Warrenton, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Warrenton is a town in Fauquier County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. It is the county seat
of Fauquier County
. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School
, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two elementary schools. There are two private schools in Warrenton: Highland School and St. John The Evangelist's Catholic School. Warrenton is at a junction of U.S. Route 15
, U.S. Route 17
, U.S. Route 29
, and U.S. Route 211
. The town is in the Piedmont region of Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains
. The well-known Airlie Conference Center is on the northeast boundary of Warrenton, and the historic Vint Hill Farms military facility is several miles east. Fauquier Hospital is also located in the town.
Like many incorporated towns in Virginia, the town of Warrenton has government and taxation separate from the county. The town and the county do share some services, such as schools and the county landfill.
The settlement which would grow into the Town of Warrenton began as a cross roads at the junction of the Falmouth-Winchester and Alexandria-Culpeper roads., where a trading post called the Red Store was located. In the 1790s, a courthouse was built in the area, and the location was known as Fauquier Courthouse.
The Town of Warrenton was incorporated on January 5, 1810, and named for General
Joseph Warren
, a Revolutionary War
hero. Richard Henry Lee
donated the land for the county seat. John S. Horner
, Secretary of Wisconsin Territory and Acting Governor of Michigan Territory
, was born in Warrenton. John Marshall
, the fourth Chief Justice
of the U.S. Supreme Court
, was from nearby Germantown, Virginia
modern-day Midland
.
Colonel
John S. Mosby
made raids in the town during the Civil War
and later made his home and practiced law in Warrenton. The Warren Green Hotel building hosted many famous people including Marquis de Lafayette, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, President Theodore Roosevelt, and divorcée Wallis Simpson. General McClellan bade farewell to his officers November 11, 1862 from the steps of the Hotel. It now hosts some offices of the Fauquier County Government.
Arthur Jordan, an African-American man, was lynched by a mob of approximately 50 white men in the early hours of January 19, 1880. Jordan had been accused of miscegenation
and bigamy
for eloping with the daughter of his white employer. A group of local men hunted the pair down in Maryland, returned them, and delivered Mr. Jordan to the town jail. During the night, the lynch mob gained access to the jail and dragged Jordan the nearby town cemetery, where he was hanged from a small locust tree.
In 1909, a fire destroyed almost half the structures in the town, and was halted with the use of dynamite to create a firebreak to stop the flames from spreading. .
A bypass route around the Town was built in the early 1960s, which attracted restaurants, gas stations, and shopping centers, but also drew businesses away from the center of Town.
In 2007, Mayor George B. Fitch
proposed providing all of the town's energy by processing methane from a local landfill.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), all of it land.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 6,670 people, 2,683 households, and 1,591 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,574.8 people per square mile (607.4/km²). There were 2,856 housing units at an average density of 674.3 per square mile (260.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.04% White, 16.49% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races
, and 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.
There were 2,683 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% were married couples
living together, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.01.
The population is fairly well distributed, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,760, and the median income for a family was $59,744. Males had a median income of $40,405 versus $31,689 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $23,552. About 6.7% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 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 6,670 at the 2000 census, and 14,634 at the 2010 estimate. 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 Fauquier County
Fauquier County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 55,139 people, 19,842 households, and 15,139 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 21,046 housing units at an average density of 32 per square mile...
. Public schools in the town include Fauquier High School
Fauquier High School
Fauquier High School is a public secondary school in Warrenton, Virginia. The school is part of Fauquier County Public Schools and is located at 705 Waterloo Road. Curtis Grady was here-History:...
, Warrenton Middle School, Taylor Middle School and two elementary schools. There are two private schools in Warrenton: Highland School and St. John The Evangelist's Catholic School. Warrenton is at a junction of U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15
U.S. Route 15 is a -long United States highway, designated along South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New York. The route is signed north–south, from U.S. Route 17 Alternate in Walterboro, South Carolina to Interstate 86 and NY 17 in Painted Post, New York.US...
, U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17
U.S. Route 17 or U.S. Highway 17 is a north–south United States highway. The highway spans the southeastern United States and is close to the Atlantic Coast for much of its length. The highway's southern terminus is at Punta Gorda, Florida, at an intersection with U.S. Route 41...
, U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29
U.S. Route 29 is a north–south United States highway that runs for from the western suburbs of Baltimore, Maryland, to Pensacola, Florida. This highway's northern terminus is at Maryland Route 99 in Ellicott City, Maryland...
