Wise County, Virginia

Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 41,452.[2] Its county seat is Wise.[3] The county was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties and named for Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time.

Wise County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36°58′N 82°37′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1856
Named forHenry A. Wise
SeatWise
Largest townBig Stone Gap
Area
 • Total405 sq mi (1,050 km2)
 • Land403 sq mi (1,040 km2)
 • Water2 sq mi (5 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total41,452
 • Estimate 
(2019)[1]
37,383
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.wisecounty.org

History

The Cherokee conquered the area including Wise from the Xualae between 1671 and 1685. It was later contested by the Six Nations and the Shawnee. Cherokee and Shawnee hunting parties fought a protracted battle at the headwaters of the Clinch River for two days in the summer of 1786, a victory for the Cherokee although losses were heavy on both sides.

The first white explorers to reach present-day Wise county are said to have been Thomas Walker and Christopher Gist, both in 1750. Several forts were built all along the Clinch from 1774 onward, but only after Chickamauga Cherokee leader Bob Benge was slain in 1794 was present-day Wise considered safe for white settlers even to hunt in. One of the earliest settlers within the county was William Wells around 1792.[4]

In the 1880s, coal deposits became the dominant resource utilized in the area. The Stonega Coke and Coal Company (SC&C) was formed in the town of Appalachia, Virginia.[5] Immigration trends and economic conditions across the country attracted many people to the area for work, including African Americans and Irish, Polish, Italian, and Hungarian immigrants.

Virginia's two highest security state prisons are located in Wise County: Red Onion State Prison, opened in 1998, and Wallens Ridge State Prison, opened in 1999.[6]

In July 2012 Dominion Energy built Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County, a hybrid power plant that burns 80% coal and up to 20% biomass. In 2014, the plant was fined $47,651 by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for emitting carbon monoxide and other gases at levels exceeding state regulations.[7]

Geography
Powell Valley, as viewed from Benge's Gap

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 405 square miles (1,050 km2), of which 403 square miles (1,040 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.[8] The county is part of the Appalachians and has many mountainous features, including the peak of High Knob and Powell Valley.

Adjacent counties and cities

Major highways

National protected area
  • Jefferson National Forest (part)

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18604,508—
18704,7856.1%
18807,77262.4%
18909,34520.2%
190019,653110.3%
191034,16273.8%
192046,50036.1%
193051,16710.0%
194052,4582.5%
195056,3367.4%
196043,579−22.6%
197035,947−17.5%
198043,86322.0%
199039,573−9.8%
200040,1231.4%
201041,4523.3%
Est. 201937,383[1]−9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2018[13]

As of the census[14] of 2010, there were 41,452 people, 15,968 households, and 10,892 families residing in the county. The population density was 102.8 people per square mile (38/km²). There were 17,940 housing units at an average density of 44 per square mile (17/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 93% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 15,968 households out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50,30% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non-families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.90.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18 and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.08 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $35,053. The per capita income for the county was $17,512. About 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line. The homeownership rate for the county is 70.00%

Education

Public schools

Wise County Public Schools operates thirteen school facilities in the county for its students.[15] For several years the Wise County School Board has considered consolidating high schools, and in 2011 it consolidated six high schools into three; Union High which serves the western part of the county, Central High which serves the central and northern parts of the county, and Eastside High which serves the eastern part of the county.

Private schools

Wise County Christian School operates as a private school in the county.

Colleges and universities

Media

Newspapers
  • The Clinch Valley Times is a weekly newspaper serving Castlewood and St. Paul, Virginia, and the surrounding areas.
  • The Coalfield Progress is a twice-weekly newspaper covering news through the county.
  • The Post also at is a weekly newspaper serving Big Stone Gap, Virginia and the surrounding areas.

Radio Stations

Tourist attractions

Natural and outdoor recreation
High Knob Observation Tower

A large portion of the Jefferson National Forest is contained within Wise County, and the Clinch River winds through the county. These two factors, combined with Wise County's location in the Appalachian Mountains, mean that Wise County offers many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

In addition to many trails connecting to and surrounding the Appalachian Trail system, Wise county is home to many parks, including Miners' Park in Big Stone Gap and the Louis E. Henegar Miners' Memorial Park in Appalachia.

Among the unique features of Wise County are High Knob, a mountain which featured one of the last remaining Appalachian Fire Towers until its destruction by arson on October 31, 2007,[16] and Wetlands Estonoa, an Appalachian Wetland and part of the Clinch River Watershed.

