Editing Gate City, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Gate City
| settlement_type         = [[Town]]
|nickname                 = 
|motto                    =

<!-- Images -->
|image_skyline            = GateCity1-MarkLindamood.jpg
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Gate City in 2007
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               =

<!-- Maps -->
|image_map                = VAMap-doton-GateCity.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location of Gate City, Virginia
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             =

<!-- Location -->
| subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott]]

<!-- Government -->
|government_footnotes     = 
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = 
|leader_name              = 
|leader_title1            = 
|leader_name1             = 
|established_title        = 
|established_date         =

<!-- Area -->
|unit_pref  = Imperial
|area_footnotes           = 
|area_magnitude           = 
|area_total_sq_mi         = 4.02
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.98
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.04

<!-- Population -->
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_footnotes     = 
|population_total         = 2043
|population_density_sq_mi = 469.48

<!-- General information -->
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Time Zone|Eastern (EST)]]
| utc_offset = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = EDT
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;4
|elevation_footnotes      = 
|elevation_ft             = 1339
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|38|18|N|82|34|50|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24251
|area_code                = [[Area code 276|276]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-30496<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 }}</ref>
|blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
|blank1_info              = 1498481<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}}</ref>
|website                  = [http://www.mygatecity.com/ Official website]
|footnotes                = 
|area_total_km2 = 10.41
|area_land_km2 = 10.31
|area_water_km2 = 0.10
|population_density_km2 = 181.28
}}
'''Gate City''' is a town in [[Scott County, Virginia]], United States. The population was 2,043 at the 2020 census. It is the [[county seat]] of Scott County.<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 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref>

Gate City is part of the [[Kingsport–Bristol–Johnson City metropolitan area]], which is a component of the "[[Tri-Cities, Tennessee|Tri-Cities]]" region.

Some scenes from ''[[The River (1984 film)|The River]]'' were shot here.

==History==
In 1771, Silas Engart received a land grant of 200 acres that included the location of the future town. By the time of Scott County's formation in 1815, landowner James Davidson, Sr. donated approximately 13 acres of his plantation for establishing the county seat. The location of the town was such that it would emerge as an important commercial center for people and goods traveling through [[Moccasin Gap|Big Moccasin Gap]] and the North Fork of the [[Holston River]].{{sfn|Malvasi|2010}}

When the county seat was established in 1815, it was named Winfield in honor of [[War of 1812]] hero Gen. [[Winfield Scott]]. The main street of the new town honored war hero and future president [[Andrew Jackson]]. {{sfn|Malvasi|2010}}

In 1817, the town was renamed Estillville in honor of Benjamin Estill, a local judge instrumental in the formation of the new county. As a result of the county seat's location near Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River, the town grew into a commercial center for people passing through on their way westward, for farmers hoping to sell goods, and businessmen in town for legal affairs. A regular wagon train and coach line service conveying people, mail, and commercial goods between Bedford and Estilville.{{sfn|Malvasi|2010}}

Gate City received its present name in 1886, when Attorney General [[Rufus A. Ayers]] pointed out that proximity to Big Moccasin Gap marked the town as the "Gate Way to the West." The town was incorporated in 1892.{{sfn|Malvasi|2010}}

By the beginning of the twentieth century, Gate City was one of several "boom towns" located in southwestern Virginia. Although the streets were little more than dirt byways in the town, the area was a vibrant commercial and transportation center. Up to six daily passenger trains passed through Gate City. The town also had a railroad log yard where logs from all over the county were stored and then loaded to be later transported by train. Iron ore from the Snowflake and Nickelsville areas as well as glass sand from the south of [[Clinch Mountain]] were manufactured and shipped from Gate City. In addition, the town had a thriving manufacturing center in the area of Water Street where wood pumps, staves, sleds, and harnesses were built. By 1915, the town supported two livery stables on Willow Street and a blacksmith shop on Jackson Street, as well as a dentist's office, an ice plant, a casket shop, and a furniture manufacturing business. By the 1930s, Gate City had three movie theaters, banks, and a hotel. The town also had two businesses that dealt with auto sales and repairs.{{sfn|Malvasi|2010}}

By the 1950s and 1960s, the town's momentum was slowing. As industry in [[Kingsport, Tennessee]] (six miles to the south) attracted Gate City residents, several local businesses and small manufacturing companies shut down. By 2010, many former commercial buildings stood vacant,{{sfn|Malvasi|2010}} but the [[Gate City Historic District]] was newly listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nps">{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20100917.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Listings|date=September 17, 2010|work=Weekly List of Actions Taken on Properties: 9/07/10 through 9/10/10|publisher=National Park Service|access-date=February 13, 2014|archive-date=September 8, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140908053354/http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/listings/20100917.htm|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Pilot Flying J]], the largest network of service station/travel centers in North America, operating in 44 states and six Canadian provinces, and headquartered in [[Knoxville, Tennessee]], was started in Gate City in 1958.

