Editing Russell County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Russell County
 | state                = Virginia 
 | seal                 = 
 | founded              = January 2, 1786
 | named for            = [[William Russell (Virginia)|William Russell]] 
 | seat wl              = Lebanon 
 | largest city wl      = Lebanon
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 477 
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 474 
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.9 
 | area percentage      = 0.6 
 | population_total     = 25781 
 | population_as_of     = 2020 
 | population_est       = 
 | pop_est_as_of        = 
 | pop_est_footnotes    = 
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto 
 | web                  = http://www.russellcountyva.us/
 | ex image             = Russell County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Russell County Courthouse in Lebanon
 | ex image size        = 225px
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 9th
}}

'''Russell County''' ({{IPAc-en|r|ʌ|s|.|s|ə|l}}) is a [[county (United States)|county]] located in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 25,781.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Russell County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51167|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Lebanon, Virginia|Lebanon]].<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==
{{More citations needed section|date=October 2022}}
On January 2, 1786, Russell County was established from a section of [[Washington County, Virginia|Washington County]]. L.P. Summers, a Washington County historian later wrote, "Washington County lost a great extent of country and many valuable citizens when Russell County was formed."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Summers |first1=Lewis Preston |title=History of southwest Virginia, 1746-1786, Washington County, 1777-1870 |date=1903 |publisher=J. L. Hill printing company |location=Richmond, Va |access-date=March 17, 2024|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofsouthwe00lewi/page/n1/mode/2up}}</ref> The county was named for [[Culpeper County, Virginia|Culpeper County]] native Colonel [[William Russell (Virginia)|William Russell]].<ref>{{cite book |title=William Russell and His Descendants |last=Des Cognets |first=Anna Russell |url=https://archive.org/details/williamrussella00cogngoog|page=[https://archive.org/details/williamrussella00cogngoog/page/n61 43] |quote=col. william russell virginia. | publisher=Samuel F. Wilson |place=Lexington, Kentucky |year=1884 |access-date=April 18, 2011 }}</ref>

The first court met in May 1786 in the Castle's Woods settlement (present-day [[Castlewood, Virginia|Castlewood]]) in the house of William Robinson. Later, a new place was built to house the County Seat. The structure used as a courthouse still stands, and is referred to as "[[Old Russell County Courthouse|The Old Courthouse]]." The present Courthouse, located in Lebanon, has been in use since 1874. Once vast, Russell County was split several times, giving rise to [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County]], [[Lee County, Virginia|Lee County]], [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott County]], [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]], [[Buchanan County, Virginia|Buchanan County]] and [[Dickenson County, Virginia|Dickenson County]].

Among Russell County's most famous politicians were [[Daniel Boone]], Governor [[Henry Carter Stuart|H.C. Stuart]], State Representative [[Boyd C. Fugate]] and State Senator Macon M. Long. The largest cattle farm East of the Mississippi River, and one of the oldest corporations in the country, Stuart Land & Cattle, remains headquartered at [[Rosedale, Virginia|Rosedale]] in Russell County.

Much of the county's history has been documented by Clinch Valley Times, the Tazewell Republican, the Abingdon Virginian, and the Lebanon News.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Russell County, Virginia History|url=http://russellcountyhistory.org/index.html|access-date=April 5, 2021|website=russellcountyhistory.org}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|477|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|474|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.9|sqmi}} (0.6%) 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> Russell 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|American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America]]''.<ref name="NYT_CW">{{cite web |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 |access-date=30 July 2018}}</ref>

The county has the fourth highest peak in Virginia, [[Beartown Mountain]].

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Dickenson County, Virginia|Dickenson County]] – northwest
* [[Buchanan County, Virginia|Buchanan County]] – north
* [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County]] – east
* [[Smyth County, Virginia|Smyth County]] – southeast
* [[Washington County, Virginia|Washington County]] – south
* [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott County]] – southwest
* [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]] – west

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|19}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US-Alt|58}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|63}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|65}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|67}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|71}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|80}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|82}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1790= 3338
|1800= 4808
|1810= 6319
|1820= 5536
|1830= 6714
|1840= 7878
|1850= 11919
|1860= 10280
|1870= 11103
|1880= 13906
|1890= 16126
|1900= 18031
|1910= 23474
|1920= 26786
|1930= 25957
|1940= 26627
|1950= 26818
|1960= 26290
|1970= 24533
|1980= 31761
|1990= 28667
|2000= 30308
|2010= 28897
|2020= 25781
|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 1790-2000|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 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><br />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/>
}}

===2020 census===
{| class="wikitable"
|+'''Russell County, 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) - Russell County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51167&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) - Russell County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51167&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|28,142
|24,754
|97.39%
|96.02%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|227
|222
|0.79%
|0.86%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|40
|17
|0.14%
|0.07%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|53
|42
|0.18%
|0.16%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|1
|1
|0.00%
|0.00%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|9
|25
|0.03%
|0.10%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|150
|552
|0.52%
|2.14%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|275
|168
|0.95%
|0.65%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''28,897'''
|'''25,781'''
|'''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.''

