Misplaced Pages

Revision as of 03:55, 4 September 2020

Chincoteague, Virginia
Town
Fishing boats along the waterfront in Chincoteague
Seal
Location in Accomack County and the state of Virginia.
ChincoteagueLocation in Virginia and the United States.Show map of VirginiaChincoteagueChincoteague (the United States)Show map of the United States
Coordinates: 37°56′5″N 75°22′4″W / 37.93472°N 75.36778°W / 37.93472; -75.36778
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	Accomack
Incorporated	1908
Government
• Mayor	Arthur Leonard
Area
• Total	37.48 sq mi (97.07 km)
• Land	9.26 sq mi (23.98 km)
• Water	28.22 sq mi (73.09 km)
Elevation	3 ft (1 m)
Population
• Total	2,941
• Estimate	2,875
• Density	310.48/sq mi (119.87/km)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	23336
Area code(s)	757, 948 (planned)
FIPS code	51-16512
GNIS feature ID	1492764
Website	Official website

Chincoteague (/ˌʃɪŋkəˈtiːɡ/ or /ˈʃɪŋkətiːɡ/) is a town in Accomack County, Virginia, U.S. The town includes the whole of Chincoteague Island and an area of adjacent water. The population was 2,941 at the 2010 census. The town is known for the Chincoteague Ponies, although these are not actually on the island of Chincoteague but on nearby Assateague Island. These ponies and the annual Pony Penning Day are the subject of Marguerite Henry's 1947 children's book Misty of Chincoteague, which was made into the 1961 family film Misty, filmed on location.

Geography

Chincoteague is located at 37°56′5″N 75°22′4″W / 37.93472°N 75.36778°W / 37.93472; -75.36778 (37.934673, −75.367805). According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 37.3 square miles (96.7 km), of which 9.1 square miles (23.6 km) is land and 28.2 square miles (73.1 km), or 75.58%, is water.

History

Chincoteague was a barrier island until the mid-1800s, when Assateague extended so far south that it shielded Chincoteague from the ocean. The year of 1650 marks the first land grant issued on Chincoteague Island, for 1,500 acres (6.1 km). Daniel Jenifer became the first English landowner. In 1671, settlers came to the island, and by 1672 there were large farms by Bishops, Bowdens, Jesters and Tarrs. By 1838, there were 36 houses on the island. In 1861, with the Civil War looming following the attack on Fort Sumter, the island voted 132-2 not to secede from the Union and against slavery. The town saw minor action in the war via the Battle of Cockle Creek fought in the bay in 1861.

The Native American name for the island is Gingoteague, and the name of the town "Chincoteague" first appeared in the Decisions of the United States Board on Geographical Names in 1943.

In 1962, a major nor'easter winter storm, the Ash Wednesday Storm, struck the coast. The town was completely underwater, and went for days without electricity. The storm destroyed almost all structures on Assateague Island, where development was just beginning. Following this, most of the island was preserved from development as Assateague Island National Seashore in 1965.

The Assateague Lighthouse and Captain Timothy Hill House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Chincoteague Ponies

Legend has it that the feral ponies on Assateague are descendants of survivors of a Spanish galleon that sank on its way to Spain during a storm in 1750 off the east coast, but the likelihood is that they are actually descended from domesticated stock, brought to the island by Eastern Shore farmers in the 17th century to avoid fencing requirements and taxation.

In the Pony Penning, which has been held annually since 1925, horses swim across the shallow water between the islands. At "slack tide" on the Wednesday before the last Thursday of every July, Chincoteague's "Saltwater Cowboys" herd the wild Chincoteague ponies from Assateague Island, across the Assateague Channel, to neighboring Chincoteague Island. If any animal is too small or weak to make the swim, it is placed on a barge and ferried over. All the horses are herded into large pens after running through the middle of town and down Main Street. Pony Penning takes place on the last consecutive Wednesday and Thursday in July. The actual swim occurs on Wednesday, the Chincoteague Volunteer Fire Company auctions that year's foals on Thursday, and on Friday the remaining ponies swim back to Assateague.

Tourism

The town features numerous small hotels, bed and breakfasts, and campgrounds that serve visitors to the region, such as those patronizing the beaches. The island also features many restaurants, miniature golf courses and ice cream parlors, including Island Creamery. The island contains two museums: Beebe Ranch, and the Museum of Chincoteague Island. With the designation of the nearby Wallops Island Flight Facility as the launch site for the Antares rocket and Cygnus cargo module used to resupply the International Space Station, there are large influxes of tourists whenever an Antares launch occurs.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 4,317 people, 2,068 households, and 1,244 families residing in the town. The population density was 448.2 people per square mile (173.1/km). There were 3,970 housing units at an average density of 412.2 per square mile (159.2/km). The racial makeup of the town was 96.92% White, 0.95% African American, 0.28% Native American, 0.28% Asian, 0.37% from other races, and 1.20% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.53% of the population.

