Editing Damascus, Virginia

{{Distinguish|Damascus{{!}}Damascus, Syria}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Damascus
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = The Friendliest Town on the Trail
|motto                    = The Strength of a Town Lies in the Confidence and Cooperation of Its People
|image_skyline            = Damascusdowntown.jpg
|imagesize                = 250px
|image_caption            = [[U.S. Route 58]] in Damascus
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =
|image_map                = VAMap-doton-Damascus.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250x200px
|map_caption              = Location of Damascus, Virginia
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =
|subdivision_type         = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Washington County, Virginia|Washington]]
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = Mayor
|leader_name              = Katie Lamb
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1904
|unit_pref                = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = <ref name="CenPopGazetteer2019">{{cite web|title=2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files|url=https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=August 7, 2020|archive-date=October 16, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201016234816/https://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/2019_Gazetteer/2019_gaz_place_51.txt|url-status=live}}</ref>
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 0.83
|area_land_sq_mi          = 0.80
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
|population_as_of         = [[2010 United States Census|2010]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 814
|population_density_sq_mi = 972.40
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
|utc_offset               = -5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
|utc_offset_DST           = -4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_ft             = 1952
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|38|2|N|81|47|13|W|region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24236
|area_code                = [[Area code 276|276]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-21184<ref name="GR2">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/ |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=January 31, 2008 |title=U.S. Census website |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709054630/https://www.census.gov/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1482904<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov/|access-date=January 31, 2008|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=October 25, 2007|archive-date=February 2, 2001|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010202034200/http://geonames.usgs.gov/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.damascus.org/ Official website]
|footnotes                = 
|pop_est_as_of = 2019
|pop_est_footnotes = <ref name="USCensusEst2019CenPopScriptOnlyDirtyFixDoNotUse">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|date=May 24, 2020|title=Population and Housing Unit Estimates|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=April 20, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210420062715/https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/popest/data/tables.2019.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|population_est = 775
|area_total_km2 = 2.14
|area_land_km2 = 2.07
|area_water_km2 = 0.08
|population_density_km2 = 375.22
}}
'''Damascus''' is a small town in [[Washington County, Virginia]], United States. The population was 814 at the 2010 census. It is part of the [[Kingsport, Tennessee|Kingsport]]&ndash;[[Bristol, Tennessee|Bristol (TN)]]&ndash;[[Bristol, Virginia|Bristol (VA)]] [[Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA MSA|Metropolitan Statistical Area]], which is a component of the [[Johnson City, Tennessee|Johnson City]]&ndash;Kingsport&ndash;Bristol, [[Tennessee|TN]]-VA [[Combined Statistical Area]] (commonly known as the "[[Tri-Cities, Tennessee|Tri-Cities]]" region). The town suffered flooding and devastation as a result of [[Hurricane Helene]] in 2024.<ref name="e778">{{cite web | last=Cameron | first=Susan | title=As floodwaters recede, residents of Damascus assess their future | website=Cardinal News | date=2024-10-01 | url=https://cardinalnews.org/2024/10/01/as-floodwaters-recede-residents-of-damascus-assess-their-future/ | access-date=2024-10-04 | archive-date=October 3, 2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241003003844/https://cardinalnews.org/2024/10/01/as-floodwaters-recede-residents-of-damascus-assess-their-future/ | url-status=live }}</ref>

