Montgomery County | |
---|---|
Motto: Freedom Increases Responsibility | |
Coordinates: 37°10′N80°23′W / 37.17°N 80.39°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
Founded | 1772 |
Named for | Richard Montgomery |
Seat | Christiansburg |
Largest town | Blacksburg |
Area | |
• Total | 389 sq mi (1,010 km2) |
• Land | 387 sq mi (1,000 km2) |
• Water | 2.2 sq mi (6 km2) 0.6% |
Population (2020) | |
• Total | 99,721 |
• Density | 256/sq mi (99/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
Congressional district | 9th |
Website | www |
Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt County. As of the 2020 census, the population was 99,721. [1] Its county seat is Christiansburg, [2] and Blacksburg is the largest town. Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg-Christiansburg metropolitan area. It is dominated economically by the presence of Virginia Tech, Virginia's third largest public university, [3] which is the county's largest employer. [4]
The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors sets the annual budget and tax rates, enacts legislation governing the county and its citizens, sets policies and oversees their implementation. There are seven supervisors; one is elected from each of the seven geographic districts. Terms are four years; three or four seats are up for re-election each odd year. [5]
Supervisor | District |
---|---|
Sara Bohn | A |
Derek Kitts | B |
Steve Fijalkowski | C |
Todd King | D |
Anthony Grafsky | E |
Mary Biggs | F |
April DeMotts | G |
Montgomery County was established on December 31, 1776, made from parts of Fincastle County, which was disbanded at this time and split into Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky counties. Later, Montgomery lost land to form counties which now border it, including some counties which later formed West Virginia. [6]
The county is named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 389 square miles (1,010 km2), of which 387 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.6%) is water. [7] The western part of the county is in the New River watershed.
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1790 | 13,228 | — | |
1800 | 9,044 | −31.6% | |
1810 | 8,409 | −7.0% | |
1820 | 8,733 | 3.9% | |
1830 | 12,306 | 40.9% | |
1840 | 7,405 | −39.8% | |
1850 | 8,359 | 12.9% | |
1860 | 10,617 | 27.0% | |
1870 | 12,556 | 18.3% | |
1880 | 16,693 | 32.9% | |
1890 | 17,742 | 6.3% | |
1900 | 15,852 | −10.7% | |
1910 | 17,268 | 8.9% | |
1920 | 18,595 | 7.7% | |
1930 | 19,605 | 5.4% | |
1940 | 21,206 | 8.2% | |
1950 | 29,780 | 40.4% | |
1960 | 32,923 | 10.6% | |
1970 | 47,157 | 43.2% | |
1980 | 63,516 | 34.7% | |
1990 | 73,913 | 16.4% | |
2000 | 83,629 | 13.1% | |
2010 | 94,392 | 12.9% | |
2020 | 99,721 | 5.6% | |
U.S. Decennial Census [8] 1790-1960 [9] 1900-1990 [10] 1990-2000 [11] 2010-2015 [12] 2020 [1] |
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Newer information is available from the 2020 census report.(October 2021) |
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2010 [13] | Pop 2020 [14] | % 2010 | % 2020 |
---|---|---|---|---|
White alone (NH) | 81,091 | 77,918 | 85.91% | 78.14% |
Black or African American alone (NH) | 3,631 | 4,054 | 3.85% | 4.07% |
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 154 | 126 | 0.16% | 0.13% |
Asian alone (NH) | 5,089 | 8,310 | 5.39% | 8.33% |
Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 21 | 45 | 0.02% | 0.05% |
Some Other Race alone (NH) | 117 | 307 | 0.12% | 0.31% |
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 1,753 | 4,310 | 1.86% | 4.32% |
Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2,536 | 4,651 | 2.69% | 4.66% |
Total | 94,392 | 99,721 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the 2020 United States Census, there were 99,721 people living in the county. The population density was 257.8 people per square mile (99.5 people/km2).
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 94,392 people living in the county. 87.6% were White, 5.4% Asian, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 2.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).
