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Isle of Wight County is a county located in the South Hampton Roads region of the Commonwealth of Virginia, a state of the United States. As of 2000, the population was 29,728. Its county seat is Isle of Wight6
History
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the settlemen at Jamestown in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. Captain John Smith in 1608 crossed the James River and obtained fourteen bushels of corn from a tribe of Native Americans called Warrosquyoackes. In the next few years, several plantations were established along the shore in the area south of the river. By 1634, the Virginia Colony consisted of eight shires or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. One of these was Warrosquyoake Shire, renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637, after the island in the English channel of the same name. The name was probably changed due to the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing its Native American name. The name was very probably chosen because the Isle of Wight had been the home of some of the principal colonists. Historic St. Luke's Church, built in 1632, the nation's only original Gothic church and the oldest existing church of English foundation in America is located in the county. In 1732 a considerable portion of the northwestern part of the original shire was added to Brunswick County; and in 1748 the entire county of Southampton was carved out of it. During the American Civil War, Company F of the 61st Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army was called the "Isle of Wight Avengers." History
During the 17th century, shortly after establishment of the settlemen at Jamestown in 1607, English settlers and explored and began settling the areas adjacent to Hampton Roads. Captain John Smith in 1608 crossed the James River and obtained fourteen bushels of corn from a tribe of Native Americans called Warrosquyoackes. In the next few years, several plantations were established along the shore in the area south of the river. By 1634, the Virginia Colony consisted of eight shires or counties with a total population of approximately 5,000 inhabitants. One of these was Warrosquyoake Shire, renamed Isle of Wight County in 1637, after the island in the English channel of the same name. The name was probably changed due to the difficulty of spelling and pronouncing its Native American name. The name was very probably chosen because the Isle of Wight had been the home of some of the principal colonists. Historic St. Luke's Church, built in 1632, the nation's only original Gothic church and the oldest existing church of English foundation in America is located in the county. In 1732 a considerable portion of the northwestern part of the original shire was added to Brunswick County; and in 1748 the entire county of Southampton was carved out of it. During the American Civil War, Company F of the 61st Virginia Infantry of the Confederate Army was called the "Isle of Wight Avengers." Timeline
Population History
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