Shenandoah County, Virginia

County in Virginia, United States

Not to be confused with Shenandoah, Virginia.

County in Virginia

Shenandoah County

County

Shenandoah County Courthouse in Woodstock

Flag

Logo

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 38°52′N 78°34′W﻿ / ﻿38.86°N 78.57°W﻿ / 38.86; -78.57
Country|  United States
State|  Virginia
Founded| 1772
Named after| Shenandoah River
Seat| Woodstock
Largest town| Strasburg
Area

• Total

| 512 sq mi (1,330 km2)
• Land| 509 sq mi (1,320 km2)
• Water| 3.4 sq mi (9 km2)  0.7%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 44,186
• Density| 86/sq mi (33/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 6th
Website| www.shenandoahcountyva.us

Shenandoah County (formerly Dunmore County) is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 44,186.[1] Its county seat is Woodstock.[2] It is part of the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.

## History

[edit]

George Washington named the river, valley and county Shenandoah in honor of John Skenandoa, a Christian Oneida chief from New York who helped gain the support of Oneida and Tuscarora warriors to aid the Americans during the American Revolutionary War. This included helping the Americans survive at Valley Forge.

Colonial Governor Gooch formally purchased the entire Shenandoah Valley from the Six Nations of the Iroquois by the Treaty of Lancaster in 1744. The Iroquois had controlled the valley as a hunting ground, but European settlement had begun by that time. During Pontiac's War (1763–1766), Shawnee efforts to repel the Europeans reached as far east as the current county.

The county was established in 1772 as 'Dunmore County' for Virginia Colonial Governor John Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore. Woodstock was designated the county seat. Dunmore was Virginia's last royal governor, and was forced from office during the American Revolution. During the war (1778) the county 'Shenandoah.'

George Washington was a member of the Virginia House of Burgesses representing Frederick County, Virginia from 1758 to 1765 which included the Woodstock area until 1772. The new village of Woodstock was established by law in 1761. Washington sponsored the act, and named the town Woodstock at that time. George Washington also named Shenandoah Valley, the Shenandoah River, and Shenandoah County. He named these places after the Christian Oneida chief John Skenandoa who helped Americans survive during the American Revolution including at Valley Forge.[3]

The Town of Woodstock's website notes that it was established by charter in March of 1761 as a part of what was then Frederick County. The town was originally formed by a land grant from Lord Fairfax, and named after its founder, Jacob Miller as Muellerstadt (Miller Town) in 1752. It was renamed Woodstock when the town's charter was sponsored by George Washington in Virginia's House of Burgesses. The Town of Woodstock has been the County Seat of Shenandoah County since the County's formation in 1772.

During the Civil War, the Battle of New Market took place in the county on May 15, 1864.

## Geography

[edit]

Rockingham

Hardy

Frederick

Page

Shenandoah

Warren

class=notpageimage|

Shenandoah and adjacent counties

According to the US Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,330 km2), of which 509 square miles (1,320 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (0.7%) is water.[4] Fort Valley and the western slopes of the Massanutten Mountain are located within the county boundary.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Hardy County, West Virginia – northwest
* Frederick County – northeast
* Warren County – east
* Page County – southeast
* Rockingham County – southwest

### National protected areas

[edit]

* Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historical Park (part)
* George Washington National Forest (part)

## Transportation

[edit]

* Shenandoah Valley Commuter Bus Service offers weekday commuter bus service from the Northern Shenandoah Valley including Shenandoah County and Warren County to Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C., including Arlington County and Fairfax County. Origination points in Shenandoah County include Woodstock. Origination points in Warren County include Front Royal and Linden.

