Dickenson County, Virginia

"Dickenson County" redirects here. Not to be confused with Dickinson County (disambiguation).

Dickenson County
County
Dickenson County Courthouse in Clintwood
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°07′N82°21′W / 37.12°N 82.35°W / 37.12; -82.35
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	1880
Named for	William J. Dickinson
Seat	Clintwood
Largest town	Clintwood
Area
• Total	334 sq mi (870 km2)
• Land	331 sq mi (860 km2)
• Water	3.1 sq mi (8 km2)  0.9%
Population  (2020)
• Total	14,124
• Density	42/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th
Website	www.dickensonva.org

Dickenson County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,124. ^[1] Its county seat is Clintwood. ^[2]

History

Dickenson County, formed in 1880 from parts of Buchanan County, Russell County, and Wise County, is Virginia's youngest county. It was named for William J. Dickenson, ^[3] delegate to the Virginia General Assembly from Russell County, 1859–1861, 1865–1867, and 1877–1882. This formation came as a result of demands from the inhabitants that they be represented by a county government closer to the people. In 1880, Delegate Dickenson sponsored the bill in the House of Delegates to establish Dickenson County as the one-hundredth county in Virginia. Dickenson County has since become known as "Virginia's Baby."

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 334 square miles (870 km²), of which 331 square miles (860 km²) is land and 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²) (0.9%) is water. ^[4]

Districts

The county is divided into five magisterial districts with a supervisor elected from each district every four years. The districts are: Clintwood, Ervinton, Sandlick, Kenady, and Willis.

Adjacent counties

• Buchanan County, Virginia – northeast
• Russell County, Virginia – southeast
• Wise County, Virginia – southwest
• Pike County, Kentucky – northwest

National protected area

• Jefferson National Forest (part)

Major highways

• SR 63
• SR 72
• SR 80 ( U.S. Bicycle Route 76 )
• SR 83

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1890	5,077		—
1900	7,747		52.6%
1910	9,199		18.7%
1920	13,542		47.2%
1930	16,163		19.4%
1940	21,266		31.6%
1950	23,393		10.0%
1960	20,211		−13.6%
1970	16,077		−20.5%
1980	19,806		23.2%
1990	17,620		−11.0%
2000	16,395		−7.0%
2010	15,903		−3.0%
2020	14,124		−11.2%
2023 (est.)	13,640	[5]	−3.4%
U.S. Decennial Census [6] 1790–1960 [7] 1900–1990 [8] 1990–2000 [9] 2010 [10] 2020 [11]

2020 census

Dickenson County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos may be of any race.

Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)	Pop 2010 [10]	Pop 2020 [11]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	15,650	13,691	98.41%	96.93%
Black or African American alone (NH)	51	48	0.32%	0.34%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	23	22	0.14%	0.16%
Asian alone (NH)	17	12	0.11%	0.08%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	2	0.00%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	9	12	0.06%	0.08%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	67	254	0.42%	1.80%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	86	83	0.54%	0.59%
Total	15,903	14,124	100.00%	100.00%

2000 census

As of the census ^[12] of 2000, there were 16,395 people, 6,732 households, and 4,887 families residing in the county. The population density was 49 people per square mile (19 people/km²). There were 7,684 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.96% White, 0.35% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.45% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,732 households, out of which 30.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.00% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.40% were non-families. 25.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 8.90% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.90% 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 95.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,431, and the median income for a family was $27,986. Males had a median income of $27,281 versus $17,695 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,822. About 16.90% of families and 21.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.80% of those under age 18 and 17.30% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public high schools

• Ridgeview High School

Public middle schools

• Ridgeview Middle School

Public elementary schools

• Ridgeview Elementary School

Media

Radio station

• WDIC-FM

Law enforcement

Dickenson County Sheriff's Office
Abbreviation	DCSO
Agency overview
Formed	1880
Jurisdictional structure
Constituting instrument	Yes
General nature	Local civilian police
Operational structure
Headquarters	Clintwood, Virginia
Deputies	35
Civilians	15
Agency executive	Jeremy Fleming, Sheriff
Website
Official Website

