Nelson County, Virginia

Nelson County
Nelson County
U.S. county
	Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
	Virginia's location within the U.S.
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Country	United States ;
State	Virginia
Founded	1807
Seat	Lovingston
Area
• Total	474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Land	471 sq mi (1,220 km2)
• Water	3.3 sq mi (9 km2)
Population (2020)
• Total	14,835
• Density	31/sq mi (12/km2)
Website	[[1] www.nelsoncounty-va.gov/%20www.nelsoncounty-va.gov]]

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Nelson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,835. Its county seat is Lovingston. The county is named for Thomas Nelson Jr., a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

History[edit | edit source]

Nelson County was established in 1807 from Amherst County. The county is named for Thomas Nelson Jr., a former Governor of Virginia and a signer of the Declaration of Independence.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 474 square miles (1,230 km²), of which 471 square miles (1,220 km²) is land and 3.3 square miles (8.5 km²) (0.7%) is water. The county is home to a portion of the Blue Ridge Mountains and the George Washington National Forest.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

As of the 2020 census, there were 14,835 people, 6,000 households, and 4,000 families residing in the county. The population density was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 85.5% White, 10.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% Asian, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.5% of the population.

Economy[edit | edit source]

The economy of Nelson County is diverse, with significant contributions from agriculture, tourism, and small businesses. The county is known for its wineries, breweries, and distilleries, which attract visitors from across the region. Additionally, the Wintergreen Resort is a major destination for skiing and other outdoor activities.