Theater and the arts
  • The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama is performed in Big Stone Gap, Virginia throughout the summer. It is the Commonwealth of Virginia's official outdoor drama.
  • The Pro-Art Association offers a variety of theatrical, musical, and fine-arts events throughout the school year. It is headquartered in Wise.
  • The Wise County Summer Academy of Art, sponsored by Wise County Public Schools and funded in part by the Virginia Commission of Arts, provides fine arts programming for children throughout the summer months, including large scale productions and touring performance opportunities.
  • 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 in Downtown Wise.
  • The Charles W. Harris Art Gallery is located on the site of the Wise County Public Library in Wise.

Festivals and fairs
  • "Clinch River Days" is a festival to celebrate mountain heritage and takes place in St. Paul each spring.[17]
  • Best Friend Festival held in Norton, VA annually.
  • The Virginia-Kentucky District Fair is held each summer in Wise.
  • The Wise County Famous Fall Fling is an annual event held in Downtown Wise.
  • Coeburn holds its annual Guest River Rally over the Labor Day weekend in September.
  • Appalachia Coal Railroad Days is held each summer in Appalachia.
  • Pound Heritage Days is held annually the week before Labor Day in Pound.
  • Dock Boggs Oldtime Music Festival held the second weekend in September at the Country Cabin in Norton, Virginia.
  • Mountain Craft Days held the third weekend of October on the campus of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia.
  • The RTE 23 Music Festival is held at the end of August ever year on the campus of the University of Virginia's College at Wise.

Historical

Sports
  • Lonesome Pine Raceway

UVa-Wise hosts NCAA Division II Baseball, Basketball, Football, Lacrosse, Softball, and other inter-collegiate games on the campus of UVa-Wise.

Communities

Towns

Census-designated place

Notable Residents

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 79.7% 12,086 17.8% 2,701 2.5% 376
2012 73.8% 11,076 25.0% 3,760 1.2% 182
2008 63.1% 8,914 35.3% 4,995 1.6% 229
2004 58.2% 8,330 40.5% 5,802 1.3% 180
2000 48.9% 6,504 48.2% 6,412 3.0% 394
1996 35.6% 4,660 51.3% 6,712 13.1% 1,720
1992 34.6% 5,144 51.7% 7,681 13.7% 2,032
1988 46.2% 6,189 52.4% 7,017 1.3% 180
1984 51.4% 7,909 47.4% 7,303 1.2% 187
1980 43.9% 5,767 51.6% 6,779 4.5% 595
1976 42.6% 5,691 53.4% 7,134 3.9% 526
1972 59.9% 6,739 39.2% 4,402 0.9% 101
1968 39.7% 5,004 47.1% 5,942 13.2% 1,660
1964 31.4% 3,309 68.5% 7,220 0.1% 10
1960 39.9% 3,876 59.9% 5,822 0.2% 18
1956 46.4% 4,871 53.0% 5,567 0.5% 57
1952 45.2% 3,911 54.6% 4,729 0.2% 20
1948 36.2% 2,836 62.0% 4,862 1.9% 147
1944 28.3% 1,817 71.5% 4,588 0.2% 15
1940 24.1% 1,448 75.7% 4,538 0.2% 12
1936 27.5% 2,057 72.3% 5,399 0.2% 14
1932 31.1% 2,405 68.1% 5,276 0.8% 63
1928 49.7% 4,504 50.3% 4,559
1924 40.4% 3,322 50.6% 4,157 9.1% 745
1920 55.3% 3,236 44.2% 2,587 0.5% 30
1916 55.3% 1,862 43.6% 1,468 1.0% 35
1912 31.1% 851 46.7% 1,279 22.2% 608

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved April 1, 2020.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. Luther Foster Addison, 1988, The Story of Wise County p. 1-26
  5. "Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park". www.swvamuseum.org. Retrieved 2019-06-22.
  6. VA Continues Program Recognized for Transforming Highest-Security Prisons
  7. "State Air Pollution Control Board Enforcement Action- Order By Consent Issued To Virginia Electric Power Company, D/B/A Dominion Virginia Power For The Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center" (PDF). Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Retrieved 14 May 2018.
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  13. "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2018". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. "Wise County Public Schools > Home". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  16. "Spark It Up!!!: High Knob Tower Burns". Retrieved 26 July 2016.
  17. "WELCOME TO CLINCH RIVER DAYS!!!". Clinch River Days Festival. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
  18. "Draw My Life". YouTube. Boogie2988. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 6 April 2018.

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