Editing Wise, Virginia

{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox settlement
|official_name            = Wise
|settlement_type          = [[Town]]
|motto                    = 
|image_skyline            = Wise County Courthouse - Front View.JPG
|imagesize                = 
|image_caption            = Wise County Courthouse
|image_flag               = 
|image_seal               = Townofwiselogo.jpg
|image_blank_emblem       = Logo of Wise, Virginia.png
|blank_emblem_type        = Logo
|image_map                = VAMap-doton-Wise.PNG
|mapsize                  = 250px
|map_caption              = Location in the Commonwealth of [[Virginia]]
|image_map1               = 
|mapsize1                 = 
|map_caption1             = 
| subdivision_type = Country
|subdivision_type1        = [[U.S. state|State]]
|subdivision_type2        = [[List of counties in Virginia|County]]
|subdivision_name         = United States
|subdivision_name1        = [[Virginia]]
|subdivision_name2        = [[Wise County, Virginia|Wise]]
|government_type          = 
|leader_title             = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name              = Teresa Adkins
|established_title        = Founded
|established_date         = 1874
|established_title2       = [[Municipal corporation|Incorporated]]
|established_date2        = 1924
|area_total_sq_mi         = 3.04
|area_land_sq_mi          = 3.03
|area_water_sq_mi         = 0.01
|population_as_of         = [[2020 United States Census|2020]]
|population_total         = 2,970
|population_metro         = 
|population_density_sq_mi = 959.39
|timezone                 = [[Eastern Standard Time Zone|EST]]
| utc_offset = &minus;5
|timezone_DST             = [[Eastern Daylight Time|EDT]]
| utc_offset_DST = &minus;4
|coordinates              = {{coord|36|58|41|N|82|34|37|W|region:US-VA_type:city|display=inline,title}}
|elevation_ft             = 2451
|postal_code_type         = [[ZIP code]]
|postal_code              = 24293
|area_code                = [[Area code 276|276]]
|blank_name               = [[Federal Information Processing Standard|FIPS code]]
|blank_info               = 51-87072<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              = 1498553<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>
|footnotes                = 
|website                  = [http://www.townofwise.net/ townofwise.net]
|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 = 7.87
|area_land_km2 = 7.85
|area_water_km2 = 0.03
|population_density_km2 = 370.41
}}

'''Wise''' is a town in [[Wise County, Virginia]]. The population was 2,970 at the 2020 census.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.coopercenter.org/sites/default/files/demographics/Census_2000_to_2010_PopulationChange_towns.xls|title=Weldon Cooper Center 2010 Census totals by towns in Virginia|website=coopercenter.org|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> It is the [[county seat]] of Wise 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}}</ref>  It was originally incorporated as the town of Gladeville in 1874.  The town's name was changed to Wise in 1924, after [[Henry A. Wise]], the last [[Governor of Virginia|Virginia governor]] before the [[American Civil War]] and the first governor to hail from the [[Eastern Shore of Virginia]].<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.wisecounty.org/wise_history.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180114021033/http://www.wisecounty.org/wise_history.html|title=County of Wise, Virginia – Wise County History|archive-date=January 14, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The town is also the home of the [[University of Virginia's College at Wise]].

==Geography==
Wise is located in the center of the county of Wise. According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the town has a total area of 3.1&nbsp;square miles (8.0&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>), all  land.

=== Climate ===
The climate in this area is characterized by mild, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters.  According to the [[Köppen Climate Classification]] system, Wise has a [[Oceanic climate|subtropical highland climate]], abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps. The [[Trewartha climate classification]] is temperate oceanic due to five months of winter chill (monthly means below 10&nbsp;°C (50&nbsp;°F)), abbreviated "Do" on climate maps.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=512944&cityname=Wise,+Virginia,+United+States+of+America&units=|title=Wise, Virginia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)|website=Weatherbase|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

