# Smyth County, Virginia

Smyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,800. Its county seat is Marion.

## History

Smyth County was formed on February 23, 1832, from Washington and Wythe counties. The county is named after Alexander Smyth, a general during the War of 1812 who was elected to the state Senate, House of Delegates, and as a Representative to the United States Congress.

## Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 452 square miles (1,170 km$^2$), of which 451 square miles (1,170 km$^2$) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km$^2$) (0.3%) is water. Smyth County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission, and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.

### Adjacent counties

* Russell County – northwest
* Tazewell County – north
* Bland County – northeast
* Wythe County – east
* Grayson County – south
* Washington County – southwest

### National protected areas

* Jefferson National Forest (part)
* Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (part)

### Major highways

* I-81
* US 11
* SR 16
* SR 42
* SR 91
* SR 107

## Demographics
### 2020 census

Smyth County, Virginia - Demographic Profile (NH = Non-Hispanic) :
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
| White alone (NH) | 30,642 | 27,762 | 95.14% | 93.16% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 630 | 408 | 1.96% | 1.37% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 41 | 36 | 0.13% | 0.12% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 82 | 104 | 0.25% | 0.35% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 3 | 1 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 18 | 49 | 0.06% | 0.16% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 265 | 882 | 0.82% | 2.96% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 527 | 558 | 1.64% | 1.87% |
| Total | 32,208 | 29,800 | 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 of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 inhabitants per square mile (28/km$^2$). There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 units per square mile (13 units/km$^2$). The racial makeup of the county was 96.86% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 13,493 households, out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.70% were married couples living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.80% were non-families. 26.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.60% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 16.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 93.80 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 90.50 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,083, and the median income for a family was $36,392. Males had a median income of $26,698 versus $19,712 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,105. About 9.90% of families and 13.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.20% of those under age 18 and 14.00% of those age 65 or over.

## Tourism

The Smyth County Tourism Association was formed in April 2006 to promote sustainable tourism development and manages the operation of the state-certified H.L. Bonham Regional Development and Tourism Center. The organization markets the area through https://visitsmythcountyva.com/

## Education
### Public high schools

* Chilhowie High School, Chilhowie
* Marion Senior High School, Marion
* Northwood High School, Saltville

### Job Corps

* Blue Ridge Job Corps, Marion

## Communities
### Towns

* Chilhowie
* Marion
* Saltville (partly in Washington County)

### Census-designated places

* Adwolfe
* Atkins
* McMullin
* Seven Mile Ford
* Sugar Grove

### Other unincorporated communities

* Groseclose
* Rich Valley

## Politics

United States presidential election results for Smyth County, Virginia :
| Year | Republican | Republican | Democratic | Democratic | Third party(ies) | Third party(ies) |
| Year | No. | % | No. | % | No. | % |
| 2024 | 11,521 | 79.63% | 2,805 | 19.39% | 142 | 0.98% |
| 2020 | 10,963 | 77.55% | 3,008 | 21.28% | 165 | 1.17% |
| 2016 | 9,750 | 75.64% | 2,665 | 20.67% | 475 | 3.69% |
| 2012 | 8,379 | 65.58% | 4,171 | 32.64% | 227 | 1.78% |
| 2008 | 7,817 | 63.54% | 4,239 | 34.46% | 246 | 2.00% |
| 2004 | 7,906 | 64.18% | 4,143 | 33.63% | 270 | 2.19% |
| 2000 | 6,580 | 56.05% | 4,836 | 41.19% | 324 | 2.76% |
| 1996 | 4,966 | 42.74% | 4,990 | 42.95% | 1,663 | 14.31% |
| 1992 | 6,128 | 47.39% | 4,924 | 38.08% | 1,879 | 14.53% |
| 1988 | 7,446 | 63.49% | 3,989 | 34.02% | 292 | 2.49% |
| 1984 | 8,593 | 67.08% | 4,102 | 32.02% | 116 | 0.91% |
| 1980 | 6,033 | 50.86% | 5,335 | 44.98% | 493 | 4.16% |
| 1976 | 5,032 | 47.29% | 5,246 | 49.30% | 363 | 3.41% |
| 1972 | 6,409 | 72.27% | 2,280 | 25.71% | 179 | 2.02% |
| 1968 | 5,297 | 54.32% | 2,631 | 26.98% | 1,823 | 18.70% |
| 1964 | 3,830 | 48.16% | 4,113 | 51.72% | 9 | 0.11% |
| 1960 | 4,256 | 59.62% | 2,864 | 40.12% | 18 | 0.25% |
| 1956 | 4,771 | 66.23% | 2,374 | 32.95% | 59 | 0.82% |
| 1952 | 3,694 | 64.98% | 1,972 | 34.69% | 19 | 0.33% |
| 1948 | 2,897 | 60.08% | 1,750 | 36.29% | 175 | 3.63% |
| 1944 | 2,726 | 54.53% | 2,266 | 45.33% | 7 | 0.14% |
| 1940 | 2,134 | 46.70% | 2,420 | 52.95% | 16 | 0.35% |
| 1936 | 2,067 | 46.75% | 2,337 | 52.86% | 17 | 0.38% |
| 1932 | 1,843 | 43.92% | 2,287 | 54.50% | 66 | 1.57% |
| 1928 | 2,751 | 58.68% | 1,937 | 41.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 2,232 | 53.50% | 1,907 | 45.71% | 33 | 0.79% |
| 1920 | 1,883 | 55.16% | 1,516 | 44.41% | 15 | 0.44% |
| 1916 | 1,321 | 53.63% | 1,134 | 46.04% | 8 | 0.32% |
| 1912 | 609 | 27.46% | 1,022 | 46.08% | 587 | 26.47% |