Wise County, Virginia

Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. 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
County
Wise County Courthouse in Wise
Wise County Courthouse in Wise
Official seal of Wise County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Wise County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 36.97°N 82.62°W / 36.97; -82.62
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
 (2020)
 • Total36,130 Decrease
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.wisecounty.org

History

The Cherokee colonized 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.[1]

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.[2] 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.[3]

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.[4]

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.[5] 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

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
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%
202036,130−12.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790-1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990-2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census
Wise County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 38,301 32,586 92.40% 90.19%
Black or African American alone (NH) 2,118 1,771 5.11% 4.90%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 51 48 0.12% 0.13%
Asian alone (NH) 141 150 0.34% 0.42%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 2 11 0.00% 0.03%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 20 86 0.05% 0.24%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 348 1,026 0.84% 2.84%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 471 452 1.14% 1.25%
Total 41,452 36,130 100.00% 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[12] 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 (39.7 people/km2). There were 17,940 housing units at an average density of 44 units per square mile (17 units/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.[13] 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 [14] is a twice-weekly newspaper covering news through the county.
  • The Post also at [14] 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,[15] 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.[16]
  • 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.[18]
  • 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 places

Notable residents

Politics
United States presidential election results for Wise County, Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 13,366 80.45% 3,110 18.72% 139 0.84%
2016 12,086 79.71% 2,701 17.81% 376 2.48%
2012 11,076 73.75% 3,760 25.04% 182 1.21%
2008 8,914 63.05% 4,995 35.33% 229 1.62%
2004 8,330 58.20% 5,802 40.54% 180 1.26%
2000 6,504 48.87% 6,412 48.17% 394 2.96%
1996 4,660 35.59% 6,712 51.27% 1,720 13.14%
1992 5,144 34.62% 7,681 51.70% 2,032 13.68%
1988 6,189 46.23% 7,017 52.42% 180 1.34%
1984 7,909 51.36% 7,303 47.43% 187 1.21%
1980 5,767 43.89% 6,779 51.59% 595 4.53%
1976 5,691 42.63% 7,134 53.43% 526 3.94%
1972 6,739 59.94% 4,402 39.16% 101 0.90%
1968 5,004 39.70% 5,942 47.14% 1,660 13.17%
1964 3,309 31.40% 7,220 68.51% 10 0.09%
1960 3,876 39.89% 5,822 59.92% 18 0.19%
1956 4,871 46.41% 5,567 53.04% 57 0.54%
1952 3,911 45.16% 4,729 54.61% 20 0.23%
1948 2,836 36.15% 4,862 61.98% 147 1.87%
1944 1,817 28.30% 4,588 71.46% 15 0.23%
1940 1,448 24.14% 4,538 75.66% 12 0.20%
1936 2,057 27.54% 5,399 72.28% 14 0.19%
1932 2,405 31.06% 5,276 68.13% 63 0.81%
1928 4,504 49.70% 4,559 50.30% 0 0.00%
1924 3,322 40.39% 4,157 50.55% 745 9.06%
1920 3,236 55.29% 2,587 44.20% 30 0.51%
1916 1,862 55.33% 1,468 43.63% 35 1.04%
1912 851 31.08% 1,279 46.71% 608 22.21%

References
  1. Luther Foster Addison, 1988, The Story of Wise County pp. 1–26
  2. "Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park". www.swvamuseum.org. Archived from the original on June 20, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  3. VA Continues Program Recognized for Transforming Highest-Security Prisons
  4. "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. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 26, 2017. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Archived from the original on August 24, 2019. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  6. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Archived from the original on August 11, 2012. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 15, 2013. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 18, 2014. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wise County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wise County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on December 27, 1996. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. "Wise County Public Schools > Home". Archived from the original on May 18, 2013. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  14. "Coalfield Progress Online". Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  15. "Spark It Up!!!: High Knob Tower Burns". Archived from the original on October 13, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
  16. "Applachian Children's Theatre Introduction". Archived from the original on April 15, 2009. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  17. "WELCOME TO CLINCH RIVER DAYS!!!". Clinch River Days Festival. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  18. "Home | Wise County Famous Fall Fling". Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Archived from the original on March 23, 2018. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
Wikisource has the text of the 1879 American Cyclopædia article Wise.
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