The Dickenson County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Dickenson County, Virginia. When the office was formed in 1880, one person was appointed as the Election Supervisor, Tax Collector, and the Chief Law Enforcement Officer. Now the sheriff is an elected official. ^[13]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Dickenson County, Virginia ^[14]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	5,701	80.75%	1,316	18.64%	43	0.61%
2020	5,748	78.71%	1,503	20.58%	52	0.71%
2016	4,932	76.58%	1,335	20.73%	173	2.69%
2012	4,274	61.91%	2,473	35.82%	157	2.27%
2008	3,324	49.22%	3,278	48.54%	151	2.24%
2004	3,591	48.49%	3,761	50.78%	54	0.73%
2000	3,122	43.21%	3,951	54.68%	153	2.12%
1996	2,229	32.45%	3,913	56.97%	726	10.57%
1992	2,574	31.61%	4,839	59.43%	730	8.96%
1988	3,091	40.65%	4,461	58.67%	52	0.68%
1984	3,921	44.34%	4,848	54.82%	75	0.85%
1980	3,687	46.12%	4,177	52.25%	131	1.64%
1976	3,471	42.28%	4,583	55.83%	155	1.89%
1972	3,633	56.22%	2,711	41.95%	118	1.83%
1968	3,412	46.01%	3,355	45.25%	648	8.74%
1964	2,143	38.00%	3,485	61.80%	11	0.20%
1960	2,203	44.42%	2,756	55.56%	1	0.02%
1956	3,444	48.15%	3,695	51.66%	14	0.20%
1952	2,913	47.41%	3,210	52.25%	21	0.34%
1948	2,197	42.48%	2,945	56.94%	30	0.58%
1944	1,762	38.69%	2,786	61.18%	6	0.13%
1940	1,785	41.10%	2,551	58.74%	7	0.16%
1936	1,146	29.92%	2,683	70.05%	1	0.03%
1932	1,228	31.67%	2,635	67.95%	15	0.39%
1928	1,868	49.85%	1,879	50.15%	0	0.00%
1924	1,294	42.47%	1,618	53.10%	135	4.43%
1920	1,067	53.62%	903	45.38%	20	1.01%
1916	753	52.62%	650	45.42%	28	1.96%
1912	398	36.55%	529	48.58%	162	14.88%

Communities

Towns

• Clinchco
• Clintwood
• Haysi

Census-designated place

• Dante (mostly in Russell County)

Other unincorporated communities

• Aily
• Bee
• Caney Ridge
• Darwin
• Lick Fork
• McClure
• Nora
• Sandlick
• Trammel
• Wakenva

Notable people

• Justin Hamilton, former NFL player for Washington Redskins, grew up in Clintwood.
• Darrell "Shifty" Powers, World War II (D-day) veteran, Company E (" Easy Company ") 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, U.S. 101st Airborne Division, portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers
• Trazel Silvers, former professional basketball player for the Harlem Globetrotters and in Europe.
• Ralph Stanley ^[15] and Carter Stanley, The Stanley Brothers, bluegrass musicians

See also

• Dickenson County Courthouse
• Dickenson County Sheriff's Office
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Dickenson County, Virginia

References

1. "Dickenson County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. pp.  106.
4. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
5. "QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 18, 2024.
6. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
7. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
9. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
10. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dickenson County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
11. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Dickenson County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
13. Dickenson County Sheriff's Office - Sheriff's Office
14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
15. Friskics-Warren, Bill (June 23, 2016). "Ralph Stanley, Whose Mountain Music Gave Rise to Bluegrass, Dies at 89". The New York Times . Retrieved June 24, 2016.

External links

• Dickenson County Official Website
• Dickenson County Public Schools
• Dickenson County Discussion Board (DCDB) – Very active and popular local forum, in continuous operation since 1996.
• Dickenson Online – Portal of information related to Dickenson County.
• Ralph Stanley Museum & Traditional Mountain Music Center

37°07′N82°21′W / 37.12°N 82.35°W / 37.12; -82.35