Nelson County, Virginia (VA)

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County population in July 2007: 15,245 (all rural)
County owner-occupied houses and condos: 4,758
Renter-occupied apartments: 1,129

% of renters here:	19%
State:	32%

Land area: 472 sq. mi.
Water area: 2.0 sq. mi.

Population density: 31 people per square mile

(low).

Residents with income below the poverty level in 1999:

This county:	12.1%
Whole state:	9.6%

Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 1999:

This county:	5.0%
Whole state:	4.3%

2008 cost of living index in Nelson County: 78.8 (low, U.S. average is 100)

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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (23.1%), Manufacturing (12.6%), Construction (12.1%).

Type of workers:

Private wage or salary: 70%
Government: 21%
Self-employed, not incorporated: 9%
Unpaid family work: 0%

Nelson County, Virginia business data: stores, dealers, real estate agents, wholesalers, restaurants...

Races in Nelson County, Virginia:

White Non-Hispanic (81.4%)
Black (14.9%)
Hispanic (2.1%)
Two or more races (1.3%)
American Indian (1.0%)
Other race (0.6%)

(Total can be greater than 100% because Hispanics could be counted in other races)

Median resident age:	42.8 years
Virginia median age:	35.7 years

Males: 7,031	(48.7%)
Females: 7,414	(51.3%)

Average wage per job in 2003: $24,334
County population in 2003: 14,894
Jobs in 2003: 3,591

Recent posts about Nelson County, Virginia on our local forum with over 400,000 registered users. Nelson County is mentioned 19 times on our forum:

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Total labor force in 2004: 7,362
Unemployment rate in 2004: 3.4%

Average household size:

Nelson County:	2.4 people
Virginia:	2.5 people

Estimated median household income in 2005: $42,727 ($36,769 in 2000)

This county	$42,727
Virginia:	$54,240

Estimated median house/condo value in 2005: $169,947

Nelson County	$169,947
Virginia:	$212,300

Median monthly rent in 2000: $440
Institutionalized population: 65
Median monthly costs for houses with a mortgage in Nelson County in 2000: $792

Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 1
Rapes: 2
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 15
Burglaries: 54
Thefts: 202
Auto thefts: 11

Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):

Murders: 1
Rapes: 1
Robberies: 2
Assaults: 10
Burglaries: 52
Thefts: 159
Auto thefts: 20

Nelson County races chart

Single-family new house construction building permits:

2000: 112 buildings, average cost: $157,400
2001: 116 buildings, average cost: $161,700
2002: 120 buildings, average cost: $162,700
2003: 157 buildings, average cost: $182,800
2004: 201 buildings, average cost: $176,300

Number of permits per 10,000 residents

Average cost (in 1000s)

2004 Presidential Election results in Nelson County Virginia:

Kerry/Edwards (Democratic): 49.6%
Bush/Cheney (Republican): 49.6%

Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units in 2000: $621 (0.7%)

Area name: Charlottesville, VA MSA
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Nelson County is $643 a month.
Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $761 a month.
Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $986 a month.

Neighboring counties: Albemarle County , Amherst County , Appomattox County , Augusta County , Buckingham County , Rockbridge County .

Click to draw/clear county borders

Notable locations in this county outside city limits:

Notable locations in Nelson County: Buffalo Station (A), Afton Overlook (B), Harpers Creek Shelter (C), Harris Bridge (D), Montebello State Fish Hatchery (E), Priest Trail Shelter (F), Camp Monocan (G), Variety Mills (H), Myndus (I), Twenty Minute Cliff Overlook (J), Three Ridges Overlook (K), The Slacks Overlook (L), The Priest Overlook (M), Seeley Woodworth Trail Shelter (N), Maupin Field Shelter (O), Jacks Hill (P), Fork Mountain Overlook (Q), Nelson County Courthouse (R), Afton House (S), Waltons Mountain Museum (T). Display/hide their locations on the map

Churches in Nelson County include: Pine Hill Church (A), Adial Church (B), Piney River Church (C), Pleasant Grove Church (D), Poplar Flat Baptist Church (E), Ridgecrest Baptist Church (F), Rock Springs Church (G), Rockfish Church (H), Rockfish Valley Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Cemeteries: Ridgecrest Cemetery (1), Bethel Cemetery (2), Bethlehem Cemetery (3), Jonesboro Cemetery (4), Diamond Hill Cemetery (5), Adial Cemetery (6), Oak Hill Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map

