Smyth County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}} {{Use American English|date=June 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}} {{Infobox U.S. county | county = Smyth County | state = Virginia | flag = Flag of Smyth County, Virginia.png | seal = Smyth Seal.jpg | founded = 1832 | named for = Alexander Smyth | seat wl = Marion | largest city wl = Marion | city type = town | area_total_sq_mi = 452 | area_land_sq_mi = 451 | area_water_sq_mi = 1.4 | area percentage = 0.3 | population_total = 29800 | population_as_of = 2020 | population_est = 28882 {{loss}} <ref name="USCensusEst2025">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2020-2025|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 17, 2026}}</ref> | pop_est_as_of = 2025 | pop_est_footnotes = | density_sq_mi = auto | web = www.smythcounty.org | ex image = SmythCoCourthouse.jpg | ex image cap = Smyth County Courthouse in Marion | ex image size = 225px| | time zone = Eastern | district = 9th }}

'''Smyth County''' is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,800.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Smyth County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51173|website=United States Census Bureau|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its county seat is Marion.<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref>

==History== Smyth County was formed on February 23, 1832, from Washington and Wythe counties. The county is named after Alexander Smyth, a general during the War of 1812 who was elected to the state Senate, House of Delegates, and as a Representative to the United States Congress.

==Geography== According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of {{convert|452|sqmi|km2}}, of which {{convert|451|sqmi|km2}} is land and {{convert|1.4|sqmi|km2}} (0.3%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/geographies/reference-files/time-series/geo/gazetteer-files.html|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=April 23, 2011|date=February 12, 2011|title=US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990}}</ref> Smyth County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,<ref name="ARC">{{cite web |title=About the Appalachian Region |url=https://www.arc.gov/about-the-appalachian-region/ |publisher=Appalachian Regional Commission |access-date=21 June 2024}}</ref> and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book ''American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America''.<ref name="NYT_CW">{{cite news |last1=Woodard |first1=Colin |title=The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/30/opinion/urban-rural-united-states-regions-midterms.html |work=New York Times |date=July 30, 2018 |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>

===Adjacent counties=== * Russell County – northwest * Tazewell County – north * Bland County – northeast * Wythe County – east * Grayson County – south * Washington County – southwest

===National protected areas=== * Jefferson National Forest (part) * Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (part)

===Major highways=== * {{Jct|state=VA|I|81}} * {{Jct|state=VA|US|11}} * {{Jct|state=VA|SR|16}} * {{Jct|state=VA|SR|42}} * {{Jct|state=VA|SR|91}} * {{Jct|state=VA|SR|107}}

==Demographics== {{US Census population |1840= 6522 |1850= 8162 |1860= 8952 |1870= 8898 |1880= 12160 |1890= 13360 |1900= 17121 |1910= 20326 |1920= 22125 |1930= 25125 |1940= 28861 |1950= 30187 |1960= 31066 |1970= 31349 |1980= 33366 |1990= 32370 |2000= 33081 |2010= 32208 |2020= 29800 | estyear = 2025 | estimate = 28882 |estref=<ref>{{Cite web |title=QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/smythcountyvirginia/PST045224 |access-date=January 1, 2026 |website=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> {{decrease}} |align-fn=center |footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/prod/www/decennial.html|title=Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000|publisher=US Census Bureau|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref> 1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/va190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref> 1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 5, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/> | align = right }}

===Racial and ethnic composition=== {| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;" |+'''Smyth County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition''' {{nobold|''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 may be of any race.''}} !Race / Ethnicity (''NH = Non-Hispanic'') !Pop 1980<ref name=1980Census>{{Cite web|title=1980 Census of Population - General Social and Economic Characteristics - Virginia - Table 15 - Persons by Race: 1980 and Table 16 - Total Persons and Spanish Origin Persons by Type of Spanish Origin and Race: 1980 |url=https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80148uns_bw.pdf|website=United States Census Bureau|page=13-24|via=WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260218082208/https://www2.census.gov/prod2/decennial/documents/1980/1980censusofpopu80148uns_bw.pdf| archive-date=February 18, 2026}}</ref> !Pop 1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=1990 Census of Population - General Population Characteristics - Virginia: Tables 3-6 - Race and Hispanic Origin |website=United States Census Bureau|url=https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-48.pdf|access-date=|page=13-51|via=WayBack Machine|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624191618/https://www2.census.gov/library/publications/decennial/1990/cp-1/cp-1-48.pdf| archive-date=June 24, 2021}}</ref> !Pop 2000<ref name=2000CensusP004>{{Cite web|title=P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Smyth County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/table?g=050XX00US51173&tid=DECENNIALSF12000.P004|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !Pop 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Smyth County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US51173&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" | Pop 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2>{{Cite web|title=P2: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) – Smyth County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=050XX00US51173&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=United States Census Bureau |access-date= }}</ref> !% 1980 !% 1990 !% 2000 !% 2010 !style="background-color: #ffffb3;" |% 2020 |- |White alone (NH) |48,751 |44,349 |31,880 |30,642 |style='background: #ffffe6; |27,762 |96.52% |96.49% |96.37% |95.14% |style='background: #ffffe6; |93.16% |- |Black or African American alone (NH) |1,283 |1,184 |607 |630 |style='background: #ffffe6; |408 |2.54% |2.58% |1.83% |1.96% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.37% |- |Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) |39 |46 |49 |41 |style='background: #ffffe6; |36 |0.08% |0.10% |0.15% |0.13% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.12% |- |Asian alone (NH) |127 |244 |61 |82 |style='background: #ffffe6; |104 |0.25% |0.53% |0.18% |0.25% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.35% |- |Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander alone (NH) |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>included in the Asian category in the 1990 Census</ref> |0 |3 |style='background: #ffffe6; |1 |x |x |0.00% |0.01% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.00% |- |Other race alone (NH) |37 |3 |14 |18 |style='background: #ffffe6; |49 |0.07% |0.01% |0.04% |0.06% |style='background: #ffffe6; |0.16% |- |Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) |x <ref>not an option in the 1980 Census</ref> |x <ref>not an option in the 1990 Census</ref> |187 |265 |style='background: #ffffe6; |882 |x |x |0.57% |0.82% |style='background: #ffffe6; |2.96% |- |Hispanic or Latino (any race) |274 |134 |283 |527 |style='background: #ffffe6; |558 |0.54% |0.29% |0.86% |1.64% |style='background: #ffffe6; |1.87% |- |'''Total''' |'''50,511''' |'''45,960''' |'''33,081''' |'''32,208''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''29,800 ''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |'''100.00%''' |style='background: #ffffe6; |'''100.00%''' |}

