Editing Norton, Virginia

{{short description|Independent city in Virginia, United States}}
{{use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
 | official_name            = Norton, Virginia
 | settlement_type          = [[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]]
 | nickname                 = 
 | motto                    = 
 | image_skyline            = Norton, Virginia.jpg
 | imagesize                = 
 | image_caption            = A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock
 | image_seal               = nortonseal.gif
 | image_map                = Norton-Location.svg
 | mapsize                  = 250x200px
 | map_caption              = Location in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]]
 | image_map1               = 
 | mapsize1                 = 
 | map_caption1             = 
 | subdivision_type         = Country
 | subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
 | subdivision_type2        = [[County]]
 | subdivision_name         = United States
 | subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
 | subdivision_name2        = None ([[Independent city (United States)|Independent city]])
 | government_type          = 
 | leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
 | leader_name              = Joseph Fawbush <ref>{{cite web |title=City Council |url=http://www.nortonva.org/86/City-Council |publisher=City of Norton |access-date=9 November 2020}}</ref>
 | established_title        = Founded
 | established_date         = 1894
| named_for                 = Eckstein Norton<ref name="norhistory">{{cite web |title=Norton History {{!}} Norton, VA |url=http://www.nortonva.org/446/City-History |publisher=City of Norton |access-date=18 November 2020}}</ref>
 | area_total_sq_mi         = 7.51
 | area_land_sq_mi          = 7.48
 | area_water_sq_mi         = 0.03
 | population_as_of         = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
 | population_total         = 3687
 | population_metro         = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
 | utc_offset               = &minus;5
 | timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
 | utc_offset_DST           = &minus;4
 | coordinates              = {{coord|36|56|12|N|82|37|30|W|region:US-VA|display=inline,title}}
 | elevation_m              = 650
 | elevation_ft             = 2133
 | postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
 | postal_code              = 24273
 | area_code                = [[Area code 276|276]]
 | blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
 | blank_info               = 51-57688<ref name="GR2">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2008-01-31|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref>
 | blank1_name              = [[Geographic Names Information System|GNIS]] feature ID
 | blank1_info              = 1485924<ref name="GR3">{{cite web|url=http://geonames.usgs.gov|access-date=2008-01-31|title=US Board on Geographic Names|publisher=[[United States Geological Survey]]|date=2007-10-25}}</ref>
 | footnotes                = 
 | website                  = http://www.nortonva.org/
 | pop_est_as_of            = 
 | pop_est_footnotes        = 
 | population_est           = 
 | 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}}</ref>
 | area_total_km2           = 19.46
 | area_land_km2            = 19.37
 | area_water_km2           = 0.09
 | population_density_km2   = auto
 | name                     = 
}}

'''Norton''' is an [[independent city (United States)|independent city]] in the [[Commonwealth (U.S. state)|Commonwealth]] of [[Virginia]], located in the far western tip of the state in [[Wise County, Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 3,687,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Norton city, Norton city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0600000US5172094931|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> making it the least populous city in Virginia. The [[Bureau of Economic Analysis]] combines the city of Norton with surrounding [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]] for statistical purposes.

==History==
The settlement was originally known as "Prince's Flats," but in a bid to convince the [[Louisville and Nashville Railroad]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Evolution of Norton|url=http://www.nortonva.gov/index.aspx?NID=446|website=City of Norton|access-date=5 May 2017}}</ref> to build a depot there, the town was renamed after the then-current head of the railroad, Eckstein Norton. Norton was located on the Wilderness Trail, which had been blazed by [[Daniel Boone]], and later extensively mapped and settled by Christopher Gist. The settlement developed as a central hub for the timber trade until the coal boom of the 1830-40s.<ref>{{cite book|last=Te nnis|first=Joe|title=Southwest Virginia Crossroads: An Almanac of Place Names and Places to See|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=noiiZPTGk9IC&pg=PA19|year=2004|publisher=The Overmountain Press|isbn=978-1-57072-256-1|page=19}}</ref>

The [[Hotel Norton]] is listed on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>

==Geography==
Norton is located along the [[Powell River (Virginia)|Powell]] and [[Guest River|Guest]] Rivers. The entire area of Norton lies within the confines of [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]] but is not a part of the county.

According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the city has a total area of {{convert|7.5|sqmi|km2}}, virtually all of which is land.

