Chatmoss, Virginia

Chatmoss is a census-designated place (CDP) in Henry County, Virginia, United States. As of the 2020 census, Chatmoss had a population of 1,671.^[3] It is part of the Martinsville Micropolitan Statistical Area .

History

Chatmoss takes its name from a 2,700-acre (11 km²) Hairston family plantation on the site, which was later incorporated into a larger country club building on the site.^[4] That name probably derives from "Chat Moss", a large area of peat bog near Manchester, UK. In turn, that bog may be named after St Chad, or even from the Celtic word ced, meaning wood. Alternatively it may be an Old English personal name and mos, meaning "swamp." Low-lying areas around Chatmoss were boggy wetlands prone to flooding from Leatherwood Creek before mitigation by several dams.^[5]

The Hairston family owned many plantations scattered across the South, including plantations in North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi and Virginia. The family's Henry County plantations included still extant Beaver Creek Plantation and Hordsville, as well as plantations at Marrowbone, Magna Vista, Leatherwood, Camp Branch and Shawnee, which are no longer standing.^[6] The Chatmoss property was long owned by Harden Hairston, who inherited it, but it was later sold by a descendant to the developers of the country club on the site.^[7]

Geography

Chatmoss is located at 36°40′47″N 79°48′20″W (36.679666, −79.805641).^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (13.9 km²), of which 5.3 square miles (13.9 km²) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km²) (0.37%) is water.

Demographics

Chatmoss was first listed as a census designated place in the 2000 U.S. census formed along with Laurel Park CDP out of the deleted Chatmoss-Laurel Park CDP.^[9]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, Chatmoss had a population of 1,671. The median age was 53.1 years. 16.1% of residents were under the age of 18 and 31.8% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 97.5 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.9 males age 18 and over.^[10][11]

0.0% of residents lived in urban areas, while 100.0% lived in rural areas.^[12]

There were 729 households in Chatmoss, of which 20.3% had children under the age of 18 living in them. Of all households, 53.9% were married-couple households, 13.4% were households with a male householder and no spouse or partner present, and 29.2% were households with a female householder and no spouse or partner present. About 27.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[10]

There were 777 housing units, of which 6.2% were vacant. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 2.2%.^[10]

2000 census

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 1,742 people, 678 households, and 549 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 325.4 people per square mile (125.7/km²). There were 715 housing units at an average density of 133.6/sq mi (51.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 80.31% White, 15.67% African American, 0.17% Native American, 1.78% Asian, 1.15% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 6.08% of the population.

There were 678 households, out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 72.6% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.9% were non-families. 17.1% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.57 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 22.8% under the age of 18, 5.3% from 18 to 24, 25.0% from 25 to 44, 33.6% from 45 to 64, and 13.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $58,929, and the median income for a family was $67,431. Males had a median income of $46,146 versus $27,031 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $36,777. About 2.3% of families and 2.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 1.8% of those under age 18 and 5.1% of those age 65 or over.

References

1. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
2. ^
3. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved March 12, 2026.
4. ^ Chatmoss celebrates half century of club growth, sports, friendships, The Martinsville Bulletin, 16 November 2008
5. ^ "USDA Watershed Rehabilitation". NRCS.USDA.gov. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015.
6. ^ Thomas D. Perry (2009). Henry County. Arcadia Publishing. p. 7. ISBN 978-0-7385-6704-4.
7. ^ Virginia G. Pedigo & Lewis Gravely Pedigo (1977). History of Patrick and Henry Counties, Virginia. Genealogical Publishing Com. p. 155. ISBN 978-0-8063-8010-0.
8. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
9. ^ "2000 Census of Population - Population and Housing Unit Counts - Virginia". United States Census Bureau
10. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
11. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)". United States Census Bureau. 2021. Retrieved April 30, 2026.
12. ^ "2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)". United States Census Bureau. 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2026.