Montgomery County, Virginia

Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,721.[1] Its county seat is Christiansburg,[2] and Blacksburg is the largest town. Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area. It is dominated economically by the presence of Virginia Tech, Virginia's third largest public university,[3] which is the county's largest employer.[4]

Montgomery County
County
Montgomery County Courthouse
Montgomery County Courthouse
Official seal of Montgomery County
Seal
Motto: 
Freedom Increases Responsibility
Map of Virginia highlighting Montgomery County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°10′N 80°23′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1772
Named forRichard Montgomery
SeatChristiansburg
Largest townBlacksburg
Area
 • Total389 sq mi (1,010 km2)
 • Land387 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total99,721 Increase
 • Density256/sq mi (99/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.montva.com

Board of Supervisors

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors sets the annual budget and tax rates, enacts legislation governing the county and its citizens, sets policies and oversees their implementation. There are seven supervisors; one is elected from each of the seven geographic districts. Terms are four years; three or four seats are up for re-election each odd year.[5]

SupervisorDistrict
Sara BohnA
Sherri M. BlevinsB
Steve Fijalkowski (chair)C
Todd KingD
Darrell SheppardE
Mary Biggs (Vice Chair)F
April DeMottsG

History

Montgomery County was established on December 31, 1776, made from parts of Fincastle County, which was disbanded at this time and split into Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky counties. Later, Montgomery lost land to form counties which now border it, including some counties which later formed West Virginia.[6]

The county is named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 389 square miles (1,010 km2), of which 387 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[7] The western part of the county is in the New River watershed.

Adjacent counties and city

National protected area

Major highways

U.S. Bicycle Route

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
179013,228—
18009,044−31.6%
18108,409−7.0%
18208,7333.9%
183012,30640.9%
18407,405−39.8%
18508,35912.9%
186010,61727.0%
187012,55618.3%
188016,69332.9%
189017,7426.3%
190015,852−10.7%
191017,2688.9%
192018,5957.7%
193019,6055.4%
194021,2068.2%
195029,78040.4%
196032,92310.6%
197047,15743.2%
198063,51634.7%
199073,91316.4%
200083,62913.1%
201094,39212.9%
202099,7215.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
1990-2000[11] 2010-2015[12] 2020[1]

2020 census
Montgomery County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[13] Pop 2020[14] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 81,091 77,918 85.91% 78.14%
Black or African American alone (NH) 3,631 4,054 3.85% 4.07%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 154 126 0.16% 0.13%
Asian alone (NH) 5,089 8,310 5.39% 8.33%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 21 45 0.02% 0.05%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 117 307 0.12% 0.31%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 1,753 4,310 1.86% 4.32%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 2,536 4,651 2.69% 4.66%
Total 94,392 99,721 100.00% 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.

As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 99,721 people living in the county. The population density was 257.8 people per square mile (99.5 people/km2).

2010 Census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 94,392 people living in the county. 87.6% were White, 5.4% Asian, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 2.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

2000 Census

As of the 2000 United States Census,[15] there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families living in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile (83 people/km2). There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.00% White, 3.97% Asian, 3.65% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,997 households, out of which 25.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% 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 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.10% under the age of 18, 31.30% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,330, and the median income for a family was $47,239. Males had a median income of $33,674 versus $23,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,077. About 8.80% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Despite being in the Solid South, Montgomery County did not consistently back Democratic candidates in the early 20th century, being a swing county from 1900 to 1940. From 1944 to 1988, the county was consistently Republican, though the presence of a major university in Virginia Tech helped make the county more competitive to the Democratic Party towards the end of that streak. It has since become a bellwether county, backing the national winner in every election from 1980 to 2008. The county backed the losing candidate, by very narrow margins of 103 votes in 2012 and 562 votes in 2016 (although this time backing the majority candidate), but again backed the winning candidate in 2020. 2020 was the first time since 1980 that the county voted more Democratic than the nation.