, and U.S. Route 211
U.S. Route 211
U.S. Route 211 is a spur of US 11 in the U.S. state of Virginia. Known for most of its length as Lee Highway, the U.S. Highway runs from Interstate 81 and Virginia State Route 211 in New Market east to US 15 Business, US 29 Business, and US 211 Business in Warrenton...
. The town is in the Piedmont region of Virginia, near the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
. The well-known Airlie Conference Center is on the northeast boundary of Warrenton, and the historic Vint Hill Farms military facility is several miles east. Fauquier Hospital is also located in the town.
Like many incorporated towns in Virginia, the town of Warrenton has government and taxation separate from the county. The town and the county do share some services, such as schools and the county landfill.
History
The Town of Warrenton was incorporated on January 5, 1810, and named for General
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Joseph Warren
Joseph Warren
Dr. Joseph Warren was an American doctor who played a leading role in American Patriot organizations in Boston in early days of the American Revolution, eventually serving as president of the revolutionary Massachusetts Provincial Congress...
, a Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
hero. Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee
Richard Henry Lee was an American statesman from Virginia best known for the motion in the Second Continental Congress calling for the colonies' independence from Great Britain. He was a signatory to the Articles of Confederation and his famous resolution of June 1776 led to the United States...
donated the land for the county seat. John S. Horner
John S. Horner
John Scott Horner also known as Little Jack Horner was a U.S. politician, Secretary and acting Governor of Michigan Territory, 1835–1836 and Secretary of Wisconsin Territory, 1836-1837.-Early life:...
, Secretary of Wisconsin Territory and Acting Governor of Michigan Territory
Michigan Territory
The Territory of Michigan was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from June 30, 1805, until January 26, 1837, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Michigan...
, was born in Warrenton. John Marshall
John Marshall
John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the United States whose court opinions helped lay the basis for American constitutional law and made the Supreme Court of the United States a coequal branch of government along with the legislative and executive branches...
, the fourth Chief Justice
Chief Justice of the United States
The Chief Justice of the United States is the head of the United States federal court system and the chief judge of the Supreme Court of the United States. The Chief Justice is one of nine Supreme Court justices; the other eight are the Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States...
of the U.S. Supreme Court
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
, was from nearby Germantown, Virginia
Germantown, Virginia
Germantown is a historic unincorporated rural community in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. It is the resting place of John Jacob Richter . He was buried there in 1729. It is located in and around current-day C. M. Crockett Park, which contains the popular local fishing destination of...
modern-day Midland
Midland, Virginia
Midland is a census-designated place in Fauquier County, Virginia, United States. The population as of the 2010 Census was 218. Midland is home to a post office with the local zip code of 22728....
.
Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John S. Mosby
John S. Mosby
John Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
made raids in the town during the 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 later made his home and practiced law in Warrenton. The Warren Green Hotel building hosted many famous people including Marquis de Lafayette, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Henry Clay, President Theodore Roosevelt, and divorcée Wallis Simpson. General McClellan bade farewell to his officers November 11, 1862 from the steps of the Hotel. It now hosts some offices of the Fauquier County Government.
Arthur Jordan, an African-American man, was lynched by a mob of approximately 50 white men in the early hours of January 19, 1880. Jordan had been accused of miscegenation
Miscegenation
Miscegenation is the mixing of different racial groups through marriage, cohabitation, sexual relations, and procreation....
and bigamy
Bigamy
In cultures that practice marital monogamy, bigamy is the act of entering into a marriage with one person while still legally married to another. Bigamy is a crime in most western countries, and when it occurs in this context often neither the first nor second spouse is aware of the other...
for eloping with the daughter of his white employer. A group of local men hunted the pair down in Maryland, returned them, and delivered Mr. Jordan to the town jail. During the night, the lynch mob gained access to the jail and dragged Jordan the nearby town cemetery, where he was hanged from a small locust tree.
In 1909, a fire destroyed almost half the structures in the town, and was halted with the use of dynamite to create a firebreak to stop the flames from spreading. .
A bypass route around the Town was built in the early 1960s, which attracted restaurants, gas stations, and shopping centers, but also drew businesses away from the center of Town.
In 2007, Mayor George B. Fitch
George B. Fitch
George B. Fitch is a business consultant and Republican politician. He is the mayor of Warrenton, Virginia, and ran in the 2005 Republican primary for the governorship of Virginia, a race which he lost to Jerry Kilgore. Having long had ties to Jamaica, Fitch was one of the co-founders of the...
proposed providing all of the town's energy by processing methane from a local landfill.
