County population in 2012: 55,190 (28% urban, 72% rural); it was 51,103 in 2000 County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 9,223 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 7,809 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 16,268 Renter-occupied apartments: 5,811 (it was 4,788 in 2000)
% of renters here:
23%
State:
33%
Land area: 563 sq. mi. Water area: 3.1 sq. mi.
Population density: 97 people per square mile
(average).
Mar. 2012 cost of living index in Washington County: 87.2 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
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Industries providing employment: Educational,health and social services (24.3%), Manufacturing (14.3%), Retail trade (14.2%).
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2009: $727 (0.6%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2009: $575 (0.6%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2009: 14.0%
(13.0% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 44.4% for Black residents, 61.6% for Hispanic or Latino residents, 42.7% for American Indian residents, 84.0% for other race residents, 18.4% for two or more races residents) Median age of residents in 2010: 43 years old
(Males: 42 years old, Females: 45 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 44 years old, Black residents: 37 years old, American Indian residents: 44 years old, Asian residents: 29 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 28 years old, Other race residents: 28 years old)
Residents with income below the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
10.9%
Whole state:
9.6%
Residents with income below 50% of the poverty level in 2009:
This county:
3.7%
Whole state:
4.3%
Area name: Kingsport-Bristol-Bristol, TN-VA MSA Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Washington County is $389 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $483 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $647 a month.
Notable locations in this county outside city limits:
Notable locations in Washington County: King Mill (A), Greenfield (B), Nordyke (C), Bear Tree Group Camp (D), Southwest Virginia 4-H Center (E), River Bridge (F), Bear Tree Fisherman Parking (G), Beartree Family Camp (H), Wolf Creek Boat Dock (I), South Holston Boat Dock (J), Sequoya Camp (K), Camp Pocahontas (L), Green Valley Poultry Farm (M), Hayters Gap (N), Indoor Farms Greenhouses (O). Display/hide their locations on the map
Churches in Washington County include: Poor Valley Church (A), Anderson Church (B), Azen Church (C), Abrams Falls Church (D), Beech Grove Church (E), Bakers Chapel (F), Revival Center Church (G), Barkers Chapel (H), Barnes Chapel (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Cemeteries: Baugh Cemetery (1), Starke Cemetery (2), Pettyjohn Cemetery (3), Phelps Cemetery (4), Sutton Cemetery (5), Pleasant View Cemetery (6), Tate Cemetery (7). Display/hide their locations on the map
Streams, rivers, and creeks: Wolf Run (A), Willow Branch (B), White Branch (C), Town Creek (D), Spoon Gap Creek (E), Roaring Spring Branch (F), Plum Creek (G), Pendleton Branch (H), Nordyke Creek (I). Display/hide their locations on the map
Current college students: 2,539 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 72.3% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.1%
Number of foreign born residents: 470 (31% naturalized citizens)
Washington County:
0.9%
Whole state:
8.1%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
1995 to March 2000: 94
1990 to 1994: 109
1985 to 1989: 76
1980 to 1984: 57
1975 to 1979: 13
1970 to 1974: 33
1970 to 1974: 24
1965 to 1969: 64
Mean travel time to work (commute): 24.2 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 58.9%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 16,073
One, attached: 360
Two: 493
3 or 4: 604
5 to 9: 606
10 to 19: 316
20 or more: 225
Mobile homes: 4,246
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 62
Housing units in Washington County with a mortgage: 6,113 (560 second mortgage, 718 home equity loan, 25 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 4,891
Here:
55.6% with mortgage
State:
75.1% with mortgage
Religion statistics:
Percentage of population affiliated with a religious congregations: 42.85%
Here
42.8%
USA
50.2%
Total adherents: 21,897 Total congregations: 122
Adherents
Breakdown of population affiliated with a religious congregations
Name
Southern Baptist Convention
United Methodist Church
Presbyterian Church (USA)
Christian Churches and Churches of Christ
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Adherents
8,961 (40.9%)
5,502 (25.1%)
2,149 (9.8%)
1,350 (6.2%)
814 (3.7%)
Congregations
26 (21.3%)
36 (29.5%)
14 (11.5%)
8 (6.6%)
3 (2.5%)
Name
LDS (Mormon) Church
Churches of Christ
Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee)