===2010 Census===
The 2010 census showed a population decline, with only 28,897 residing in Russell County.

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 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|64|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 96.07% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 3.08% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.11% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.05% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.28% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,789 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,834, and the median income for a family was $31,491. Males had a median income of $26,950 versus $20,108 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $14,863. About 13.00% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

== Education ==

=== Public high schools ===
* [[Castlewood High School]], [[Castlewood, Virginia|Castlewood]]
* [[Honaker High School]], [[Honaker, Virginia|Honaker]]
* [[Lebanon High School (Virginia)|Lebanon High School]], [[Lebanon, Virginia|Lebanon]]

==Fire and rescue services==
* Castlewood Fire and Rescue
* Lebanon Lifesaving Crew
* New Garden Rescue
* Lebanon Fire
* Honaker Fire
* Dante Rescue
* Dante Fire
* Copper Creek Fire
* Belfast Fire
* Saint Paul Fire
* Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department
* Cleveland Lifesaving Crew

==Communities==
===Towns===
* [[Cleveland, Virginia|Cleveland]]
* [[Honaker, Virginia|Honaker]]
* [[Lebanon, Virginia|Lebanon]]
* [[St. Paul, Virginia|St. Paul]] (partially in [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]])

===Census-designated places===
* [[Castlewood, Virginia|Castlewood]]
* [[Dante, Virginia|Dante]] (partially in [[Dickenson County, Virginia|Dickenson County]])
* [[Raven, Virginia|Raven]] (mostly in [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County]])

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [https://virginia.hometownlocator.com/va/russell/belfast.cfm '''Belfast''']
* [[Carbo, Virginia|Carbo]]
* [[Copper Creek, Virginia|Copper Creek]]
* [[Dickensonville, Virginia|Dickensonville]]
* [[Drill, Virginia|Drill]]
* [[Hamlin, Virginia|Hamlin]]
* [[Rosedale, Virginia|Rosedale]]
* [[Sun, Virginia|Sun]]
* [[Swords Creek, Virginia|Swords Creek]]
* [[Willis, Russell County, Virginia|Willis]]
* [[Hansonville, Russell County, Virginia|Hansonville]]

==Politics==
{{PresHead|place=Russell County, Virginia|whig=no|source1=<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|first=David|last=Leip|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=December 9, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP/Whig vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|11,303|2,172|72|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|10,879|2,373|134|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,521|2,330|395|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,180|3,718|190|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|6,389|4,932|173|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|6,077|5,167|179|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Democratic|5,065|5,442|285|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|3,706|5,437|985|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|3,891|6,480|1,113|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|4,374|6,222|157|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Democratic|5,738|6,760|101|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|4,778|5,764|332|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|4,287|6,014|366|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|5,010|3,367|125|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,858|3,554|1,460|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|3,012|4,330|25|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|3,044|3,496|14|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Democratic|3,550|3,641|33|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|2,937|3,253|16|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|2,447|2,689|107|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|2,385|2,945|20|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|2,080|3,109|11|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|1,599|3,143|18|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,386|3,274|11|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Democratic|2,006|2,511|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|1,848|2,554|76|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|1,772|1,704|5|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|1,410|1,570|11|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|588|1,298|633|Virginia}}

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Russell County, Virginia]]
* [https://www.genealogytrails.com/vir/russell/ Russell County History]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.russellcountyva.us/ Russell County, Virginia's Official Website]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Russell County, Virginia
|North     = [[Buchanan County, Virginia|Buchanan County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell County]]
|Southeast = [[Smyth County, Virginia|Smyth County]]
|South     = [[Washington County, Virginia|Washington County]]
|Southwest = [[Scott County, Virginia|Scott County]]
|West      = [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise County]]
|Northwest = [[Dickenson County, Virginia|Dickenson County]]
}}

{{Russell County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}

{{coord|36.94|-82.10|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Russell County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1786 establishments in Virginia]]