Pulaski County, Virginia

County in Virginia, United States

County in Virginia

Pulaski County

County

Pulaski County Courthouse

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 37°04′N 80°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.06°N 80.71°W﻿ / 37.06; -80.71
Country|  United States
State|  Virginia
Founded| 1839
Named after| Casimir Pulaski
Seat| Pulaski
Largest town| Pulaski
Area

• Total

| 330 sq mi (900 km2)
• Land| 320 sq mi (800 km2)
• Water| 10 sq mi (30 km2)  3.0%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 33,800
• Density| 100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 9th
Website| www.pulaskicounty.org

Pulaski County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,800.[1] Its county seat is Pulaski.[2] Pulaski County is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area.

## History

[edit]

Pulaski County was formed on March 30, 1839, from parts of Montgomery and Wythe counties, becoming the 87th county of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was named for Count Casimir Pulaski, an exiled Polish nobleman who fought during the American Revolution as part of George Washington's army. He joined the army in 1777 and became a brigadier general and chief of cavalry in the Continental Army. He was fatally wounded at Savannah and died on October 11, 1779.[3]

This area of the Blue Ridge has rolling hills and was settled by mostly small farmers, recent Scots-Irish and German immigrants and their descendants who migrated down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania in the mid to late-18th century. They pushed out or killed most Native Americans in the area. The new settlers were yeomen, who held fewer slaves than in the Tidewater area. Nonetheless, by 1840 about one-quarter of the population was made up of enslaved black Americans. The county had 3,739 persons, consisting of 2,768 free whites, and 971 blacks. Some 17 of the latter were free blacks.

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 330 square miles (850 km2), of which 320 square miles (830 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (3.0%) is water. Pulaski County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[4] 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.[5]

Pulaski County is the site of Claytor Lake State Park, which is located on Claytor Lake, a 4,500-acre (18 km2), 21-mile (34 km) long human-made lake on the New River created for a hydroelectric project of Appalachian Power Company. Claytor Lake State Park, located on the north side of the lake, provides 497 acres of park with camping, cabins, picnic areas, and a swimming beach, as well as a marina. It is named for W. Graham Claytor, Sr. (1886–1971) of Roanoke, Virginia, a vice president of Appalachian Power who supervised construction of the dam and creation of the lake.

Pulaski County has several public boating sites including Harry DeHaven Park, in Allisonia on Rt.639, in Dublin on Rt. 660, and Gatewood Reservoir, a 162-acre water supply impoundment owned by the Town of Pulaski.

### Adjacent counties / Independent city

[edit]

* Bland County – northwest
* Giles County – north
* Montgomery County – northeast
* City of Radford – northeast
* Floyd County – southeast
* Carroll County – south
* Wythe County – southwest

Law Enforcement

Pulaski County Sheriff is Michael W. Worrell, a law enforcement veteran with twenty plus years of service to the citizens of Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Pulaski County High School and Radford University.

### National protected area

[edit]

* Jefferson National Forest (part)

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-81
* US 11
* SR 99
* SR 100
* SR 114
* SR 9

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1840| 3,739| | —
1850| 5,118| | 36.9%
1860| 5,416| | 5.8%
1870| 6,538| | 20.7%
1880| 8,755| | 33.9%
1890| 12,790| | 46.1%
1900| 14,609| | 14.2%
1910| 17,246| | 18.1%
1920| 17,111| | −0.8%
1930| 20,566| | 20.2%
1940| 22,767| | 10.7%
1950| 27,758| | 21.9%
1960| 27,258| | −1.8%
1970| 29,564| | 8.5%
1980| 35,229| | 19.2%
1990| 34,496| | −2.1%
2000| 35,127| | 1.8%
2010| 34,872| | −0.7%
2020| 33,800| | −3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Pulaski County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)  Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2010[10] | Pop 2020[11] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 31,972  | 29,716  | 91.68%  | 87.92%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 1,744  | 1,633  | 5.00%  | 4.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 61  | 49  | 0.17%  | 0.14%
Asian alone (NH)  | 179  | 177  | 0.51%  | 0.52%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 7  | 3  | 0.02%  | 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)  | 25  | 100  | 0.07%  | 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 452  | 1,418  | 1.30%  | 4.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 432  | 704  | 0.96%  | 2.08%
Total | 34,872 | 33,800 | 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

[edit]

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 35,127 people, 14,643 households, and 10,147 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (42 people/km2). There were 16,325 housing units at an average density of 51 units per square mile (20 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.60% White, 5.57% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 14,643 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,873, and the median income for a family was $42,251. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $21,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,973. About 10.60% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.