Catholic Church
Other
Adherents
495 (2.3%)
311 (1.4%)
310 (1.4%)
300 (1.4%)
1,705 (7.8%)
Congregations
1 (0.8%)
6 (4.9%)
2 (1.6%)
1 (0.8%)
25 (20.5%)
Source: Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Average size of farms: 108 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $27,784 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $224.29 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 80.34% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $24,579 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 22.46% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 1.28% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $35,003 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.31% Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 32.60 Milk cows as a percentage of all cattle and calves: 4.84% Corn for grain: 485 harvested acres Vegetables: 79 harvested acres Land in orchards: 73 acres
Tornado activity:
Washington County historical area-adjusted tornado activity is near Virginia state average. It is 1.3 times below 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:
Washington County-area historical earthquake activity is significantly above Virginia state average. It is 69% 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 30.7 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 33.8 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 32.8 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 68.5 miles away from Washington 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 76.8 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 61.5 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 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 Severe Flooding, Incident Period: January 19, 1996 to February 1, 1996, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-1098): January 27, 1996, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-1098, Natural disaster type: Flood
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: May 23, 1984, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared (DR-707): May 23, 1984, FEMA Id: FEMA-DR-707, Natural disaster type: Storm, Flood
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
2 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Washington 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, Flood: 1, Hurricane: 1, Ice Storm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Other production occupations including supervisors (7%)
Driver/sales workers and truck drivers (6%)
Electrical equipment mechanics and other installation, maintenance, and repair occupations including supervisors (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Building and grounds cleaning and maintenance occupations (4%)
Material recording, scheduling, dispatching, and distributing workers (3%)
Secretaries and administrative assistants (6%)
Registered nurses (5%)
Other office and administrative support workers including supervisors (5%)
Cashiers (5%)
Other sales and related workers including supervisors (4%)
Other production occupations including supervisors (4%)
Retail sales workers except cashiers (4%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
United Kingdom (29%)
Vietnam (11%)
Canada (8%)
Philippines (7%)
Korea (6%)
China, excluding Hong Kong and Taiwan (6%)
Germany (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Washington County (%):
United States or American (40%)
English (11%)
German (11%)
Irish (10%)
Scotch-Irish (5%)
Scottish (3%)
Italian (1%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 19,953 (85%)
Carpooled: 2,289 (10%)
Bus or trolley bus: 26 (0%)
Motorcycle: 14 (0%)
Bicycle: 15 (0%)
Walked: 318 (1%)
Other means: 158 (1%)
Worked at home: 722 (3%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders
People in group quarters in Washington County, Virginia in 2000:
586 people in college dormitories (includes college quarters off campus)
255 people in nursing homes
131 people in other group homes
92 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
84 people in local jails and other confinement facilities (including police lockups)
66 people in wards in general hospitals for patients who have no usual home elsewhere
57 people in homes for the mentally ill
35 people in other nonhousehold living situations
24 people in homes for the mentally retarded
9 people in homes for abused, dependent, and neglected children
3 people in agriculture workers' dormitories on farms
People in group quarters in Washington County, Virginia in 2010:
641 people in college/university student housing
617 people in local jails and other municipal confinement facilities
224 people in group homes intended for adults
127 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
16 people in other noninstitutional facilities
2 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2005 was $52,209.
