Saltville, Virginia | |
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  Saltville Saltville (the United States) Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:36°52′25″N81°45′39″W / 36.87361°N 81.76083°W /36.87361; -81.76083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Virginia |
| Counties | Smyth,Washington |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Cheri Heath Fullen |
| Area | |
• Total | 8.13 sq mi (21.06 km2) |
| • Land | 8.02 sq mi (20.76 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.29 km2) 1.40% |
| Elevation | 1,726 ft (526 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,824 |
| • Density | 228/sq mi (87.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 24370 |
| Area code | 276 |
| FIPS code | 51-70096[3] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1486913[4] |
| Website | saltville.org |
Saltville is a town inSmyth andWashington counties in theU.S. state ofVirginia. The population was 1,824 at the 2020 census.[2] It is part of theKingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA)Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of theJohnson City–Kingsport–Bristol,TN-VACombined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
Saltville was named for the salt marshes in the area. Prior to European settlement, these marshes attracted local wildlife. Excavations at theSV-2 archaeological site in the area have recovered several well preserved skeletons of now extinct species dating back to thelast ice age.[5] Indigenous peoples of varying cultures hunted at the marshes. The historic Native American people in the area were theChisca.
Archaeologists in 1992 proposed the existence of a prehistoric "Saltville Complex Petty Chiefdom", with a paramount village located at theNorthwood High School site, 44SM8. They reported "Saltville stylegorgets" as well as iron and copper materials, scattered across the region.[6]
During the spring of 1567, Spanishconquistador Hernando Moyano de Morales led a force of 15-20 soldiers northward fromFort San Juan inJoara, a city in what is now western North Carolina.[7] The force attacked and burned the Chisca village ofManiatique, which may have been located at or near the site of Saltville.[8][9]
During theAmerican Civil War, Saltville was one of the Confederacy's main saltworks.[10] The saltworks were considered vital to the Confederate war effort because the salt was used in preserving meat for Confederate soldiers and civilians. Because of its importance, the town was attacked by Northern forces intent on destroying the saltworks. On October 2, 1864, theFirst Battle of Saltville was fought there. In the battleUnion forces attacked Saltville but were defeated byConfederate troops. Following the battle a number of wounded black troops were murdered in what was dubbed the "Saltville Massacre." (Shortly after the warChamp Ferguson was tried, convicted, and executed for war crimes for this and other killings.)
Two months later GeneralGeorge Stoneman, a Union cavalry commander, led a second attack on the saltworksm; theSecond Battle of Saltville. This time the Confederates were defeated and the saltworks were destroyed by Union troops. The loss of the Saltville works was considered a major blow to the Confederacy's dwindling resources.
Preston House,Saltville Battlefields Historic District,Saltville Historic District, and theScott-Walker House are listed on theNational Register of Historic Places.[11]
Hydrazine rocket fuel made byOlin Mathieson Chemical Corporation's plant in Saltville was used to power the rocket that took the first humans to the moon in theApollo 11 mission.[12]
Saltville was the location of the infamous "Muck Dam" break on December 24, 1924, which allowed the release of a huge volume of liquid chemical waste stored there by theMathieson Alkali Company into the north fork of theHolston River, taking the lives of nineteen people who lived along the river.[13] The river remained polluted and virtually dead for several decades afterward.[14][15][16][17]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 8.1 square miles (21.0 km2), of which 8.1 square miles (20.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square mile (0.1 km2) (0.49%) is water.
The salt caverns in Saltville are used for natural gas storage, the only ones to serve the Mid-Atlantic states. The cavern type in Saltville is considered the best for this purpose because the gas can be injected and removed quickly to meet immediate demand.
The climate in this area features moderate differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. TheKöppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Cfb". (Marine West Coast Climate/Oceanic climate).[18]
| Climate data for Saltville, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1894–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) | 84 (29) | 86 (30) | 90 (32) | 95 (35) | 99 (37) | 102 (39) | 100 (38) | 100 (38) | 94 (34) | 84 (29) | 79 (26) | 102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 44.2 (6.8) | 48.0 (8.9) | 56.9 (13.8) | 67.5 (19.7) | 75.0 (23.9) | 81.5 (27.5) | 84.4 (29.1) | 83.7 (28.7) | 79.0 (26.1) | 68.8 (20.4) | 57.5 (14.2) | 47.6 (8.7) | 66.2 (19.0) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.7 (0.9) | 36.6 (2.6) | 44.0 (6.7) | 53.2 (11.8) | 62.0 (16.7) | 69.5 (20.8) | 73.1 (22.8) | 72.2 (22.3) | 66.5 (19.2) | 55.0 (12.8) | 44.0 (6.7) | 36.8 (2.7) | 53.9 (12.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 23.2 (−4.9) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 31.0 (−0.6) | 39.0 (3.9) | 48.9 (9.4) | 57.5 (14.2) | 61.8 (16.6) | 60.6 (15.9) | 54.0 (12.2) | 41.2 (5.1) | 30.6 (−0.8) | 26.1 (−3.3) | 41.6 (5.3) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −12 (−24) | −19 (−28) | −4 (−20) | 20 (−7) | 29 (−2) | 37 (3) | 42 (6) | 45 (7) | 31 (−1) | 17 (−8) | 2 (−17) | −6 (−21) | −19 (−28) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.80 (97) | 3.77 (96) | 4.35 (110) | 4.28 (109) | 4.30 (109) | 4.39 (112) | 5.14 (131) | 4.53 (115) | 3.46 (88) | 2.97 (75) | 3.04 (77) | 4.12 (105) | 48.15 (1,223) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 1.9 (4.8) | 4.2 (11) | 1.6 (4.1) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.4 (6.1) | 10.3 (26) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 12.6 | 12.0 | 12.6 | 12.2 | 14.3 | 13.6 | 13.6 | 11.9 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 12.5 | 143.6 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 1.7 | 1.8 | 0.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.2 | 5.7 |
| Source:NOAA[19][20] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 185 | — | |
| 1900 | 1,051 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,628 | 54.9% | |
| 1920 | 2,248 | 38.1% | |
| 1930 | 2,964 | 31.9% | |
| 1940 | 2,650 | −10.6% | |
| 1950 | 2,678 | 1.1% | |
| 1960 | 2,844 | 6.2% | |
| 1970 | 2,527 | −11.1% | |
| 1980 | 2,376 | −6.0% | |
| 1990 | 2,300 | −3.2% | |
| 2000 | 2,204 | −4.2% | |
| 2010 | 2,077 | −5.8% | |
| 2020 | 1,824 | −12.2% | |
| source:[21] | |||
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 2,077 people, 879 households, and 593 families residing in the town. Thepopulation density (in 2000) was 273.7 people per square mile (105.7/km2). There were 967 housing units. The racial makeup of the town was 98.5%White, 0.4%African American, 0.1%Native American, 0.05% fromother races, and 0.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.5% of the population.
There were 879 households, out of which 24% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% weremarried couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 19, 6.5% from 20 to 24, 21.2% from 25 to 44, 30.5% from 45 to 64, and 17.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43.4 years. For every 100 females, there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,375, and the median income for a family was $42,639. Males had a median income of $36,071 versus $30,063 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $19,595. About 18.1% of families and 20.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 41.4% of those under age 18 and 15.9% of those age 65 or over.
The Museum of the Middle Appalachians is located in downtown Saltville. The museum displays exhibits on topics including the geological history of the region, the American Civil War, the company town era of Saltville's history, and theWoodland Indians.[22]
Municipalities and communities ofSmyth County, Virginia,United States | ||
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Municipalities and communities ofWashington County, Virginia,United States | ||
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| Other communities | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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