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During the American Revolutionary War, the [[Culpeper Minutemen]], a pro-Independence militia group, formed in the town of Culpeper, in what was then known as "Clayton's Old Field," near today's Yowell Meadow Park.
During the American Revolutionary War, the [[Culpeper Minutemen]], a pro-Independence militia group, formed in the town of Culpeper, in what was then known as "Clayton's Old Field," near today's Yowell Meadow Park.


During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces occupied the town at various times. In the heart of downtown, the childhood home of Confederate General [[A.P. Hill]] stands at the corner of Main and Davis streets.
During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]], Culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces occupied the town at various times. In the heart of downtown, the childhood home of Confederate General [[A.P. Hill]] stands at the corner of Main and Davis streets. One block north on Main St. (present location of Piedmont Realty) was the frame house where "The Gallant" Major. John Pelham died after sustaining a wound at the battle at Kelley's Ford.


Culpeper has grown dramatically since the 1980s, becoming a "[[bedroom community]]" of the more densely populated [[Northern Virginia]] and its [[Washington, DC]], suburbs, where a growing number of residents of the town and county of Culpeper once lived and continue to work. The increased population, economic development, and influx of both people with urban sensibilities and foreign-born persons, particularly from Latin America, have caused a rising tension in Culpeper's identity, as it shifts to a more and more exurban community.
Culpeper has grown dramatically since the 1980s, becoming a "[[bedroom community]]" of the more densely populated [[Northern Virginia]] and its [[Washington, DC]], suburbs, where a growing number of residents of the town and county of Culpeper once lived and continue to work. The increased population, economic development, and influx of both people with urban sensibilities and foreign-born persons, particularly from Latin America, have caused a rising tension in Culpeper's identity, as it shifts to a more and more exurban community.

Revision as of 16:16, 31 October 2009

Culpeper, Virginia
Town
Official seal of Culpeper, Virginia
Seal
Location in Virginia
Location in Virginia
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyCulpeper
Founded1759
Government
 • MayorPranas Rimeikis
Area
 • Total6.8 sq mi (17.5 km2)
 • Land6.7 sq mi (17.4 km2)
 • Water0.0 sq mi (0.1 km2)
Elevation
413 ft (126 m)
Population
 (2000)
 • Total9,664
 • Density1,436.2/sq mi (554.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP codes
22701, 22735
Area code540
FIPS code51-20752Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1498471Template:GR
Websitehttp://www.culpeper.to/

Culpeper is an incorporated town in Culpeper County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,664 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Culpeper CountyTemplate:GR. Culpeper is part of the Culpeper Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Culpeper County. Both the Town of Culpeper and Culpeper County are part of the greater Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area.

Geography

Culpeper is located at 38°28′19″N 77°59′57″W / 38.47194°N 77.99917°W / 38.47194; -77.99917Invalid arguments have been passed to the {{#coordinates:}} function (38.471915, -77.999168)Template:GR.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 6.8 square miles (17.5 km²), of which, 6.7 square miles (17.4 km²) of it is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km²) of it (0.44%) is water.

History

After forming Culpeper County, Virginia, in 1748, the Virginia House of Burgesses voted to establish the Town of Fairfax on February 22, 1759. The name honored Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, who was proprietor of the Northern Neck, a vast domain north of the Rappahannock River stretching from the Chesapeake Bay to what is now Hampshire County, West Virginia. The original plan called for 10 blocks, which form the core of Culpeper's downtown area today. In 1795, the town received a post office under the name Culpeper Court House, although most maps continued to show the Fairfax name. The confusion resulting from the difference in official and postal name coupled with the existence of Fairfax Court House and Fairfax Station post offices in Fairfax County finally was resolved when the Virginia Assembly formally renamed the town Culpeper in 1869 (Acts, 1869-1870, chapter 118, page 154). The original town was surveyed by a young George Washington.

During the American Revolutionary War, the Culpeper Minutemen, a pro-Independence militia group, formed in the town of Culpeper, in what was then known as "Clayton's Old Field," near today's Yowell Meadow Park.

