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Washington County, Virginia
WashingtonCountyVACourthouse
Washington County Courthouse
Seal of Washington County, Virginia
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Washington County
Location in the state of Virginia
Map of the U.S
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1776
Named for George Washington
Seat Abingdon
Largest town Abingdon
Area
 - Total
 - Land
 - Water

566 sq mi (1,466 km²)
561 sq mi (1,453 km²)
5 sq mi (13 km²), 0.9
Population
 - (2020)
 - Density

53,935
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.washcova.com

Washington County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,935.[1] Its county seat is Abingdon.[2]

Washington County is part of the KingsportBristolBristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area, commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.

History[]

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples of varying cultures lived in the area. At the time of European encounter, the Chiska had a chief village near what is now Saltville, destroyed by the Spaniards in 1568. The Cherokee annexed the region from the Xualae around 1671, and ceded it to the Virginia Colony in 1770 at the Treaty of Lochaber.

The county was formed by Virginians in 1776 from Fincastle County. It was named for George Washington, who was then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Washington County is among the first geographical regions to be named after the president of the United States.

Washington County was raided by the Chickamauga Cherokee during the Cherokee–American wars. In July, 1776, Chief Dragging Canoe led an attack on Black's Fort (renamed Abingdon in 1778). The area remained prone to attack until after Chickamauga leader Bob Benge was finally slain by settlers in Washington County in 1794.

As with many other frontier counties, the boundaries and territory changed over the years. In 1786 the northwestern part of Washington County became Russell County. In 1814 the western part of what remained of Washington County was combined with parts of Lee and Russell counties to form Scott County. In 1832 the northeastern part of Washington was combined with part of Wythe County to form Smyth County. Finally, with the incorporation of the town of Goodson as the independent city of Bristol in 1890, Washington County assumed its present size.

WashingtonCountyVA

A farm in Washington County, Virginia

Geography[]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 561 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 5 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) is water.[3]

Districts[]

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Harrison, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Tyler, and Wilson.

Adjacent counties[]

National protected areas[]

  • Jefferson National Forest (part)
  • Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (part)

Major highways[]

  • I-81 I-81
  • US 11 US 11
  • US 19 US 19
  • US 58 US 58
  • Alt plate
    US 58 US 58 Alt.
  • US 421 US 421
  • Virginia 75 SR 75
  • Virginia 80 SR 80
  • Virginia 91 SR 91
  • [[Template:Infobox road/VA/link Sec|Template:Infobox road/VA/abbrev Sec]]
  • [[Template:Infobox road/VA/link Sec|Template:Infobox road/VA/abbrev Sec]]

Demographics[]

Historical populations
Census Pop.
1790 5,625
1800 9,536 69.5%
1810 12,156 27.5%
1820 12,444 2.4%
1830 15,614 25.5%
1840 13,001 −16.7%
1850 14,612 12.4%
1860 16,892 15.6%
1870 16,816 −0.4%
1880 25,203 49.9%
1890 29,020 15.1%
1900 28,995 −0.1%
1910 32,830 13.2%
1920 32,376 −1.4%
1930 33,850 4.6%
1940 38,197 12.8%
1950 37,536 −1.7%
1960 38,076 1.4%
1970 40,835 7.2%
1980 46,487 13.8%
1990 45,887 −1.3%
2000 51,103 11.4%
2010 54,876 7.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[4]
1790-1960[5] 1900-1990[6]
2010[7] 2020[8]

2020 census[]

Washington County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[7] Pop 2020[8] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 52,798 50,338 96.21% 93.33%
Black or African American alone (NH) 686 651 1.25% 1.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 90 91 0.16% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 202 334 0.37% 0.62%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 6 0 0.01% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 21 134 0.04% 0.25%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 349 1,496 0.64% 2.77%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 724 891 1.32% 1.65%
Total 54,876 53,935 100.00% 100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2000 Census[]

As of the census[9] of 2000, there were 51,103 people, 21,056 households, and 14,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 people per square mile (35/km2). There were 22,985 housing units at an average density of 41 per square mile (16/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.56% White, 1.32% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,056 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,742, and the median income for a family was $40,162. Males had a median income of $30,104 versus $21,307 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,350. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

Education[]

Colleges[]

  • Emory and Henry College, Emory
  • Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon
  • Virginia Intermont College, Bristol (closed 2014) ** Portion ** The main VIC campus was located in the City of Bristol, however the Equestrian Center (now part of Emory & Henry College) is located in Washington County.