===2020 census=== As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 29,800. The median age was 46.0 years. 19.6% of residents were under the age of 18 and 22.5% of residents were 65 years of age or older. For every 100 females there were 95.7 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.6 males age 18 and over.<ref name="Census2020DP">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dp?get=NAME,DP1_0021P,DP1_0024P,DP1_0025C,DP1_0049C,DP1_0045C,DP1_0069C,DP1_0073C,DP1_0125P,DP1_0126P,DP1_0129P,DP1_0138P,DP1_0139P,DP1_0141P,DP1_0142P,DP1_0143P,DP1_0145P,DP1_0146P,DP1_0147C,DP1_0148C,DP1_0149C,DP1_0156C,DP1_0157C,DP1_0158C,DP1_0159P,DP1_0160P&for=county%3A173&in=state%3A51|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 24, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref><ref name="Census2020PL">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/pl?get=NAME,P1_001N,P1_003N,P1_004N,P1_005N,P1_006N,P1_007N,P1_008N,P1_009N,P2_001N,P2_002N,H1_001N,H1_002N&for=county%3A173&in=state%3A51|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2021|access-date=December 24, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% White, 1.4% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, 0.8% from some other race, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.9% of the population.<ref name="Census2020PL"/>

24.4% of residents lived in urban areas, while 75.6% lived in rural areas.<ref name="Census2020DHC">{{cite web|title=2020 Decennial Census Demographic and Housing Characteristics (DHC)|url=https://api.census.gov/data/2020/dec/dhc?get=NAME,P2_002N,P2_003N&for=county%3A173&in=state%3A51|website=United States Census Bureau|year=2023|access-date=December 24, 2025|df=mdy}}</ref>

There were 12,819 households in the county, of which 25.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 29.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 31.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

There were 15,097 housing units, of which 15.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 69.4% were owner-occupied and 30.6% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.4%.<ref name="Census2020DP"/>

===2000 Census=== As of the census<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 14, 2011|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|73|PD/sqmi|/km2}}. There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of {{convert|33|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units |units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.86% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,493 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,083, and the median income for a family was $36,392. Males had a median income of $26,698 versus $19,712 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,105. About 9.90% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over. ==Tourism== The Smyth County Tourism Association was formed in April 2006 to promote sustainable tourism development and manages the operation of the state-certified H.L. Bonham Regional Development and Tourism Center. The organization markets the area through https://visitsmythcountyva.com/

==Education==

===Public high schools=== * Chilhowie High School, Chilhowie * Marion Senior High School, Marion * Northwood High School, Saltville

===Job Corps=== * Blue Ridge Job Corps, Marion

==Communities==

===Towns=== * Chilhowie * Marion * Saltville (partly in Washington County)

===Census-designated places=== * Adwolfe * Allison Gap * Atkins * McMullin * Seven Mile Ford * Sugar Grove

===Other unincorporated communities=== * Groseclose * Rich Valley * Konnarock

==Politics== {{PresHead|place=Smyth County, Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref>}}  {{PresRow|1912|Democratic|609|1,022|587|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,321|1,134|8|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,883|1,516|15|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1924|Republican|2,232|1,907|33|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,751|1,937|0|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,843|2,287|66|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1936|Democratic|2,067|2,337|17|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,134|2,420|16|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1944|Republican|2,726|2,266|7|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,897|1,750|175|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,694|1,972|19|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,771|2,374|59|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,256|2,864|18|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,830|4,113|9|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,297|2,631|1,823|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1972|Republican|6,409|2,280|179|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1976|Democratic|5,032|5,246|363|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1980|Republican|6,033|5,335|493|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1984|Republican|8,593|4,102|116|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1988|Republican|7,446|3,989|292|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1992|Republican|6,128|4,924|1,879|Virginia}} {{PresRow|1996|Democratic|4,966|4,990|1,663|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,580|4,836|324|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,906|4,143|270|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,817|4,239|246|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,379|4,171|227|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,750|2,665|475|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,963|3,008|165|Virginia}} {{PresRow|2024|Republican|11,521|2,805|142|Virginia}} {{PresFoot}}

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{Geographic Location |Centre = Smyth County, Virginia |North = Tazewell County |Northeast = Bland County |East = Wythe County |Southeast = |South = Grayson County |Southwest = Washington County |West = |Northwest = Russell County }}

{{coord|36.84|-81.53|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

Category:Smyth County, Virginia Category:Virginia counties Category:1832 establishments in Virginia Category:Populated places in the United States established in 1832