County population in 2012: 31,718 (25% urban, 75% rural); it was 33,081 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 4,878 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,639 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 10,005 Renter-occupied apartments: 3,802 (it was 3,488 in 2000)
% of renters here:
26%
State:
33%
Land area: 452 sq. mi. Water area: 0.2 sq. mi.
Population density: 71 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Smyth County: 86.0 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (26.7%), Manufacturing (24.5%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $523 (0.6%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $420 (0.6%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 17.6%
(16.6% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 68.1% for Black residents, 44.2% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 16.3% for American Indian residents, 20.2% for other race residents, 23.4% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 43 years old
(Males: 41 years old, Females: 44 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 43 years old, Black residents: 31 years old, American Indian residents: 51 years old, Asian residents: 39 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 24 years old, Other race residents: 22 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
13.3%
Whole state:
9.6%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
4.7%
Whole state:
4.3%
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Smyth County is $434 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $483 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $613 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Smyth County: Old Broad Ford (A), Holston Hills Country Club (B), Buller Bass Hatchery (C), Whitetop Mountain Recreation Site (D), Glade Mountain Shelter (E), Mount Rogers Trail Head (F), Grindstone Campground (G), Raccoon Branch Campground (H), Raccoon Branch Shelter (I), Skulls Gap Picnic Area (J), Hurricane Campground (K), White Rock (L), Mount Rogers Work Center (M), Mount Rogers National Recreation Area Office (N), Marion State Fish Hatchery (O), Teas (P), Summit (Q), Camp (R), Camp Cedars (S), Cherry Tree Camp (T). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Smyth County include: Bear Creek Church (A), Bethel Church (B), Blue Spring Church (C), Saint James Church (D), Carmi Church (E), Campbells Chapel (F), Centenary Church (G), Cleghorn Valley Church (H), Sugar Grove Church (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Olinger Cemetery (1), Orr Cemetery (2), Overbay Cemetery (3), Parker Cemetery (4), Pierce Cemetery (5), Poore Cemetery (6), Porter Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Shanty Branch (A), White Rock Creek (B), White Oak Branch (C), Watson Gap Branch (D), Walker Creek (E), Vaught Branch (F), Turkey Run Creek (G), Sprouts Creek (H), Snider Branch (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 1,040 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 67.5% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 10.6%
Number of foreign born residents: 159 (66% naturalized citizens)
Smyth County:
0.5%
Whole state:
8.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 38
1990 to 1994: 25
1985 to 1989: 10
1980 to 1984: 13
1975 to 1979: 15
1970 to 1974: 25
1970 to 1974: 6
1965 to 1969: 27
Mean travel time to work (commute): 22.5 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 79.7%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 10,604
One, attached: 83
Two: 275
3 or 4: 301
5 to 9: 275
10 to 19: 246
20 or more: 84
Mobile homes: 3,178
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 65
Housing units in Smyth County with a mortgage: 3,506 (302 second mortgage, 332 home equity loan, 0 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 3,283
Here:
51.6% with mortgage
State:
75.1% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 38.65%
Here
38.6%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 12,785 Total congregations: 92
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
United Methodist Church
Southern Baptist Convention
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)
Adherents
3,743 (29.3%)
3,341 (26.1%)
839 (6.6%)
824 (6.4%)
591 (4.6%)
Congregations
29 (31.5%)
10 (10.9%)
5 (5.4%)
5 (5.4%)
7 (7.6%)
Name
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
National Association of Free Will Baptists
Catholic Church
Other
Adherents
559 (4.4%)
548 (4.3%)
501 (3.9%)
469 (3.7%)
1,370 (10.7%)
Congregations
5 (5.4%)
4 (4.3%)
5 (5.4%)
2 (2.2%)
20 (21.7%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 142 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $24,941 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $130.60 The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 0.52% The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 86.61% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $22,875 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 17.96% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.56% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $37,882 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 91.33% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 28.10 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 8.43% Corn for grain: 247 harvested acres Vegetables: 25 harvested acres Land in orchards: 75 acres
Tornado activity:
Smyth County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is slightly above Virginia state average. It is 1.1 times above overall U.S. average. Tornadoes in this county have caused one fatality and 6 injuries recorded between 1950 and 2004. On 4/4/1974, a category 3 (max. wind speeds 158-206 mph) tornado killed one person and injured 4 people and caused between $50,000 and $500,000 in damages.
