York County, Virginia

A County in Virginia, United States. It’s one of those places that refuses to be forgotten, mostly because it’s been around since dirt was new.

Coordinates: 37°13′N 76°26′W / 37.22°N 76.44°W Country: United States State: Virginia Founded: 1643 Named after: York Seat: Yorktown Largest community: Grafton

Area: • Total: 215 sq mi (560 km²) • Land: 105 sq mi (270 km²) • Water: 110 sq mi (280 km²), representing a rather significant 51.3% of its total expanse, proving that even land-based entities can be more water than solid ground.

Population (2020): • Total: 70,045 • Density: 667/sq mi (258/km²)

Time zone: UTC−5 (Eastern) • Summer (DST): UTC−4 (EDT) Congressional district: 1st Website: yorkcounty.gov

York County (formerly known, rather unimaginatively, as Charles River County) is a county situated in the eastern expanse of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It resides squarely within the Tidewater region, an area perpetually damp and historically significant. According to the rather exhaustive, and frankly, somewhat intrusive, 2020 United States census, its population stood at a precise 70,045 souls. The designated county seat is the unincorporated town of Yorktown, which, despite its lack of formal incorporation, manages to retain a certain historical gravitas, or at least, the remnants of it.

Positioned strategically on the northern flank of the Virginia Peninsula, with the storied York River forming its entire northern boundary, York County is an integral component of the sprawling Virginia Beach–Norfolk–Newport News, VA–NC Metropolitan Statistical Area. One might say it’s caught in the middle, but then, isn’t everything?

The county’s geography is intricately woven with numerous tributaries that feed into the aforementioned York River, creating a complex network of waterways. Its terrestrial borders are shared with the independent cities of Williamsburg, Newport News, Hampton, and Poquoson, alongside James City County. Across the watery expanse of the York River, it maintains a fluvial connection with Gloucester County. It’s a tapestry of interdependencies, if you bother to look closely enough.

York County holds the rather unique distinction of being one of the oldest counties in the United States. It was initially established in 1634 as Charles River Shire, an original member of the venerable eight shires (counties) of the Virginia Colony. A decade later, in 1643, it underwent a rather arbitrary renaming to York County, because apparently, consistency was a suggestion, not a mandate. Yorktown itself stands as one of the three pivotal points forming the Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia, a designation that implies a certain level of importance. More notably, it was the stage for the final, decisive engagement and subsequent surrender of British forces in 1781, a moment that rather inconveniently concluded the American Revolutionary War and inadvertently granted the patriots their desired independence from Great Britain.

In the contemporary era, York County has, with typical human efficiency, become home to several significant U.S. military installations, transforming parts of its landscape into strategic zones. Beyond its martial presence, it also boasts miles of waterfront property, catering to both residential developments and recreational pursuits, because even soldiers need a place to relax, or so I’m told. The county conveniently adjoins the ever-popular Busch Gardens Williamsburg theme park and encompasses the associated Water Country USA water park within its borders—a testament to its diverse appeal, from historical battlefields to manufactured thrills. The Yorktown Riverfront area, the Yorktown Battlefield and Visitor Center, and the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown further solidify its status as a historical focal point. Yorktown is elegantly connected to Colonial Williamsburg and the ancient attractions at Jamestown, Virginia via the National Park Service's rather idyllic Colonial Parkway. This well-orchestrated heritage tourism, centered around the Historic Triangle, attracts visitors from across the globe and serves as a major, if somewhat predictable, economic driver for the county.

History

Native American Indians

The land that would eventually be carved out and designated as York County bears the indelible mark of countless generations of Native Americans. These were not static populations, but rather succeeding cultures, primarily operating as hunter-gatherer groups throughout the late Woodland Period, an era spanning from approximately 1000 BCE to 1000 CE, and even further back into the mists of time. They knew this land long before anyone thought to draw lines on a map.

By the waning years of the 16th century, a substantial portion of the coastal plain that gracefully slopes towards the Chesapeake Bay within the present-day Commonwealth of Virginia was known to its inhabitants as Tenakomakah. This Algonquian term, meaning "densely inhabited land," rather succinctly describes the vibrant communities that thrived here. The various historic tribes populating the Tidewater area communicated through a tapestry of related Algonquian languages, a linguistic thread connecting them across the landscape. Other Algonquian-speaking peoples, for context, extended their reach along coastal areas both northward into what is now Canada and southward into other future states.

