, completed in 1996, has a footprint of 1.65 million ft² (153,000 m²) and is listed as the sixth largest tilt-up building in the US. Stuarts Draft is also home to several other factories. There are a Hershey's Chocolate Factory (The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company
The Hershey Company, known until April 2005 as the Hershey Foods Corporation and commonly called Hershey's, is the largest chocolate manufacturer in North America. Its headquarters are in Hershey, Pennsylvania, which is also home to Hershey's Chocolate World. It was founded by Milton S...
), a McKee Foods
McKee Foods
McKee Foods Corporation is a privately held United States company headquartered in Collegedale, Tennessee.-History:McKee Foods began in 1934 in Chattanooga when O.D. McKee purchased Jack’s Cookie Company....
factory, and many other smaller factories.
Parks and recreation
Kate Schneider park is operated by the RuritanRuritan
Ruritan National is a service club located in small towns and rural areas in the United States. It aims to achieve "Fellowship, Goodwill and Community Service". The local clubs are autonomous from the national organization...
s and provides three lit baseball fields, one unlit baseball field, a pavilion and a large horseshoes
Horseshoes
Horseshoes is an outdoor game played between two people using four horseshoes and two throwing targets set in a sandbox area. The game is played by the players alternating turns tossing horseshoes at stakes in the ground, which are traditionally placed 40 feet apart...
court. Friendship Park provides a single lit baseball field. A baseball field behind the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant has been redeveloped, and is currently used for the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks, a county league team, and for younger American Legion baseball teams. This field was the sports field for the elementary school system until the 1980s.
Stuarts Draft Park is a county park administered that opened in 2005. It has a 25 m swimming pool, a pavilion and two unlit baseball fields that are now used often. There are three multipurpose fields; the main field is used for the annual Sweet Dreams festival. The multipurpose fields are divided up and used as several soccer fields. There are now horseshoe pits also, that are used. The park adjoins Guy K. Stump Elementary School— the school has a large playground accessible to the community.
Shenandoah Acres
Shenandoah Acres
Shenandoah Acres was a resort in Stuarts Draft, Virginia that billed itself as "America's Finest Inland Beach." The Acres closed in 2004 and was subsequently purchased by Goodfaith LLC....
was a popular resort that was operated and owned by the Blacka family from 1935 to 2004. Billed as "America's Finest Inland Beach" it featured 250 camp sites, cabins, horseback riding a sand-bottom swimming lake.
Education
Stuarts Draft has four Augusta County SchoolsAugusta County Public Schools
Augusta County Public Schools is the organization that operates the public school system in Augusta County, Virginia. The school board is elected, and the current superintendent is Dr. Gary McQuain.- Elementary :* Beverley Manor Elementary School...
: Stuarts Draft Elementary School, Stuarts Draft Middle School, Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft High School
Stuarts Draft High School is in the community of Stuarts Draft in south-eastern Augusta County, Virginia. The school opened in 1970 during a consolidation period for the county’s public schools. Stuarts Draft High School originally served grades 8 through 12, and housed the 7th grade due to...
, and Guy K. Stump Elementary School.
Notable natives and residents
- John ColterJohn ColterJohn Colter was a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition . Though party to one of the more famous expeditions in history, Colter is best remembered for explorations he made during the winter of 1807–1808, when Colter became the first known person of European descent to enter the region now known...
, a member of the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark ExpeditionThe Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
, was born in the vicinity in 1774 - Brian WhitesellBrian WhitesellBrian Whitesell is an American team manager in NASCAR Sprint Cup auto racing from Stuarts Draft, Virginia. He is the team manager for the Hendrick Motorsports #5 team of Mark Martin and the #88 team of Dale Earnhardt, Jr...
, NASCARNASCARThe National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing is a family-owned and -operated business venture that sanctions and governs multiple auto racing sports events. It was founded by Bill France Sr. in 1947–48. As of 2009, the CEO for the company is Brian France, grandson of the late Bill France Sr...
team manager