Earthquake activity:
Smyth County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Virginia state average. It is 75% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, 4.3 LG, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 32.4 miles away from the county center On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 32.5 miles away from the county center On 6/29/1996 at 19:30:42, a magnitude 4.1 (4.1 MB, 3.9 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 32.9 miles away from the county center On 10/26/1995 at 00:37:28, a magnitude 4.0 (3.9 MB, 4.0 LG, Depth: 0.6 mi) earthquake occurred 88.0 miles away from Smyth County center On 8/17/1990 at 21:01:17, a magnitude 4.0 (3.5 LG, 4.0 LG, Depth: 6.2 mi) earthquake occurred 98.9 miles away from the county center On 4/19/1996 at 08:50:14, a magnitude 3.9 (3.9 MB, Class: Light, Intensity: II - III) earthquake occurred 81.6 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB)
Most recent natural disasters:
Virginia Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 1, 2005, Emergency Declared (EM-3240): September 12, 2005, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3240, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Virginia Severe Storms And Flooding, Incident Period: November 18, 2003 to November 19, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1502): December 9, 2003, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1502, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia Storms & Flooding, Incident Period: March 17, 2002 to March 20, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1406): April 2, 2002, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1406, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia Severe Storms & Flooding, Incident Period: July 8, 2001 to August 27, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1386): July 12, 2001, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1386, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia Winter Storm, Incident Period: January 25, 2000 to January 30, 2000, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1318): February 28, 2000, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1318, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Virginia Blizzard, Incident Period: January 6, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1086): January 13, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1086, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
Virginia Ice Storm, Severe Storm, Flooding, Incident Period: February 8, 1994 to February 12, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1014): March 10, 1994, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1014, Natural disaster type: Ice Storm, Storm, Flood
Virginia Severe Winter Storm, Incident Period: March 13, 1993 to March 14, 1993, Emergency Declared (EM-3112): March 25, 1993, FEMA Id: FEMA-EM-3112, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Virginia SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: November 12, 1977, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-543): November 12, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-543, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia SEVERE STORMS, FLOODING, Incident Period: April 7, 1977, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-530): April 7, 1977, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-530, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
2 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Smyth County (12) is near the US average (12). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 9 Emergencies Declared: 3
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 6, Storms: 5, Winter Storms: 2, Storm: 1, Blizzard: 1, Drought: 1, Hurricane: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Tropical Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Other production occupations including supervisors (12%)
Metal workers and plastic workers (8%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Assemblers and fabricators (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Vehicle and mobile equipment mechanics, installers, and repairers (4%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (7%)
Cashiers (6%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
Preschool, kindergarten, elementary and middle school teachers (5%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (5%)
Nursing, psychiatric, and home health aides (4%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
Ethiopia (15%)
Ghana (14%)
Mexico (13%)
Jamaica (8%)
Sweden (6%)
Germany (6%)
Lebanon (6%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Smyth County (%):
United States or American (48%)
English (10%)
German (10%)
Irish (7%)
Scotch-Irish (4%)
Scottish (2%)
Dutch (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 11,919 (81%)
Carpooled: 2,120 (14%)
Bus or trolley bus: 8 (0%)
Subway or elevated: 8 (0%)
Taxi: 29 (0%)
Walked: 204 (1%)
Other means: 145 (1%)
Worked at home: 248 (2%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Smyth County, Virginia in 2000:
256 people in nursing homes
210 people in state prisons
141 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
139 people in job corps and vocational training facilities
120 people in other group homes
109 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals or wards
58 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
46 people in hospitals or wards for drug/alcohol abuse
6 people in homes or halfway houses for drug/alcohol abuse
People in group quarters in Smyth County, Virginia in 2010:
301 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
199 people in state prisons
166 people in workers’ group living quarters and job corps centers
106 people in mental (psychiatric) hospitals and psychiatric units in other hospitals
2 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $38,048.
4.48% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($27,855 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.48%
Virginia average:
11.06%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.62% relocated from other counties in Virginia ($15,372 average AGI)
1.86% relocated from other states ($12,486 average AGI)
Smyth County:
1.86%
Virginia average:
4.24%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2005 and 2006:
3.99% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($29,020 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
3.99%
Virginia average:
10.78%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
2.50% relocated to other counties in Virginia ($17,907 average AGI)
1.49% relocated to other states ($11,111 average AGI)
Smyth County:
1.49%
Virginia average:
4.13%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2005 and 2006:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.4 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.5
Births per 1000 population in Smyth County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.8 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 12.8
Deaths per 1000 population in Smyth County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 9.3 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 5.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Smyth County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 7,159 (5,406 aged, 1,753 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 12% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 8%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 3.07 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 13396.64 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 875.9 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 70837.17
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 867.030 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1415.440 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 3.06
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 33.58 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 58.21
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 9.19
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 144.8. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 105.3
Other - 39.5
Household type by relationship:
Households: 31,434
In family households: 26,414 (6,426 male householders, 2,630 female householders)
6,640 spouses, 8,136 children (7,431 natural, 164 adopted, 541 stepchildren), 927 grandchildren, 215 brothers or sisters, 264 parents, 310 other relatives, 700 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 5,020 (1,922 male householders (1,548 living alone)), 2,341 female householders (2,136 living alone)), 757 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 774 (606 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 4,427 2-persons, 2,256 3-persons, 1,501 4-persons, 593 5-persons, 190 6-persons, 89 7-or-more-persons.
97.7% of residents of Smyth County speak English at home.
1.2% of residents speak Spanish at home (65% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 20% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (85% speak English very well, 3% speak English well, 12% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (38% speak English very well, 34% speak English well, 28% speak English not well).
0.2% of residents speak other language at home (64% speak English very well, 11% speak English well, 25% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $208,572,000 ($6410 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $17,375,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $100,750,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $41,646,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $2,136,000 Federal grants: $42,448,000 Federal procurement contracts: $15,893,000 ($13,374,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $5,698,000 ($684,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $1,013,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $6,429,000 Federal Government insurance: $29,267,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,834
Here:
56 per 1000 residents
State:
70 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 2,130
Here:
65 per 1000 residents
State:
40 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +15
Here:
+0 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: -119
Here:
-4 per 1000 residents
State:
+14 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Smyth County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 5.73 millions of gallons per day (86% from ground, 14% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
5.7
State:
6.6
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.7
State:
4.3
Year house built
2005 or later: 347
2000 to 2004: 665
1990 to 1999: 2,299
1980 to 1989: 1,925
1970 to 1979: 3,100
1960 to 1969: 2,357
1950 to 1959: 1,989
1940 to 1949: 1,119
1939 or earlier: 1,746
Rooms in houses/apartments in Smyth County, Virginia
64% of Smyth County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 63% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 61% lived in Virginia.
Smyth County:
64.1%
State average:
53.8%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 26371
Northeast: 810
Midwest: 598
South: 4672
West: 370
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $49,100
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 3%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Smyth County
43.0 years
37.0 years
(49.7%)
(50.3%)
, Grayson County 
, Russell County 
, Tazewell County 
, Washington County 
, Wythe County 
.
