Culpeper County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 34,262. Its county seat is Culpeper.

History

Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County. The county is named for Lord Thomas Culpeper. During the Civil War the Battle of Cedar Mountain took place on August 9, 1862 and the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863, in Culpeper County.

In May 1749, the first Culpeper Court convened in the home of Robert Coleman, not far from
where the Town of Culpeper is presently located. In July 1749, 17-year-old George Washington was commissioned as the first County surveyor. One of his first duties was to lay
out the County's courthouse complex, which included the courthouse, jail, stocks, gallows
and accessory buildings. By 1752 the complex stood at what is presently the northeast
corner of Davis and Main Streets. The courthouse village was named the Town of Fairfax
after Thomas, Sixth Baron Fairfax.

During the Virginia convention held in May 1775, the colony was divided into sixteen districts.
Each district had instructions to raise a battalion of men ``to march at a minute's notice.
Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier, forming one district, raised 350 men who came to be called
the Culpeper Minute Men. The Minute Men, marching under their flag depicting a rattlesnake
and inscribed with the words ``Liberty or Death and ``Don't Tread on Me, took part in the
Battle of Great Bridge, the first Revolutionary battle on Virginia soil. The Culpeper Minute
Men reorganized in 1860 in response to the impending Civil War and became part of 13th
Infantry's Company B.
Andrew Stevenson, Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1827 to 1834, was born in Culpeper County on Jan. 21, 1784.

Over the past 25 years, the rural nature of Culpeper County has experienced increasing pressures from population growth due to the County's central location within the Northern Virginia region and the improved highway network that serves the area. Culpeper, wishes to maintain its rural character and avoid becoming a bedroom community to the nearby metropolitan area around Washington, D.C. However, the County recognizes the need not only to maintain, but to expand its economic base to support and address the needs of the citizens of the County.

Culpeper was home to baseball Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey. Culpeper also produced pro basketball player Keith "Mister" Jennings. Culpeper produced country music star Kenny Alphin of the group "Big & Rich."

Culpeper County is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are quickly accessed beginning with Old Rag Mountain and the Skyline Drive just up Route 522.

Culpeper County is home to Commonwealth Park, site for many world-class equestrian events. It was here that actor Christopher Reeve suffered his accident during a competition.

Culpeper is home to famous battlefield at Brandy Station and the boyhood home to Civil War Gen. A.P. Hill.

Culpeper was once rated as one of America's best "Top 10 Small Towns".

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 382 square miles (990 km²), of which, 381 square miles (987 km²) of it is land and 1 square miles (3 km²) of it (0.33%) is water.

Adjacent counties

Stafford County, Virginia - East
Orange County, Virginia - South
Madison County, Virginia - Southwest
Rappahannock County, Virginia - Northwest
Spotsylvania County, Virginia - Southeast
Fauquier County, Virginia - Northeast

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 34,262 people, 12,141 households, and 9,045 families residing in the county. The population density was 90 people per square mile (35/km²). There were 12,871 housing units at an average density of 34 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 78.27% White, 18.15% Black or African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.66% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.15% from other races, and 1.43% from two or more races. 2.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

U.S. Route 211 as it passes through Culpeper County

There were 12,141 households out of which 35.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.50% were married couples living together, 11.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.50% were non-families. 20.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the county, the population was spread out with 25.70% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 31.10% from 25 to 44, 23.30% from 45 to 64, and 11.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 103.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,290, and the median income for a family was $51,475. Males had a median income of $36,621 versus $25,985 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,162. About 7.00% of families and 9.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 10.30% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

Schools

Culpeper County Public Schools http://www.culpeperschools.org

Elementary Schools

• A.G. Richardson

• Emerald Hill

• Farmington Elementary

• Pearl Sample

• Sycamore Park

• Yowell Elementary

Middle Schools

• Culpeper Middle

• Floyd T. Binns Middle

High Schools

• Culpeper County High School!

• Eastern View High School

Communities

Town

• Culpeper

Unincorporated communities

• Alanthus

• Boston

• Brandy Station

• Buena

• Cardova

• Catalpa

• Edward's Shop

• Eggbornsville

• Eldorada

• Elkwood

• Griffinsburg

• Jeffersonton

• Kellys Ford

• Lignum

• Mitchells

• Rapidan

• Reva

• Richardsville

• Rixeyville

• Stevensburg

• Winston

Trivia

• It was during the Commonwealth Dressage and Combined Training Association finals at the Commonwealth Park in Culpeper County that Christopher Reeve received his infamous neck injury rendering him a quadriplegic.

• The James Reasoner Civil War Series is a 10-volume set of historical novels set in Culpeper, Virginia.

• Culpeper has been featured or mentioned in many popular television shows such as Bones, NCIS'', and The Sopranos.

Notable Residences