Editing Wythe County, Virginia

{{short description|County in Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Wythe County
 | state                = Virginia
 | seal                 = WytheCountyVASeal.png
 | seal size            = 90px
 | founded              = 1790
 | named for            = [[George Wythe]]
 | seat wl              = Wytheville
 | largest city wl      = Wytheville
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 465
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 462
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 2.8
 | area percentage      = 0.6
 | population_total     = 28,290
 | pop_est_footnotes    = 
 | density_sq_mi        = auto
 | website              = {{URL|http://www.wytheco.org|wytheco.org}}
 | ex image             = WytheCoCourthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = Wythe County Courthouse in Wytheville
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | district             = 9th
 | census yr            = 2020
}}

'''Wythe County''' ({{IPAc-en|w|ɪ|θ}}) is a [[county (United States)|county]] located in the [[Southwest Virginia|southwestern part]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census]], the population was 28,290.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wythe County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?g=0500000US51197|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]|accessdate=January 30, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]].<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>

==History==

Wythe County was formed from [[Montgomery County, Virginia|Montgomery County]] in 1790. It was named after [[George Wythe]], the first Virginian signer of the [[Declaration of Independence (United States)|Declaration of Independence]]. During the [[American Civil War|Civil War]] the [[Battle of Cove Mountain]] was fought in the county.

Prior to Wythe County's creation, what is now the Wythe County community of Austinville served as the county seat for [[Fincastle County]], an extinct Virginia county whose borders stretched from Roanoke, Virginia, to the Mississippi River – a county roughly the size of half the State of Texas.<ref>Appalachian Magazine [http://appalachianmagazine.com/2015/01/02/wythe-county-turns-225-years-old-in-2015-is-the-place-to-visit-for-historians/ Wythe County Turns 225 Years Old in 2015].</ref>

Wythe County's Austinville community was founded by Stephen and his brother [[Moses Austin]], father of the famous [[Stephen F. Austin]]. In the 1790s the Austins took over the mines that produced lead and zinc; the town was named for the Austin surname, and not for any one particular Austin of the brothers who bore that surname. Lead was mined and shipped throughout the fledgling country; [[lead shot]] was also produced. Located near Fosters Falls, [[Jackson Ferry Shot Tower]] still stands as a testament to the citizens of Wythe County. Lead was hoisted to the top of the tower using block and tackle and oxen. The lead was melted in a retort and then poured through a sieve at the top of the tower. The droplets of molten lead would become round during the 150-foot descent. The shot would collect in a kettle of water and slave laborers<ref>Slavery in the American Mountain South, Wilma A. Dunaway; Cambridge University Press, 2003, {{ISBN|978-0-521-01215-7}}</ref> would enter through a 110-foot access tunnel located near the bank of the [[New River (Kanawha River)|New River]] to retrieve the shot from the kettle. The lead mines closed in 1982 due to new [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] standards and the lack of a market for lead. The mines have since filled with water; the main shaft extended in excess of 1100 feet straight down.

On August 15, 1926, the [[lynching of Raymond Byrd]] occurred at the Wythe County jail.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Smith |first=J. Douglas |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/53721559 |title=Managing white supremacy: race, politics, and citizenship in Jim Crow Virginia |date=2002 |isbn=0-8078-6226-6 |location=Chapel Hill |oclc=53721559|chapter=A melancholy distinction: Virginia's response to lynching}}</ref>

Another notable area within the county is the unincorporated community of [[Fort Chiswell, Virginia|Fort Chiswell]] - named for a [[French and Indian War]] era fort. The fort and its surrounding buildings served as the county seat until the incorporated town of Wytheville was established approximately 10 miles to the west. The fort fell into disrepair and its ruins were covered over when the intersection of [[Interstate 77|I-77]] and [[Interstate 81|I-81]] was constructed in the 1970s. A pyramid marker now stands in the approximate location of the former fort. The community was named for Colonel [[John Chiswell]] who helped establish the lead mines (1757) prior to the Austin's purchase.

Wythe County's location, at the confluence of I-81 and I-77 which is, incidentally, a [[wrong-way concurrency]], has led to its growth for industry and tourism. Recently [[Gatorade]] and [[Pepsi]] manufacturing facilities have located here, primarily due to the ease of access and central location along the Eastern seaboard. There are a variety of travel-related businesses including several hundred hotel rooms, several [[truck stops]], and restaurants located in the county.
Tourism takes a variety of different forms in Wythe County. There are numerous opportunities for those that enjoy outdoor activities including a variety of trails, campgrounds, and parks in the area. Its first [[winery]] opened in 2006 and a second opened in 2007. A [[dinner theatre]] is located in the county seat, [[Wytheville]].

