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Williamsburg

City of Williamsburg

  •   State: 
    Virginia
      County: 
    James City County
      City: 
    Williamsburg
      County all: 
    James City | York | Williamsburg | Charles City
      County FIPS: 
    51095 | 51199 | 51830 | 51036
      Coordinates: 
    37°16′15″N 76°42′25″W
      Area total: 
    9.10 sq mi (23.57 km²)
      Area land: 
    8.94 sq mi (23.15 km²)
      Area water: 
    0.16 sq mi (0.42 km²)
      Elevation: 
    82 ft (15 m)
      Established: 
    1632
  •   Latitude: 
    37,2596
      Longitude: 
    -76,7085
      Dman name cbsa: 
    Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC
      Timezone: 
    Eastern Standard Time (EST) UTC-5:00; Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) UTC-4:00
      ZIP codes: 
    23185
    23188
      GMAP: 

    Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia, United States

  •   Population: 
    15,425
      Population density: 
    1,700 residents per square mile of area (650/km²)
      Household income: 
    $49,240
      Households: 
    4,131
      Unemployment rate: 
    13.00%
  •   Sales taxes: 
    5.00%
      Income taxes: 
    5.75%

Williamsburg is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, United States. English settlers founded Williamsburg in 1632 as Middle Plantation, a fortified settlement on high ground between the James and York rivers. The College of William & Mary, established in 1693, is the second-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and the only one of the nine colonial colleges in the South. Its alumni include three U.S. presidents as well as many other important figures in the nation's early history. The city's tourism-based economy is driven by Colonial Williamsburg, the city's restored Historic Area. Along with nearby Jamestown and Yorktown, Williamsburg forms part of the Historic Triangle, which annually attracts more than four million tourists. Williamsburg was granted a royal charter as a "city" in 1722, making it the oldest charter to be granted to be the oldest United States city. It was actually a borough when it was established in1634, as James City Shire was included in James City and Virginia's other shires. It reached a total population of approximately 5,000 as the colony's capital in 1699, when it became the capital of the colony and Commonwealth. It became the center of political events in Virginia leading to the American Revolution in 1780. It is bordered by James City County on the west and south and York counties on the east. It has a population of 15,425, according to the 2020 census. The City of Williamsburg is located on the Virginia Peninsula, and is in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area.

History

Williamsburg was the first city in the United States to be granted a royal charter as a "city incorporate" In 1771, Lord Dunmore, who was Virginia's last Royal Governor, announced plans to connect the James River to the Queen's Creek, leading to the York River. Known in modern times as Eastern State Hospital, it was established by the colonial Act of Virginia in 1770. Williamsburg was also the site of the first U.S. psychiatric hospital, the Public Hospital for Persons of Disordered Minds, which opened in 1780. It was named after King William III of England, who founded the College of William & Mary in 1693. It is now the home of the Virginia Museum of Natural History, which was founded in 1805. The city was named for William and Mary's daughter, Mary, who went on to found the University of Virginia, which is located on the other side of the river from Williamsburg. The name Williamsburg comes from the word "Williamsburg," which means "town" or "village" in English. The town's name is derived from the name of Middle Plantation, a settlement that served as a guard-station along a defensive palisade across the Virginia Peninsula in the 1630s. It became the capital of the colony after Jamestown, the original capital, burned down during Bacon's Rebellion in 1676. In 1699, the House of Burgesses agreed to move the colonial capital to Middleplantation permanently, and a new capitol was built.

Geography and climate

Williamsburg stands upon a ridge on the Virginia Peninsula between the James and York Rivers. The city is on the I-64 corridor, 45 miles (72 km) southeast of Richmond and about 37 miles (60 km) northwest of Norfolk. It is in the northwest corner of Hampton Roads, the nation's 37th-largest metropolitan area, with a population of 1,576,370. Williamsburg has a humid subtropical climate zone, with cool to mild winters, and hot, humid summers. Snowfall averages 4.3 inches (11 cm) per season, and the summer months tend to be slightly wetter. With a period of record dating only back to 1951, extreme temperatures range from 7 °F (22 °C) on January 21, 1985, to 104 °C on August 22, 1983, and June 26, 1952. As with all cities in Virginia, Williamsburg is legally independent of James City County and York County, but is recognized as a part of both counties by the Commonwealth of Virginia. The U.S. Census Bureau estimates the city's population at 1,500,000 in 2010. It has an area of 9.1 square miles (23.6 km²), of which 8.9 square miles [23.1 km²] is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km²) (1.8%) is water. In 2010, the city was home to 1,527,000 people, making it the second-largest city in Virginia.

Demographics

As of the census of 2010, there were 14,068 people, 3,619 households, and 1,787 families residing in the city. 6.7% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race. A high proportion of Williamsburg residents derive a significant percentage of their annual income from investments, either in addition to or in lieu of income from work. This is because many retirees relocate to Williamsburg and typically draw income from 401(k) plans and the like. The median income for a household in theCity was $37,093. The per capita income for the city was $18,483. Out of the total population, 29.7%. of those under the age of 18 and 5.5% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line. The average household size was 2.07 and the average family size was2.66. The population density was 1,404.1 people per square mile (542.4/km²). There were 3,880 housing units at an average density of 454.1 per squaremile (175.4 /km²) The racial makeup of the city is 74.0% White, 14.0.% Black or African American, 0.3% Native American, 5.7. Asian, 2.5%. from other races, and 3.5.% from two or more races. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 80.8 males.

