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Immediate Area
Spotsylvania County
Size and Character:
Spotsylvania's 410 square miles make it one of the largest counties in Virginia. During the past decade, it also has been one of the state’s fastest growing counties, largely because of its location along Interstate 95 midway between metropolitan Washington and Richmond. Most of this growth is concentrated in the northwest portion abutting Fredericksburg. Much of Spotsylvania, particularly Livingston and Berkeley districts, remains rural. The county is bounded by Fredericksburg and Stafford County to the north, Orange and Culpeper counties to the west, Louisa and Hanover counties to the south and Caroline County to the east.
Towns and Communities:
There are no incorporated towns in Spotsylvania, but a number of communities have developed over the years. Some of them include: the Courthouse, Snell and Post Oak along State Route 208; Chancellorsville and Elys Ford areas in the vicinity of State Route 3; the Four Mile Fork area on U.S. 1; the Paytes area along the Spotsylvania-Orange county line; and the Goshen Church and Todds Tavern areas off of State Route 612.
Public Schools:
There are 14 elementary schools (K-5), five middle schools (6-8) and four high schools. Also the Spotsylvania Vocational Center serves students from all high schools. Enrollment was 16,580 at the end of the 1997-98 school year. Projected enrollment for 1998-99 is 17,100.
Population, Income:
Population is 77,700.
Occupations:
As of December 1996, 19469 people worked in Spotsylvania, according to the Virginia Employment Commission. About 6,221 jobs were in retail. There were 2,004 jobs in the manufacturing industry and 298 in health services.
Major businesses and industries:
Spotsylvania's industrial center is the Lee Hill Industrial Park and Spotsylvania Industrial Park on Tidewater Trail (Routes 2 and 17). There are other large industrial parks on the south side of the US 17 Bypass, including 95 Commerce Place and the RF&P Corp.'s Crossroads Industrial Park. Hundreds of acres there are slated for industrial development.
The commercial center is the State Route 3 corridor, including Spotsylvania Mall, and the Four Mile Fork area along US 1.
General Products Co., which manufactures doors at a plant near Hamilton's Crossing, is one of the country's largest industrial employers, as is the GM Powertrain plant. CVS operates a large distribution center on Lansdowne Road, and Western Wood Products, Mid-Atlantic Foam and the A. Smith Bowman Distillery are among businesses at Spotsylvania Industrial Park. Simmons USA is in Lee Hill Industrial Park. Northeast Foods, trading as Automatic Rolls of Virginia Inc., operates in Leonard Industrial Park on the US 17 Bypass.
History:
Spotsylvania was formed in 1721 from a merger of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties, and was named after former Gov. Alexander Spotswood. Spotsylvania is probably best known for several major Civil War battles fought on its soil, including one of the bloodiest of the war, the Battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse.
Government Offices:
The Courthouse area, where State Routes 208 and 613 intersect, is the county seat. Most county administrative offices are in the Holbert building. The county administrator's address is Box 99, Spotsylvania, 22553. The phone number is 540/582-7010.
Orange County
Size and Character:
342 square miles of red clay, rolling hills and flat, sandy soil, bounded by Culpeper, Louisa, Spotsylvania, Albemarle, Greene and Madison counties.
Towns and Communities:
Orange County includes two incorporated towns, Orange and Gordonsville along with communities at Locust Grove, Lahore, Mine Run, Nasons, Unionville, Rhoadesville, Somerset, Barboursville, Rapidan and Lake of the Woods, a large planned community in the county's eastern corner.
Public Schools:
One elementary school with grades K-3, one elementary school with grades K-5, two elementary schools with grades K-6, another with grades 4-6, one middle school (grades 6-8) and a high school (grades 9-12). Total enrollment in the 1997-98 school year was 3,794 students.
Population, Income:
Population is 23,961.
Occupations:
Agriculture, including both beef and dairy operations, is the largest industry. Some work in light industry; others commute to Northern Virginia and Charlottesville. Unemployment averaged 4.5 percent in 1995. Major businesses or industries: American Press, American Woodwork, Ridged Products, Virginia Metal Industries, Atlantic Research Corp., Battlefield Farms Inc., Central Virginia Newspapers Inc., Robber S. Coleman Lumber Co., General Shale, Glass Dynamics Inc., Intertrans Carrier Co., Liberty Fabrics, MSAG Data Consultants Inc., Specialty Weavers and Technology Service Group.
History:
Orange was formed in 1734 and named in honor of William IV, Prince of Orange, who was the husband of Anne, Princess Royal of England. Two U.S. presidents were born in Orange County: Zachary Taylor and James Madison. Madison, known as the "Father of the Constitution", lived much of his life in Orange County at his Montpelier estate. James Barbour, governor of Virginia from 1812-1814, lived in Barboursville, an imposing mansion that was completed in 1822 and burned on Christmas Day 1884. Many Civil War events took place in Orange; the Confederates made extensive use of the railroad through the county.
Government Offices:
County offices and courts are in the town of Orange, 112 West Main St., Box 111, Orange, Va. 22960 540/672-3313 or 540/972-1455.
Louisa County
Size and Character:
517 square miles in central Virginia, crisscrossed by Interstate 64 and bounded by Lake Anna and Spotsylvania County on the northeast, Orange County to the north, Albermarle County to the northwest, Fluvanna and Goochland counties to the southwest and Hanover County to the southeast. The county is primarily low and sandy-soiled, sparsely populated and covered by extensive woodlands. It is home to Virginia Power's North Anna Power Station, and the 9,600-acre Lake Anna, which was built by the utility.
Towns and Communities:
The county includes two incorporated towns, Louisa and Mineral, the Twin Oaks commune and a number of large subdivisions on Lake Anna.
Public Schools:
Louisa has three elementary schools (grades K-5), one middle school (grades 6-8) and one high school (grades 9-12).
Population, Income:
Population is 23,900.
Occupations:
Virginia Power's North Anna nuclear plant employs many residents, as do recreation facilities on Lake Anna. County residents also work in lumbering, farming and light industry. Commuters go west to Charlottesville and southeast to Richmond. Unemployment averaged 7 percent in 1996. Major businesses include Virginia Power, Kloeckner-Pentaplast Inc., Tridum Filter, Klearfold and Busada Manufacturing, Virginity Community Bank, Trade Winds of Virginia, Piedmont Metal Fabricators and Virginia Vermiculite.
History:
The county was formed in 1742 and named for Princess Louisa, daughter of England's King George II. Revolutionary War hero Jack Jouett rode in 1781 from Cuckoo Tavern to Charlottesville to warn Gov. Thomas Jefferson about the approach of British soldiers.
Major Issues:
The mid- and late 1980's saw Lake Anna become a favorite recreational destination for Washington-area residents, while retirees continued to build homes around the waterfront. County officials have placed limitations on mobile homes, many of which have been put around the lake.
The County Courthouse on Main Street, a historical site, is being completely renovated. The courthouse was designed by Thomas Jefferson and should make a nice tourist attraction once work is completed.
Primeco is putting a 300-foot transmitting tower in the county and it will share the space with Virginia Public Broadcasting.
The North Anna Power Plant recently completed a dry-cask storage facility for nuclear fuel.
Government Offices:
County offices are in the administration building at 1 Woolfolk Avenue. The address is Box 160, Louisa, VA 23093. The phone number is 540/967-0401. The Circuit Court is at 314 W. Main St., with a mailing address of Box 37, Louisa, VA 23093.
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