Lakes and reservoirs: Fish Pond (A), Saunders Pond (B), Ramsay Knox Pond (C), Payne Pond (D), Davis Pond (E), Lake Monocan (F), Baldwin Pond (G), Stevens Lake (H). Display/hide their locations on the map

Streams, rivers, and creeks: Jones Creek (A), Maidenhead Branch (B), Hayes Branch (C), Haw Branch (D), Hat Creek (E), Harpers Creek (F), Mallory Creek (G), Joe Creek (H), Reids Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map

Park in Nelson County: James River State Wildlife Management Area (1). Display/hide its location on the map

Unemployment in September 2007:

Here:	2.2%
Virginia:	2.8%

Unemployment by year (%)

County total employment by year

County average yearly wages by year ($)

Current college students: 393
People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 69.0%
People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 20.8%

Number of foreign born residents: 271 (68% naturalized citizens)

Nelson County:	1.9%
Whole state:	8.1%

Year of entry for the foreign-born population
	1995 to March 2000: 52 1990 to 1994: 28 1985 to 1989: 0 1980 to 1984: 51 1975 to 1979: 28 1970 to 1974: 21 1970 to 1974: 33 1965 to 1969: 58

Mean travel time to work: 33.1 minutes

Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 41.0%

Nelson County marital status for females

Housing units in structures:

One, detached: 6,196
One, attached: 430
Two: 77
3 or 4: 71
5 to 9: 224
10 to 19: 357
20 or more: 271
Mobile homes: 920
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 8

Housing units in Nelson County with a mortgage: 1,834 (135 second mortgage, 284 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan)
Houses without a mortgage: 1,172

Agriculture in Nelson County
Average size of farms: 186 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $16590
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $281.86
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 11.50%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 35.73%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $17458
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 20.37%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $27229
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 88.16%
Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 14.89
Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 0.07%
Corn for grain: 173 harvested acres
All wheat for grain: 208 harvested acres
Vegetables: 281 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 1237 acres

Class of Workers

Most common industries for males:

Construction (21%)
Accommodation and food services (7%)
Agriculture, forestry, fishing and hunting (7%)
Educational services (5%)
Repair and maintenance (5%)
Administrative and support and waste management services (4%)
Professional, scientific, and technical services (4%)

Most common industries for females:

Educational services (21%)
Health care (15%)
Accommodation and food services (8%)
Administrative and support and waste management services (5%)
Food and beverage stores (4%)
Public administration (4%)
Social assistance (3%)

Most common occupations for males

Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (7%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (6%)
Construction trades workers except carpenters, electricians, painters, plumbers, and construction laborers (6%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (6%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (5%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (4%)

Most common occupations for females

Secretaries and administrative assistants (8%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (6%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (6%)
Other management occupations except farmers and farm managers (5%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (5%)
Cashiers (4%)
Bookkeeping, accounting, and auditing clerks (3%)

Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents:

Mexico (35%)
United Kingdom (24%)
Germany (12%)
Other Eastern Europe (6%)
Canada (6%)
Hungary (4%)
Cuba (3%)

Most common first ancestries reported in Nelson County:

United States or American (30%)
English (13%)
Irish (9%)
German (8%)
Scotch-Irish (4%)
Scottish (3%)
Italian (2%)

Nelson County mode of transportation to work chart

Means of transportation to work

Drove a car alone: 4,696 (71%)
Carpooled: 1,361 (21%)
Bus or trolley bus: 22 (0%)
Bicycle: 8 (0%)
Walked: 101 (2%)
Other means: 103 (2%)
Worked at home: 346 (5%)

People in group quarters in Nelson County, Virginia

80 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
59 people in nursing homes
46 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
15 people in religious group quarters
6 people in unknown juvenile institutions

Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $49,616.

7.55% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($54,871 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	7.55%
Virginia average:	11.06%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
5.56% relocated from other counties in Virginia ($39,280 average AGI)
1.99% relocated from other states ($15,593 average AGI)
Nelson County: 1.99%
Virginia average: 4.24%

Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries

Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:

from Albemarle County, VA	1.40% ($56,899 average AGI)
from Charlottesville city, VA	0.64% ($39,639)
from Amherst County, VA	0.53% ($29,067)
from Waynesboro city, VA	0.43% ($29,917)
from Augusta County, VA	0.25% ($47,214)
from Fairfax County, VA	0.21% ($135,417)
from Fluvanna County, VA	0.21% ($32,917)

7.44% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($52,969 average adjusted gross income)