## Economy

[edit]

The Volvo Trucks North America plant in Pulaski County will begin manufacturing a battery-powered VNR Electric truck model starting in early 2021. It is the largest Volvo truck plant in the world, and the Dublin, Virginia facility currently employed close to 3,000 people building multiple models of heavy-duty trucks.[13]

## Schools

[edit]

### Secondary and Higher Education

[edit]

* New River Community College
* Southwest Virginia Governor School
* Pulaski County High School

### Middle schools

[edit]

* Pulaski County Middle School

### Elementary schools

[edit]

* Pulaski Elementary School
* Dublin Elementary School
* Critzer Elementary School
* Riverlawn Elementary School
* Snowville Elementary School

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

* Dublin
* Pulaski

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Allisonia
* Belspring
* Draper
* Fairlawn
* Hiwassee
* New River
* Parrott
* Snowville

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Caseknife
* Claytor Lake
* Newbern
* Wurno
* Little Creek
* Delton
* Tinytown

## Politics

[edit]

United States presidential election results for Pulaski County, Virginia[14] Year  | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies)

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 12,732  | 71.75% | 4,830  | 27.22%  | 182  | 1.03%
2020 | 12,127  | 69.79% | 4,925  | 28.34%  | 324  | 1.86%
2016 | 10,322  | 68.06% | 4,172  | 27.51%  | 671  | 4.42%
2012 | 8,920  | 60.76% | 5,292  | 36.05%  | 468  | 3.19%
2008 | 8,857  | 58.85% | 5,918  | 39.32%  | 275  | 1.83%
2004 | 8,769  | 61.53% | 5,310  | 37.26%  | 172  | 1.21%
2000 | 7,089  | 55.83% | 5,255  | 41.39%  | 353  | 2.78%
1996 | 5,387  | 43.78% | 5,333  | 43.34%  | 1,584  | 12.87%
1992 | 6,148  | 43.96% | 5,633  | 40.27%  | 2,206  | 15.77%
1988 | 6,844  | 58.40% | 4,686  | 39.99%  | 189  | 1.61%
1984 | 8,242  | 64.90% | 4,364  | 34.36%  | 93  | 0.73%
1980 | 5,747  | 47.73%  | 5,769  | 47.92% | 524  | 4.35%
1976 | 4,764  | 44.84%  | 5,546  | 52.20% | 314  | 2.96%
1972 | 6,281  | 72.01% | 2,311  | 26.50%  | 130  | 1.49%
1968 | 4,409  | 53.35% | 2,497  | 30.21%  | 1,359  | 16.44%
1964 | 3,101  | 46.10%  | 3,620  | 53.82% | 5  | 0.07%
1960 | 3,059  | 58.75% | 2,104  | 40.41%  | 44  | 0.85%
1956 | 3,517  | 63.05% | 1,994  | 35.75%  | 67  | 1.20%
1952 | 2,815  | 62.03% | 1,715  | 37.79%  | 8  | 0.18%
1948 | 1,691  | 48.99% | 1,412  | 40.90%  | 349  | 10.11%
1944 | 1,302  | 37.65%  | 2,155  | 62.32% | 1  | 0.03%
1940 | 1,023  | 31.43%  | 2,226  | 68.39% | 6  | 0.18%
1936 | 1,180  | 33.51%  | 2,337  | 66.37% | 4  | 0.11%
1932 | 1,109  | 32.11%  | 2,314  | 66.99% | 31  | 0.90%
1928 | 1,998  | 52.32% | 1,821  | 47.68%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 1,422  | 43.33%  | 1,767  | 53.84% | 93  | 2.83%
1920 | 1,710  | 48.43%  | 1,814  | 51.37% | 7  | 0.20%
1916 | 721  | 38.68%  | 1,057  | 56.71% | 86  | 4.61%
1912 | 196  | 13.27%  | 781  | 52.88% | 500  | 33.85%

### Pulaski County reps in state government

[edit]

* James A. Walker[15]
* James Hoge Tyler[16][17]

## See also

[edit]

* National Register of Historic Places listings in Pulaski County, Virginia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Pulaski County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ History of Pulaski County (PDF)
4. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
5. ^ Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 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 October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
10. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wythe County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
11. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Pulaski County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. ^ Andrews, Kate. Volvo electric trucks to be produced at NRV plant in early 2021. Virginia Business, December 3, 2020.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
15. ^ Rogers, George Wesley (1959). Officers of the Senate of Virginia 1776–1956. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 59-12727: Garrett & Massie, Inc. p. 57.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
16. ^ Rogers, George Wesley (1959). Officers of the Senate of Virginia. Library of Congress Catalog Number 59-12727: Garrett & Massie, Inc. p. 61.`{{cite book}}`: CS1 maint: location (link)
17. ^ "Governor Tyler Hotel".

## External links

[edit]

* Claytor Lake Webcam
* Pulaski County, Virginia official website
* Claytor Lake State Park (Virginia)
* Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, Claytor Lake webpage

Places adjacent to Pulaski County, Virginia

| Bland County | Giles County | Montgomery County and City of Radford

|
|

|  |

Pulaski County, Virginia

|  |
Wythe County | Carroll County | Floyd County

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Pulaski County, Virginia, United States

County seat: Pulaski

Towns|

* Dublin
* Pulaski

Map of Virginia highlighting Pulaski County

CDPs|

* Allisonia
* Belspring
* Draper
* Fairlawn
* Hiwassee
* New River
* Parrott
* Snowville

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* Alum Springs
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* Boom Furnace
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* Kayoulah
* Mack Creek Village
* McAdam
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* Reed Junction
* Shiloh
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* Weldon
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37°04′N 80°43′W﻿ / ﻿37.06°N 80.71°W﻿ / 37.06; -80.71

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