{{Weather box
|location = Wise, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1955–present)
|single line = Y
|width = auto
|Jan record high F = 72
|Feb record high F = 75
|Mar record high F = 80
|Apr record high F = 87
|May record high F = 90
|Jun record high F = 95
|Jul record high F = 93
|Aug record high F = 94
|Sep record high F = 93
|Oct record high F = 92
|Nov record high F = 79
|Dec record high F = 73
|year record high F = 95
|Jan high F = 42.6
|Feb high F = 46.5
|Mar high F = 55.2
|Apr high F = 65.5
|May high F = 72.0
|Jun high F = 78.0
|Jul high F = 80.6
|Aug high F = 79.8
|Sep high F = 75.5
|Oct high F = 66.2
|Nov high F = 55.0
|Dec high F = 46.0
|year high F = 63.6
|Jan mean F = 33.6
|Feb mean F = 36.9
|Mar mean F = 44.4
|Apr mean F = 54.1
|May mean F = 61.4
|Jun mean F = 67.8
|Jul mean F = 70.9
|Aug mean F = 69.8
|Sep mean F = 64.8
|Oct mean F = 55.0
|Nov mean F = 44.7
|Dec mean F = 37.2
|year mean F = 53.4
|Jan low F = 24.6
|Feb low F = 27.3
|Mar low F = 33.6
|Apr low F = 42.7
|May low F = 50.7
|Jun low F = 57.7
|Jul low F = 61.2
|Aug low F = 59.8
|Sep low F = 54.1
|Oct low F = 43.7
|Nov low F = 34.3
|Dec low F = 28.5
|year low F = 43.2
|Jan record low F = −24
|Feb record low F = −15
|Mar record low F = −8
|Apr record low F = 16
|May record low F = 24
|Jun record low F = 31
|Jul record low F = 40
|Aug record low F = 38
|Sep record low F = 31
|Oct record low F = 14
|Nov record low F = 4
|Dec record low F = −17
|year record low F = -24
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation inch = 4.34
|Feb precipitation inch = 4.37
|Mar precipitation inch = 4.74
|Apr precipitation inch = 4.78
|May precipitation inch = 4.60
|Jun precipitation inch = 4.86
|Jul precipitation inch = 5.77
|Aug precipitation inch = 4.13
|Sep precipitation inch = 3.55
|Oct precipitation inch = 2.87
|Nov precipitation inch = 3.26
|Dec precipitation inch = 4.36
|year precipitation inch = 51.63
|Jan snow inch = 12.8
|Feb snow inch = 11.6
|Mar snow inch = 8.6
|Apr snow inch = 1.7
|May snow inch = 0.0
|Jun snow inch = 0.0
|Jul snow inch = 0.0
|Aug snow inch = 0.0
|Sep snow inch = 0.0
|Oct snow inch = 0.9
|Nov snow inch = 1.9
|Dec snow inch = 9.6
|year snow inch = 47.1
|unit precipitation days = 0.01 in
|Jan precipitation days = 15.4
|Feb precipitation days = 14.6
|Mar precipitation days = 14.7
|Apr precipitation days = 13.1
|May precipitation days = 14.5
|Jun precipitation days = 14.0
|Jul precipitation days = 15.7
|Aug precipitation days = 12.9
|Sep precipitation days = 10.6
|Oct precipitation days = 10.6
|Nov precipitation days = 11.2
|Dec precipitation days = 14.7
|year precipitation days = 162.0
|unit snow days = 0.1 in
|Jan snow days = 7.8
|Feb snow days = 7.0
|Mar snow days = 4.3
|Apr snow days = 1.3
|May snow days = 0.0
|Jun snow days = 0.0
|Jul snow days = 0.0
|Aug snow days = 0.0
|Sep snow days = 0.0
|Oct snow days = 0.4
|Nov snow days = 2.0
|Dec snow days = 5.8
|year snow days = 28.6
| source 1 = [[NOAA]]<ref name= nws>
{{cite web
| url = https://w2.weather.gov/climate/xmacis.php?wfo=mrx
| title = NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 28, 2021}}</ref><ref name=NCEI>
{{cite web
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/access/services/data/v1?dataset=normals-monthly-1991-2020&startDate=0001-01-01&endDate=9996-12-31&stations=USC00449215&format=pdf
| title = Station: Wise 1SE, VA
| work = U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = June 28, 2021}}</ref>
}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1880= 128
|1890= 186
|1900= 511
|1910= 806
|1920= 1071
|1930= 1112
|1940= 1226
|1950= 1574
|1960= 2614
|1970= 2891
|1980= 3894
|1990= 3193
|2000= 3255
|2010= 3286
|2020= 2970

|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]] of 2020, the town had 2,970 people,<ref>[https://datausa.io/profile/geo/wise-va]</ref>  roughly 10 percent fewer than two decades earlier. 

