Bland County, Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Bland County Courthouse | |
 Flag  Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofVirginia | |
 Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:37°08′N81°08′W / 37.13°N 81.13°W /37.13; -81.13 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | 1861 |
| Named after | Richard Bland |
| Seat | Bland |
| Largest community | Bland |
| Area | |
• Total | 359 sq mi (930 km2) |
| • Land | 358 sq mi (930 km2) |
| • Water | 1 sq mi (2.6 km2) 0.3% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 6,270 |
| • Density | 17.5/sq mi (6.76/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
| Website | www |
Bland County is acounty located in thesouthwestern portion of theCommonwealth ofVirginia. Thecounty seat is theunincorporated area ofBland.[1] At the2020 census, the population was 6,270.
Bland County was created in 1861 from parts ofWythe,Tazewell, andGiles counties in Virginia. The new county was named in honor ofRichard Bland, a Virginia statesman who served in theHouse of Burgesses and theContinental Congress.
As of the2020 census, the county population was 6,270, making it the4th least populated county in Virginia.[2]
The push to create Bland County resulted from popular dissatisfaction with the distances required to travel to the variouscounty seats in the area. The distances and the difficult mountain trails created a significant hardship for those needing to conduct legal affairs. In addition, the growing population resented paying taxes for benefits outside of the local area. This pressure eventually persuaded theVirginia General Assembly to take action to form a new county in the southwestern portion of the state.[3]
Bland County was officially formed on March 30, 1861, from parts ofWythe,Tazewell, andGiles counties. Additional land from Giles County was added later. The county was named afterRichard Bland, a Virginia statesman and political figure who helped lead the struggle for freedom and independence from England.[4]
According to theU.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 358.7 square miles (929.0 km2), of which 357.7 square miles (926.4 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]
Bland County lies within theAppalachian Regional Commission's definition of theAppalachian region. The county is mountainous with small river valleys running through the county. The county lies entirely within theRidge and Valleyphysiographic province.
The North Fork of theHolston River has its head waters in Bland County.
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1870 | 4,000 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,004 | 25.1% | |
| 1890 | 5,129 | 2.5% | |
| 1900 | 5,497 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 5,154 | −6.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,593 | 8.5% | |
| 1930 | 6,031 | 7.8% | |
| 1940 | 6,731 | 11.6% | |
| 1950 | 6,436 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,982 | −7.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,423 | −9.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,349 | 17.1% | |
| 1990 | 6,514 | 2.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,871 | 5.5% | |
| 2010 | 6,824 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,270 | −8.1% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 6,148 | [6] | −1.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[7] 1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9] 1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12] | |||
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010[11] | Pop 2020[12] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,494 | 5,857 | 95.16% | 93.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 228 | 167 | 3.34% | 2.66% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 18 | 4 | 0.26% | 0.06% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 5 | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 43 | 177 | 0.63% | 2.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39 | 60 | 0.57% | 0.96% |
| Total | 6,824 | 6,270 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of thecensus[13] of 2000, there were 6,871 people, 2,568 households, and 1,908 families residing in the county. Thepopulation density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 3,161 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.82%White, 4.19%Black orAfrican American, 0.09%Native American, 0.12%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.09% fromother races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race. 37.4% were ofAmerican, 11.8%German, 11.5%English and 10.9%Irish ancestry according toCensus 2000.
There were 2,568 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% weremarried couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.85.
The population distribution of Bland County is: 19.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 27.90% from 45 to 64, and 14.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 119.90 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 121.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,397, and the median income for a family was $35,765. Males had a median income of $30,801 versus $23,380 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $17,744. 12.40% of the population and 9.10% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.20% are under the age of 18 and 22.60% are 65 or older.
2022-2024
Bland County is represented by RepublicanTravis Hackworth in the Virginia Senate, RepublicanJames W. "Will" Morefield in the Virginia House of Delegates, and RepublicanH. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 206 | 33.50% | 289 | 46.99% | 120 | 19.51% |
| 1916 | 420 | 53.85% | 356 | 45.64% | 4 | 0.51% |
| 1920 | 478 | 54.26% | 403 | 45.74% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | 609 | 49.96% | 604 | 49.55% | 6 | 0.49% |
| 1928 | 826 | 58.96% | 575 | 41.04% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1932 | 556 | 41.00% | 783 | 57.74% | 17 | 1.25% |
| 1936 | 642 | 45.05% | 778 | 54.60% | 5 | 0.35% |
| 1940 | 693 | 47.83% | 753 | 51.97% | 3 | 0.21% |
| 1944 | 744 | 49.40% | 762 | 50.60% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 822 | 50.49% | 738 | 45.33% | 68 | 4.18% |
| 1952 | 1,000 | 57.21% | 743 | 42.51% | 5 | 0.29% |
| 1956 | 1,113 | 57.16% | 813 | 41.76% | 21 | 1.08% |
| 1960 | 848 | 50.75% | 822 | 49.19% | 1 | 0.06% |
| 1964 | 717 | 45.67% | 851 | 54.20% | 2 | 0.13% |
| 1968 | 938 | 50.38% | 560 | 30.08% | 364 | 19.55% |
| 1972 | 1,352 | 70.64% | 527 | 27.53% | 35 | 1.83% |
| 1976 | 1,047 | 51.91% | 961 | 47.65% | 9 | 0.45% |
| 1980 | 1,278 | 54.50% | 1,002 | 42.73% | 65 | 2.77% |
| 1984 | 1,812 | 67.29% | 867 | 32.19% | 14 | 0.52% |
| 1988 | 1,556 | 61.12% | 937 | 36.80% | 53 | 2.08% |
| 1992 | 1,368 | 48.31% | 1,001 | 35.35% | 463 | 16.35% |
| 1996 | 1,167 | 46.00% | 939 | 37.01% | 431 | 16.99% |
| 2000 | 1,759 | 65.44% | 851 | 31.66% | 78 | 2.90% |
| 2004 | 1,962 | 68.48% | 846 | 29.53% | 57 | 1.99% |
| 2008 | 2,031 | 68.64% | 864 | 29.20% | 64 | 2.16% |
| 2012 | 2,144 | 72.73% | 735 | 24.93% | 69 | 2.34% |
| 2016 | 2,573 | 81.97% | 453 | 14.43% | 113 | 3.60% |
| 2020 | 2,903 | 83.44% | 532 | 15.29% | 44 | 1.26% |
| 2024 | 2,998 | 84.33% | 524 | 14.74% | 33 | 0.93% |
The county is a historically Republican county. The only Democrats who have carried it since 1910 have beenWoodrow Wilson in 1912 when the Republican Party was split betweenWilliam Howard Taft andTheodore Roosevelt,Franklin D. Roosevelt in each of his four elections, andLyndon B. Johnson in 1964, all national Democratic Party landslides.
Places adjacent to Bland County, Virginia | |
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Municipalities and communities ofBland County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| CDPs |  | |
| Other communities | ||
37°08′N81°08′W / 37.13°N 81.13°W /37.13; -81.13
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| National | |
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