Montgomery County, Virginia

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. Its county seat is Christiansburg, 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, which is the county's largest employer.
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.
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.
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 , of which is land and (0.6%) is water. The western part of the county is in the New River watershed.
Adjacent counties and city
Craig County - Northeast
Giles County - Northwest
City of Radford - West
Pulaski County - Southwest
Floyd County - South
Roanoke County - East
National protected area
Jefferson National Forest (part)
Major highways
U.S. Bicycle Route
enters Montgomery County from Radford and crosses the county for 27.9 miles to Roanoke County
Demographics
2020 census
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 .
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, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of . 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 20th century, being consistently Republican due to Unionist sentiment in the area during the Civil War, 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.
Climate
Education
Colleges and universities
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech)
Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
New River Community College
Public High schools
Blacksburg High School
Christiansburg High School
Auburn High School
Eastern Montgomery High School
Private High schools
Pathway Christian Academy
Dayspring Christian Academy
Communities
Towns
Blacksburg
Christiansburg
Census-designated places
Belview
Elliston
Lafayette
Merrimac
Plum Creek
Prices Fork
Riner
Shawsville
Other unincorporated communities
Alleghany Springs
Bradshaw
Belmont
Childress
Ellett
Graysontown
Ironto
Long Shop
Lusters Gate
McCoy
McDonalds Mill
New Ellett
Pilot
Rogers
Sowers
Sugar Grove
Toms Creek
Vicker
Walton
Yellow Sulphur Springs
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Montgomery County, Virginia
References
Virginia counties
1772 establishments in Virginia
Blacksburg–Christiansburg metropolitan area
Counties of Appalachia