Economy

Williamsburg has an outlet mall, Williamsburg Premium Outlets. Williamsburg Pottery Factory also has outlet stores. Anheuser-Busch operates a large brewery there. It also used to operate two theme parks near the brewery, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Water Country USA. Both properties were sold to private investors after foreign brewer InBev took over Anheusers Busch in 2010. The city is home to the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, which was founded in 1881. The museum is located in the historic center of Williamsburg. It is located on the James River, which runs through the center of the city. It has a museum of fine art, which dates back to the 18th century. It was also the site of the first African-American museum, which opened in 1883. The Museum is also home to Williamsburg's oldest public library, the Williamsburg Public Library, which is open to the public every day. It opened on September 1, 1883, and has a collection of more than 1,000 books. The Williamburg Public Museum was established in 1887. It dates back more than 100 years to the early 19th century, when the city was first incorporated. The first public library was opened on November 14, 1881, and was the first public building in Williamsburg to be built. The Williamsburg public library is open every day except Sundays. The last public library opened on December 1, 2013, and the last one closed on December 31, 2013.

Culture

Williamsburg is perhaps best known for its tourist and historical points of interest, the centerpiece of which is Colonial Williamsburg. People who grew up in the Hampton Roads area have a unique Tidewater accent that differs from a stereotypical Southern accent. Williamsburg also has two major theme parks, Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA, as well as Go-Karts Plus action park and two miniature golf courses. The 200-acre (0.81 km²) Williamsburg Pottery Factory shopping complex visited by 3 million people annually is in nearby Lightfoot. "Artistic" and ornamental items are sold at the Market Square shops adjacent to the colonial area and at many stores on Richmond Road. Presidents Park was an educational attraction that displayed outdoor statue heads of all 43 presidents, each accompanied by a descriptive biographical plaque. In 2010, Presidents Park closed due to financial issues. Other highlights in the city include the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Williamsburg Winery (Virginia's largest winery), the Williamsburg Botanical Garden, the National Center for State Courts and the Virginia Musical Museum. The city is home to Virginia's first capitol building, the Governor's Palace, Bruton Parish Church (the oldest continually operating church in the United States), the Peyton Randolph House (home of Peyton Randolph, the first President of Continental Congress and rumored to be haunted) and The College of William & Mary. It is also home to the National Museum of American History, which includes the National Mall.

Government

Williamsburg is an independent city with a council-manager form of government. The city council elects the mayor, who presides over council meetings and serves as the city's Chief Elected Official. Williamsburg is part of Virginia's 2nd congressional district, represented by Democrat Elaine Luria, elected in 2018. In presidential elections, Williamsburg was a Republican-leaning city for most of the time from the 1950s to the 1980s. In the 1990s, Democrat Bill Clinton won Williamsburg in both of his presidential campaigns. Democrat Barack Obama swept Williamsburg by 29-point margins in both the 2008 and 2012 elections. in the 2016 election, Democrat Hillary Clinton beat Republican Donald Trump by 45% of the vote, the worst showing for a Republican in the city in over a century. In 2000, Republican George W. Bush secured a very narrow plurality in 2000, and John Kerry won the city by a single-digit margin over Bush in 2004. Until 1998, the city had its own Sheriff's Office. It was consolidated with the James City County Sheriff’s Office, becoming Williamsburg-James City County. Public schools are operated under a voluntary agreement that leaders revisit at planned intervals. In 2008, the school board voted to create a joint school division with adjacent James City City County, which is the county seat. The school board also voted to establish a joint elementary and middle school division, with the school district sharing responsibility for the elementary and high school. In 2010, the council voted to form a joint high school division and share responsibilities for the middle school.

Education

The public school system, Williamsburg-James City County Public Schools, is jointly operated by the city of Williamsburg and James City County. The city has been the home to The College of William & Mary since its founding in 1693. There are also three community colleges, offering associate degrees and college transfer programs, within a 25-mile radius of the city limits. For the 200102 academic year, Expansion Management Magazine ranked the public school systems among the top five school systems in the Commonwealth of Virginia and in the top 15% nationwide. The Williamsburg city limits is served by the following schools: There is one zoned elementary school in the city Limits: Matthew Whaley Elementary School, in the Peacock Hill neighborhood. Walsingham Academy is a private Catholic school serving pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. Other private schools include Williamsburg Christian Academy, Williamsburg Montessori School, and Providence Classical School. The majority is zoned to Lafayette High School while a portion in the northwest is zoning to Warhill High School and some in the west and southeast are zoned for Jamestown High School. Over 70% of the college's students either work part-time or volunteer in the community. Students contribute over 300,000 hours of volunteer service to Williamsburg annually. The Wren Building at the head of Duke of Gloucester Street was one of the earliest restored by W. A. R. Goodwin and the family of John D. Rockefeller Jr. as they began creating Colonial Williamsburg.

