Amelia Courthouse, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Amelia Court House is a census-designated place
(CDP) in and the county seat
of Amelia County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population as of the 2010 Census
was 1,099. Amelia Court House is also known as Amelia Courthouse and Amelia. The Amelia area is known for its supply of minerals, including the nation's best source of Amazonite found at the Morefield mine.
. Lee would surrender in Appomattox Court House
on April 9, 1865.
Amelia's court clerks' offices still contain records prior to the Civil War, unlike other unfortunate courthouses. The Union forces were in such a hurry to catch up to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia that they did not take the time to ensure that the office would burn. The iron shutters and brick construction meant that torches lit to destroy the building went out without causing damage to the building's contents.
A countywide festival called Amelia Day is held each May on the Saturday before Mother's Day. This festival started in the 1980s to celebrate Amelia's birthday. Vendors, local clubs and citizens come out to enjoy music, dancing and socializing. At the first Amelia Day residents came out to sign a long roll that, along with other items, was put in a time capsule that has been buried in the courthouse green near the Confederate War Memorial. The Amelia Day festival had to be canceled in 2003 when the courthouse green was struck by an F1 tornado on Friday, May 8, the day before the festival. This tornado destroyed most of the beautiful courthouse green trees and thus the area where the festival was to be held. Amelia is no stranger to tornadoes; a small Virginia tornado alley exists in Central Virginia and Amelia County itself has had numerous tornado touchdowns. Tornadoes of note include the April 30, 1924, tornado that passed east of the courthouse area, killing one and injuring seven others. This tornado went from Jetersville to Chula. A tornado also hit Amelia County on Oct. 13, 1983, one of a family of tornadoes that affected much of Central and Northern Virginia. Other stronger tornadoes have affected the county, especially to the east.
Census-designated place
A census-designated place is a concentration of population identified by the United States Census Bureau for statistical purposes. CDPs are delineated for each decennial census as the statistical counterparts of incorporated places such as cities, towns and villages...
(CDP) in and the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Amelia County
Amelia County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 11,400 people, 4,240 households, and 3,175 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 4,609 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population as of the 2010 Census
United States Census, 2010
The Twenty-third United States Census, known as Census 2010 or the 2010 Census, is the current national census of the United States. National Census Day was April 1, 2010 and is the reference date used in enumerating individuals...
was 1,099. Amelia Court House is also known as Amelia Courthouse and Amelia. The Amelia area is known for its supply of minerals, including the nation's best source of Amazonite found at the Morefield mine.
History
Amelia Court House is located on one of the principal Confederate railroads of the 1860s. After General Robert E. Lee retreated from Petersburg, in 1865, he spent April 4 and 5 in Amelia Court House waiting for supplies from Richmond. Those supplies never came; instead a train came through carrying government documents. Lee had been to Amelia prior to the Civil War to stay, with his family, at the spas located in the county. The last major engagement of Lee's army with Union forces occurred April 6, 1865 just on the border of Amelia County in a place called Sayler's CreekBattle of Sayler's Creek
-External links:* * : Maps, histories, photos, and preservation news...
. Lee would surrender in Appomattox Court House
Appomattox Court House
The Appomattox Courthouse is the current courthouse in Appomattox, Virginia built in 1892. It is located in the middle of the state about three miles northwest of the Appomattox Court House National Historical Park, once known as Clover Hill - home of the original Old Appomattox Court House...
on April 9, 1865.
Amelia's court clerks' offices still contain records prior to the Civil War, unlike other unfortunate courthouses. The Union forces were in such a hurry to catch up to Lee's Army of Northern Virginia that they did not take the time to ensure that the office would burn. The iron shutters and brick construction meant that torches lit to destroy the building went out without causing damage to the building's contents.
A countywide festival called Amelia Day is held each May on the Saturday before Mother's Day. This festival started in the 1980s to celebrate Amelia's birthday. Vendors, local clubs and citizens come out to enjoy music, dancing and socializing. At the first Amelia Day residents came out to sign a long roll that, along with other items, was put in a time capsule that has been buried in the courthouse green near the Confederate War Memorial. The Amelia Day festival had to be canceled in 2003 when the courthouse green was struck by an F1 tornado on Friday, May 8, the day before the festival. This tornado destroyed most of the beautiful courthouse green trees and thus the area where the festival was to be held. Amelia is no stranger to tornadoes; a small Virginia tornado alley exists in Central Virginia and Amelia County itself has had numerous tornado touchdowns. Tornadoes of note include the April 30, 1924, tornado that passed east of the courthouse area, killing one and injuring seven others. This tornado went from Jetersville to Chula. A tornado also hit Amelia County on Oct. 13, 1983, one of a family of tornadoes that affected much of Central and Northern Virginia. Other stronger tornadoes have affected the county, especially to the east.