Within the specific Virginia region, a powerful weroance, or chief, named Wahunsunacock (who lived from 1547 to 1618) of the Powhatan people forged what could only be described as a formidable empire. This was accomplished by either conquering or strategically allying with approximately 30 distinct tribes, all of whom shared the common bond of eastern-Algonquian language speakers. He became known simply as the Powhatan, a title signifying his status as the paramount chief. His original village, also known as "Powhatan," was strategically located near the fall line of the James River. (For those keeping track, the Powhatan Hill neighborhood within the modern city of Richmond now occupies a spot near this ancient site.) Chief Powhatan, with an eye for centralized power, later established a secondary capital village, ingeniously named Werowocomoco. Its location was chosen for its central position within Tenakomakah, along the north bank of the York River in what is now Gloucester County. This site, once lost to history, was remarkably rediscovered in the early 21st century through diligent archeological efforts, proving that some secrets simply refuse to stay buried.

The Chiskiack tribe, a constituent part of the formidable Powhatan Confederacy, made their homes in what became York County, specifically along the banks of the York River, until the 1630s. Their tenure, however, was marked by escalating conflicts with the relentlessly expanding English colony, which, having established itself at Jamestown, seemed intent on consuming all available land. These conflicts ultimately compelled the Chiskiack to relocate westward, a forced migration that speaks volumes about the early colonial impact. The English, ever opportunistic, proceeded to develop their own village settlement near the now-vacated Chiskiack site, adopting a variation of its name. This settlement, sometimes rendered as "Kiskiack," subsequently became integrated into the developments now encompassed by the sprawling Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, near Yorktown, firmly placing it within the confines of a military base. Even today, local landmarks like Cheesecake Road and Cheesecake Cemetery bear names widely believed to be linguistic echoes of the original Chiskiack people, a subtle, perhaps accidental, tribute to those who came before.

Following Powhatan’s strategic decision to move his capital from this area in 1609, the precise location of Werowocomoco near Purtan Bay faded into historical obscurity, becoming little more than a whisper. However, as noted, the early 21st century brought its dramatic rediscovery, and since then, it has been the subject of continuous archaeological study. These ongoing research projects, spearheaded by the venerable College of William and Mary, hold immense promise. They are not merely digging for artifacts but are actively expanding our comprehension of the intricate lives led by the Native Americans in this very area during that pivotal era of York County’s nascent history.

Further information: Powhatan Confederacy

Ajacán Mission

In the year of 1570, a group of rather ambitious Spanish Jesuit priests embarked upon a mission to establish the Ajacán Mission within this very region. Their guide, a figure of significant, if tragic, importance, was an interpreter known as Don Luis. He was a Native American originally from this area, who had been, rather unceremoniously, taken captive by an earlier Spanish expedition. His journey saw him transported to Spain and subsequently to Mexico, where he was baptized under the name Don Luis and, perhaps ironically, educated within the Jesuit system. However, upon his return to Virginia a decade later, he promptly abandoned the Spanish group, demonstrating a rather understandable lack of loyalty. In a brutal turn of events in February 1571, he led an attack on the Jesuits, resulting in the deaths of all members of the party save for a single young boy. The following year, a Spanish force, presumably seeking retribution, returned to the region to exact punishment and successfully reclaimed the surviving youth, Alonso. Understandably, after this rather definitive failure, the Spanish chose not to attempt another mission in this particular part of North America. Some lessons, it seems, are learned the hard way.

Virginia Colony

Approximately 30 years after the Spanish misadventure, a fresh wave of English colonists arrived. In 1607, they established Jamestown on the southern shore of the Virginia Peninsula, marking the true genesis of the Colony of Virginia. By 1619, the territory now recognized as York County found itself rather arbitrarily parceled into two of the four original incorporations (or "citties") of the proprietary Virginia Company of London. These were known, with a touch of colonial grandiosity, as Elizabeth Cittie and James Cittie.

Then, in 1634, what we now call York County was formally established as Charles River Shire. It was one of the esteemed eight original shires of Virginia, a foundational administrative unit, and, predictably, it was named in honor of King Charles I. The Charles River itself, which lends its name to the shire, was in turn named after the younger son of King James I. In the 21st century, this historical continuity means it's recognized as one of the five original shires that persist in essentially their initial political form, making it a venerable relic and one of the oldest counties in the United States.

