Accomack County, Virginia

Racial and ethnic composition

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 33,413. The median age was 47.8 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 24.6% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 93.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.6 males age 18 and over.^[22][23]

The racial makeup of the county was 60.6% White, 25.9% Black or African American, 0.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.8% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 6.5% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 10.3% of the population.^[23]

9.6% of residents lived in urban areas, while 90.4% lived in rural areas.^[24]

There were 14,302 households in the county, of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 30.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[22]

There were 21,703 housing units, of which 34.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 70.5% were owner-occupied and 29.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 3.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 9.7%.^[22]

2010 census

As of the census^[25] of 2010, there were 33,164 people, 15,299 households, and 10,388 families residing in the county. The population density was 84 people per square mile (32 people/km²). There were 19,550 housing units at an average density of 43 units per square mile (17 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 65.3% White, 28.1% Black or African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 3.9% from other races, and 1.6% from two or more races. 8.6% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. Black or African American (28%), English American (15%), German (9%), Irish (9%) and Mexican (4%).^{[citation needed]}

There were 15,299 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.20% were married couples living together, 14.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.96.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.30% under the age of 18, 8.20% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.00 males.

Accomack and adjacent Northampton County are the two poorest counties in the Commonwealth of Virginia.^[3]

Board of Supervisors

Constitutional officers

• Clerk of the Circuit Court: Talia C. Taylor (I)
• Commissioner of the Revenue: Kim A. Satterwhite (I)
• Commonwealth's Attorney: J. Spencer Morgan, III (I)
• Sheriff: W. Todd Wessells (I)
• Treasurer: James Lilliston, Sr. (I)

Accomack County is represented by Republican William “Bill” DeSteph, Jr in the Virginia Senate, Republican Robert Bloxom in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican Jen Kiggans in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Presidential politics

Accomack County has been consistently Republican-leaning in the 21st century; prior to this, it was a Democratic stronghold turned swing county. The last Democrat to obtain an absolute majority was Jimmy Carter in 1976, though Bill Clinton narrowly carried the county by a plurality in 1996.^[26]

Adjacent counties

• Somerset County, Maryland - northwest
• Worcester County, Maryland - northeast
• Northampton County - south

National protected areas

• Assateague Island National Seashore (part)
• Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge (part)
• Martin National Wildlife Refuge (part, Watts Island portion)
• Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge

Airport

• Accomack County Airport is in an unincorporated area near Melfa.^[29]

Major highways

• US 13
• 
  US 13 Bus.
• SR 175
• SR 176
• SR 178
• SR 179
• SR 180
• SR 182
• SR 187
• SR 316

Public transportation

STAR Transit provides public transit services for both Accomack and Northampton counties and is headquartered in Tasley.

Towns

Accomack County has 14 towns, which is the most of any county in Virginia. This is double the number of towns of the locality with the next-most towns, a position which is held by both Loudoun and Rockingham counties both.

Census Designated Places

Music

In Sydney Brown's lyrics for the Maple Leaf Rag, the first line states, "I come from ol' Virginny, from de County Accomack"