Place:Spotsylvania, Virginia, United States

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NameSpotsylvania
Alt namesSpotsylvaniasource: Getty Vocabulary Program
TypeCounty
Coordinates38.183°N 77.65°W
Located inVirginia, United States     (1721 - )
source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
source: Family History Library Catalog


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

Spotsylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the July 2021 estimate, the population was 143,676. Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse.

Contents

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 Spotsylvania County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Manahoac.

As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who incidentally was also the second greatgrandfather of Robert E Lee.

Many major battles were fought in this county during the Civil War, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river.

General Stonewall Jackson was shot and mortally wounded by friendly fire in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.

Timeline

Date Event Source
1720 Land records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1721 County formed Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1722 Probate records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1724 Court records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1790 First census Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
1795 Marriage records recorded Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
1990 No significant boundary changes after this year Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990

Population History

source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
Census Year Population
1790 11,252
1800 13,002
1810 13,296
1820 14,254
1830 15,134
1840 15,161
1850 14,911
1860 16,076
1870 11,728
1880 14,828
1890 14,233
1900 9,239
1910 9,935
1920 10,571
1930 10,056
1940 9,905
1950 11,920
1960 13,819
1970 16,424
1980 34,435
1990 57,403

Note: Fredericksburg city, formed from Spotsylvania County. Annexation after 1980 from Spotsylvania (1980 population 2,440).

Research Tips

Repository:Fredericksburg, Virginia Historic Court Records

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