Infrastructure

Williamsburg is located adjacent to Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60, which connect the city with Richmond to the northwest and Norfolk to the southeast. State Route 199, officially named the Humelsine Parkway after a former Colonial Williamsburg president, surrounds the city in a semicircle. The community's public bus system, Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA), has its central hub at the transportation center. The primary airport for the Virginia Peninsula is the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport in Newport News, a twenty-minute drive from Williamsburg. Amtrak serves Williamsburg with three trains a day stopping at the Amtrak Station. A high-speed rail connection at Richmond to both the Northeast Corridor and the Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor are also under study. Waller Mill Reservoir is the main water source for the City of Williamsburg, a 350-acre lake holding 1.5 billion gallons of water, it has been in operation since 1945. The City provides wastewater services for residents and transports wastewater to the regional Hampton Roads Sanitation District treatment plants. The city is also increasingly bicycle-friendly, having built 48 miles of bicycle facilities in the area since 1992. Upon completion, the Virginia Capital Trail will provide a paved off-road path to Richmond for bicyclists and pedestrians via the Colonial Parkway. WATA connects with the much larger Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) bus system at Lee Hall in northwestern Newport News and at the Williamsburg Transportation Center. The system also provides paratransit services and operates replica trolley buses at the Yorktown Riverfront attraction.

Air Quality, Water Quality, Superfund Sites & UV Index

The Air Quality index is in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia = 85. These Air Quality index is based on annual reports from the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The number of ozone alert days is used as an indicator of air quality, as are the amounts of seven pollutants including particulates, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, lead, and volatile organic chemicals. The Water Quality Index is 89. A measure of the quality of an area’s water supply as rated by the EPA. Higher values are better (100=best). The EPA has a complex method of measuring the watershed quality, using 15 indicators such as pollutants, turbidity, sediments, and toxic discharges. The Superfund Sites Index is 101. Higher is better (100=best). Based upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts. The UV Index in Williamsburg = 4.4 and is a measure of an area's exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. This is most often a combination of sunny weather, altitude, and latitude. The UV Index has been defined by the WHO (www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/radiation-the-ultraviolet-(uv)-index) and is uniform worldwide.

Weather

The annual rainfall in Williamsburg = 47.5 inches and the annual snowfall = 7.5 inches. The annual number of days with measurable precipitation (over .01 inch) = 117. The average number of days per year that are predominantly sunny = 209. 89 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily high temperature for the month of July and 27.9 degrees Fahrenheit is the average daily low temperature for the month of January. The Comfort Index (higher=better) is 36, where higher values mean a more pleasant climate. The Comfort Index measure recognizes that humidity by itself isn't the problem. (Have you noticed nobody ever complains about the weather being 'cold and humid?) It's in the summertime that we notice the humidity the most, when it's hot and muggy. Our Comfort Index uses a combination of afternoon summer temperature and humidity to closely predict the effect that the humidity will have on people.

Median Home Cost

The percentage of housing units in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia which are owned by the occupant = 39.55%. A housing unit is a house, apartment, mobile home, or room occupied as separate living quarters. The average age of homes = 32 years with median home cost = $406,990 and home appreciation of -4.60%. This is the value of the years most recent home sales data. Its important to note that this is not the average (or arithmetic mean). The median home price is the middle value when you arrange all the sales prices of homes from lowest to highest. This is a better indicator than the average, because the median is not changed as much by a few unusually high or low values. The property tax rate of $4.59 shown here is the rate per $1,000 of home value. If for simplification for example the tax rate is $14.00 and the home value is $250,000, the property tax would be $14.00 x ($250,000/1000), or $3500. This is the 'effective' tax rate.

  • Williamsburg's population in James City County, Virginia of 2,044 residents in 1900 has increased 7,55-fold to 15,425 residents after 120 years, according to the official 2020 census.

    Approximately 54.90% female residents and 45.10% male residents live in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia.

    As of 2020 in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia are married and the remaining 44.08% are single population.

  • 20.4 minutes is the average time that residents in Williamsburg require for a one-way commute to work. A long commute can have different effects on health. A Gallup poll in the US found that in terms of mental health, long haul commuters are up to 12 percent more likely to experience worry, and ten percent less likely to feel well rested. The Gallup poll also found that of people who commute 61­–90 minutes each day, a whopping one third complained of neck and back pain, compared to less than a quarter of people who only spend ten minutes getting to work.

    67.13% of the working population which commute to work alone in their car, 9.93% of the working population which commutes to work in a carpool, 1.55% of the population that commutes using mass transit, including bus, light rail, subway, and ferry. 3.87% of the population that has their home as their principal place of work.

  • Of the total residential buildings in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia, 39.55% are owner-occupied homes, another 50.89% are rented apartments, and the remaining 9.56% are vacant.

  • The 61.50% of the population in Williamsburg, James City County, Virginia who identify themselves as belonging to a religion are distributed among the following most diverse religions.

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