Washington County, Virginia

County in Virginia, United States

Not to be confused with Washington, Virginia.

County in Virginia

Washington County

County

Washington County Courthouse

Flag

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Coordinates: 36°43′N 81°58′W﻿ / ﻿36.72°N 81.96°W﻿ / 36.72; -81.96
Country|  United States
State|  Virginia
Founded| 1776
Named after| George Washington
Seat| Abingdon
Largest town| Abingdon
Area

• Total

| 566 sq mi (1,470 km2)
• Land| 561 sq mi (1,450 km2)
• Water| 5.0 sq mi (13 km2)  0.9%
Population

(2020)

• Total

| 53,935
• Density| 95/sq mi (37/km2)
Time zone| UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)| UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district| 9th
Website| www.washcova.com

Washington County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 53,935.[1] Its county seat is Abingdon.[2] Washington County is part of the Kingsport–Bristol–Bristol, TN-VA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area, commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region, which includes Bristol TN-VA, Kingsport TN, and Johnson City TN.

## History

[edit]

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|

For thousands of years, indigenous peoples of varying cultures lived in the area. At the time of European massacre, the Chiska had a chief village near what is now Saltville, destroyed by the Spaniards in 1568. The Cherokee annexed the region from the Xualae around 1671, and ceded it to the Virginia Colony in 1770 at the Treaty of Lochaber.

The county was formed by Virginians in 1776 from Fincastle County. It was named for George Washington, who was then commander-in-chief of the Continental Army. Washington County is among the first geographical regions to be named after the president of the United States.

Washington County was raided by the Chickamauga Cherokee during the Cherokee–American wars. In July 1776, Chief Dragging Canoe led an attack on Black's Fort (renamed Abingdon in 1778). The area remained prone to attack until after Chickamauga leader Bob Benge was brutally taken over by Europeans with ammunition in 1794.

As with many other frontier counties, the boundaries and territory changed over the years. In 1786 the northwestern part of Washington County became Russell County. In 1814 the western part of what remained of Washington County was combined with parts of Lee and Russell counties to form Scott County. In 1832 the northeastern part of Washington was combined with part of Wythe County to form Smyth County. Finally, with the incorporation of the town of Goodson as the independent city of Bristol in 1890, Washington County assumed its present size.

On January 27, 2025, Vice President JD Vance and Governor Glenn Youngkin visited Washington County to meet with survivors of Hurricane Helene and review the recovery progress.[3][4]

A farm in Washington County, Virginia

## Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 566 square miles (1,470 km2), of which 561 square miles (1,450 km2) is land and 5 square miles (13 km2) (0.9%) is water.[5] Washington County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[6] 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.[7]

### Districts

[edit]

The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Harrison, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Tyler, and Wilson.

### Adjacent counties

[edit]

* Smyth County \- northeast
* Grayson County \- east-southeast
* Johnson County, Tennessee \- south
* Sullivan County, Tennessee \- southwest
* Bristol (City) \- southwest
* Scott County \- west
* Russell County \- northwest

### National protected areas

[edit]

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

### Major highways

[edit]

* I-81
* US 11
* US 19
* US 58

US 58 Alt.
* US 421
* SR 75
* SR 80
* SR 91
* SR 617
* SR 625

## Demographics

[edit]

Historical population Census| Pop.| Note| %±

|
|
|

1790| 5,625| | —
1800| 9,536| | 69.5%
1810| 12,156| | 27.5%
1820| 12,444| | 2.4%
1830| 15,614| | 25.5%
1840| 13,001| | −16.7%
1850| 14,612| | 12.4%
1860| 16,892| | 15.6%
1870| 16,816| | −0.4%
1880| 25,203| | 49.9%
1890| 29,020| | 15.1%
1900| 28,995| | −0.1%
1910| 32,830| | 13.2%
1920| 32,376| | −1.4%
1930| 33,850| | 4.6%
1940| 38,197| | 12.8%
1950| 37,536| | −1.7%
1960| 38,076| | 1.4%
1970| 40,835| | 7.2%
1980| 46,487| | 13.8%
1990| 45,887| | −1.3%
2000| 51,103| | 11.4%
2010| 54,876| | 7.4%
2020| 53,935| | −1.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790-1960[9] 1900-1990[10]
2010[11] 2020[12]

