Spotsylvania County
County
Historic home listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Spotsylvania County
Flag Seal Logo
Motto(s):  Patior Ut Potiar (Latin for 'I suffer to obtain')[1][2][3][4]
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°11′N 77°39′W / 38.18°N 77.65°W / 38.18; -77.65
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1721
Named for	Alexander Spotswood
Seat	Spotsylvania Courthouse
Largest community	Spotsylvania Courthouse
Area
• Total	414 sq mi (1,070 km2)
• Land	401 sq mi (1,040 km2)
• Water	13 sq mi (30 km2)  3.1%
Population  (2023)[5]
• Total	145,324
• Density	350/sq mi (140/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	7th
Website	www.spotsylvania.va.us

Spotsylvania County is a county in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the July 2021 estimate, the population was 145,300.^[5] Its county seat is Spotsylvania Courthouse.^[6]

History

At the time of European encounter, the inhabitants of the area that became Spotsylvania County were a Siouan-speaking tribe called the Manahoac.^[7]

As the colonial population increased, Spotsylvania County was established in 1721 from parts of Essex, King and Queen, and King William counties. The county was named in Latin for Lieutenant Governor of Virginia Alexander Spotswood who incidentally was also the second great-grandfather of Robert E. Lee.^[8]

Many major battles were fought in this county during the Civil War, including the Battle of Chancellorsville, Battle of the Wilderness, Battle of Fredericksburg, and Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. The war resulted in widespread disruption and opportunity: some 10,000 African-American slaves left area plantations and city households to cross the Rappahannock River, reaching the Union lines and gaining freedom. This exodus is commemorated by historical markers on both sides of the river.^[9]

General Stonewall Jackson was shot and seriously wounded by friendly fire in Spotsylvania County during the Battle of Chancellorsville. A group of Confederate soldiers from North Carolina were in the woods and heard General Jackson's party returning from reconnoitering the Union lines. They mistook them for a Federal patrol and fired on them, wounding Jackson in both arms. His left arm was amputated. General Jackson died a few days later from pneumonia at nearby Guinea Station. He and other Confederate wounded were being gathered there for evacuation to hospitals to the south and further away from enemy lines.

Geography

Charles

Alexandria

Fauquier

Manassas

Manassas Park

Prince William

Spotsylvania

Stafford

Fredericksburg

Culpeper

Louisa

Orange

Caroline

Hanover

King George

It is bounded on the north by the Rappahannock and Rapidan rivers, the independent city of Fredericksburg (all of which were part of the area's early history), and the counties of Stafford and Culpeper; on the south by the North Anna River and its impoundment, Lake Anna, and by the counties of Hanover and Louisa; on the west by Orange County and Culpeper County; and on the east by Caroline County.

Adjacent counties and independent city

• Culpeper County, Virginia – north
• Stafford County, Virginia – northeast
• City of Fredericksburg, Virginia – northeast
• Caroline County, Virginia – southeast
• Hanover County, Virginia – south
• Louisa County, Virginia – southwest
• Orange County, Virginia – west and northwest

National protected area

• Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park (part)

Points of interest

• Lake Anna State Park
• Spotsylvania County Public Schools
• Spotsylvania Courthouse
• Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park
• Spotsylvania Towne Centre
• Central Rappahannock Regional Library
• Dominion Raceway

Communities

There are no incorporated towns or cities in Spotsylvania County. Unincorporated communities in the county include:

Census-designated places

• Lake Wilderness
• Spotsylvania Courthouse

Other unincorporated communities

Many areas of the county have Fredericksburg addresses.

Major highways

• I-95
• US 1
• US 17
• US 522
• SR 2
• SR 3
• SR 208

Governance

County government

Spotsylvania County's highest level of management is that of County Administrator. This post oversees all county departments and agencies and serves as the Spotsylvania County's Board of Supervisors' liaison to state and regional agencies.

Board of Supervisors

Spotsylvania is governed by a Board of Supervisors. The board consists of seven members (one from each district within the county). The Board of Supervisors sets county policies, adopts ordinances, appropriates funds, approves land rezoning and special exceptions to the zoning ordinance, and carries out other responsibilities set forth by the county code.^[10]

The following is the current list of supervisors and districts which they represent:^[11]

County wide offices

State representation

Federal representation

Spotsylvania residents are represented by Abigail Spanberger (D-7th District) in the House of Representatives. The current U.S. senators from the Commonwealth of Virginia are Mark Warner (D) and Tim Kaine (D).