6.36% of this county's 2006 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2005 ($41,436 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.36%
Virginia average:
11.06%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
3.16% relocated from other counties in Virginia ($17,686 average AGI)
3.20% relocated from other states ($23,749 average AGI)
Washington County:
3.20%
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:
6.00% of this county's 2005 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2006 ($34,260 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
6.00%
Virginia average:
10.78%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
2.97% relocated to other counties in Virginia ($15,749 average AGI)
3.03% relocated to other states ($18,511 average AGI)
Washington County:
3.03%
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: 11.0 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.4
Births per 1000 population in Washington County
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.3 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.9
Deaths per 1000 population in Washington County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 5.1 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 4.2
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Washington County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2003: 8,709 (6,679 aged, 2,030 disabled) Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 10% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 6%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 1.92 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9229.290 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 259.470 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 58744.95
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 973.410 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1144.280 Dentists per 100,000 population in 1998: 3.84
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 34.58 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 76.8
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 5.76
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 180.3. This is more than state average.
Mechanisms of suicide:
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 124.9
Other - 55.5
Household type by relationship:
Households: 53,249
In family households: 44,623 (11,777 male householders, 3,732 female householders)
12,472 spouses, 13,069 children (11,906 natural, 357 adopted, 806 stepchildren), 1,331 grandchildren, 320 brothers or sisters, 334 parents, 377 other relatives, 889 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 8,626 (3,336 male householders (2,715 living alone)), 3,998 female householders (3,579 living alone)), 1,292 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 1,627 (746 institutionalized population)
Size of family households: 7,902 2-persons, 3,714 3-persons, 2,526 4-persons, 929 5-persons, 270 6-persons, 168 7-or-more-persons.
97.7% of residents of Washington County speak English at home.
0.9% of residents speak Spanish at home (58% speak English very well, 10% speak English well, 33% speak English not well).
0.9% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (85% speak English very well, 13% speak English well, 1% speak English not well).
0.4% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (49% speak English very well, 36% speak English well, 15% speak English not well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (80% speak English very well, 15% speak English well, 5% speak English not well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $254,245,000 ($4887 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $7,179,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $138,221,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $49,573,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $2,410,000 Federal grants: $55,220,000 Federal procurement contracts: $2,048,000 ($209,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $6,773,000 ($678,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $7,577,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $5,647,000 Federal Government insurance: $13,662,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 2,748
Here:
53 per 1000 residents
State:
70 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 2,752
Here:
53 per 1000 residents
State:
40 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +64
Here:
+1 per 1000 residents
State:
+18 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +1,010
Here:
+19 per 1000 residents
State:
+14 per 1000 residents
Population growth in Washington County
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 9.68 millions of gallons per day (28% from ground, 72% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.0
State:
6.6
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.4
State:
4.3
Year house built
2005 or later: 579
2000 to 2004: 2,043
1990 to 1999: 5,101
1980 to 1989: 4,223
1970 to 1979: 4,587
1960 to 1969: 2,389
1950 to 1959: 2,016
1940 to 1949: 1,498
1939 or earlier: 2,592
Rooms in houses/apartments in Washington County, Virginia
62% of Washington County residents lived in the same house 5 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 50% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 49% lived in Virginia.
Washington County:
61.8%
State average:
53.8%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 34231
Northeast: 1594
Midwest: 1705
South: 12287
West: 700
Median price asked for vacant for-sale houses in 2000: $76,700
Housing units lacking complete plumbing facilities: 2%
Housing units lacking complete kitchen facilities: 2%
Year Householders Moved Into Unit:
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Washington County
#17 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the largest decrease in the number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 1990-1999 to 2000-2003 (pop. 50,000+)"
#44 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most general practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005 (pop. 50,000+)"
#45 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of infant deaths per 1000 residents 2000-2003 (pop. 50,000+)"
#79 on the list of "Top 101 counties with highest percentage of residents voting for 3rd party candidates in the 2004 Presidential Election, pop. 50,000+"
#87 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 (pop. 50,000+)"
#96 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the most Mainline Denominations adherents (pop. 50,000+)"
#101 on the list of "Top 101 counties with the lowest number of births per 1000 residents 2000-2003 (pop 50,000+)"
43.0 years
37.0 years
(45.2%)
(54.8%)
, Johnson County, Tennessee 
, Sullivan County, Tennessee 
, Russell County 
, Scott County 
, Smyth County 
, Bristol city 