There were 2,068 households, out of which 21.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.8% were married couples living together, 8.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.8% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.08 and the average family size was 2.63.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.0% under the age of 18, 5.5% from 18 to 24, 24.7% from 25 to 44, 30.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 46 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 town was $28,514, and the median income for a family was $33,425. Males had a median income of $27,075 versus $20,859 for females. The per capita income for the town was $20,367. About 9.7% of families and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 22.9% of those under age 18 and 9.4% of those age 65 or over.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chincoteague has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Notable people

• Delbert "Cigar" Daisey, waterfowl decoy wood carver
• Bill Hinnant, actor on stage, film, and television; born in Chincoteague in 1935; drowned in 1978 in the Dominican Republic
• Skip Hinnant, actor and comedian, born in Chincoteague in 1940

See also

• Chincoteague Fire Department

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
3. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
5. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (DP-1): Chincoteague town, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
6. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
7. "Geographic Identifiers: 2010 Demographic Profile Data (G001): Chincoteague town, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved April 4, 2012.
8. ^ Kenney, Nathaniel T. "Watermen's Island Home", National Geographic, Index (January–June 1980), vol 157 (June 1980): 812.
9. Topping, Mary, comp., Approved Place Names in Virginia: An Index to Virginia Names Approved by the United States Board on Geographic Names through 1969 (Charlottesville, VA: University Press of Virginia, 1971), 32.
10. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
11. "National Register of Historic Places Listings". Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 8/22/11 through 8/26/11. National Park Service. 2011-09-02.
12. Goode, Kristin Ingwell (10 October 2001). "Chincoteague Ponies". TheHorse.com. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
13. "Chincoteague Ponies". Chincoteague Chamber. Retrieved 12 March 2020.
14. "A New Kind of Tourism Is Taking Shape In Chincoteague". www.chincoteague.com. Retrieved 2017-12-24.
15. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
16. Climate Summary for Chincoteague, Virginia
17. "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2020-09-04.
18. "Station Name: VA WALLOPS ISLAND FLIGHT FAC". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2020-09-04.

External links

• Media related to Chincoteague Island (Virginia) at Wikimedia Commons
• Chincoteague travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Town of Chincoteague official website

v t e Towns in Virginia

Abingdon Accomac Alberta Altavista Amherst Appalachia Appomattox Ashland Bedford Belle Haven Berryville Big Stone Gap Blacksburg Blackstone Bloxom Bluefield Boones Mill Bowling Green Boyce Boydton Boykins Branchville Bridgewater Broadway Brodnax Brookneal Buchanan Burkeville Cape Charles Capron Cedar Bluff Charlotte Court House Chase City Chatham Cheriton Chilhowie Chincoteague Christiansburg Claremont Clarksville Cleveland Clifton Clifton Forge Clinchco Clinchport Clintwood Coeburn Colonial Beach Courtland Craigsville Crewe Culpeper Damascus Dayton Dendron Dillwyn Drakes Branch Dublin Duffield Dumfries Dungannon Eastville Edinburg Elkton Exmore Farmville Fincastle Floyd Fries Front Royal Gate City Glade Spring Glasgow Glen Lyn Gordonsville Goshen Gretna Grottoes Grundy Halifax Hallwood Hamilton Haymarket Haysi Herndon Hillsboro Hillsville Honaker Hurt Independence Iron Gate Irvington Ivor Jarratt Jonesville Keller Kenbridge Keysville Kilmarnock La Crosse Lawrenceville Lebanon Leesburg Louisa Lovettsville Luray Madison Marion McKenney Melfa Middleburg Middletown Mineral Monterey Montross Mount Crawford Mount Jackson Narrows Nassawadox New Castle New Market Newsoms Nickelsville Occoquan Onancock Onley Orange Painter Pamplin City Parksley Pearisburg Pembroke Pennington Gap Phenix Pocahontas Port Royal Pound Pulaski Purcellville Quantico Remington Rich Creek Richlands Ridgeway Rocky Mount Round Hill Rural Retreat St. Paul Saltville Saxis Scottsburg Scottsville Shenandoah Smithfield South Boston South Hill Stanardsville Stanley Stephens City Stony Creek Strasburg Stuart Surry Tangier Tappahannock Tazewell The Plains Timberville Toms Brook Troutdale Troutville Urbanna Victoria Vienna Vinton Virgilina Wachapreague Wakefield Warrenton Warsaw Washington Waverly Weber City West Point White Stone Windsor Wise Woodstock Wytheville

v t e Municipalities and communities of Accomack County, Virginia, United States
County seat: Accomac
Towns	Accomac Belle Haven‡ Bloxom Chincoteague Hallwood Keller Melfa Onancock Onley Painter Parksley Saxis Tangier Wachapreague
CDPs	Atlantic Bayside Bobtown Boston Captains Cove Cats Bridge Chase Crossing Deep Creek Gargatha Greenbackville Greenbush Harborton Horntown Lee Mont Locust Mount Makemie Park Mappsburg Mappsville Metompkin Modest Town Nelsonia New Church Oak Hall Pastoria Pungoteague Quinby Sanford Savage Town Savageville Schooner Bay South Chesconessex Tasley Temperanceville Wattsville Whitesville
Unincorporated communities	Allentown Assawoman Belinda Birch Town Bullbegger Cashville Centerville Chancetown Chesconessex Clam Coocheyville Craddockville Daugherty East Point Franklin City Graysville Groton Town Grotons Guilford Hacksneck Hopeton Hopkins Horsey Jenkins Bridge Justisville Little Hell Locustville Mearsville Messongo Middlesex Miona Nandua The Oaks Pennyville Piggen Poulson Rue Shields Sign Post Sinnickson Smithville Ticktown Winterville Wishart Withams
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties
Virginia portal United States portal

• Chincoteague, Virginia
• Towns in Virginia
• Towns in Accomack County, Virginia
• Islands of Virginia
• Islands of Accomack County, Virginia
• 1908 establishments in Virginia
• Coastal islands of Virginia