Tappahannock, Virginia Explained

Tappahannock, Virginia
Official Name:Town of Tappahannock
Settlement Type:Town
Mapsize:250px
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:Virginia
Subdivision Type2:County
Subdivision Name2:Essex
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Roy Gladding
Unit Pref:Imperial
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Sq Mi:2.75
Area Land Sq Mi:2.67
Area Water Sq Mi:0.08
Population As Of:2010
Population Total:2375
Population Density Sq Mi:899.96
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:46
Postal Code Type:ZIP Code
Postal Code:22560
Area Code:804
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:51-77568[2]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:1498542[3]
Pop Est As Of:2019
Population Est:2402
Area Total Km2:7.11
Area Land Km2:6.91
Area Water Km2:0.20
Population Density Km2:347.44

Tappahannock is the oldest town in Essex County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,375 at the 2010 census,[4] up from 2,068 at the 2000 census. Located on the Rappahannock River, Tappahannock is the county seat of Essex County.[5] Its name comes from an Algonquian language word lappihanne (also noted as toppehannock), meaning "Town on the rise and fall of water" or "where the tide ebbs and flows." The Rappahannock is a tidal estuary from above this point and downriver to its mouth on Chesapeake Bay.

In 1608 English explorer John Smith landed in Tappahannock and fought with the local Rappahannock tribe. After defeating them, he later made peace.[6] [7] [8] [9]

History

In the mid 1660s, Captain Richard Hobbs had rights to 800 acres south of Gilson's Creek at the Rappahannock River. In 1680, Virginia law required warehouses to be established in port towns, and that year surveyor George Morris created a survey showing Hobb His Hole Harbour [sic]. Hole means where a ship could drop anchor in a deep part of the water, and thus it was Capt. Hobbs who parked his ship "Elizabeth and Mary" here [10] in the vicinity of present-day Tappahannock. This area became known as "Hobbs Hole".

The settlement was platted for, divided into half-acre squares.[11] The port was established at Hobbs Hole and called "New Plymouth",[11] later changed back to the Native American name "Tappahannock". As part of the Tobacco Inspection Act of 1730, public warehouses for inspection and exportation of tobacco, the colony's commodity crop, were established at Hobbs Hole. Ocean-going ships could reach this port.

During the War of 1812, the town was seized by British naval forces under the command of Captain Robert Barrie on December 2, 1814. The British left the town two days later, after burning down the courthouse and two jails.[12]

The Tappahannock Historic District and Sabine Hall are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

On February 24, 2016, the town was hit by a large EF3 tornado, causing massive damage.[13]

On July 15, 2022, a fire destroyed many businesses along Prince Street as well as multiple homes in downtown Tappahannock, burning nearly half the town block. The cause of the fire, which started at the back of the Martin-Sale Furniture Company, remains unknown as of 2023.[14] No deaths were reported aside from a pet cat belonging to one of the displaced residents.[15]

Geography

Tappahannock is located on the east side of Essex County at (37.922180, -76.863158), on the southwest bank of the Rappahannock River.[16] The river is a wide, tidal estuary here.

U.S. Routes 17 and 360 pass through the town. US 17 passes through the center of town as Church Lane, leading northwest to Fredericksburg and southeast to Newport News. US 360 runs through town with US 17 on Church Lane, but turns east on Queen Street and crosses the mile-wide Rappahannock, continuing east to its terminus in Reedville near the Chesapeake Bay. US 360 leads southwest from Tappahannock to Richmond, the state capital.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town 6.9sqkm, of which 6.7sqkm is land and 0.2sqkm, or 2.84%, is water.[4]

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 2,068 people, 857 households, and 495 families residing in the town. The population density was 793.6 people per square mile (305.9/km2). There were 946 housing units at an average density of 363.0 per square mile (139.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 54.60% White, 41.60% African American, 0.10% Native American, 2.50% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 1.00% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.40% of the population.

There were 857 households, out of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.6% were married couples living together, 18.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.2% were non-families. Of all households, 35.8% were made up of individuals, and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 22.4% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 27.0% from 25 to 44, 20.7% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $33,688, and the median income for a family was $41,579. Males had a median income of $28,409 versus $20,431 for females. The per capita income for the town was $17,862. About 10.6% of families and 14.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.6% of those under age 18 and 6.7% of those age 65 or over.

Places

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 31, 2008.
  3. Web site: US Board on Geographic Names. January 31, 2008. United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007.
  4. Web site: Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Census Summary File 1 (G001): Tappahannock town, Virginia. U.S. Census Bureau. American Factfinder. April 8, 2016. https://archive.today/20200213053903/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/G001/1600000US5177568. February 13, 2020. dead.
  5. Web site: Find a County. June 7, 2011. National Association of Counties.
  6. Web site: Early Settlement Up the... Rappahannock?. www.virginiaplaces.org. May 24, 2018.
  7. Web site: John Smith 400. www.johnsmith400.org. May 24, 2018.
  8. Web site: Second Voyage - Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail (U.S. National Park Service). www.nps.gov. May 24, 2018.
  9. Web site: Amoroleck Encounters John Smith N-38 - Fredericksburg, Stafford, Spotsylvania Historical Markers. fredmarkers.umwblogs.org. February 27, 2008 . May 24, 2018.
  10. Web site: Essex County Virginia -History of Essex County. May 24, 2018. dead. https://archive.today/20130414163712/http://www.essex-virginia.org/ex_hist.htm. April 14, 2013. April 14, 2013.
  11. http://www.vawterfamily.org/Georgine/Bartholomew%201-99.pdf Arrival in the Virginia colony
  12. https://wtop.com/news/2014/10/va-towns-sacking-in-war-of-1812-recalled/ Va. town's sacking in War of 1812 recalled
  13. Web site: Tappahannock 'a mess' after tornado strike. www.richmond.com. February 25, 2016. March 30, 2016.
  14. Web site: Tappahannock on the road to recovery a year after a massive fire. WWBT. Jennifer. Blake. July 14, 2023. December 15, 2023.
  15. Web site: Massive fire destroys multiple buildings in Tappahannock. WWBT. John. Hood. July 15, 2022. December 15, 2023.
  16. Web site: US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990. United States Census Bureau. April 23, 2011. February 12, 2011.
  17. Web site: Lowery's Seafood in Tappahannock sinks into bankruptcy . richmondbizsense. September 4, 2020 .
  18. National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Debtor's Prison. Virginia Historic Landmarks Commission staff . June 1976. Virginia Department of Historic Resources.
  19. Web site: National Register nomination form. July 15, 2008. Virginia Department of Historic Resources. .
  20. Web site: A Guide to the William Stewart, Jr., Letters, 1800–1818 . October 20, 2021 . Archival Records, The Library of Virginia.
  21. "http://www.rroysters.com/billmoore.htm"
  22. McConnell, Jim. "Big Apple beckons for Tutt". The Free Lance-Star. May 3, 2006. Retrieved on March 6, 2009.