===Major highways===
*{{Jct|state=VA|US|23}}
*{{Jct|state=VA|US-Alt|58}}

== Demographics ==
{{US Census population
|1900= 654
|1910= 1866
|1920= 3068
|1930= 3077
|1940= 4006
|1950= 4315
|1960= 4996
|1970= 4001
|1980= 4757
|1990= 4247
|2000= 3904
|2010= 3958
|2020= 3687
|estyear=
|estimate=
|estref=
|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|publisher=[[US Census Bureau]]|access-date=January 24, 2022}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 6, 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 6, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100327165705/http://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=2010-03-27 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 6, 2014}}</ref> 2010<ref name=2010CensusP2/> 2020<ref name=2020CensusP2/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Norton city, Virginia - Demographic Profile'''<br> (''NH = Non-Hispanic'')
!Race / Ethnicity
!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) - Norton city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5157688&tid=DECENNIALPL2010.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!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) - Norton city, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=1600000US5157688&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|3,478
|3,223
|87.87%
|87.42%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|250
|179
|6.32%
|4.85%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|5
|4
|0.13%
|0.11%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|56
|27
|1.41%
|0.73%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|0
|0
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|6
|14
|0.15%
|0.38%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|95
|159
|2.40%
|4.31%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|68
|81
|1.72%
|2.20%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''3,958'''
|'''3,687'''
|'''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]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]|access-date=2011-05-14|title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 3,904 people, 1,730 households, and 1,067 families residing in the city. The [[population density]] was {{convert|518.5|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of {{convert|258.4|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the city was 91.57% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 6.15% [[Black (U.S. Census)|Black]], 0.08% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.00% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.13% [[Pacific Islander (U.S. Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.18% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.90% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 1,730 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,788, and the median income for a family was $30,889. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,229 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the city was $16,024. About 19.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

==Government==
{{PresHead|place=Norton, Virginia|source=<ref>{{cite web|author=David Leip |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |publisher=Uselectionatlas.org |access-date=2020-12-10}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|1,174|458|12|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|1,109|464|28|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|1,021|383|56|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|895|566|31|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|744|743|25|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|768|725|11|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|639|867|24|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|416|802|164|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|472|871|205|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|608|795|20|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|806|842|20|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|572|762|66|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|577|811|42|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|823|463|27|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|495|555|217|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|372|824|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|549|526|1|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1956|Republican|684|552|5|Virginia}}
The city of Norton is located in the [[Virginia's 9th congressional district|9th congressional district]], currently served by [[Morgan Griffith]].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Washington|first1=U. S. Capitol Room H154|last2=p:225-7000|first2=DC 20515-6601|title=H. Morgan Griffith (Virginia (VA)), 117th Congress Profile|url=https://clerk.house.gov/members/G000568|access-date=2021-03-02|website=Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives|language=en}}</ref> For [[Virginia General Assembly|state government]], Norton lies in the [[Virginia's 1st House of Delegates district|1st House district]] ([[Terry Kilgore]]) and the [[Virginia's 38th Senate district|38th Senate district]] ([[Travis Hackworth]], previously [[Ben Chafin]], who died from [[COVID-19]] complications<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-01-02|title=Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications|url=https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/virginia-state-sen-ben-chafin-dies-from-covid-19-complications/|access-date=2021-03-02|website=WJHL {{!}} Tri-Cities News & Weather|language=en-US}}</ref>).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings|url=https://virginiageneralassembly.gov/house/members/members.php?id=H0056|access-date=2021-03-02|website=virginiageneralassembly.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Senate of Virginia|url=https://apps.senate.virginia.gov/Senator/index.php|access-date=2021-03-02|website=apps.senate.virginia.gov}}</ref>

Since 2004, Norton has reliably voted for the Republican candidate for president. Although [[John McCain]] beat [[Barack Obama]] in Norton by just a single vote in 2008, the Republican margins increased thereafter, reaching forty percent margins beginning in 2016.

In 2021, Norton voted for [[Glenn Youngkin]] over [[Terry McAuliffe]] at a greater than forty-five percent margin.

==Education==
[[Norton City Schools (Virginia)|Norton City Schools]] is the school division of the city, operating [[John I. Burton High School]] and Norton Elementary and Middle School.

== Notable people ==
* [[Dock Boggs]] – musician and songwriter
* [[James L. Camblos]] (1888–1970) – mayor of Norton, state delegate<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-post-camblos-16-jul-1970-the-post/157036105/ |title=Camblos |date=1970-07-16 |newspaper=The Post |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |access-date=2024-10-13}}{{Open access}}</ref>
* [[Vernon Crawford "Jack" Cooke]] – [[Bluegrass music|bluegrass]] musician
* [[Jacob Cress]] – furniture maker<ref>{{cite web|url=http://americanart.si.edu/collections/search/artist/?id=27902 |title=Jacob Cress / American Art |publisher=Americanart.si.edu |date= |accessdate=2015-06-01}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*[http://www.nortonva.org/ City of Norton]

{{Virginia}}
{{Virginia county seats and independent cities}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Norton, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Cities in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1894]]
[[Category:Southwest Virginia]]
[[Category:1894 establishments in Virginia]]