A mere nine years later, in 1643, both Charles River County and the Charles River (again, originally named for the king) underwent a rather abrupt rebranding, becoming York County and the York River, respectively. The prevailing belief, held by some, is that this shift was a nod to York, a prominent city in Yorkshire, England. However, one shouldn't overlook the rather convenient fact that Charles himself had previously held the title of Duke of York, and his own son, James II, would later inherit that very dukedom. Coincidence? Or merely a more subtle form of self-aggrandizement, masked by geographic homage? History rarely offers clear answers, merely layers of plausible deniability.

Yorktown

[[File:York Hall - Yorktown.jpg|thumb|York Hall, a historic residence in Yorktown]]

The initial courthouse and jail, necessary trappings of any fledgling society, were established near what we now recognize as Yorktown. This burgeoning community, founded primarily as a strategic port for the lucrative shipping of tobacco to European markets, underwent a series of identity crises, being variously referred to as Port of York, Borough of York, York, and Town of York. It wasn't until 1691 that the name Yorktown truly solidified, following a mandate from the House of Burgesses that compelled each county to designate an official port of entry and construct the requisite warehousing facilities. Despite its historical significance and its role as the county seat of York County, Yorktown has, rather remarkably, never been formally incorporated as a town. The only municipality within the county’s original boundaries to achieve formal incorporation was Poquoson, which did so in 1952, eventually ascending to the status of an independent city in 1975, thus severing some, but not all, of its administrative ties.

Porto Bello, an elegant hunting lodge once belonging to Lord Dunmore, the rather unfortunate last royal governor of Virginia, still stands on the grounds of Camp Peary. It has earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, a testament to its enduring architectural and historical value, even if its former owner wasn't exactly a local favorite.

Yorktown is, of course, most famously etched into the annals of history as the site of General Cornwallis's surrender to General George Washington in 1781, a pivotal moment that effectively brought the American Revolutionary War to its rather dramatic conclusion. It wasn't its only moment in the sun, however; Yorktown also played a prominent, if less decisive, role during the American Civil War as a key location in the Peninsula Campaign of 1862. It seems some places are simply destined to be battlegrounds, whether they like it or not.

Other communities, boundary changes

The small, unassuming unincorporated town of Lackey, along with a nearby tract of land colloquially known as "the Reservation," experienced a rather abrupt change of ownership during World War I when they were unceremoniously acquired by the U.S. Navy. This area now forms a part of the expansive Naval Weapons Station Yorktown, a testament to the military's insatiable appetite for land. Many of the original landowners, predominantly African American families, found themselves displaced and were eventually resettled in Grove, a community situated along the border separating York and James counties. A rather neat solution for those in power, less so for those uprooted.

The shadow of conflict extended further during World War II, when the sites of three more small York County towns were absorbed into various U.S. government reservations. Penniman, for instance, had previously hosted a World War I munitions facility, a rather volatile enterprise operated by the DuPont company. This site was subsequently integrated into Cheatham Annex) in 1943. To the west of Penniman, which, at its peak, reportedly boasted a population of 15,000—a surprisingly robust figure for a munitions town—lay the smaller communities of Magruder and Bigler's Mill. These, too, were swept up, becoming part of what is now Camp Peary. A significant portion of Magruder's population, along with at least one church, was likewise relocated to Grove, further swelling its ranks and demonstrating the domino effect of military expansion.

In 1949, the county experienced a minor territorial gain, growing by 4 square miles (10 km²). This parcel of land was ceded to York County by its neighbor, Warwick County. The maneuver, rather cunningly, was part of a successful strategy by Warwick County to thwart an annexation suit initiated by the City of Newport News. Warwick eventually did consolidate with the city in 1958, but by mutual agreement, not force. The temporary reduction in size allowed Warwick County to claim an exemption from the proposed annexation at the time, a neat legal sidestep.