As of the 2000 United States Census, [15] there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families living in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile (83 people/km2). There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.00% White, 3.97% Asian, 3.65% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 30,997 households, out of which 25.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.10% under the age of 18, 31.30% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.00 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 110.90 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,330, and the median income for a family was $47,239. Males had a median income of $33,674 versus $23,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,077. About 8.80% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.
Despite being in the Solid South, Montgomery County did not consistently back Democratic candidates in the 20th century, being consistently Republican due to Unionist sentiment in the area during the Civil War, though the presence of a major university in Virginia Tech helped make the county more competitive to the Democratic Party towards the end of that streak. It has since become a bellwether county, backing the national winner in every election from 1980 to 2008. The county backed the losing candidate, by very narrow margins of 103 votes in 2012 and 562 votes in 2016 (although it backed the majority candidate in 2016), but again backed the winning candidate in 2020. 2020 was also the first time since 1980 that the county voted more Democratic than the nation.
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 20,629 | 45.80% | 23,218 | 51.55% | 1,190 | 2.64% |
2016 | 19,459 | 45.22% | 20,021 | 46.53% | 3,551 | 8.25% |
2012 | 20,006 | 48.78% | 19,903 | 48.53% | 1,100 | 2.68% |
2008 | 19,028 | 46.81% | 21,031 | 51.73% | 594 | 1.46% |
2004 | 17,070 | 54.16% | 14,128 | 44.83% | 317 | 1.01% |
2000 | 13,991 | 51.51% | 11,720 | 43.15% | 1,449 | 5.34% |
1996 | 10,517 | 43.28% | 10,867 | 44.72% | 2,914 | 11.99% |
1992 | 10,606 | 42.53% | 10,658 | 42.74% | 3,671 | 14.72% |
1988 | 12,326 | 57.48% | 8,909 | 41.55% | 209 | 0.97% |
1984 | 12,428 | 62.88% | 7,202 | 36.44% | 135 | 0.68% |
1980 | 8,222 | 47.41% | 7,455 | 42.98% | 1,667 | 9.61% |
1976 | 7,971 | 50.64% | 7,539 | 47.89% | 232 | 1.47% |
1972 | 9,348 | 70.56% | 3,692 | 27.87% | 208 | 1.57% |
1968 | 7,098 | 61.47% | 2,700 | 23.38% | 1,749 | 15.15% |
1964 | 4,604 | 54.23% | 3,872 | 45.61% | 13 | 0.15% |
1960 | 4,270 | 66.25% | 2,157 | 33.47% | 18 | 0.28% |
1956 | 4,598 | 70.10% | 1,848 | 28.18% | 113 | 1.72% |
1952 | 3,881 | 70.68% | 1,600 | 29.14% | 10 | 0.18% |
1948 | 2,070 | 59.60% | 1,126 | 32.42% | 277 | 7.98% |
1944 | 1,936 | 53.67% | 1,652 | 45.80% | 19 | 0.53% |
1940 | 1,890 | 46.38% | 2,168 | 53.20% | 17 | 0.42% |
1936 | 1,852 | 49.88% | 1,832 | 49.34% | 29 | 0.78% |
1932 | 1,522 | 44.70% | 1,805 | 53.01% | 78 | 2.29% |
1928 | 1,861 | 65.81% | 967 | 34.19% | 0 | 0.00% |
1924 | 964 | 44.44% | 1,142 | 52.65% | 63 | 2.90% |
1920 | 1,160 | 53.78% | 969 | 44.92% | 28 | 1.30% |
1916 | 891 | 53.45% | 765 | 45.89% | 11 | 0.66% |
1912 | 349 | 21.87% | 684 | 42.86% | 563 | 35.28% |
1908 | 795 | 51.39% | 734 | 47.45% | 18 | 1.16% |
1904 | 725 | 51.16% | 650 | 45.87% | 42 | 2.96% |
1900 | 1,391 | 53.75% | 1,102 | 42.58% | 95 | 3.67% |
1896 | 1,594 | 53.51% | 1,317 | 44.21% | 68 | 2.28% |
1892 | 1,128 | 40.53% | 1,286 | 46.21% | 369 | 13.26% |
1888 | 1,516 | 50.55% | 1,335 | 44.51% | 148 | 4.93% |
1884 | 1,308 | 47.86% | 1,416 | 51.81% | 9 | 0.33% |
1880 | 601 | 31.08% | 1,323 | 68.41% | 10 | 0.52% |
Climate data for Blacksburg | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42 (6) | 45 (7) | 53 (12) | 63 (17) | 71 (22) | 79 (26) | 82 (28) | 81 (27) | 75 (24) | 65 (18) | 56 (13) | 44 (7) | 63 (17) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21 (−6) | 24 (−4) | 30 (−1) | 38 (3) | 47 (8) | 56 (13) | 60 (16) | 59 (15) | 51 (11) | 39 (4) | 31 (−1) | 24 (−4) | 40 (5) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.08 (78) | 2.81 (71) | 3.64 (92) | 3.48 (88) | 4.33 (110) | 4.00 (102) | 4.26 (108) | 3.59 (91) | 3.10 (79) | 2.78 (71) | 2.87 (73) | 2.95 (75) | 40.89 (1,038) |
Source: U.S. Climate Data [18] |
Washington County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 53,935. Its county seat is Abingdon.
Smyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 29,800. Its county seat is Marion.
Richmond County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 8,923. Its county seat is Warsaw. The rural county should not be confused with the large city and state capital Richmond, Virginia. It was formed in 1692 when the first Rappahannock County was divided to form Richmond County and Essex County.
Pulaski County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,800. Its county seat is Pulaski. Pulaski County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Lancaster County is a county located on the Northern Neck in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population sits at 10,919. Its county seat is Lancaster.
Halifax County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 34,022. Its county seat is Halifax.
Giles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia on the West Virginia state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,787. Its county seat is Pearisburg.
Floyd County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 15,476. Its county seat is the town of Floyd. Floyd County is included in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. Named after Virginia politician John Floyd, the county was established in 1831. The county is located on the high plateau of the Blue Ridge Mountains and surrounded by the Little River. In the 1960s and 1970s, Floyd proved popular with people in the era's counterculture, particularly those who wanted to live in closer contact with nature.
Craig County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 4,892. Its county seat is New Castle.
Glen Lyn is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the East and New rivers. The population was 115 at the 2010 census, down from 151 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Narrows, named for the narrowing of the New River that flows through the town, is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,029 at the 2010 census, a decline of 3.9% from the 2000 count of 2,111. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Pearisburg is a town in Giles County, Virginia, and the county seat. The population was 2,786 at the time of the 2010 census. Pearisburg is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Pembroke is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,128 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Rich Creek is a town in Giles County, Virginia, United States. The population was 774 as per the 2010 census, up from 665 as per the 2000 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Christiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States.The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County. Christiansburg, Blacksburg and the city of Radford are the three principal municipalities of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses those municipalities, all of Montgomery County, and three other counties.
Elliston-Lafayette was a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,241 at the 2000 census; in 2010, Elliston and Lafayette were split into separate CDPs. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Montgomery County, Virginia, including the towns of Blacksburg and Christiansburg, and the city of Radford. However, many residents of the eastern section of Montgomery County more often travel to Roanoke or Salem for work, shopping, and services since these cities are generally closer and do not require driving up Christiansburg Mountain on U.S. Route 460 or Interstate 81.
Merrimac is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,133 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Montgomery County and the city of Radford.
Shawsville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,310 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Montgomery County, Virginia, and the city of Radford.
Fairlawn is a census-designated place (CDP) in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,419 at the 2020 census up from 2,367 at the 2010 census. It is served by the Radford, Virginia post office and is located on the opposite side of the New River from Radford.
Pulaski is a town in Pulaski County, Virginia, United States. The population was 9,086 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Pulaski County.