I-81 southbound in Shenandoah County

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-81
* US 11
* US 48
* US 211
* SR 42
* SR 55
* SR 211
* SR 263

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 10,510| | —
1800| 13,823| | 31.5%
1810| 13,646| | −1.3%
1820| 18,926| | 38.7%
1830| 19,750| | 4.4%
1840| 11,618| | −41.2%
1850| 13,768| | 18.5%
1860| 13,896| | 0.9%
1870| 14,936| | 7.5%
1880| 18,204| | 21.9%
1890| 19,671| | 8.1%
1900| 20,253| | 3.0%
1910| 20,942| | 3.4%
1920| 20,808| | −0.6%
1930| 20,655| | −0.7%
1940| 20,898| | 1.2%
1950| 21,169| | 1.3%
1960| 21,825| | 3.1%
1970| 22,852| | 4.7%
1980| 27,559| | 20.6%
1990| 31,636| | 14.8%
2000| 35,075| | 10.9%
2010| 41,993| | 19.7%
2020| 44,186| | 5.2%
US Decennial Census[5]
1790–1960[6] 1900–1990[7]
1990–2000[8] 2010[9] 2020[10]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Shenandoah County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)  Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2010[9] | Pop 2020[10] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 37,886  | 37,304  | 90.22%  | 84.42%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 699  | 1,031  | 1.66%  | 2.33%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 71  | 84  | 0.17%  | 0.19%
Asian alone (NH)  | 210  | 344  | 0.50%  | 0.78%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 6  | 8  | 0.01%  | 0.02%
Some Other Race alone (NH)  | 28  | 149  | 0.07%  | 0.34%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 516  | 1,540  | 1.23%  | 3.49%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 2,577  | 3,726  | 6.14%  | 8.43%
Total | 41,993 | 44,186 | 100.00% | 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

### 2010 Census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 41,993 people in the county. 93.0% were White, 1.7% Black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 2.8% of some other race and 1.6% of two or more races. 6.1% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race). 26.4% were of American, 22.0% German, 10.3% English and 7.6% Irish ancestry.[11]

### 2000 Census

[edit]

As of the 2000 United States Census,[12] there were 35,075 people, 14,296 households, and 10,064 families in the county. The population density was 68 people per square mile (26 people/km2). There were 16,709 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.60% White, 1.17% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 1.79% from other races, and 0.89% from two or more races. 3.40% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,296 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 9.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.86.

The county population contained 22.30% under the age of 18, 6.60% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 94.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,173, and the median income for a family was $45,080. Males had a median income of $29,952 versus $22,312 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,755. About 5.80% of families and 8.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.10% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

[edit]

### Private

[edit]

#### Secondary institutions

[edit]

* Shenandoah Valley Academy
* Massanutten Military Academy

#### Primary institutions

[edit]

* Shenandoah Valley Adventist Elementary School
* Valley Baptist Christian School

### Public

[edit]

#### High schools

[edit]

* Stonewall Jackson High School (Shenandoah County, Virginia)
* Strasburg High School
* Central High School (Woodstock)

#### Elementary and middle schools

[edit]

* W.W. Robinson Elementary School (Woodstock)
* Peter Muhlenberg Middle School (Woodstock)
* Ashby-Lee Elementary School (Quicksburg)
* North Fork Middle School (Quicksburg)
* Sandy Hook Elementary School (Strasburg)
* Signal Knob Middle School (Strasburg)

#### Other

[edit]

* Triplett Tech (Mount Jackson)
* Massanutten Regional Governor's School (High School level, in Mount Jackson)

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

* Edinburg (pop. 1,041)
* Mount Jackson (pop. 1,994)
* New Market (pop. 2,155)
* Strasburg (pop. 7,083)
* Toms Brook (pop. 258)
* Woodstock (pop. 5,097)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Basye (pop. 1,374)
* Bowmans Crossing
* Clary
* Columbia Furnace
* Conicville
* Fishers Hill
* Forestville
* Lebanon Church
* Locust Grove
* Hudson Crossroads
* Maurertown
* Mount Clifton
* Mount Olive
* Orkney Springs (pop. 58)
* Quicksburg
* Saumsville

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Alonzaville
* Bedford
* Borden
* Calvary
* Carmel
* Coleytown
* Detrick
* Hamburg
* Harrisville
* Hawkinstown
* Hepners
* Jadwyn
* Jerome
* Kings Crossing
* Lantz Mill
* Macanie
* Moore's Store
* Mount Hermon
* Oak Grove
* Oranda
* Saint Luke
* Silver City
* Swover Creek
* Valley View
* Walkers Chapel
* Wesley Chapel
* Wheatfield
* Williamsville
* Zepp