However, in 1975, the county suffered a more substantial loss, shedding 15.5 square miles (40.1 km²) of its land. This occurred when the incorporated town of Poquoson, which had previously resided within York County’s administrative embrace, achieved the status of an independent city. Despite this official separation, the ties between the county and the newly independent city remained remarkably close. Decades later, they continue to share essential services, including courts, the sheriff's office, a jail, and various other constitutional functions, proving that some relationships, however strained by legal redefinitions, simply endure.

York County also finds itself adjacent to another small independent city, Williamsburg, which historically was contained within James City County. In the 20th century, certain areas of York County immediately bordering Williamsburg were incrementally lost to the growing small city through a series of annexations, a common narrative in the relentless expansion of urban centers.

York County in the late 20th and early 21st centuries

From the 1980s onward into modern times, York County has undergone a rather swift and, one might argue, inevitable transformation. It shed its largely rural skin to become a quintessential "bedroom community" for the more bustling core cities of Hampton and Newport News. People sleep here, work elsewhere. It’s a tale as old as suburban sprawl.

In contemporary times, York County, and Yorktown in particular, remain central to the designated Historic Triangle of Colonial Virginia. This vital historical nexus, a magnet for tourists, also encompasses the venerable sites of Jamestown and Williamsburg. Yorktown serves as the northern terminus of the rather picturesque Colonial Parkway, a scenic route meticulously maintained by the U.S. National Park Service that gracefully links all three of these historical jewels. In 2005, the county completed the Riverwalk Landing project, a successful, if somewhat overtly "pseudo-colonial," waterfront development in Yorktown. This initiative was explicitly designed to revitalize the previously deteriorating beach and town district, and conveniently, to serve as a complementary attraction for the grand 2007 celebration of Jamestown's 400th anniversary. Because nothing says progress like recreating the past for profit.

Geography

[[File:Coleman Bridge York River.jpg|thumb|The Coleman Bridge connects York County and neighboring Gloucester County]]

According to the ever-diligent U.S. Census Bureau, York County encompasses a total area of 215 square miles (560 km²). Of this, a mere 105 square miles (270 km²) is solid land, while a rather significant 110 square miles (280 km²), or 51.3% of its total, is water. It's a county that's more aquatic than terrestrial, which is a rather inconvenient fact for those who prefer dry land. This makes it the third-smallest county in Virginia by land area, proving that size isn't everything, especially when you're mostly wet. Geographically, it perches rather precariously near the mouth of the vast Chesapeake Bay.

Furthermore, in terms of human habitation, the county is rather distinctly bisected by a vast expanse of federal land running through its midsection. Much of this territory consists of densely wooded parkland and military training areas, effectively creating a natural, if somewhat unnerving, buffer. The southern portion of the county, conversely, is characterized by dense suburban developments and contains the overwhelming majority of the county’s population. There is, to be blunt, precious little room left for additional growth in this southern sector of York County, as it constitutes a relatively small area that was, by the early 2000s, essentially fully developed. A modest industrial zone along the York River, situated just east of Yorktown, houses a power plant owned by Dominion Virginia Power and a petroleum terminal, occupying the former site of an oil refinery that, with a sigh of relief from some, ceased operations in 2010.

The northern portion, in contrast, exhibits a stronger connection to the Williamsburg community than to Yorktown itself. While less populous than its southern counterpart, it is nonetheless experiencing its own brand of density. Having remained relatively undeveloped for an extended period, this northern segment is now witnessing the relentless march of new residential communities and shopping areas, proving that even nature's quiet corners eventually succumb to the siren call of convenience and consumerism.

Adjacent counties and cities

York County is surrounded by a rather predictable collection of neighbors:

Gloucester County (north)
Mathews County (northeast)
Northampton County (east)
Poquoson (southeast)
Hampton (south)
Newport News (southwest)
James City County (west)
Williamsburg (west)

National protected area

A portion of the Colonial National Historical Park graciously extends into York County, preserving a sliver of history for those who care to visit.

Climate

Yorktown, VA

[[File:Yorktown, VA Climate chart.svg|thumb|Climate chart (explanation) for Yorktown, VA]]

The climate in Yorktown, VA, as if anyone truly needed to know, is characterized by fairly standard seasonal variations. One might even call them predictable.