Public high schools[]

  • Abingdon High School, Abingdon
  • Holston High School, Damascus
  • John S. Battle High School, Bristol
  • Patrick Henry High School, Glade Spring

Communities[]

Towns[]

ScenicWashingtonCoVa

Farmland in Washington County near Friendship and Wideners Valley

  • Abingdon
  • Damascus
  • Glade Spring
  • Saltville

Census-designated places[]

  • Emory
  • Meadowview

Other unincorporated communities[]

  • Azen
  • Goose Pimple Junction
  • Green Spring
  • Konnarock
  • Mendota
  • Plasterco
  • Taylor's Valley

Several unincorporated portions of the county have Bristol addresses.

Notable people[]

  • Red Byron, race car driver
  • Barbara Kingsolver, writer and novelist
  • Joseph Meek, American frontiersman

Politics[]

United States presidential election results for Washington County, Virginia[10]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 21,679 75.58% 6,617 23.07% 389 1.36%
2016 19,320 74.75% 5,553 21.48% 973 3.76%
2012 18,141 70.77% 7,076 27.61% 415 1.62%
2008 16,077 65.62% 8,063 32.91% 360 1.47%
2004 14,749 65.51% 7,339 32.60% 426 1.89%
2000 12,064 59.66% 7,549 37.33% 609 3.01%
1996 9,098 50.07% 6,939 38.19% 2,132 11.73%
1992 9,150 48.17% 7,269 38.27% 2,576 13.56%
1988 10,722 63.45% 5,819 34.43% 358 2.12%
1984 12,132 68.06% 5,573 31.26% 121 0.68%
1980 8,402 53.87% 6,390 40.97% 805 5.16%
1976 6,865 48.98% 6,547 46.71% 603 4.30%
1972 8,805 72.70% 3,028 25.00% 278 2.30%
1968 6,665 51.16% 3,243 24.89% 3,121 23.95%
1964 4,146 44.94% 5,070 54.95% 10 0.11%
1960 4,473 53.59% 3,833 45.92% 41 0.49%
1956 4,651 56.38% 3,547 42.99% 52 0.63%
1952 3,810 57.74% 2,778 42.10% 11 0.17%
1948 2,972 52.20% 2,510 44.09% 211 3.71%
1944 2,792 49.29% 2,849 50.30% 23 0.41%
1940 2,697 45.13% 3,245 54.30% 34 0.57%
1936 2,047 43.98% 2,595 55.76% 12 0.26%
1932 1,774 38.34% 2,784 60.17% 69 1.49%
1928 3,449 56.40% 2,666 43.60% 0 0.00%
1924 2,848 47.30% 3,083 51.20% 90 1.49%
1920 2,672 54.14% 2,251 45.61% 12 0.24%
1916 1,717 47.84% 1,863 51.91% 9 0.25%
1912 590 17.80% 1,721 51.92% 1,004 30.29%
1908 1,741 52.42% 1,558 46.91% 22 0.66%
1904 1,872 57.97% 1,344 41.62% 13 0.40%
1900 2,498 52.05% 2,291 47.74% 10 0.21%
1896 2,669 52.55% 2,374 46.74% 36 0.71%
1892 1,774 37.24% 2,783 58.42% 207 4.35%
1888 2,548 46.09% 2,920 52.82% 60 1.09%
1884 1,951 42.62% 2,627 57.38% 0 0.00%
1880 573 20.40% 2,232 79.46% 4 0.14%



See also[]

  • National Register of Historic Places listings in Washington County, Virginia

References[]

External links[]

Coordinates: 36°43′N 81°58′W / 36.72, -81.96


This page uses content from the English language Wikipedia. The original content was at Washington County, Virginia. The list of authors can be seen in the page history. As with this Familypedia wiki, the content of Wikipedia is available under the Creative Commons License.
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