Washington County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Washington County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:36°43′N81°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 |
Washington County is acounty located in theCommonwealth ofVirginia. As of the2020 United States census, the population was 53,935.[1] Itscounty seat isAbingdon.[2] Washington County is part of theKingsport–Bristol–Bristol,TN-VAMetropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of theJohnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VACombined Statistical Area, commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region, which includes Bristol TN-VA, Kingsport TN, and Johnson City TN.
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For thousands of years, indigenous peoples of varying cultures lived in the area. At the time of European massacre, theChiska had a chief village near what is nowSaltville, destroyed by the Spaniards in 1568. TheCherokee annexed the region from theXualae around 1671, and ceded it to theVirginia Colony in 1770 at theTreaty of Lochaber.
The county was formed by Virginians in 1776 fromFincastle County. It was named forGeorge Washington, who was thencommander-in-chief of theContinental Army. Washington County is among the first geographical regions to be named after the president of the United States.
Washington County was raided by theChickamauga Cherokee during theCherokee–American wars. In July 1776, ChiefDragging Canoe led an attack on Black's Fort (renamed Abingdon in 1778). The area remained prone to attack until after Chickamauga leaderBob 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 becameRussell County. In 1814 the western part of what remained of Washington County was combined with parts ofLee andRussell counties to formScott County. In 1832 the northeastern part of Washington was combined with part ofWythe County to formSmyth County. Finally, with the incorporation of the town of Goodson as theindependent city ofBristol in 1890, Washington County assumed its present size.
On January 27, 2025,Vice PresidentJD Vance andGovernorGlenn Youngkin visited Washington County to meet with survivors ofHurricane Helene and review the recovery progress.[3][4]
According to theU.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 theAppalachian Regional Commission,[6] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his bookAmerican Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[7]
The county is divided into seven magisterial districts: Harrison, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Taylor, Tyler, and Wilson.
| 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] | |||
| 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 orAlaska 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.
As of thecensus[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 orAfrican American, 0.11%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.03%Pacific Islander, 0.14% fromother races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population wereHispanic orLatino 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% weremarried 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. Theper capita income for the county was $18,350. About 8.10% of families and 10.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 13.20% of those under age 18 and 14.20% of those age 65 or over.
Several unincorporated portions of the county have Bristol addresses.
Washington County is politically conservative, voting for theRepublican nominee in every presidential election since1968.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 590 | 17.80% | 1,721 | 51.92% | 1,004 | 30.29% |
| 1916 | 1,717 | 47.84% | 1,863 | 51.91% | 9 | 0.25% |
| 1920 | 2,672 | 54.14% | 2,251 | 45.61% | 12 | 0.24% |
| 1924 | 2,848 | 47.30% | 3,083 | 51.20% | 90 | 1.49% |
| 1928 | 3,449 | 56.40% | 2,666 | 43.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 1,774 | 38.34% | 2,784 | 60.17% | 69 | 1.49% |
| 1936 | 2,047 | 43.98% | 2,595 | 55.76% | 12 | 0.26% |
| 1940 | 2,697 | 45.13% | 3,245 | 54.30% | 34 | 0.57% |
| 1944 | 2,792 | 49.29% | 2,849 | 50.30% | 23 | 0.41% |
| 1948 | 2,972 | 52.20% | 2,510 | 44.09% | 211 | 3.71% |
| 1952 | 3,810 | 57.74% | 2,778 | 42.10% | 11 | 0.17% |
| 1956 | 4,651 | 56.38% | 3,547 | 42.99% | 52 | 0.63% |
| 1960 | 4,473 | 53.59% | 3,833 | 45.92% | 41 | 0.49% |
| 1964 | 4,146 | 44.94% | 5,070 | 54.95% | 10 | 0.11% |
| 1968 | 6,665 | 51.16% | 3,243 | 24.89% | 3,121 | 23.95% |
| 1972 | 8,805 | 72.70% | 3,028 | 25.00% | 278 | 2.30% |
| 1976 | 6,865 | 48.98% | 6,547 | 46.71% | 603 | 4.30% |
| 1980 | 8,402 | 53.87% | 6,390 | 40.97% | 805 | 5.16% |
| 1984 | 12,132 | 68.06% | 5,573 | 31.26% | 121 | 0.68% |
| 1988 | 10,722 | 63.45% | 5,819 | 34.43% | 358 | 2.12% |
| 1992 | 9,150 | 48.17% | 7,269 | 38.27% | 2,576 | 13.56% |
| 1996 | 9,098 | 50.07% | 6,939 | 38.19% | 2,132 | 11.73% |
| 2000 | 12,064 | 59.66% | 7,549 | 37.33% | 609 | 3.01% |
| 2004 | 14,749 | 65.51% | 7,339 | 32.60% | 426 | 1.89% |
| 2008 | 16,077 | 65.62% | 8,063 | 32.91% | 360 | 1.47% |
| 2012 | 18,141 | 70.77% | 7,076 | 27.61% | 415 | 1.62% |
| 2016 | 19,320 | 74.75% | 5,553 | 21.48% | 973 | 3.76% |
| 2020 | 21,679 | 75.58% | 6,617 | 23.07% | 389 | 1.36% |
| 2024 | 22,455 | 76.07% | 6,772 | 22.94% | 291 | 0.99% |
Virginia is represented in theU.S. Senate byDemocratsTim Kaine andMark Warner. Washington County is located in the state's9th congressional district, represented by RepublicanMorgan Griffith.
Washington County is represented in theState Senate by RepublicanTodd Pillion of the6th district and in theHouse of Delegates by RepublicanIsrael O'Quinn in the44th district.
Like many counties in Virginia, the county has an electedboard of supervisors.
Places adjacent to Washington County, Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofWashington County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Towns |  | |
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
36°43′N81°58′W / 36.72°N 81.96°W /36.72; -81.96
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