As of the census<ref name="GR2" /> of 2000, there were 3,255 people, 1,424 households, and 868 families residing in the town. The [[population density]] was 1,059.4 people per square mile (409.4/km<sup>2</sup>). There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of 518.8 per square mile (200.5/km<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the town was 95.24% [[White (U.S. Census)|White]], 1.94% [[African American (U.S. Census)|African American]], 0.28% [[Native American (U.S. Census)|Native American]], 1.14% [[Asian (U.S. Census)|Asian]], 0.77% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.65% from two or more races. [[Hispanic (U.S. Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Latino (U.S. Census)|Latino]] of any race were 1.41% of the population.
[[File:Large old building in Wise - panoramio.jpg|thumb|left|Buildings in Wise]]

There were 1,424 households, out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.79.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.7% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $28,531, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $30,170 versus $21,389 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the town was $18,760. About 12.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 69 or over.

== Education ==
Wise features five [[Public school (government funded)|public schools]] of the [[Wise County Public Schools (Virginia)|Wise County Public School System]], one [[private school]], and one [[college]].

=== Wise County School System public schools ===
* Wise Primary School
* [[L. F. Addington Middle School]]
* [[J. J. Kelly High School]] (1953–2011)
* [[Central High School (Wise, Virginia)|Central High School]] (opened in 2011)
* Wise County Career-Technical Center
* Wise County Alternative Education Center

=== Private schools ===
* [[Wise County Christian School]]

=== Higher education ===
* [[University of Virginia's College at Wise]]

==Transportation==
The largest highway in Wise is Orby Cantrell Highway ([[U.S. Route 23 in Virginia|US 23]]) a north–south highway that runs through the west end of the town.  Wise is also home to the [[Lonesome Pine Airport]] (LNP).  The airport is located approximately three miles northeast of the [[central business district]].

==Theater and the arts==
* The Pro-Art Association offers a variety of theatrical, musical, and fine-arts events throughout the school year.
* The Appalachian Children's Theater (ACT) promotes performing arts and fine arts education for children in [[Southwest Virginia]], Eastern Kentucky, and Northeast Tennessee.  In 2006, the organization opened its newly renovated facility on Main Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actshine.org/|title=Appalachian Children's Theater|website=actshine.org|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>
* The Charles W. Harris Art Gallery is located on the site of the Wise County Public Library.
* The University of Virginia's College at Wise possesses a state of the art theater that usually sees two productions a year.

== Notable people ==
* [[George C. Scott]] – actor, director, producer
* [[Carroll Dale]] – football player for the [[Los Angeles Rams]] and [[Green Bay Packers]]
* [[Glen Roberts]] – college basketball player

==Sister cities==
The Town of Wise has one [[sister city]]:
* {{flagdeco|Turkey}} [[Çeşme]], [[İzmir Province]], Turkey

== Historic downtown ==
[[Image:E. M. Fulton House.jpg|right|thumb|200px|Historic [[E. M. Fulton House]] on West Main Street]]
In early 1862, Gladeville served as the headquarters of Confederate General [[Humphrey Marshall (general)|Humphrey Marshall]], who had been assigned to defend southwest Virginia. Union forces raided the town on June 1, 1862, and captured the town clerk, Rev. Morgan T. Lipps, who reportedly insulted them. He was released, but the raiders burned half the town. The event is commemorated by a historical marker,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.hmdb.org/marker.asp?marker=90856|title=Gladeville in the Civil War Historical Marker|website=hmdb.org|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref> and re-enactors engaged in a Civil War Living History Presentation and Re-Enactment on the second weekend of July each year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.townofwise.net|title=Town of Wise|website=Town of Wise|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

Three buildings on Main Street in the town of Wise are on the [[National Register of Historic Places]].<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|version=2010a}}</ref>  The [[Colonial Hotel (Wise, Virginia)|Colonial Hotel]], now known as the Inn at Wise Court House, was added to the Register in 1991.  The [[Wise County Courthouse (Virginia)|Wise County Courthouse]] was added to the Register ten years earlier, in 1981. In February 2006, the Register listed the [[E. M. Fulton House]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cr.nps.gov/nr/index.htm|title=National Register of Historic Places Official Website--Part of the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior|website=www.cr.nps.gov|access-date=April 12, 2018}}</ref>

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

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [http://www.townofwise.net/ Wise Official Website]

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

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Wise, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Towns in Wise County, Virginia]]
[[Category:Towns in Virginia]]
[[Category:County seats in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1874]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Virginia]]