United States presidential election results for Montgomery County, Virginia[16][17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 20,629 45.80% 23,218 51.55% 1,190 2.64%
2016 19,459 45.22% 20,021 46.53% 3,551 8.25%
2012 20,006 48.78% 19,903 48.53% 1,100 2.68%
2008 19,028 46.81% 21,031 51.73% 594 1.46%
2004 17,070 54.16% 14,128 44.83% 317 1.01%
2000 13,991 51.51% 11,720 43.15% 1,449 5.34%
1996 10,517 43.28% 10,867 44.72% 2,914 11.99%
1992 10,606 42.53% 10,658 42.74% 3,671 14.72%
1988 12,326 57.48% 8,909 41.55% 209 0.97%
1984 12,428 62.88% 7,202 36.44% 135 0.68%
1980 8,222 47.41% 7,455 42.98% 1,667 9.61%
1976 7,971 50.64% 7,539 47.89% 232 1.47%
1972 9,348 70.56% 3,692 27.87% 208 1.57%
1968 7,098 61.47% 2,700 23.38% 1,749 15.15%
1964 4,604 54.23% 3,872 45.61% 13 0.15%
1960 4,270 66.25% 2,157 33.47% 18 0.28%
1956 4,598 70.10% 1,848 28.18% 113 1.72%
1952 3,881 70.68% 1,600 29.14% 10 0.18%
1948 2,070 59.60% 1,126 32.42% 277 7.98%
1944 1,936 53.67% 1,652 45.80% 19 0.53%
1940 1,890 46.38% 2,168 53.20% 17 0.42%
1936 1,852 49.88% 1,832 49.34% 29 0.78%
1932 1,522 44.70% 1,805 53.01% 78 2.29%
1928 1,861 65.81% 967 34.19% 0 0.00%
1924 964 44.44% 1,142 52.65% 63 2.90%
1920 1,160 53.78% 969 44.92% 28 1.30%
1916 891 53.45% 765 45.89% 11 0.66%
1912 349 21.87% 684 42.86% 563 35.28%
1908 795 51.39% 734 47.45% 18 1.16%
1904 725 51.16% 650 45.87% 42 2.96%
1900 1,391 53.75% 1,102 42.58% 95 3.67%
1896 1,594 53.51% 1,317 44.21% 68 2.28%
1892 1,128 40.53% 1,286 46.21% 369 13.26%
1888 1,516 50.55% 1,335 44.51% 148 4.93%
1884 1,308 47.86% 1,416 51.81% 9 0.33%
1880 601 31.08% 1,323 68.41% 10 0.52%

Climate
Climate data for Blacksburg
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °F (°C) 42
(6)		 45
(7)		 53
(12)		 63
(17)		 71
(22)		 79
(26)		 82
(28)		 81
(27)		 75
(24)		 65
(18)		 56
(13)		 44
(7)		 63
(17)
Average low °F (°C) 21
(−6)		 24
(−4)		 30
(−1)		 38
(3)		 47
(8)		 56
(13)		 60
(16)		 59
(15)		 51
(11)		 39
(4)		 31
(−1)		 24
(−4)		 40
(5)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 3.08
(78)		 2.81
(71)		 3.64
(92)		 3.48
(88)		 4.33
(110)		 4.00
(102)		 4.26
(108)		 3.59
(91)		 3.10
(79)		 2.78
(71)		 2.87
(73)		 2.95
(75)		 40.89
(1,038)
Source: U.S. Climate Data[18]

Education

Colleges and universities

Public High schools

Private High schools
  • Pathway Christian Academy
  • Dayspring Christian Academy

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. 2020 Population and Housing State Data | Virginia
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Rankings | Largest U.S. colleges - Universities with the highest enrollment | State | Virginia (VA)". www.collegeraptor.com. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
  4. Virginia Employment Commission (August 30, 2018). "Virginia Community Profile: Montgomery County" (PDF). Virginia Labor Market Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2018.
  5. "About the Board of Supervisors".
  6. "Montgomery County Index Page".
  7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  8. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  12. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  13. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Montgomery County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Montgomery County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  15. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved April 3, 2018.
  17. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President". Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  18. "Average Weather for Blacksburg, VA". U.S. Climate Data. Retrieved April 1, 2021.

37.17°N 80.39°W / 37.17; -80.39

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