Stuarts Draft, Virginia


Stuarts Draft is a census-designated place in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,235 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Staunton-Waynesboro Micropolitan Statistical Area. It has been called the "Warehouse capital of the U.S." because of the seven warehouse/factories including Hollister medical supplies, Target stores distribution, Hershey Chocolate of Virginia, McKee Foods, , , and Rexnord.
It also has a summer baseball league team; the "Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks" play in the Rockingham County Baseball League and are four-time RCBL champions.
The Bare House and Mill and the Harper House are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

History

In 1749, Thomas Stuart purchased near the South River, a tributary of the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. 'Draft' probably refers to the document drafting the land sale or is a reference to the river itself. ‘Draft’ may also refer to a river crossing on Stuart’s parcel of land, another common local use of the term. The plain on the south side of the river tends to channel the wind, thus forming a rather constant draft.

Geography

Stuarts Draft is located at .
According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 19.8 square miles, of which, 19.8 square miles of it is land and 0.05% is water.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 8,367 people, 3,124 households, and 2,436 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 422.0 people per square mile. There were 3,279 housing units at an average density of 165.4/sq mi. The racial makeup of the CDP was 95.27% White, 3.44% African American, 0.26% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.29% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.06% of the population.
There were 3,124 households out of which 38.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.9% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 22.0% were non-families. 18.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 6.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.66 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the CDP, the population was spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 31.4% from 25 to 44, 23.0% from 45 to 64, and 10.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the CDP was $45,342, and the median income for a family was $52,308. Males had a median income of $32,917 versus $26,414 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $18,463. About 2.2% of families and 3.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 2.7% of those under age 18 and 4.2% of those age 65 or over.

Economy

The Target Distribution Center has a footprint of and was listed as the eighth largest tilt-up building in the United States in 2015. Stuarts Draft is also home to several other factories. There is a Hershey's Chocolate factory, Hollister Incorporated: Making a Difference in Quality medical products for Ostomy, Continence, Wound, and Critical Care. A McKee Foods factory, and many other smaller factories. In 2007, manufacturers' shipments equaled of the statewide .

Parks and recreation

Kate Schneider Park is operated by the Ruritans and provides three lit baseball fields, one unlit baseball field, a pavilion, and a large horseshoes court. Friendship Park provides a single lit baseball field. A baseball field behind the Old Schoolhouse Restaurant has been redeveloped, and is currently used for the Stuarts Draft Diamondbacks, a county league team, and for younger American Legion baseball teams. This field was the sports field for the elementary school system until the 1980s.
Stuarts Draft Park is a county park administered that opened in 2005. It has a 25 m swimming pool, a pavilion and two unlit baseball fields that are now used often. There are three multipurpose fields; the main field is used for the annual Sweet Dreams festival. The multipurpose fields are divided up and used as several soccer fields. The park also includes horseshoe pits. The park adjoins Guy K. Stump Elementary School— the school has a large playground accessible to the community.
Shenandoah Acres was a popular resort that was operated and owned by the Blacka family from 1935 to 2004. Billed as "America's Finest Inland Beach" it featured 250 camp sites, cabins, horseback riding, and a sand-bottom swimming lake. Shenandoah Acres reopened in 2015 and continues the tradition started by the Blacka family.

Education

Stuarts Draft has four Augusta County Schools: Stuarts Draft Elementary School, Stuarts Draft Middle School, Stuarts Draft High School, and Guy K. Stump Elementary School.

Notable people