## Law enforcement

[edit]

Law enforcement agency

Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office

Abbreviation| SCSO
Agency overview
Formed| May 26, 1772
Employees| 100+
Jurisdictional structure
Constituting instrument|

* Yes

General nature|

* Local civilian police

Operational structure
Headquarters| Woodstock, Virginia
Agency executive|

* Timothy C. Carter, Sheriff

Website
Official Website

The Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Shenandoah County. The SCSO was created on May 26, 1772, when the position of High Sheriff position was created; its main duty was to collect taxes.[13]

The SCSO was accredited by the Virginia Law Enforcement Professional Standards Commission between 2006, when it first became accredited, and 2022, when it lost accreditation following an evaluation.[14]

## Politics

[edit]

Politically, Shenandoah County is one of the most consistently Republican counties in Virginia, a trend that predates the rest of western Virginia moving away from the Democratic Party. It was first won by a Republican presidential nominee in 1896, and has voted Republican in every presidential election since 1936, and in all but one election since 1920. Nearly solidly Democratic before 1900, the county began voting Republican in statewide elections around the beginning of the 20th century but was a swing county. In the 1920s it became solidly Republican at a statewide level, with the exception of Democratic local heroes Harry F. Byrd and his son. This early swing to the GOP came from the county’s rural voters being overwhelmingly German American Republicans, which overpowered the conservative Southern Democrat vote in the county population centers of New Market, Woodstock, and Strasburg. The Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1902 was vehemently opposed by the counties of western Virginia due to the impact on racial equality and perceived disenfranchisement of the many poor whites of the region. The once strong Democratic county turned Republican due to this convention, which, according to the Shenandoah Herald, was the “…death knell of the Democratic party in the Valley counties.” The Democrats of the county were of the Jacksonian, small government stock; leading them to vote Republican after the perceived injustice by the state convention in the creation of a new constitution,[15] which was not ratified by popular vote. The county briefly returned to its Southern Democrat roots at the state level during the civil rights movement.[16]

In 1856, Shenandoah was the only county in Virginia to record votes in favor of the candidate of the newly formed Republican Party, John C. Frémont.

