Mechanicsville, Hanover County, Virginia
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- For other uses, see Mechanicsville, Virginia (disambiguation).
Mechanicsville is an unincorporated place in Hanover County, Virginia, United States. Recognized by the U.S. Census Bureau as a census designated place (CDP), the community population was 30,464 as of the 2000 census.
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[edit] Civil War History
Mechanicsville is associated with several major battles and numerous minor skirmishes during the American Civil War.
[edit] Beaver Dam Creek
The first was the Battle of Beaver Dam Creek, which began on June 26, 1862. Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee launched a series of assaults against the right of Union Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan's army positioned along Beaver Dam Creek, just east of Mechanicsville. Union forces repulsed the Confederate attacks and afterward withdrew to a new position along Boatswain Creek near Gaines' Mill. The Beaver Dam Creek engagement was the second in the series of American Civil War battles known as the Seven Days Battles. A small portion of the battlefield has been preserved as part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park, a park area administered by the National Park Service.
[edit] Gaines' Mill
The Battle of Gaines' Mill was the third of the Seven Days Battles, occurring just east of Mechanicsville.
[edit] Cold Harbor
The other major clash near Mechanicsville was the Battle of Cold Harbor, the final battle of Union Lieut. Gen. Ulysses S. Grant's 1864 Overland Campaign. This was fought over the same ground as the Battle of Gaines' Mill. Both the battlefield and nearby cemetery are preserved as historic monuments.
[edit] Geography
Mechanicsville is located at (37.619168, -77.355013)1.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 73.7 km² (28.5 mi²). 73.5 km² (28.4 mi²) of it is land and 0.2 km² (0.1 mi²) of it (0.28%) is water.
[edit] Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 30,464 people, 11,607 households, and 8,832 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 414.5/km² (1,073.3/mi²). There were 11,915 housing units at an average density of 162.1/km² (419.8/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 90.80% White, 6.40% African American, 0.43% Native American, 0.90% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.49% from other races, and 0.97% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.
There were 11,607 households out of which 39.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.7% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 23.9% were non-families. 19.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.61 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the CDP the population was spread out with 26.9% under the age of 18, 5.7% from 18 to 24, 33.6% from 25 to 44, 22.5% from 45 to 64, and 11.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $57,032, and the median income for a family was $62,209. Males had a median income of $41,338 versus $30,217 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,068. 3.3% of the population and 2.8% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 3.6% are under the age of 18 and 4.1% are 65 or older.
[edit] Population History of Mechanicsville
Source U.S. Census Bureau
[edit] Famous Residents
- Singer/songwriter Jason Mraz is from Mechanicsville. He attended Chickahominy Middle School and Lee-Davis High School.
- Tony Thaxton and Matthew Taylor of Motion City Soundtrack both attended Atlee High School in Mechanicsville.
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The Greater Richmond Region |
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| Regional Divisions |
The West End | The Fan | Downtown | Southside | North Side | Mechanicsville | The East End | Tri-Cities / Petersburg | Varina-Enon |
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| Surrounding Counties: |
Chesterfield | Hanover | Henrico | Goochland |
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| Other Counties: |
Amelia | Caroline | Charles City | Cumberland | Dinwiddie | King and Queen | King William | Louisa | New Kent | Powhatan | Prince George | Sussex |
