Rockingham County, Virginia

2016-06-26_10_17_24_Rockingham_County_Courthouse_in_Harrisonburg,_Virginia

Rockingham_Cty_VA

2019-06-25_16_52_41_View_south_along_Interstate_81_from_the_overpass_for_Virginia_State_Route_990_(Imboden_Road)_in_North_River,_Rockingham_County,_Virginia

Municipalities_in_Rockingham_County,_VA

Rockingham County
U.S. county
County of Rockingham
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Coordinates:
Country	United States
Seat	Harrisonburg
Area
• Total	853 sq mi (2,210 km2)
• Land	849 sq mi (2,200 km2)
• Water	4.3 sq mi (11 km2)
Population  (2020)
• Total	83,598
• Density	98/sq mi (38/km2)

[[Category:{{{state}}} counties]]

Rockingham County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 83,598. The county seat is Harrisonburg, which is an independent city and the only city in the county.

History

Rockingham County was established in 1778 from part of Augusta County. It was named for Charles Watson-Wentworth, 2nd Marquess of Rockingham, a British statesman who was sympathetic to the American cause during the American Revolution.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 853 square miles (2,210 km²), of which 849 square miles (2,200 km²) is land and 4.3 square miles (11 km²) (0.5%) is water. The county is located in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia.

Adjacent counties

• Augusta County - south
• Page County - northeast
• Shenandoah County - north
• Hardy County, West Virginia - northwest
• Pendleton County, West Virginia - west

National protected areas

• George Washington National Forest (part)
• Shenandoah National Park (part)

Demographics

As of the 2020 census, there were 83,598 people, 30,912 households, and 21,345 families residing in the county. The population density was 98 people per square mile (38/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.5% White, 2.5% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 1.1% Asian, 0.1% Pacific Islander, 1.8% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population.

Economy

The economy of Rockingham County is diverse, with agriculture, manufacturing, and education being significant sectors. The county is known for its poultry industry, which is one of the largest in the state. James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University are major employers in the region.

Education

Rockingham County is served by the Rockingham County Public Schools system, which includes several elementary, middle, and high schools. Higher education institutions in the area include James Madison University and Eastern Mennonite University.

Communities

Independent city

• Harrisonburg

Towns

• Bridgewater
• Broadway
• Dayton
• Elkton
• Grottoes
• Timberville

Unincorporated communities

• Bergton
• Hinton
• Keezletown
• McGaheysville
• Mount Crawford
• Penn Laird
• Port Republic
• Singers Glen

Notable people

• Zachary Taylor, 12th President of the United States, was born in Rockingham County.

See also

• List of counties in Virginia
• Shenandoah Valley
• George Washington National Forest
• Shenandoah National Park