Chatham, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County
, Virginia
, United States
. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy
. It is also home to Chatham Hall
(Official site), an all-female boarding high school. It is the county seat
of Pittsylvania County
.
It is the home to the oldest continually used building in Pittsylvania County, once an 18th century tavern, since turned into a house and now occupied by Chatham Hall faculty.
Chatham is also home to the country's top rated military preparatory boarding school, Hargrave Military Academy
, which includes a special Colin Powell
leadership program.
Chatham is the county seat for Pittsylvania County and has held that status since 1777. There is a large U.S. Department of Agriculture office to support farmers in the area and a small branch office of the U.S. Forestry Service. The State of Virginia has built a new state prison at the site of an old work-release camp and this led to infrastructure upgrades in fire and water services to support the increased population.
Chatham did not see any battle action during the Civil War although it is between Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, and Danville, which contained Confederate prisons for captured Union soldiers. On Confederate Memorial Day each year, the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy places flowers at the statute of a Confederate soldier which is prominent in the front of the historic Pittsylvania County Court House. There is a walking tour of this downtown historic district and a brochure for this is available at the Town Hall, or at the Historical Society building next to Town Hall. There are several bed & breakfast establishments located on Main Street in historic Greek Revival homes.
, Chatham has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 1,338 people, 554 households, and 350 families residing in the town. The population density
was 654.6 people per square mile (253.2/km²). There were 612 housing units at an average density of 299.4 per square mile (115.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.52% White, 26.08% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.52% from other races
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 554 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,938, and the median income for a family was $50,391. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,472 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $20,785. About 6.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,745 people, 24,684 households, and 18,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 28,011 housing units at an average density of 29 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...
. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
. It is also home to Chatham Hall
Chatham Hall
Chatham Hall is an all-girls college-preparatory boarding school located in Chatham, Virginia, United States. Graduating classes are fewer than forty students each year. The school was founded as Chatham Episcopal Institute in 1894, Chatham Hall. The athletics teams play in the Blue Ridge Conference...
(Official site), an all-female boarding high school. It is 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 Pittsylvania County
Pittsylvania County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 61,745 people, 24,684 households, and 18,216 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile . There were 28,011 housing units at an average density of 29 per square mile...
.
It is the home to the oldest continually used building in Pittsylvania County, once an 18th century tavern, since turned into a house and now occupied by Chatham Hall faculty.
Chatham is also home to the country's top rated military preparatory boarding school, Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy
Hargrave Military Academy is a private American boarding school located in the town of Chatham, Virginia.Hargrave is a school affiliated with the Baptist General Association of Virginia emphasizing Christian values that focuses on a college and military preparatory program...
, which includes a special Colin Powell
Colin Powell
Colin Luther Powell is an American statesman and a retired four-star general in the United States Army. He was the 65th United States Secretary of State, serving under President George W. Bush from 2001 to 2005. He was the first African American to serve in that position. During his military...
leadership program.
Chatham is the county seat for Pittsylvania County and has held that status since 1777. There is a large U.S. Department of Agriculture office to support farmers in the area and a small branch office of the U.S. Forestry Service. The State of Virginia has built a new state prison at the site of an old work-release camp and this led to infrastructure upgrades in fire and water services to support the increased population.
Chatham did not see any battle action during the Civil War although it is between Richmond, the capital of the Confederacy, and Danville, which contained Confederate prisons for captured Union soldiers. On Confederate Memorial Day each year, the local chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy places flowers at the statute of a Confederate soldier which is prominent in the front of the historic Pittsylvania County Court House. There is a walking tour of this downtown historic district and a brochure for this is available at the Town Hall, or at the Historical Society building next to Town Hall. There are several bed & breakfast establishments located on Main Street in historic Greek Revival homes.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, Chatham has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.3 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 1,338 people, 554 households, and 350 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 654.6 people per square mile (253.2/km²). There were 612 housing units at an average density of 299.4 per square mile (115.8/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 71.52% White, 26.08% African American, 0.60% Native American, 0.52% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 1.27% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60% of the population.
There were 554 households out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.8% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.6% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 26.7% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 100.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 100.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $38,938, and the median income for a family was $50,391. Males had a median income of $29,375 versus $23,472 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $20,785. About 6.3% of families and 12.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.4% of those under age 18 and 17.0% of those age 65 or over.