Dinwiddie County, Virginia

Dinwiddie County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,947. Its county seat is Dinwiddie.

Dinwiddie County is part of the Richmond, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History


The first inhabitants of the area were Paleo-Indians, prior to 8000 BC. They are believed to have been nomadic hunter-gatherers following animal migrations. Early stone tools have been discovered in various fields within the county. At the time of European contact, Native Americans made their homes in the region.

Dinwiddie County was formed May 1, 1752, from Prince George County. The county is named for Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1751–58. The county raised several militia units that would fight in the American Revolution.

Dinwiddie County was the birthplace of Elizabeth (Burwell) Hobbs Keckly, a free black dressmaker who worked for two presidents' wives: Mrs. Jefferson Davis and later Mary Todd Lincoln. Thomas Day was also a native; he was well known later at Milton, North Carolina, as a free black cabinetmaker. Another native son was Dr. Thomas Stewart, perhaps America's first free black 18th-century rural physician.

During the Civil War the Battle of Lewis's Farm was fought along Quaker Road [Rt. 660]. It took place on March 29, 1865. This was the first in several attempts by Union General Ulysses S. Grant to cut Robert E. Lee's final supply line—the Southside Railroad—in the spring of 1865. Here the Union forces led by Brig. Gen. Joshua L. Chamberlain engaged Confederates under Maj. Gen. Bushrod R. Johnson. After sharp fighting, the Union troops entrenched nearby along the Boydton Plank Road, and Johnson withdrew to his lines at White Oak Road. The Union army cut the rail line four days later, after capturing Five Forks on April 1, 1865, at the Battle of Five Forks. Several other engagements were fought in Dinwiddie County, including the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Battle of Sutherland's Station, and Battle of White Oak Road.

The Dinwiddie County Historical Society currently occupies the historic Dinwiddie County Court House.

Civil War battles

 * Battle of Peebles' Farm
 * Battle of Lewis's Farm
 * Battle of Dinwiddie Court House
 * Battle of White Oak Road
 * Battle of Five Forks
 * Battle of Sutherland's Station

Geography
Dinwiddie is located in southern Virginia, southwest of the independent city of Petersburg, which separated from the county (and adjacent Prince George County) in 1871. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 507 sqmi, of which 504 sqmi is land and 3.5 sqmi (0.7%) is water. It is located between two US Army forts, Fort Gregg-Adams to the east and Fort Barfoot to the west.

Adjacent counties

 * Chesterfield County – north
 * Petersburg City – northeast
 * Prince George County – east
 * Sussex County – southeast
 * Greensville County – south
 * Brunswick County – southwest
 * Nottoway County – west
 * Amelia County – northwest

National protected area

 * Petersburg National Battlefield (part)

2000 Census
As of the census of 2000, there were 24,533 people, 9,107 households, and 6,720 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 /mi2. There were 9,707 housing units at an average density of 19 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 64.55% White, 33.66% Black or African American, 0.22% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.40% from other races, and 0.82% from two or more races. 0.97% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 9,107 households, out of which 32.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.80% were married couples living together, 13.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.20% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.01.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.00% under the age of 18, 6.70% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 12.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $41,582, and the median income for a family was $47,961. Males had a median income of $32,860 versus $24,346 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,122. About 6.60% of families and 9.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.60% of those under age 18 and 12.60% of those age 65 or over.

Board of Supervisors

 * District 1: Harrison A. Moody (D)
 * District 2: Mark E. Moore (I)
 * District 3: William D. Chavis (I)
 * District 4: Daniel D. Lee (I)
 * District 5: Brenda K. Ebron-Bonner (D)

Constitutional officers

 * Clerk of the Circuit Court: John Barrett Chappell, Jr. (D)
 * Commissioner of the Revenue: Lori K. Stevens (R)
 * Commonwealth's Attorney: Amanda Nicole Mann (I)
 * Sheriff: D.T. "Duck" Adams (D)
 * Treasurer: Jennifer Caraway Perkins (D)

Dinwiddie County is currently represented by Republican Frank Ruff of the 15th district and Democrat Joe Morrissey of the 16th district in the Virginia Senate. In the Virginia House of Delegates, the county is represented by Republicans Kim Taylor of the 63rd district and Otto Wachsmann of the 75th district. The county is represented by Democrat Jennifer McClellan of Virginia's 4th congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Communities
The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the independent cities of Petersburg and Colonial Heights with Dinwiddie County for statistical purposes.

Town

 * McKenney

Census-designated places

 * Dinwiddie (county seat)

Unincorporated communities

 * Ammon
 * Carson
 * Church Road
 * DeWitt
 * Darvils
 * Ford
 * Sutherland
 * Wilsons

Education
Appomattox Regional Library serves as the public library for the area.