Month	Average Max Temp (°F)	Average Min Temp (°F)	Precipitation (inches)
Jan	48	28	3.6
Feb	52	31	3.2
Mar	60	37	4.3
Apr	70	45	3.3
May	77	55	3.9
Jun	85	64	3.5
Jul	89	68	4.6
Aug	87	66	4.7
Sep	81	60	4.2
Oct	71	48	3.4
Nov	62	40	3.3
Dec	52	32	3.4

For those who prefer the metric system, because apparently, some people do:

Month	Average Max Temp (°C)	Average Min Temp (°C)	Precipitation (mm)
Jan	9	-2	91
Feb	11	-1	81
Mar	16	3	109
Apr	21	7	84
May	25	13	99
Jun	30	18	89
Jul	32	20	117
Aug	30	19	119
Sep	27	15	107
Oct	22	9	86
Nov	16	4	84
Dec	11	0	86

Demographics

Historical population

The population of York County, like most human endeavors, has fluctuated with the whims of history and economics. Here's a brief, and frankly, rather dull, accounting:

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1790	5,233	—
1800	3,231		−38.3%
1810	5,187		60.5%
1820	4,384		−15.5%
1830	5,354		22.1%
1840	4,720		−11.8%
1850	4,460		−5.5%
1860	4,949		11.0%
1870	7,198		45.4%
1880	7,349		2.1%
1890	7,596		3.4%
1900	7,482		−1.5%
1910	7,757		3.7%
1920	8,046		3.7%
1930	7,615		−5.4%
1940	8,857		16.3%
1950	11,750		32.7%
1960	21,583		83.7%
1970	33,203		53.8%
1980	35,463		6.8%
1990	42,422		19.6%
2000	56,297		32.7%
2010	65,464		16.3%
2020	70,045		7.0%

Sources: U.S. Decennial Census, 1790–1960, 1900–1990, 1990–2000, 2010–2020. A fascinating trajectory of human aggregation, if you're into that sort of thing.

2020 census

The 2020 census provides a snapshot of York County's demographic composition, a rather granular breakdown of who lives where and how they identify. It's all very scientific, and perhaps, a little too revealing.

York County, Virginia - Demographic Profile (NH = Non-Hispanic) Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	48,470	46,932	74.04%	67.00%
Black or African American alone (NH)	8,599	8,633	13.14%	12.32%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	225	168	0.34%	0.24%
Asian alone (NH)	3,169	4,251	4.84%	6.07%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	92	127	0.14%	0.18%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	136	416	0.21%	0.59%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	1,881	4,382	2.87%	6.26%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	2,892	5,136	4.42%	7.33%
Total	65,464	70,045	100.00%	100.00%

2010 Census

As of the census conducted in 2000, the county was home to 56,297 people, distributed across 20,000 households, which, in turn, contained 15,880 families. The population density at the time was a rather modest 533 inhabitants per square mile (206/km²). There were 20,701 housing units dotted across the landscape, averaging a density of 196 units per square mile (76 units/km²). The racial composition of the county was, to a certain degree, predictable: 76.4% White, 13.4% Black or African American, a minuscule 0.4% Native American, 4.9% Asian, an even smaller 0.2% Pacific Islander, 1.4% from other races, and a respectable 3.4% identifying as being of two or more races. Furthermore, 4.4% of the total population identified as Hispanic or Latino, regardless of their racial self-identification.

Delving into the household statistics, a rather telling 42.20% of the 20,000 households included children under the tender age of 18. A substantial 67.30% were composed of married couples living together, while 9.40% were female householders navigating life without a husband present. The remaining 20.60% were categorized as non-families, a rather clinical term for a diverse array of living arrangements. Of all households, 16.70% consisted of individuals living alone, and a notable 5.40% had someone living by themselves who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size clocked in at 2.78, with the average family size slightly larger at 3.15.

Regarding the age distribution across the county, the population was, as expected, spread out. 29.10% were under the age of 18, 6.60% fell between 18 and 24, a significant 30.70% were in the 25 to 44 age bracket, 24.40% were between 45 and 64, and 9.10% had achieved the venerable age of 65 or older. The median age hovered at 36 years, a number that probably means very little in the grand scheme. For every 100 females, there were 96.50 males, a slight imbalance that one might ponder. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, the ratio dipped slightly to 93.50 males.