Here:	7.44%
Virginia average:	10.78%

10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
5.57% relocated to other counties in Virginia ($43,361 average AGI)
1.87% relocated to other states ($9,608 average AGI)
Nelson County: 1.87%
Virginia average: 4.13%

Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries

Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:

to Albemarle County, VA	1.21% ($139,029 average AGI)
to Amherst County, VA	0.89% ($29,400)
to Charlottesville city, VA	0.53% ($28,200)
to Waynesboro city, VA	0.46% ($27,462)
to Augusta County, VA	0.39% ($60,909)
to Lynchburg city, VA	0.20% ($44,091)
to Buckingham County, VA	0.18% ($21,200)

Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.4
Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 10.7

Births per 1000 population in Nelson County

Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.5
Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2003: 11.8

Deaths per 1000 population in Nelson County

Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 4.6
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2003: 8.0

Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Nelson County

Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 3,206 (2,738 aged, 468 disabled)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11%
Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%

General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 973.450
Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 993.310
Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 13.24

Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 21.56
Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 79.46

Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 13.24

Crimes per 100,000 population in 1996 : 1

Household type by relationship

Households: 14,241

In family households: 12,256 (3,050 male householders, 1,117 female householders)
3,373 spouses, 3,793 children (3,498 natural, 55 adopted, 240 stepchildren), 335 grandchildren, 96 brothers or sisters, 114 parents, 154 other relatives, 224 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 1,985 (837 male householders (707 living alone)), 883 female householders (760 living alone)), 265 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 204 (54 institutionalized population)

Size of family households: 2,029 2-persons, 955 3-persons, 740 4-persons, 295 5-persons, 91 6-persons, 57 7-or-more-persons.

Size of nonfamily households: 1,467 1-person, 238 2-persons, 7 3-persons, 8 4-persons.

96.4% of residents of Nelson County speak English at home.
2.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (73% speak English very well, 8% speak English well, 19% speak English not well).
1.2% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (63% speak English very well, 24% speak English well, 13% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (55% speak English very well, 45% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English very well).

In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $109,364,000 ($7339 per capita)
Department of Defense expenditure: $16,596,000
Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $53,936,000
Federal other direct payments to individuals: $19,551,000
Federal direct payments not to individuals: $444,000
Federal grants: $16,529,000
Federal procurement contracts: $15,408,000 ($10,728,000 Department of Defense)
Federal salaries and wages: $3,495,000 ($39,000 Department of Defense)
Federal Government direct loans: $1,503,000
Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $3,956,000
Federal Government insurance: $15,748,000

Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 843

Here:	56 per 1000 residents
State:	70 per 1000 residents

Deaths: 879

Here:	58 per 1000 residents
State:	40 per 1000 residents

Net international migration: +12

Here:	+1 per 1000 residents
State:	+18 per 1000 residents

Net internal migration: +698

Here:	+46 per 1000 residents
State:	+14 per 1000 residents

Population growth in Nelson County

Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 0.20 millions of gallons per day (all from ground)

Median number of rooms in houses and condos:

Here:	6.0
State:	6.6

Median number of rooms in apartments:

Here:	4.9
State:	4.3

Year house built:

1999 to March 2000: 390
1995 to 1998: 1,019
1990 to 1994: 806
1980 to 1989: 1,894
1970 to 1979: 1,449
1960 to 1969: 725
1950 to 1959: 640
1940 to 1949: 408
1939 or earlier: 1,223

Rooms in owner-occupied houses in Nelson County, Virginia:
	1 room: 9 2 rooms: 26 3 rooms: 187 4 rooms: 444 5 rooms: 1,157 6 rooms: 1,096 7 rooms: 818 8 rooms: 474 9+ rooms: 547

Rooms in renter-occupied apartments in Nelson County, Virginia:
	1 room: 6 2 rooms: 31 3 rooms: 78 4 rooms: 319 5 rooms: 315 6 rooms: 187 7 rooms: 71 8 rooms: 92 9+ rooms: 30

Bedrooms in owner-occupied houses and condos in Nelson County:
	no bedroom: 9 1 bedroom: 149 2 bedrooms: 1,065 3 bedrooms: 2,649 4 bedrooms: 720 5+ bedrooms: 166

Bedrooms in renter-occupied apartments in Nelson County:
	no bedroom: 6 1 bedroom: 158 2 bedrooms: 492 3 bedrooms: 389 4 bedrooms: 52 5+ bedrooms: 32

Cars and other vehicles available in Nelson County in owner-occupied houses/condos:
	no vehicle: 288 1 vehicle: 987 2 vehicles: 1,858 3 vehicles: 1,043 4 vehicles: 488 5+ vehicles: 94

Cars and other vehicles available in Nelson County in renter-occupied apartments
	no vehicle: 183 1 vehicle: 408 2 vehicles: 324 3 vehicles: 183 4 vehicles: 18 5+ vehicles: 13

67% of Nelson County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago.
Out of people who lived in different houses, 40% lived in this county.
Out of people who lived in different counties, 68% lived in Virginia.

