Norton, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock | |
 Seal | |
 Location in the Commonwealth ofVirginia | |
| Coordinates:36°56′12″N82°37′30″W / 36.93667°N 82.62500°W /36.93667; -82.62500 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| County | None (Independent city) |
| Founded | 1894 |
| Named after | Eckstein Norton[1] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Joseph Fawbush[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 7.51 sq mi (19.46 km2) |
| • Land | 7.48 sq mi (19.37 km2) |
| • Water | 0.035 sq mi (0.09 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,130 ft (650 m) |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 3,687 |
| • Density | 493.0/sq mi (190.3/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 24273 |
| Area code | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-57688[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1485924[5] |
| Website | https://www.nortonva.gov |
Norton is anindependent city in theCommonwealth ofVirginia, located in the far western tip of the state and surrounded byWise County, Virginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 3,687,[6] making it the least populous city in Virginia. TheBureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Norton with surroundingWise County for statistical purposes.
The settlement was originally known as "Prince's Flats," but in a bid to convince theLouisville and Nashville Railroad[7] to build a depot there, the town was renamed after the then-current head of the railroad, Eckstein Norton. Norton was located on the Wilderness Trail, which had been blazed byDaniel Boone, and later extensively mapped and settled by Christopher Gist. The settlement developed as a central hub for the timber trade until the coal boom of the 1830-40s.[8]
TheHotel Norton is listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[9]
Norton is located along thePowell andGuest Rivers. The entire area of Norton lies within the confines ofWise County but is not a part of the county.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19 km2), virtually all of which is land.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900 | 654 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,866 | 185.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,068 | 64.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,077 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,006 | 30.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,315 | 7.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,996 | 15.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,001 | −19.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,757 | 18.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,247 | −10.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,904 | −8.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,958 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,687 | −6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[10] 1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12] 1990–2000[13] 2010[14] 2020[15] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010[14] | Pop 2020[15] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 3,478 | 3,223 | 87.87% | 87.42% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 250 | 179 | 6.32% | 4.85% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 5 | 4 | 0.13% | 0.11% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 56 | 27 | 1.41% | 0.73% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 0 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 6 | 14 | 0.15% | 0.38% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 95 | 159 | 2.40% | 4.31% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 68 | 81 | 1.72% | 2.20% |
| Total | 3,958 | 3,687 | 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.
As of thecensus[16] of 2000, there were 3,904 people, 1,730 households, and 1,067 families residing in the city. Thepopulation density was 518.5 people per square mile (200.2 people/km2). There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of 258.4 units per square mile (99.8 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.57%White, 6.15%Black, 0.08%Native American, 1.00%Asian, 0.13%Pacific Islander, 0.18% fromother races, and 0.90% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.87% of the population.
There were 1,730 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% weremarried couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,788, and the median income for a family was $30,889. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,229 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $16,024. About 19.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1956 | 684 | 55.12% | 552 | 44.48% | 5 | 0.40% |
| 1960 | 549 | 51.02% | 526 | 48.88% | 1 | 0.09% |
| 1964 | 372 | 31.10% | 824 | 68.90% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 495 | 39.07% | 555 | 43.80% | 217 | 17.13% |
| 1972 | 823 | 62.68% | 463 | 35.26% | 27 | 2.06% |
| 1976 | 577 | 40.35% | 811 | 56.71% | 42 | 2.94% |
| 1980 | 572 | 40.86% | 762 | 54.43% | 66 | 4.71% |
| 1984 | 806 | 48.32% | 842 | 50.48% | 20 | 1.20% |
| 1988 | 608 | 42.73% | 795 | 55.87% | 20 | 1.41% |
| 1992 | 472 | 30.49% | 871 | 56.27% | 205 | 13.24% |
| 1996 | 416 | 30.10% | 802 | 58.03% | 164 | 11.87% |
| 2000 | 639 | 41.76% | 867 | 56.67% | 24 | 1.57% |
| 2004 | 768 | 51.06% | 725 | 48.20% | 11 | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 744 | 49.21% | 743 | 49.14% | 25 | 1.65% |
| 2012 | 895 | 59.99% | 566 | 37.94% | 31 | 2.08% |
| 2016 | 1,021 | 69.93% | 383 | 26.23% | 56 | 3.84% |
| 2020 | 1,109 | 69.27% | 464 | 28.98% | 28 | 1.75% |
| 2024 | 1,174 | 71.41% | 458 | 27.86% | 12 | 0.73% |
The city of Norton is located in the9th congressional district, currently served byMorgan Griffith.[18] Forstate government, Norton lies in the1st House district (Terry Kilgore) and the38th Senate district (Travis Hackworth, previouslyBen Chafin, who died fromCOVID-19 complications[19]).[20][21]
Since 2004, Norton has reliably voted for the Republican candidate for president. AlthoughJohn McCain beatBarack Obama in Norton by just a single vote in 2008, the Republican margins increased thereafter, reaching forty percent margins beginning in 2016.
In 2021, Norton voted forGlenn Youngkin overTerry McAuliffe at a greater than forty-five percent margin.
Norton City Schools is the school division of the city, operatingJohn I. Burton High School and Norton Elementary and Middle School.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
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