County population in 2014: 31,555 (25% urban, 75% rural); it was 33,081 in 2000County 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: 70 people per square mile (average).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Smyth County: 84.4 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (26.3%), Construction (16.3%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (11.8%), Information (11.2%).
Estimated median household income in 2015: $38,711 ($30,083 in 1999)
This county:
$38,711
Virginia:
$66,262
Median contract rent in 2015 for apartments: $397 (lower quartile is $313, upper quartile is $494)
This county:
$397
State:
$959
Estimated median house or condo value in 2015: $93,545 (it was $62,600 in 2000)
Smyth:
$93,545
Virginia:
$257,800
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $60,326 - $165,378 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $863 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $330
Institutionalized population: 606
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 5
Rapes: 9
Robberies: 0
Assaults: 11
Burglaries: 49
Thefts: 274
Auto thefts: 20
Crime in 2004 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 1
Rapes: 7
Robberies: 1
Assaults: 12
Burglaries: 62
Thefts: 268
Auto thefts: 23
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2015: $706 (0.7%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2015: $609 (0.7%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 18.7%
(17.3% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 33.0% for Black residents, 51.5% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 33.3% for American Indian residents, 55.0% for two or more races residents)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2015: 18.2%
Smyth County:
18.2%
Virginia:
11.2%
(17.3% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 31.4% for Black residents, 46.9% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 33.3% for American Indian residents, 50.4% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2015: 44 years old
(Males: 43 years old, Females: 46 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 45 years old, Black residents: 41 years old, American Indian residents: 55 years old, Asian residents: 39 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 34 years old, Other race residents: 30 years old)
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.
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
Note: State values scaled to Smyth County population
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 for Smyth County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Evangelical Protestant
7,567
50
Mainline Protestant
4,272
38
Other
359
2
Catholic
238
1
None
19,772
-
Smyth County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 6
Smyth County:
1.87 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.03 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 3
This county:
0.94 / 10,000 pop.
Virginia:
1.43 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 21
Smyth County:
6.55 / 10,000 pop.
Virginia:
4.03 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 14
This county:
4.37 / 10,000 pop.
State:
7.65 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Smyth County:
10.6%
Virginia:
9.3%
Adult obesity rate:
Smyth County:
26.6%
State:
26.7%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
15.6%
State:
18.6%
Agriculture in Smyth County:
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
Earthquake activity:
Smyth County-area historical earthquake activity is slightly above Virginia state average. It is 81% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 161.9 miles away from Smyth County center 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 11/30/1973 at 07:48:41, a magnitude 4.7 (4.7 MB, 4.6 ML) earthquake occurred 152.0 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 Smyth County center On 8/2/1974 at 08:52:09, a magnitude 4.9 (4.3 MB, 4.9 LG) earthquake occurred 211.4 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), local magnitude (ML), surface-wave magnitude (MS)
Most recent natural disasters:
Virginia Hurricane Sandy, Incident Period: October 26, 2012 to November 01, 2012, Emergency Declared EM-3359: October 29, 2012, FEMA Id: 3359, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
Virginia Severe Storms and Straight-line Winds, Incident Period: June 29, 2012 to July 01, 2012, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4072: July 27, 2012, FEMA Id: 4072, Natural disaster type: Storm, Wind
Virginia Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3240: September 12, 2005, FEMA Id: 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 09, 2003, FEMA Id: 1502, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: March 17, 2002 to March 20, 2002, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1406: April 02, 2002, FEMA Id: 1406, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
Virginia Severe Storms and Flooding, Incident Period: July 08, 2001 to August 27, 2001, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1386: July 12, 2001, FEMA Id: 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: 1318, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
Virginia Blizzard, Incident Period: January 06, 1996 to January 12, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1086: January 13, 1996, FEMA Id: 1086, Natural disaster type: Blizzard
Virginia Ice Storm, Severe Storm, Flooding, Incident Period: February 08, 1994 to February 12, 1994, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1014: March 10, 1994, FEMA Id: 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: 3112, Natural disaster type: Winter Storm
4 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Smyth County (14) is near the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 10 Emergencies Declared: 4
Causes of natural disasters: Storms: 7, Floods: 6, Hurricanes: 2, Winter Storms: 2, Blizzard: 1, Drought: 1, Ice Storm: 1, Tropical Storm: 1, Wind: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (5%)
Office and administrative support occupations (19%)
Sales and related occupations (11%)
Education, training, and library occupations (10%)
Health technologists and technicians (8%)
Production occupations (8%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (7%)
Healthcare support occupations (6%)
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 2010 was $40,038.
3.51% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($29,427 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
3.51%
Virginia average:
9.34%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.20% relocated from other counties in Virginia ($17,946 average AGI)
1.31% relocated from other states ($11,483 average AGI)
Smyth County:
1.31%
Virginia average:
3.74%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
3.88% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($32,418 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
3.88%
Virginia average:
9.20%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
2.15% relocated to other counties in Virginia ($18,107 average AGI)
1.73% relocated to other states ($14,311 average AGI)
Smyth County:
1.73%
Virginia average:
3.60%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
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 from 2007 to 2014: 13.2
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
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 15.1% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 5.3%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Smyth County
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Smyth County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 7,696 (5,439 aged, 2,257 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 395 (6%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Most common underlying causes of death in Smyth County, Virginia in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (636)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (542)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (226)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (184)
Pneumonia, unspecified (174)
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, so described (154)
Unspecified dementia (142)
Congestive heart failure (106)
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: 13,397 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 876 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 70,837
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 867 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,415 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 3
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 34 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 58
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 9
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.
4,797 married couples with children.
1,613 single-parent households (440 men, 1,173 women).
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 ($6,410 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
2014 or later: 109
2010 to 2013: 203
2000 to 2009: 1,277
1990 to 1999: 1,990
1980 to 1989: 2,113
1970 to 1979: 3,423
1960 to 1969: 1,821
1950 to 1959: 2,096
1940 to 1949: 997
1939 or earlier: 1,455
Note: State values scaled to Smyth population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Smyth County, Virginia
Note: State values scaled to Smyth County population
no vehicle: 606
1 vehicle: 2,551
2 vehicles: 4,268
3 vehicles: 1,826
4 vehicles: 598
5+ vehicles: 156
no vehicle: 610
1 vehicle: 1,661
2 vehicles: 1,026
3 vehicles: 145
4 vehicles: 36
5+ vehicles: 10
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: 26,371
Northeast: 810
Midwest: 598
South: 4,672
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
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43.0 years
37.0 years
(48.8%)
(51.2%)
, Hot Spring County, Arkansas 
, Jefferson County, Missouri 
.