Nelson County:	67.2%
State average:	53.8%

Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:

This state: 10795
Northeast: 1120
Midwest: 379
South: 1438
West: 347

Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $59,100

Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 4%

Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 4%

Year Householders Moved Into Unit:

Most commonly used house heating fuel in houses and condos:
	Electricity (40%) Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (25%) Wood (17%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (16%) Solar energy (1%)

Most commonly used house heating fuel in apartments:
	Fuel oil, kerosene, etc. (34%) Electricity (30%) Wood (26%) Bottled, tank, or LP gas (9%) Other fuel (1%)

Private vs. public school enrollment:
Students in private schools in grades 1 to 8 (elementary and middle school): 119

Here:	8.5%
Virginia:	9.5%

Students in private schools in grades 9 to 12 (high school): 37

Here:	4.4%
Virginia:	8.2%

Students in private undergraduate colleges: 72

Here:	22.2%
Virginia:	20.6%

Educational Attainment

School Enrollment by Level of School

Age and Sex of Sensory-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Physically-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Mentally-Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Self-Care Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Go-Outside-Home Disabled Residents (Noninstitutionalized)

Age and Sex of Residents with Employment Disability (Noninst.)

Nelson County government finances in 2002:

Bond Fund - Cash & Deposits: $19,512,000
Charges - Elementary & Secondary Education School Lunch: $397,000
All Other: $179,000

Solid Waste Management: $139,000

Parks & Recreation: $55,000

Sewerage: $29,000

Elementary & Secondary Education School Tuition: $4,000

Elementary & Secondary Education - Other: $0
Construction - Elementary & Secondary Education: $8,326,000
Current Operations - Elementary & Secondary Education: $18,023,000
Welfare - Other: $1,335,000

Solid Waste Management: $852,000

Housing & Community Development: $745,000

Financial Administration: $662,000

Judicial and Legal Services: $561,000

Police Protection: $534,000

General - Other: $390,000

Fire Protection: $348,000

General Public Buildings: $339,000

Sewerage: $198,000

Central Staff Services: $195,000

Protective Inspection and Regulation, NEC: $177,000

Libraries: $166,000

Parks & Recreation: $149,000

Corrections - Other: $85,000

Natural Resources - Other: $79,000

Health Services - Other: $76,000

Regular Highways: $7,000
Federal Intergovernmental - All Other: $1,008,000
Housing & Community Development: $615,000

Water Utilities: $73,000

General Support: $49,000

Education: $0
General - Interest on Debt: $856,000
Intergovernmental to Local NEC - Health: $193,000
Higher Education: $3,000
Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, Education, NEC: $8,756,000
Long Term Debt Beginning Outstanding, NEC: $9,400,000
Long Term Debt Issue, Unspecified - Other NEC: $29,690,000
Elementary and Secondary Education: $169,000
Long Term Debt Outstanding - Full Faith & Credit - Other, NEC: $15,236,000
Full Faith & Credit - Elementary & Secondary Education: $4,333,000
Long Term Debt Outstanding Nonguaranteed - Other, NEC: $12,135,000
Elementary and Secondary Education: $3,770,000
Long Term Debt Retired Unspecified - Other, NEC: $11,719,000
Elementary and Secondary Education: $822,000
Miscellaneous - Interest Earnings: $659,000
General Revenue, NEC: $210,000

Rents: $24,000
Other Funds - Cash & Deposits: $3,888,000
Short Term Debt Outstanding - Beginning: $1,841,000
End of Fiscal Year: $1,682,000
Sinking Fund - Cash & Deposits: $8,808,000
State Intergovernmental - Education: $8,654,000
General Support: $1,842,000

All Other: $1,294,000

Public Welfare: $615,000
Tax - Property: $10,135,000
Other Selective Sales: $837,000

NEC: $740,000

Total General Sales: $711,000

Public Utilities: $658,000

Motor Vehicle License: $280,000
Total Salaries & Wages: $12,809,000

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Total Number Of Recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of aged recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of blind and disabled recipients

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients under 18

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients between 18 and 64

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) - Number of recipients older than 64