By the time the 2010 Census rolled around, the population had predictably swelled to 65,464. At this point, the median household income had reached a rather impressive $84,167, a figure that proudly positioned it as the highest in the entire Hampton Roads region. Males, as is often the case, enjoyed a higher median income of$ 42,948, compared to $28,713 for females. The [per capita income](/Per_capita_income) for the county stood at$ 36,755. A relatively small, but still significant, 2.70% of families and 3.50% of the overall population found themselves below the poverty line. This included 3.90% of those under 18 and 3.80% of those aged 65 or over, proving that even in affluence, some struggle.

Transportation

Public Transportation

York County, for those who prefer not to operate their own vehicles, is nominally served by the Williamsburg Area Transit Authority (WATA) and Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). WATA's buses dutifully make their rounds through various communities in the northwestern part of the county, particularly those adjacent to Williamsburg. HRT, on the other hand, operates several routes that skirt tantalizingly close to the county's more densely populated southeast, but, in a rather perplexing display of administrative boundaries, do not actually enter the county proper. Additionally, Yorktown offers a complimentary sightseeing trolley bus, a charming, if somewhat anachronistic, service that shuttles tourists around the town on a daily basis, because walking is apparently too much effort.

For those with grander travel ambitions, there is, rather predictably, no train station within York County itself. The nearest Amtrak stations are located in Williamsburg and Newport News, respectively. Greyhound also deigns to offer its services in these two cities, catering to those who prefer bus travel.

A segment of the Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, which holds the distinction of being the sole regional airport on the southern tip of the peninsula, is, rather conveniently, located within York County. For more extensive aerial endeavors, the region also boasts the larger Norfolk International Airport and Richmond International Airport, because one regional airport is rarely enough.

Highways

The sole interstate highway gracing the county is Interstate 64, a rather efficient, if uninspired, artery. U.S. Route 17 performs the impressive feat of crossing the York River from Gloucester Point via the rather iconic Coleman Memorial Bridge. State Route 199, which thoughtfully circumvents Williamsburg, eventually merges with Interstate 64 in close proximity to the Water Country USA park within the county, a convenient junction for thrill-seekers. Two distinct sections of U.S. Routes 60 also traverse York County, one to the north of Williamsburg and another to the west of Water Country USA. Virginia State Route 134 serves as a vital connector, linking York County directly to Langley Air Force Base and Hampton, Virginia, thereby offering a bypass around the more heavily developed portion of US-17 between Tabb and I-64. Finally, Victory Boulevard provides a direct route connecting Newport News and York County to the City of Poquoson, completing the rather intricate web of local roadways.

Communities

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Government

The county's governmental structure, as one might expect, is traditionally organized in strict adherence to Virginia Law. It is presided over by a Board of Supervisors, whose members are elected to four-year terms by the voters residing within each of the county's five distinct districts. This Board, in its infinite wisdom, then appoints a County Administrator to serve as the chief administrative officer, tasked with the unenviable job of actually running things. The current individual holding this rather pivotal position is Neil Morgan.

York County Board of Supervisors

District 1: Douglas R. Holroyd (Vice Chairman)
District 2: Sheila S. Noll (Chairwoman)
District 3: Wayne Drewry
District 4: G. Stephen Roane Jr.
District 5: Thomas G. Shepperd Jr.

York County School Board

District 1: Mark J. Shafer
District 2: Zoran Pajevic
District 3: Kimberly S. Goodwin (Chairwoman)
District 4: James E. Richardson (Vice Chairman)
District 5: Lynda J. Fairman

Other elected officials

Sheriff: Ron Montgomery
Commonwealth's Attorney: Krystyn Reid
Circuit Court Clerk: Kristen N. Nelson
Commissioner of the Revenue: Sarah K. Webb
Treasurer: Candice D. Kelley

Politics

York County has historically leaned towards Republican candidates in statewide elections, a rather consistent pattern for decades. However, recent trends suggest a subtle, yet discernible, shift, with the county becoming somewhat less staunchly Republican than in previous eras. Since the rather tumultuous 1968 United States presidential election in Virginia, only three Democratic presidential candidates have managed to garner more than 45% of the vote within the county: Jimmy Carter in 1976, Joe Biden in 2020, and Kamala Harris in 2024. Notably, Harris achieved 46% of the vote in the county, marking the highest percentage for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, a statistic that might suggest a gradual, almost imperceptible, realignment of political loyalties.