Notable residents, past and present
- John SinclairJohn SinclairJohn Sinclair may refer to:* John Sinclair , Ordinary Lord and later Lord President in the Court of Session* Sir John Sinclair, 1st Baronet , politician and writer on agriculture and finance...
, Favorite son of Warrenton - A good boy, right there. - James Simpson and Shane Cooke, UVA Soccer 2009 NCAA National Champions
- James DeRuyter BlackwellJames DeRuyter BlackwellJames DeRuyter Blackwell of Warrenton, Virginia is a celebrated author and poet of the American Civil War era. He attended Randolph-Macon College and graduated from Dickinson College. He studied and practiced law before serving in the Army of the Confederacy and was honorably discharged in 1864...
, Civil War era poet and writer - Steve BrodieSteve Brodie (baseball)Walter Scott "Steve" Brodie , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1890-1902. He played for the Boston Beaneaters, St. Lois Browns, Baltimore Orioles , Pittsburgh Pirates, Baltimore Orioles and the New York Giants.-External links:...
, Major League Baseball player - Edward BrookeEdward BrookeEdward William Brooke, III is an American politician and was elected to the United States Senate as a Republican from Massachusetts in 1966, defeating his Democratic opponent, Endicott Peabody, 60.7%–38.7%...
, U.S. Senator - Jesse BrownJesse BrownJesse Brown was the United States Secretary of Veterans Affairs under President Bill Clinton from 1993 to 1997.-Early life:...
, former U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs - Samuel ChiltonSamuel ChiltonSamuel Chilton was a nineteenth century politician and lawyer from Virginia.Born in Warrenton, Virginia, Chilton moved to Missouri with his family as a child and attended private school there. He studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1826, commencing practice back in Warrenton...
, Nineteenth century politician and lawyer - Walter ChryslerWalter ChryslerWalter Percy Chrysler was an American machinist, railroad mechanic and manager, automotive industry executive, Freemason, and founder of the Chrysler Corporation.- Railroad career :...
, founder of the Chrysler Corporation - Mike DuvallMike DuvallMichael Alan Duvall was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft, and pitched parts of four seasons in the majors for the Tampa Bay Devil Rays and Minnesota Twins.- External links :...
, Major League Baseball player - George B. FitchGeorge B. FitchGeorge B. Fitch is a business consultant and Republican politician. He is the mayor of Warrenton, Virginia, and ran in the 2005 Republican primary for the governorship of Virginia, a race which he lost to Jerry Kilgore. Having long had ties to Jamaica, Fitch was one of the co-founders of the...
, Mayor of Warrenton and co-founder of the Jamaican Bobsled Team - Benita Fitzgerald-BrownBenita Fitzgerald-BrownBenita Fitzgerald-Brown is a retired American athlete, who mainly competed in the women's 100 metres hurdles event....
, Olympic athlete - Ricky 'Bongos' Galecki, Worldwide producer/ musician (Rihanna, Black Eyed Peas)
- Eppa HuntonEppa HuntonEppa Hunton II was a U.S. Representative and Senator from Virginia and a brigadier general in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War.-Early years:...
, U.S. RepresentativeUnited States House of RepresentativesThe United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
and SenatorUnited States SenateThe 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...
, brigadier generalBrigadier general (United States)A brigadier general in the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, is a one-star general officer, with the pay grade of O-7. Brigadier general ranks above a colonel and below major general. Brigadier general is equivalent to the rank of rear admiral in the other uniformed...
in the Confederate Army - John C. MackieJohn C. MackieJohn C. Mackie was a politician from the U.S. state of Michigan.Mackie was born in Toronto and immigrated to the United States from Canada in 1924 with his parents, who settled in Detroit, Michigan. He graduated from Southeastern High School in Detroit in 1938 and attended Lawrence Institute of...
, U.S. congressman - Malcolm MacPhersonMalcolm MacPherson (writer)Malcolm Cook MacPherson was an American national and foreign correspondent for Newsweek magazine and the author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books.-Biography:...