==Festivals==
Damascus is the home of the annual [[Trail Days]] festival and is known as Trail Town USA due to the convergence of five scenic trails in the town, including the [[Appalachian Trail]], [[U.S. Bicycle Route 76]], [[The Iron Mountain Trail]], [[Virginia Creeper Trail]].and the [[ MABDR ]] motorcycle trail. Damascus also is on the route of the [[Daniel Boone Heritage Trail]] and the [[Crooked Road Music Heritage Trail]]. The Trail Days festival is held around the middle of May each year and draws in excess of 20,000 tourists, making it the largest single gathering of Appalachian Trail Hikers anywhere.<ref>Collier, Christopher Percy (May 12, 2006), "Good Times at a Backpackers' Paradise". ''New York Times''. '''155''' (53577):D1-D5</ref> During the festival's Hikers Parade on May 18, 2013, up to 60 people were injured when a car hit a crowd of people. Some victims were transported to area hospitals by ambulance or helicopters with some critically injured.<ref name="wpost">{{cite news|last1=Well|first1=Martin|title=Dozens injured when car runs into Virginia parade|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dozens-injured-when-car-hits-virginia-parade/2013/05/18/222270c2-c007-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html|access-date=November 28, 2017|work=[[The Washington Post]]|date=May 18, 2013|archive-date=October 18, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211018113306/https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dozens-injured-when-car-hits-virginia-parade/2013/05/18/222270c2-c007-11e2-9b09-1638acc3942e_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
[[Image:Traildays06.jpg|thumb|left|250px|An Appalachian Trail Day in May]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1910= 1299
|1920= 1599
|1930= 1610
|1940= 1441
|1950= 1726
|1960= 1485
|1970= 1230
|1980= 1330
|1990= 918
|2000= 981
|2010= 814
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|footnote=source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US5131056&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US51%7C16000US5131056&_street=&_county=Damascus&_cityTown=Damascus&_state=04000US51&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null%3Anull&_keyword=&_industry=|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200212055123/http://factfinder.census.gov/servlet/SAFFPopulation?_event=Search&geo_id=16000US5131056&_geoContext=01000US%7C04000US51%7C16000US5131056&_street=&_county=Damascus&_cityTown=Damascus&_state=04000US51&_zip=&_lang=en&_sse=on&ActiveGeoDiv=geoSelect&_useEV=&pctxt=fph&pgsl=160&_submenuId=population_0&ds_name=null&_ci_nbr=null&qr_name=null&reg=null:null&_keyword=&_industry=|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 12, 2020|title=Population Finder: Damascus CDP, Virginia|publisher=[[U.S. Census Bureau]]|access-date=July 7, 2011}}</ref>
|2020n=788}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 981 people, 484 households, and 269 families living in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,157.2|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 543 housing units at an average density of {{convert|640.5|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 96.94% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.63% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.51% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 0.31% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.10% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.51% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.20% of the population.

There were 484 households, out of which 18.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.7% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.4% were non-families. 40.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.03 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 17.9% under the age of 18, 6.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 22.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $19,886, and the median income for a family was $29,250. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $18,500 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $14,995. About 13.2% of families and 20.0% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.3% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

==Climate==
The climate in this area features moderate differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Damascus has a [[marine west coast climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.<ref>[http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=612244&cityname=Damascus%2C+Virginia%2C+United+States+of+America&units= Climate Summary for Damascus, Virginia]</ref>

==History==
On January 27, 2025, [[Vice President of the United States|Vice President]] [[JD Vance]] and [[Governor of Virginia|Governor]] [[Glenn Youngkin]] visited Damascus to meet with survivors of [[Hurricane Helene]] and review the recovery progress.<ref>{{Cite tweet |user=VP |number=1884298327413645665 |title=It was a moving experience yesterday hearing the stories of Virginians who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene.}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Cain |first=Andrew |date=January 27, 2025 |title=Virginia Politics Insider: Vance on the road to Damascus |url=https://richmond.com/virginia-politics-insider-vance-on-the-road-to-damascus/article_6c3a91a2-dc48-11ef-873c-57ed2835ec14.html |access-date=March 30, 2025 |newspaper=[[Richmond Times-Dispatch]]}}</ref>

==References==

<references />

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [http://www.damascus.org/ Damascus, Virginia - Trail Town USA (Official Website)]
* [http://www.traildays.us/  Trail Days - Celebrating the Appalachian Trail]
* [http://www.vacreepertrail.us/  Virginia Creeper Trail website with an emphasis on Damascus]
* [https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/r4wh2j85p Film of Damascus, VA, by H. Lee Waters, 1940.]

{{Virginia towns}}
{{Washington County, Virginia}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Washington County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Kingsport–Bristol metropolitan area]]