About Dinwiddie County

Dinwiddie County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia.

History

Dinwiddie County was established May 1, 1752 from Prince George County. The county is named for Robert Dinwiddie, Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1751-58. However the first inhabitants of the area were in fact Paleo Indians, prior to 8000BC. Who are believed to have been nomadic hunter-gatherers following of animal migrations. Early stone tools have been discovered in various fields within the county. The county raise several militia units that would fight in the American Revolution.

During the Civil War the Battle of Lewis's Farm, fought along Quaker Road [Rt. 660] occurred on 29 March 1865, this was the first in a series of attempts by Grant's army to cut Lee's final supply line -- the South Side Railroad -- in spring 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 1 April, 1865, at the Battle of Five Forks. The following morning at approximately 4:40 a.m., Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant sent the Sixth Corps, some 14,000 strong, pouring over the Confederate fortifications near Tudor Hall Plantation, now preserved by Pamplin Historical Park. This attack broke General Robert E. Lee's defensive line around Petersburg and compelled Lee to order the evacuation of Petersburg and Richmond that night. Lieutenant General Ambrose Powell Hill, one of Lee's highest-ranking subordinates, was killed near what is now Pamplin Historical Park while riding to take command of the battlefieldSeveral other engagements were fought in Dinwiddie County including the Battle of Dinwiddie Court House, Battle of Sutherland's Station, Battle of White Oak Road.

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

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,313 km² (507 mi²). 1,304 km² (504 mi²) of it is land and 9 km² (3 mi²) of it (0.65%) is water. Its located between two US Amry Forts, Fort Lee to its East and Fort Pickett to its West.

Demographics

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 19/km² (49/mi²). There were 9,707 housing units at an average density of 7/km² (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.