Place:Culpeper, Virginia, United States

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source: Family History Library Catalog

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

Culpeper County is a county located in the central region of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 46,689. Its county seat and largest population center is Culpeper, the only town in Culpeper County. Although the Town of Culpeper has experienced explosive growth in recent years the county as a whole has remained extremely rural. While large amounts of wealth have always been present in Culpeper County, poverty continues to run rampant in most areas despite it's proximity to both the federal and state capitals.

History

the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Culpeper County were a Siouan-speaking sub-group of the Manahoac tribe called the Tegninateo. Culpeper County was established in 1749 from Orange County. The county is named for Thomas Culpeper. During the Civil War the Battle of Cedar Mountain took place on August 9, 1862 and the Battle of Brandy Station on June 9, 1863, in Culpeper County.

In May 1749, the first Culpeper Court convened in the home of Robert Coleman, not far from where the Town of Culpeper is presently located. In July 1749, 17-year-old George Washington was commissioned as the first County surveyor. One of his first duties was to lay out the County's courthouse complex, which included the courthouse, jail, stocks, gallows and accessory buildings. By 1752 the complex stood at what is presently the northeast corner of Davis and Main Streets. The courthouse village was named the Town of Fairfax after Thomas, Sixth Baron Fairfax.

During the Virginia convention held in May 1775, the colony was divided into sixteen districts. Each district had instructions to raise a battalion of men "to march at a minute's notice." Culpeper, Orange and Fauquier, forming one district, raised 350 men in "Clayton's old field" on the Catalpa estate, who came to be called the Culpeper Minute Men. The Minute Men, marching under their flag depicting a rattlesnake and inscribed with the words "Liberty or Death" and "Don't Tread on Me", took part in the Battle of Great Bridge, the first Revolutionary battle on Virginia soil. The Culpeper Minute Men reorganized in 1860 in response to the impending Civil War and became part of 13th Infantry's Company B. The Culpeper Minutemen were again organized for World War I, and joined the 116th Infantry.

Andrew Stevenson, Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1827 to 1834, was born in Culpeper County on January 21, 1784.

Culpeper was home to baseball Hall of Famer Eppa Rixey. Culpeper also produced pro basketball player Keith "Mister" Jennings. Culpeper produced country music star Kenny Alphin of the group "Big & Rich".

Culpeper County is in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, which are quickly accessed beginning with Old Rag Mountain and the Skyline Drive just up Route 522.

Culpeper County is home to Commonwealth Park, site for many world-class equestrian events. It was here that actor Christopher Reeve suffered his accident during a competition.

Culpeper is home to famous battlefield at Brandy Station and the boyhood home to Civil War General A. P. Hill.

The town of Culpeper was rated #10 by Norman Crampton, author of "The 100 Best Small Towns in America," in February, 1993.

Culpeper was the the last County in Virginia to integrate schools.

Timeline

Population History

source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990

External Links

• Culpeper County, Virginia family history and genealogy research guide (FamilySearch Research Wiki).

Statutes at Large, Being a Collection of All the Laws of Virginia from the First Session of the Legislature in the Year 1619 by W. W. Hening - online!

Culpeper County Clerk of the Circuit Court <http://www.culpepercounty.gov/CircuitCourt/index.asp>
and is located at the County Courthouse on 135 W. Cameron Street, Suite 103, Culpeper Virginia 22701; (540)727-3438
Marriage Records <http://www.familyhistory101.com/research-vital/index.html> from 1781
Land Records <http://www.familyhistory101.com/research-land/index.html> from 1749
Probate Records <http://www.familyhistory101.com/research-probate/index.html> from 1749
Court Records <http://www.familyhistory101.com/research-court/index.html> from 1749