==Geography==
Gate City is located at {{coord|36|38|18|N|82|34|50|W|type:city}} (36.638325, &minus;82.580659).<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>

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of {{convert|2.1|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|2.0|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|0.04|sqmi}}, or 0.97%, is water. The town has expanded its boundaries since the 2000 census via a boundary adjustment agreement with the county.

Bordered by a mountain, Gate City is a small city relative to its neighbors and located on U.S. Routes [[U.S. Route 23 in Virginia|23]] and [[U.S. Route 421|421]] near the [[Tennessee]] state line. The [[Virginia Department of Transportation]] (VDOT) plans for a large portion of the mountain at Moccasin Gap to be shorn away.<ref name="VDOT Moccasin Gap Bypass">{{cite web|title=VDOT Moccasin Gap Bypass|url=http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/bristol/moccasin_gap_bypass_-_phases_ii_and_iii.asp|access-date=March 16, 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301194512/http://www.virginiadot.org/projects/bristol/moccasin_gap_bypass_-_phases_ii_and_iii.asp|archive-date=March 1, 2012}}</ref>

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1900= 521
|1910= 599
|1920= 684
|1930= 1216
|1940= 1565
|1950= 2126
|1960= 2142
|1970= 1914
|1980= 2494
|1990= 2214
|2000= 2159
|2010= 2034
|2020= 2043
|
|estref=<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}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref name="DecennialCensus">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=Census of Population and Housing|publisher=Census.gov|access-date=June 4, 2015}}</ref>
}}
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 2,159 people, 984 households, and 604 families residing in the town. The population density was {{convert|1,058.8|PD/sqmi|PD/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. There were 1,119 housing units at an average density of {{convert|548.8|/sqmi|/km2|sp=us|adj=off}}. The racial makeup of the town was 95.69% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 3.80% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.09% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], and 0.42% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.42% of the population.

There were 984 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.9% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 36.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.16 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the town, 20.0% of the population was under the age of 18, 7.3% was from 18 to 24, 25.7% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 22.2% was 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $31,875, and the median income for a family was $48,068. Males had a median income of $35,875 versus $22,292 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $19,268. About 4.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.9% of those under age 18 and 22.9% of those age 65 or over.

==Notable people==
* [[Fayette McMullen]], second appointed Governor of [[Washington Territory]]<ref>{{cite web|url= http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=M000578|title=McMULLEN, Fayette, (1805 - 1880)|publisher= Biographical Directory of the United States Congress|access-date= October 9, 2012}}</ref>
* [[Mac McClung]], basketball player for the Orlando Magic.

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:GateCity2-MarkLindamood.jpg
Image:GateCity3-MarkLindamood.jpg
</gallery>

==Footnotes==
{{Reflist}}

== References ==

* {{cite web|url= http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Scott/221_5010_Gate_City_HD_2010_FINAL_Nomination.pdf|title= National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Gate City Historic District|first= Meg Greene|last= Malvasi|date= March 2010|publisher= Virginia Department of Historic Resources|access-date= February 25, 2017|archive-date= December 24, 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20161224212310/http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Scott/221_5010_Gate_City_HD_2010_FINAL_Nomination.pdf|url-status= bot: unknown}}

;Attribution
* {{USGovernment |url=https://npgallery.nps.gov/pdfhost/docs/NRHP/Text/10000735.pdf|title=Gate City Historic District|work=National Register of Historic Places|date=March 2010|first=Meg|last=Greene Malvasi|agency=National Park Service}}
* Also a Virginia state government document: {{cite web|url= http://www.dhr.virginia.gov/registers/Counties/Scott/221_5010_Gate_City_HD_2010_FINAL_Nomination.pdf|title=National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Gate City Historic District|author=Meg Greene Malvasi|date= March 2010|publisher=Virginia Department of Historic Resources}}

==External links==
* [https://www.mygatecity.com/ Official website]

{{Scott County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia towns}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

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