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau|U.S. Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|465|sqmi}}, of which, {{convert|462|sqmi}} of it is land and {{convert|2.8|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> The county is intersected by the [[New River (Kanawha River)|New River]]. The land is mostly an elevated plateau, lying between Iron Mountain on the south and Walker's Mountain on the northwest. The soil is generally fertile. Iron ore, lead, bituminous coal, limestone, and gypsum are very abundant, and there are traces of silver found in the lead mines.<ref name=ac>{{Cite AmCyc|wstitle=Wythe}}</ref> Wythe 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>

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Bland County, Virginia|Bland County]] - north
* [[Smyth County, Virginia|Smyth County]] - west
* [[Grayson County, Virginia|Grayson County]] - south
* [[Carroll County, Virginia|Carroll County]] - southeast
* [[Pulaski County, Virginia|Pulaski County]] - east

===National protected areas===
* [[Jefferson National Forest]] (part)
* [[Mount Rogers National Recreation Area]] (part)

===Major highways===
* {{Jct|state=VA|I|74}} (future)
* {{Jct|state=VA|I|77}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|I|81}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|11}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|21}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|US|52}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|69}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|90}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|94}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|100}}
* {{Jct|state=VA|SR|121}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1800= 6380
|1810= 8356
|1820= 9692
|1830= 12163
|1840= 9375
|1850= 12024
|1860= 12305
|1870= 11611
|1880= 14318
|1890= 18019
|1900= 20437
|1910= 20372
|1920= 20217
|1930= 20704
|1940= 22721
|1950= 23327
|1960= 21975
|1970= 22139
|1980= 25522
|1990= 25466
|2000= 27599
|2010= 29235
|2020= 28290
|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"
|+'''Wythe 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) - Wythe County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51197&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) - Wythe County, Virginia|url=https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table?q=p2&g=0500000US51197&tid=DECENNIALPL2020.P2|website=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>
!% 2010
!% 2020
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino whites|White]] alone (NH)
|27,649
|28,290
|94.57%
|92.20%
|-
|[[Non-Hispanic or Latino African Americans|Black or African American]] alone (NH)
|809
|699
|2.77%
|2.47%
|-
|[[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]] or [[Alaska Native]] alone (NH)
|39
|54
|0.13%
|0.19%
|-
|[[Asian Americans|Asian]] alone (NH)
|124
|118
|0.42%
|0.42%
|-
|[[Pacific Islander Americans|Pacific Islander]] alone (NH)
|3
|2
|0.01%
|0.01%
|-
|[[Race and ethnicity in the United States census|Some Other Race]] alone (NH)
|13
|66
|0.04%
|0.23%
|-
|[[Multiracial Americans|Mixed Race/Multi-Racial]] (NH)
|318
|914
|1.09%
|3.23%
|-
|[[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino]] (any race)
|280
|355
|0.96%
|1.25%
|-
|'''Total'''
|'''29,235'''
|'''28,290'''
|'''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=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website }}</ref> of 2000, there were 27,599 people, 11,511 households, and 8,103 families residing in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|60|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 12,744 housing units at an average density of {{convert|28|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 95.76% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 2.87% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.16% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.38% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.24% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 11,511 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,235, and the median income for a family was $40,188. Males had a median income of $29,053 versus $20,550 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $17,639. About 8.50% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over.

==Education==

=== Colleges ===
* [[Breckbill Bible College]], Grahams Forge
* [[Blueridge College of Evangelism]], [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]
* [[Wytheville Community College]], [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]

===Public high schools===
* [[Fort Chiswell High School]], [[Fort Chiswell, Virginia|Fort Chiswell]]
* [[George Wythe High School (Wytheville, Virginia)|George Wythe High School]], [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]
* [[Rural Retreat High School]], [[Rural Retreat, Virginia|Rural Retreat]] 

===Private schools===
* The Baptist Academy of Rural Retreat, [[Rural Retreat, Virginia|Rural Retreat]]
* Granite Christian Academy, [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]
* Appalachian Christian Academy, [[Rural Retreat, Virginia|Rural Retreat]]
* Grace Christian Academy, [[Max Meadows, Virginia|Max Meadows]] 
* United Christian Academy, [[Austinville, Virginia|Austinville]]