During the Civil War, Culpeper was a crossroads for a number of armies marching through central Virginia. Both Union and Confederate forces occupied the town at various times. In the heart of downtown, the childhood home of Confederate General A.P. Hill stands at the corner of Main and Davis streets. One block north on Main St. (present location of Piedmont Realty) was the frame house where "The Gallant" Major. John Pelham died after sustaining a wound at the battle at Kelley's Ford.

Culpeper has grown dramatically since the 1980s, becoming a "bedroom community" of the more densely populated Northern Virginia and its Washington, DC, suburbs, where a growing number of residents of the town and county of Culpeper once lived and continue to work. The increased population, economic development, and influx of both people with urban sensibilities and foreign-born persons, particularly from Latin America, have caused a rising tension in Culpeper's identity, as it shifts to a more and more exurban community.

Demographics

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 9,664 people, 3,933 households, and 2,442 families residing in the town. The population density was 554.4/km² (1,436.2/sq mi). There were 4,139 housing units at an average density of 615.1/sq mi (237.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 78.27% White, 18.15% African American, 0.21% Native American, 1.32% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.98% from other races, and 1.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.55% of the population.

There were 3,933 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.8% were married couples living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.9% were non-families. 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.97.

The town's population included 25.7% under the age of 18, 10.0% from 18 to 24, 30.3% from 25 to 44, 19.0% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.9 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $35,438, and the median income for a family was $41,894. Males had a median income of $28,658 versus $25,252 for females. The per capita income for the town was $16,842. About 13.0% of families and 16.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.8% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

According to the 2007 census estimates, Culpeper's population has grown to 13,497.[1]

Transportation

Culpeper is served by U.S. Route 29, U.S. Route 15, and U.S. Route 522 as well state primary routes Virginia Route 229, Virginia Route 299, and Virginia Route 3. Interstate 95 is accessible via Virginia Route 3 east in Fredericksburg, VA, Interstate 64 is accessible via U.S. Route 29 south in Charlottesville and U.S. Route 15 south in Zion Crossroads, VA, Interstate 66 is accessible via U.S. Route 29 north, Interstate 81 is accessible via U.S. Route 522 north in Front Royal.

Amtrak operates a station in Culpeper, station code CLP. This station is served by the Cardinal, Northeast Regional and Crescent trains daily.

The town of Culpeper is also serviced by Virginia Regional Transit. Virginia Regional Transit operates three buses in town—one on a northern loop, one on a southern loop, and one for disabled individuals.

Notable residents

Interesting Culpeper Facts

  • Culpeper was the first municipality south of the Mason-Dixon Line to install fluorescent street lighting. [citation needed]
  • Dinosaur tracks were uncovered in 1989 at a quarry run by the Culpeper Stone Co. [citation needed]
  • Brandy Station, a community lying several miles north of town, is the site of a house, whose interior walls bear numerous signatures, comments and images rendered in charcoal by soldiers, both Union and Confederate, during the Civil War. It's appropriately known as the "Graffiti House".
  • It is often misspelled Culpepper
  • There have been discussions about combining the town and the county; residents are divided.
  • Culpeper County was the area of land that student surveyor George Washington had been sent to survey by Lord Fairfax of the House of Burgesses. [citation needed]
  • The Library of Congress's National Audio-Visual Conservation Center is located on Mt. Pony Road, 2 miles from the town center.
  • In 1967, it was the scene of a one day standoff between members of the American Nazi Party and police and military personnel over the attempt to bury American Nazi Party leader George Lincoln Rockwell in the local National Cemetery.
  • The sad scene of the accident that paralyzed actor Christopher Reeves.
  • The only place during the entire Civil War where Gen. Stonewall Jackson ever attempted to unsheath (unsuccessfully) his sword.

References

  1. ^ http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=ChangeGeoContext&geo_id=16000US5120752&_geoContext=&_street=&_county=Culpeper&_cityTown=Culpeper&_state=04000US51&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=010&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=

Template:Mapit-US-cityscale

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