, Newsweek correspondent and author - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
Charles MarshallCharles Marshall (Colonel)Charles Marshall was a Confederate Army officer during the American Civil War. Marshall served as an aide de camp, assistant adjutant general and military secretary to Gen. Robert E. Lee. He was also an uncle of WWII General George Marshall.-Early life:Marshall was born in Warrenton, Virginia to... - ColonelColonelColonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
James K. MarshallJames K. MarshallJames Keith "Jimmy" Marshall was a Confederate Army officer during the American Civil War. Marshall commanded the wounded J. Johnston Pettigrew's brigade during Pickett's Charge at the Battle of Gettysburg... - John Augustine MarshallJohn Augustine MarshallJohn Augustine Marshall was a United States federal judge.Marshall received an LL.B. from the University of Virginia in 1874. He was in private practice in Warrenton, Virginia from 1874 to 1878, and then in Salt Lake City, Utah until 1896. He was a Probate judge of Salt Lake County, Utah Territory...
, U.S. Federal judge - Thomas L. Moore, Congressman and lawyer
- William MooreWilliam Moore (musician)William "Bill" Moore was an African American blues singer and guitarist.Born in Dover, Georgia, United States, he was the only Virginian country bluesman to record for the Paramount label . His four 78 rpm records are highly sought by collectors and have been numerously re-released on LP and CD...
, blues musician - John S. MosbyJohn S. MosbyJohn Singleton Mosby , nicknamed the "Gray Ghost", was a Confederate cavalry battalion commander in the American Civil War...
, Confederate cavalry battalion commander - William H. F. PayneWilliam H. F. PayneWilliam Henry Fitzhugh Payne was a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
, Confederate Army General - Terre Jeffries Sadler, Writer and Novelist
- Scott ShippScott ShippScott Shipp was an American military figure, Confederate States Army officer, educator and educational administrator born in Warrenton, Virginia...
, Superintendent of the Virginia Military InstituteVirginia Military InstituteThe Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are... - William "Extra Billy" Smith, Congressman, twice Governor of Virginia, and Confederate Civil War general
- Gwyn R. TompkinsGwyn R. TompkinsGwyn R. Tompkins was an American Thoroughbred horse racing trainer and owner in both steeplechase and flat racing.Tompkins owned and trained Rossfenton who in 1910 won the most prestigious steeplechase event in the United States, the American Grand National...
, Thoroughbred horse racing trainer - Septimus TustinSeptimus TustinSeptimus Tustin was a Presbyterian clergyman who served as Chaplain of the United States House of Representatives in 1837 and as Chaplain of the United States Senate 1841-1846.- Early life :...
, Clergyman - Sarah WhiteSarah WhiteSarah White is a singer-songwriter based in Charlottesville, Virginia, whose music can be roughly characterized as folk or alt-country.She was born in Warrenton, Virginia, and relocated as a child to Monroe County, West Virginia...
, Singer-songwriter - Charles S. WhitehouseCharles S. WhitehouseCharles Sheldon Whitehouse was an American career Foreign Service Officer. He was U.S. Ambassador to Laos and Thailand in the 1970s.-Early life:...
, American career Foreign Service Officer, U.S. Ambassador to LaosLaosLaos Lao: ສາທາລະນະລັດ ປະຊາທິປະໄຕ ປະຊາຊົນລາວ Sathalanalat Paxathipatai Paxaxon Lao, officially the Lao People's Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south and Thailand to the west...
and ThailandThailandThailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the... - Bonnie ZacherleBonnie ZacherleBonnie D. Zacherle is an American illustrator and designer who now resides in Warrenton, Virginia. She is the daughter of US Army Col. George H. Zacherle, Jr. and Betty Jane Zacherle of Carlisle, PA...
, Illustrator and designer (My Little PonyMy Little PonyMy Little Pony is a brand of toy ponies marketed primarily to girls produced by the toy manufacturer Hasbro. These ponies can be identified by their colorful bodies and manes and a unique symbol on one or both sides of their flanks...
)
Geography
Warrenton is located at 38°43′06"N 77°47′50"W (38.718307, -77.797085).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 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
Census
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 6,670 people, 2,683 households, and 1,591 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 1,574.8 people per square mile (607.4/km²). There were 2,856 housing units at an average density of 674.3 per square mile (260.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 80.04% White, 16.49% African American, 0.24% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 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 1.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.25% of the population.
There were 2,683 households out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.6% 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, 14.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 33.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 3.01.
The population is fairly well distributed, with 23.9% under the age of 18, 6.7% from 18 to 24, 31.0% from 25 to 44, 21.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 84.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 77.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $50,760, and the median income for a family was $59,744. Males had a median income of $40,405 versus $31,689 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 $23,552. About 6.7% of families and 9.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 9.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.