==Government==
===Board of Supervisors===
* District 1 (Blacklick): Brian W. Vaught, Chairman (R)
* District 2 (West Wytheville District): Rolland Cook, Vice Chairman(R)
* District 3 (East Wytheville District): Ryan Yates Lawson (I)
* District 4 (Fort Chiswell District): James Smith (R)
* District 5 (Lead Mines District): Jesse Burnett (R)
* District 6 (Speedwell District): J.W. "Dickie" Morgan(R)<ref>{{cite web | url=https://enr.elections.virginia.gov/results/public/WYTHECOUNTY/elections/2023-Nov-Gen | title=Election Results }}</ref>
* District 7 (Supervisor At-Large): Stacy Terry (R)

===Constitutional Officers===
* Clerk of the Circuit Court: Jeremiah Musser (R)
* Commissioner of the Revenue: Kathy Vaught (R)
* Commonwealth's Attorney: Mike Jones (R)
* Sheriff: Charles Foster (R)
* Treasurer: Lori Guynn (D)

===Law enforcement===
{{Infobox law enforcement agency
| agencyname      = Wythe County Sheriff's Office
| nativename      =
| nativenamea     =
| nativenamer     =
| commonname      =
| abbreviation    = WCSO
| fictional       =
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| formedyear      = 1790
| formedmonthday  =
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| superseding     =
| employees       = 27
| volunteers      =
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| nongovernment   =
| governingbodyscnd =
| constitution1   = Yes
| police          = Yes
| local           = Yes
| military        =
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| gendarmerie     =
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| headquarters    = [[Wytheville, Virginia]]
| hqlocmap        =
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| sworntype       = Deputy
| sworn           = 27
| unsworntype     = Civilian
| unsworn         =
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| chief1position  = [[Sheriff]]
| parentagency    =
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| stationtype     = Station
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| website         = [http://www.wytheco.org/index.php/departments/sheriff.html Official Website]
| footnotes       =
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}}

The Wythe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Wythe County, Virginia. The sheriff preceding Charles Foster was Keith Dunagan, who had served for nearly 40 years before retiring.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 1, 2021 |title=Wythe County sheriff retires after nearly four decades serving the NRV |url=https://www.wfxrtv.com/news/local-news/new-river-valley-local-news/wythe-county-sheriff-retires-after-nearly-four-decades-serving-the-nrv/ |access-date=October 22, 2022 |website=WFXRtv |language=en-US}}</ref> Since the establishment of the Wythe County Sheriff's Office, 1 deputy has died in the line of duty, in 1994.<ref>[http://www.odmp.org/agency/4328-wythe-county-sheriffs-office-virginia Officer Down Memorial page]</ref>

===Politics===
{{PresHead|place=Wythe County, 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=December 9, 2020}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|12,267|3,075|133|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|11,733|3,143|196|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|10,046|2,770|512|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|8,324|3,783|251|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|8,207|4,107|177|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,911|3,581|62|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,539|3,462|224|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,274|3,275|1,000|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|5,121|3,616|1,755|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,827|3,201|197|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,773|2,996|97|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|4,758|3,677|331|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|4,231|3,578|432|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,553|1,431|172|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,638|1,765|1,560|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,958|2,879|26|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|2,871|2,075|47|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|3,484|1,766|57|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|3,580|1,654|12|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|2,077|976|283|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|1,822|1,465|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|1,507|1,695|13|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|2,781|2,089|8|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|1,589|1,866|29|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|2,540|1,516|0|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|1,996|1,899|51|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|2,104|1,465|13|Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|1,370|1,334|6|Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|633|1,110|656|Virginia}}

==Communities==
===Towns===
* [[Rural Retreat, Virginia|Rural Retreat]]
* [[Wytheville, Virginia|Wytheville]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Fort Chiswell, Virginia|Fort Chiswell]]
* [[Ivanhoe, Virginia|Ivanhoe]]
* [[Max Meadows, Virginia|Max Meadows]]

===Other unincorporated communities===
* [[Austinville, Virginia|Austinville]]
* [[Barren Springs, Virginia|Barren Springs]]
* [[Cripple Creek, Virginia|Cripple Creek]]
* [[Crockett, Virginia|Crockett]]
* [[Speedwell, Virginia|Speedwell]]

==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Wythe County, Virginia]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Wythe County, Virginia
|North     = [[Bland County, Virginia|Bland County]]
|Northeast =
|East      = [[Pulaski County, Virginia|Pulaski County]]
|Southeast = [[Carroll County, Virginia|Carroll County]]
|South     = [[Grayson County, Virginia|Grayson County]]
|Southwest =
|West      = [[Smyth County, Virginia|Smyth County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Wythe County, Virginia}}
{{Virginia}}
{{Authority control}}

{{Coord|36.92|-81.09|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-VA_source:UScensus1990}}

[[Category:Wythe County, Virginia| ]]
[[Category:Virginia counties]]
[[Category:1790 establishments in Virginia]]