In a further demonstration of this nuanced political landscape, Mark Warner successfully carried York County during his 2008 election to the U.S. Senate. More recently, in the 2025 Virginia gubernatorial election, Abigail Spanberger secured a majority of the vote in the county, even as Republican candidates managed to carry it in the concurrent lieutenant gubernatorial and attorney general elections. Such split-ticket voting patterns indicate a more complex electorate than a simple red-or-blue designation might suggest.

United States presidential election results for York County, Virginia

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.
1912	34	12.27%	211
1916	51	17.11%	247
1920	92	24.40%	281
1924	75	18.99%	305
1928	642	76.79%	194
1932	309	38.43%	457
1936	228	23.08%	729
1940	177	18.06%	787
1944	318	29.01%	760
1948	418	30.38%	826
1952	1,335	50.53%	1,287
1956	1,759	60.10%	1,064
1960	2,085	54.94%	1,691
1964	2,992	46.83%	3,385
1968	3,356	36.93%	2,370
1972	7,745	74.90%	2,302
1976	5,603	53.61%	4,736
1980	6,744	55.58%	4,532
1984	10,214	71.24%	4,063
1988	11,103	69.96%	4,639
1992	10,197	51.07%	6,218
1996	11,396	54.95%	7,731
2000	15,312	62.29%	8,622
2004	19,396	64.91%	10,276
2008	19,833	58.51%	13,700
2012	20,204	59.51%	13,183
2016	18,837	55.22%	12,999
2020	20,241	52.19%	17,683
2024	20,722	52.13%	18,296

Education

The educational landscape of York County is, rather efficiently, overseen by a single entity: York County Public Schools. This district shoulders the responsibility for nurturing the minds of the county's youth, for better or worse.

Elementary schools

Bethel Manor ES
Coventry ES
Dare ES
Grafton Bethel ES
Magruder ES
Mt. Vernon ES
Seaford ES
Tabb ES
Waller Mill ES
Yorktown ES
Extend Center (Dare Elementary)

Middle schools

Grafton MS (conveniently, or perhaps claustrophobically, connected to Grafton High School)
Queens Lake MS
Tabb MS
Yorktown MS

High schools

Bruton HS
Grafton HS (sharing a roof, and presumably some teenage angst, with Grafton Middle School)
Tabb HS
York HS
York River Academy
Virtual High School (for those who prefer learning without, you know, people)

Military bases

York County is, rather significantly, home to several large and strategically vital military facilities belonging to the United States. These installations, positioned along the York River, even have small, almost apologetic, portions extending into the adjacent James City County. The military, it seems, rarely respects arbitrary lines on a map.

The Coast Guard Training Center Yorktown is one such prominent fixture.

The Naval Weapons Station Yorktown was originally established during the throes of World War I, by direct order of President Woodrow Wilson. It has since expanded to incorporate the formerly separate Cheatham Annex Supply Complex, a testament to its ever-growing logistical importance. Camp Peary, another significant installation, was brought into existence during World War II initially as a Seabee Training Base, churning out skilled naval construction workers. As the war progressed, its strategic value shifted, and it became an invaluable, highly secretive facility for housing sensitive prisoners-of-war captured from German naval vessels. It was deemed absolutely critical that Nazi authorities remain unaware of their capture, particularly because it suggested that secret code books, previously thought lost at sea, might have been compromised. Many of these former POWs, perhaps finding a strange comfort in their new surroundings, chose to make Virginia and the United States their new homeland after the cessation of hostilities. Separating these two colossal military reservations is Queen's Creek, a natural waterway that originates in the western reaches of the county and gracefully drains into the York River, a subtle reminder that nature persists, even amidst military might.

York County has, over its long history, seen the disappearance of several communities, including the rather generically named Yorke. The establishment of these sprawling military reservations in the first half of the 20th century led to the absorption of a substantial number of small towns. These include the original Lackey (known affectionately, or perhaps resignedly, as "the Reservation"), Halstead's Point, Penniman, Bigler's Mill, and Magruder. The displaced residents and their descendants, many of whom were farmers and watermen—professions inextricably linked to the land and sea—now find themselves residing in places such as Yorktown, Gloucester, Lee Hall, Grove, and Lightfoot. A testament to human adaptability, or perhaps, simply a lack of better options.