### 2020 census

[edit]

Washington County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)  Race / Ethnicity  | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010  | % 2020

|
|
|
|

White alone (NH)  | 52,798  | 50,338  | 96.21%  | 93.33%
Black or African American alone (NH)  | 686  | 651  | 1.25%  | 1.21%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)  | 90  | 91  | 0.16%  | 0.17%
Asian alone (NH)  | 202  | 334  | 0.37%  | 0.62%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)  | 6  | 0  | 0.01%  | 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)  | 21  | 134  | 0.04%  | 0.25%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)  | 349  | 1,496  | 0.64%  | 2.77%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)  | 724  | 891  | 1.32%  | 1.65%
Total | 54,876 | 53,935 | 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[13] of 2000, there were 51,103 people, 21,056 households, and 14,949 families residing in the county. The population density was 91 inhabitants per square mile (35/km2). There were 22,985 housing units at an average density of 41 units per square mile (16 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.56% White, 1.32% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 21,056 households, out of which 28.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.10% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.30% from 25 to 44, 26.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 91.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,742, and the median income for a family was $40,162. Males had a median income of $30,104 versus $21,307 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,350. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.

## Education

[edit]

### Colleges

[edit]

* Emory and Henry College, Emory
* Virginia Highlands Community College, Abingdon
* Virginia Intermont College, Bristol (closed 2014) ** Portion ** The main VIC campus was located in the City of Bristol, however the Equestrian Center (now part of Emory & Henry College) is located in Washington County.

### Public high schools

[edit]

* Abingdon High School, Abingdon
* Holston High School, Damascus
* John S. Battle High School, Bristol
* Patrick Henry High School, Glade Spring

## Communities

[edit]

### Towns

[edit]

Farmland in Washington County near Friendship and Wideners Valley

* Abingdon
* Damascus
* Glade Spring
* Saltville (Partially in Smyth County)

### Census-designated places

[edit]

* Emory
* Meadowview

### Other unincorporated communities

[edit]

* Alvarado
* Azen
* Bethel
* Blackwell
* Clinchburg
* Friendship
* Goose Pimple Junction
* Greendale
* Green Spring
* Hayter
* Holston
* Konnarock
* Lindell
* Lodi
* Mendota
* Osecola
* Plasterco
* Taylors Valley
* Wyndale

Several unincorporated portions of the county have Bristol addresses.

## Notable people

[edit]

* Frederick C. Boucher, Member of Congress
* Red Byron, race car driver
* David Campbell, Governor of Virginia
* John Buchanan Floyd, Governor of Virginia, U.S. Secretary of War and C.S.A. general
* Robert William Hughes, lawyer, newspaper publisher, U.S. District Court judge
* John Warfield Johnston, lawyer, judge, U.S. Senator
* Barbara Kingsolver, writer and novelist
* Joseph Meek, American frontiersman
* William Frank Newton, jazz musician
* John E. Reinhardt, Ambassador to Nigeria, Director of the U.S. Information Agency and Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs
* Wyndham Robertson, Governor of Virginia
* Connally Findlay Trigg. Member of Congress
* Hiram Emory Widener, Jr., U.S. District Court and U.S. Court of Appeals judge
* Steven Jason Williams, better known by his alias Boogie2988, an American YouTube personality born in Abingdon, Virginia. He was raised in St. Paul.

## Governance and politics

[edit]

### Presidential election results

[edit]

Washington County is politically conservative, voting for the Republican nominee in every presidential election since 1968.