United States presidential election results for Shenandoah County, Virginia[17] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 17,215  | 70.30% | 6,914  | 28.23%  | 360  | 1.47%
2020 | 16,463  | 69.51% | 6,836  | 28.86%  | 385  | 1.63%
2016 | 14,094  | 68.72% | 5,273  | 25.71%  | 1,141  | 5.56%
2012 | 12,538  | 64.72% | 6,469  | 33.39%  | 366  | 1.89%
2008 | 12,005  | 62.45% | 6,912  | 35.96%  | 306  | 1.59%
2004 | 11,820  | 68.94% | 5,186  | 30.25%  | 140  | 0.82%
2000 | 9,636  | 66.68% | 4,420  | 30.58%  | 396  | 2.74%
1996 | 7,440  | 56.02% | 4,224  | 31.81%  | 1,616  | 12.17%
1992 | 7,746  | 55.74% | 3,956  | 28.47%  | 2,194  | 15.79%
1988 | 8,612  | 71.74% | 3,276  | 27.29%  | 116  | 0.97%
1984 | 9,048  | 76.03% | 2,771  | 23.29%  | 81  | 0.68%
1980 | 7,517  | 67.10% | 3,137  | 28.00%  | 549  | 4.90%
1976 | 6,296  | 64.05% | 3,364  | 34.22%  | 170  | 1.73%
1972 | 7,128  | 82.46% | 1,422  | 16.45%  | 94  | 1.09%
1968 | 5,461  | 62.91% | 1,654  | 19.05%  | 1,566  | 18.04%
1964 | 3,981  | 55.54% | 3,184  | 44.42%  | 3  | 0.04%
1960 | 4,144  | 66.85% | 2,053  | 33.12%  | 2  | 0.03%
1956 | 4,164  | 69.18% | 1,769  | 29.39%  | 86  | 1.43%
1952 | 4,284  | 71.12% | 1,734  | 28.78%  | 6  | 0.10%
1948 | 3,349  | 64.65% | 1,603  | 30.95%  | 228  | 4.40%
1944 | 3,517  | 64.12% | 1,962  | 35.77%  | 6  | 0.11%
1940 | 3,527  | 58.87% | 2,450  | 40.89%  | 14  | 0.23%
1936 | 3,152  | 52.29% | 2,861  | 47.46%  | 15  | 0.25%
1932 | 2,514  | 48.19%  | 2,635  | 50.51% | 68  | 1.30%
1928 | 3,420  | 68.28% | 1,589  | 31.72%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 2,214  | 48.80% | 2,186  | 48.18%  | 137  | 3.02%
1920 | 2,683  | 56.05% | 2,077  | 43.39%  | 27  | 0.56%
1916 | 1,425  | 48.70%  | 1,440  | 49.21% | 61  | 2.08%
1912 | 706  | 27.61%  | 1,336  | 52.25% | 515  | 20.14%
1908 | 1,449  | 52.31% | 1,294  | 46.71%  | 27  | 0.97%
1904 | 1,189  | 51.32% | 1,098  | 47.39%  | 30  | 1.29%
1900 | 1,862  | 48.09%  | 1,965  | 50.75% | 45  | 1.16%
1896 | 2,102  | 49.44% | 2,052  | 48.26%  | 98  | 2.30%
1892 | 1,705  | 40.26%  | 2,315  | 54.66% | 215  | 5.08%
1888 | 2,063  | 48.44%  | 2,164  | 50.81% | 32  | 0.75%
1884 | 1,872  | 48.65%  | 1,976  | 51.35% | 0  | 0.00%
1880 | 350  | 11.23%  | 2,768  | 88.77% | 0  | 0.00%

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Shenandoah County, Virginia
* New Market Airport
* Shenandoah County Sheriff’s Office
* Shenandoah Local History Collection at James Madison University's Special Collections
* Shenandoah Valley Miscellaneous Ledgers, Minute Books and Registers collection at James Madison University's Special Collections
* The Stone and Holt Weeks Foundation

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Shenandoah County, Virginia". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ "House of Burgesses | George Washington's Mount Vernon". www.mountvernon.org. Retrieved May 27, 2025.
4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". US Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
6. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
7. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
8. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
9. ^ a b "Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Shenandoah County VA". US Census Bureau.
10. ^ a b "Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Shenandoah County VA". US Census Bureau.
11. ^ "American FactFinder"
12. ^ "2000 Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office - History Archived July 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
14. ^ Johnson, Colby (June 11, 2022). "Shenandoah County Sheriff's Office loses accreditation". WHSV. Retrieved October 31, 2022.
15. ^ Humanities, National Endowment for the (November 8, 1901). "Shenandoah Herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974 (Image 2)". ISSN 2333-7788. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
16. ^ "Virginia Elections Database » Search Elections". Virginia Elections Database. Retrieved December 13, 2021.
17. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 8, 2020.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Shenandoah County, Virginia.

Places adjacent to Shenandoah County, Virginia

| Hardy County, West Virginia |  | Frederick County

|
|

|  |

Shenandoah County, Virginia

| Warren County
|  |
Rockingham County |  | Page County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Shenandoah County, Virginia, United States

County seat: Woodstock

Towns|

* Edinburg
* Mount Jackson
* New Market
* Strasburg
* Toms Brook
* Woodstock

Map of Virginia highlighting Shenandoah County

CDPs|

* Alonzaville
* Basye
* Bowmans Crossing
* Clary
* Columbia Furnace
* Conicville
* Fishers Hill
* Forestville
* Hudson Crossroads
* Lebanon Church
* Locust Grove
* Maurertown
* Mount Clifton
* Mount Olive
* Orkney Springs
* Quicksburg
* Saumsville

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* Detrick
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