Bridgewater, Virginia
Bridgewater is an incorporated town in Rockingham County, Virginia, United States. The population was 6,596 at the 2020 census. It is included in the Harrisonburg, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. History William Magill first settled along the North River in 1746, and the area became known as Magill's Ford. The first bridge across the North River was built in 1820, and for a time the young community was known as Bridgeport. The Town received its charter from the Virginia General Assembly on February 7, 1835, then incorporated as Bridgewater. Every February 7, the Town holds an annual Charter Day celebration to commemorate the granting of the charter. Bridgewater College is located within the Town, and was first established in 1880. The college has grown along with the Town, now enrolling more than 1,800 students. Since the creation of the Town in 1835, Bridgewater has endured six major floods, including a devastating flood in 1949 that claimed two lives. As a result, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a long earthen levee to protect large portions of the Town against future flooding. Since the mid-1990s, the Town has held a "Summer's End Celebration" on Labor Day each year. The event has grown to include a 5k race, carnival rides, and live music, and is attended by thousands of people. Geography According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , nearly all of it being land. Most of the town is located within a bend of the North River. Floods have wrecked the town occasionally. The northern areas are partly shielded from flooding with an Army Corps of Engineers dam. The wooded monadnock called Round Hill (elevation approx. 1750 feet) dominates the town's western skyline. Transportation The main highways providing access to Bridgewater are Virginia State Route 42 and Virginia State Route 257. These two highways overlap from Bridgewater northwards to Dayton. SR 42 runs north-south and connects with U.S. Route 33 in Harrisonburg. SR 257 runs east-west and connects with Interstate 81 near Mount Crawford. Demographics As of the 2020 census, 6,596 people, 2,137 households in the town. The population density was 2,618.5 people per square mile (941.7/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 89.0% White, 5.2% African American, with no other races exceeding one percent. For comparison, the 2010 census reflected a population 92.2% White and 2.4% African American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 4.1% of the population in 2020, down from 4.9% in 2010. According to the 2011-2015 American Community Survey 5-year estimates, the median income for a household in the town was $55,205, and for a family was $62,483. Males had a median income of $45,533 versus $36,919 for females. The per capita income for the town was $24,854. About 4.7% of families and 5.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 6.7% of those under age 18 and 3.8% of those age 65 or over. Community policing and safety Chief Phillip Read leads a ten-officer police