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

|
|
|

No. | % | No. | % | No. | %
2024 | 22,455  | 76.07% | 6,772  | 22.94%  | 291  | 0.99%
2020 | 21,679  | 75.58% | 6,617  | 23.07%  | 389  | 1.36%
2016 | 19,320  | 74.75% | 5,553  | 21.48%  | 973  | 3.76%
2012 | 18,141  | 70.77% | 7,076  | 27.61%  | 415  | 1.62%
2008 | 16,077  | 65.62% | 8,063  | 32.91%  | 360  | 1.47%
2004 | 14,749  | 65.51% | 7,339  | 32.60%  | 426  | 1.89%
2000 | 12,064  | 59.66% | 7,549  | 37.33%  | 609  | 3.01%
1996 | 9,098  | 50.07% | 6,939  | 38.19%  | 2,132  | 11.73%
1992 | 9,150  | 48.17% | 7,269  | 38.27%  | 2,576  | 13.56%
1988 | 10,722  | 63.45% | 5,819  | 34.43%  | 358  | 2.12%
1984 | 12,132  | 68.06% | 5,573  | 31.26%  | 121  | 0.68%
1980 | 8,402  | 53.87% | 6,390  | 40.97%  | 805  | 5.16%
1976 | 6,865  | 48.98% | 6,547  | 46.71%  | 603  | 4.30%
1972 | 8,805  | 72.70% | 3,028  | 25.00%  | 278  | 2.30%
1968 | 6,665  | 51.16% | 3,243  | 24.89%  | 3,121  | 23.95%
1964 | 4,146  | 44.94%  | 5,070  | 54.95% | 10  | 0.11%
1960 | 4,473  | 53.59% | 3,833  | 45.92%  | 41  | 0.49%
1956 | 4,651  | 56.38% | 3,547  | 42.99%  | 52  | 0.63%
1952 | 3,810  | 57.74% | 2,778  | 42.10%  | 11  | 0.17%
1948 | 2,972  | 52.20% | 2,510  | 44.09%  | 211  | 3.71%
1944 | 2,792  | 49.29%  | 2,849  | 50.30% | 23  | 0.41%
1940 | 2,697  | 45.13%  | 3,245  | 54.30% | 34  | 0.57%
1936 | 2,047  | 43.98%  | 2,595  | 55.76% | 12  | 0.26%
1932 | 1,774  | 38.34%  | 2,784  | 60.17% | 69  | 1.49%
1928 | 3,449  | 56.40% | 2,666  | 43.60%  | 0  | 0.00%
1924 | 2,848  | 47.30%  | 3,083  | 51.20% | 90  | 1.49%
1920 | 2,672  | 54.14% | 2,251  | 45.61%  | 12  | 0.24%
1916 | 1,717  | 47.84%  | 1,863  | 51.91% | 9  | 0.25%
1912 | 590  | 17.80%  | 1,721  | 51.92% | 1,004  | 30.29%

### Governance

[edit]

#### Federal

[edit]

Virginia is represented in the U.S. Senate by Democrats Tim Kaine and Mark Warner. Washington County is located in the state's 9th congressional district, represented by Republican Morgan Griffith.

#### State Legislature

[edit]

Washington County is represented in the State Senate by Republican Todd Pillion of the 6th district and in the House of Delegates by Republican Israel O'Quinn in the 44th district.

#### County

[edit]

Like many counties in Virginia, the county has an elected board of supervisors.

## See also

[edit]

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

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Washington County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. ^ @VP (January 28, 2025). "It was a moving experience yesterday hearing the stories of Virginians who have been impacted by Hurricane Helene" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
4. ^ Cain, Andrew (January 27, 2025). "Virginia Politics Insider: Vance on the road to Damascus". Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved May 1, 2025.
5. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
6. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
7. ^ Woodard, Colin (July 30, 2018). "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
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 5, 2014.
10. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 5, 2014.
11. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Washington County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
12. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Washington County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

## External links

[edit]

* Washington County government official website
* Washington County Virginia Public Schools
* Washington County Virginia Chamber of Commerce
* Washington County Virginia GIS (Geographic Information Systems)
* Mount Rogers Planning District
* Barter Theater (State Theater of Virginia)

Places adjacent to Washington County, Virginia

| Russell County |  | Smyth County

|
|

|  |
Scott County |

Washington County, Virginia

| Grayson County
|  |
City of Bristol and Sullivan County, Tennessee |  | Johnson County, Tennessee

* v
* t
* e

Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Virginia, United States

County seat: Abingdon

Towns|

* Abingdon
* Damascus
* Glade Spring
* Saltville‡

Map of Virginia highlighting Washington County

CDPs|

* Emory
* Meadow View
* Mendota

Other
communities|

* Alvarado
* Bethel
* Blackwell
* Clinchburg
* Friendship
* Goose Pimple Junction
* Hayter
* Holston
* Konnarock
* Lindell
* Lodi
* Midway
* Taylors Valley

Footnotes|

‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

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36°43′N 81°58′W﻿ / ﻿36.72°N 81.96°W﻿ / 36.72; -81.96

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