Norton, Virginia

Norton, Virginia
Independent city
A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock
Seal
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Coordinates: 36°56′12″N82°37′30″W / 36.93667°N 82.62500°W / 36.93667; -82.62500
Country	United States
State	Virginia
County	None (Independent city)
Founded	1894
Named for	Eckstein Norton [1]
Government
•  Mayor	Joseph Fawbush [2]
Area [3]
• Total	7.51 sq mi (19.46 km2)
• Land	7.48 sq mi (19.37 km2)
• Water	0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation	2,133 ft (650 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	3,687
• Density	490/sq mi (190/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (EST)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code	24273
Area code	276
FIPS code	51-57688 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1485924 [5]
Website	http://www.nortonva.org/

Norton is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in the far western tip of the state in Wise County, Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 3,687, ^[6] making it the least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Norton with surrounding Wise County for statistical purposes.

History

The settlement was originally known as "Prince's Flats," but in a bid to convince the Louisville and Nashville Railroad ^[7] to build a depot there, the town was renamed after the then-current head of the railroad, Eckstein Norton. Norton was located on the Wilderness Trail, which had been blazed by Daniel Boone, and later extensively mapped and settled by Christopher Gist. The settlement developed as a central hub for the timber trade until the coal boom of the 1830-40s. ^[8]

The Hotel Norton is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[9]

Geography

Norton is located along the Powell and Guest Rivers. The entire area of Norton lies within the confines of Wise County but is not a part of the county.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19 km²), virtually all of which is land.

Major highways

• US 23
• 
  US 58 Alt.

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	654		—
1910	1,866		185.3%
1920	3,068		64.4%
1930	3,077		0.3%
1940	4,006		30.2%
1950	4,315		7.7%
1960	4,996		15.8%
1970	4,001		−19.9%
1980	4,757		18.9%
1990	4,247		−10.7%
2000	3,904		−8.1%
2010	3,958		1.4%
2020	3,687		−6.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [10] 1790–1960 [11] 1900–1990 [12] 1990–2000 [13] 2010 [14] 2020 [15]

2020 census

Norton city, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010 [14]	Pop 2020 [15]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	3,478	3,223	87.87%	87.42%
Black or African American alone (NH)	250	179	6.32%	4.85%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	5	4	0.13%	0.11%
Asian alone (NH)	56	27	1.41%	0.73%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	6	14	0.15%	0.38%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	95	159	2.40%	4.31%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	68	81	1.72%	2.20%
Total	3,958	3,687	100.00%	100.00%

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 can be of any race.

2000 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2000, there were 3,904 people, 1,730 households, and 1,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 518.5 people per square mile (200.2 people/km²). There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of 258.4 units per square mile (99.8 units/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 91.57% White, 6.15% Black, 0.08% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 1,730 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,788, and the median income for a family was $30,889. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,229 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,024. About 19.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Government

United States presidential election results for Norton, Virginia ^[17]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	1,174	71.41%	458	27.86%	12	0.73%
2020	1,109	69.27%	464	28.98%	28	1.75%
2016	1,021	69.93%	383	26.23%	56	3.84%
2012	895	59.99%	566	37.94%	31	2.08%
2008	744	49.21%	743	49.14%	25	1.65%
2004	768	51.06%	725	48.20%	11	0.73%
2000	639	41.76%	867	56.67%	24	1.57%
1996	416	30.10%	802	58.03%	164	11.87%
1992	472	30.49%	871	56.27%	205	13.24%
1988	608	42.73%	795	55.87%	20	1.41%
1984	806	48.32%	842	50.48%	20	1.20%
1980	572	40.86%	762	54.43%	66	4.71%
1976	577	40.35%	811	56.71%	42	2.94%
1972	823	62.68%	463	35.26%	27	2.06%
1968	495	39.07%	555	43.80%	217	17.13%
1964	372	31.10%	824	68.90%	0	0.00%
1960	549	51.02%	526	48.88%	1	0.09%
1956	684	55.12%	552	44.48%	5	0.40%

The city of Norton is located in the 9th congressional district, currently served by Morgan Griffith. ^[18] For state government, Norton lies in the 1st House district (Terry Kilgore) and the 38th Senate district (Travis Hackworth, previously Ben Chafin, who died from COVID-19 complications ^[19] ). ^{[20] [21]}

Since 2004, Norton has reliably voted for the Republican candidate for president. Although John McCain beat Barack Obama in Norton by just a single vote in 2008, the Republican margins increased thereafter, reaching forty percent margins beginning in 2016.

In 2021, Norton voted for Glenn Youngkin over Terry McAuliffe at a greater than forty-five percent margin.

Education

Norton City Schools is the school division of the city, operating John I. Burton High School and Norton Elementary and Middle School.

Notable people

• Dock Boggs – musician and songwriter
• James L. Camblos (1888–1970) – mayor of Norton, state delegate ^[22]
• Vernon Crawford "Jack" Cooke – bluegrass musician
• Jacob Cress – furniture maker ^[23]

References

1. "Norton History | Norton, VA". City of Norton. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
2. "City Council". City of Norton. Retrieved November 9, 2020.
3. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
6. "Norton city, Norton city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 30, 2022.
7. "Evolution of Norton". City of Norton. Retrieved May 5, 2017.
8. Te nnis, Joe (2004). Southwest Virginia Crossroads: An Almanac of Place Names and Places to See. The Overmountain Press. p. 19. ISBN   978-1-57072-256-1.
9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
10. "Census of Population and Housing from 1790". US Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2022.
11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 27, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
14. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Norton city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
15. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Norton city, Virginia". United States Census Bureau .
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved May 14, 2011.
17. David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 10, 2020.
18. Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601. "H. Morgan Griffith (Virginia (VA)), 117th Congress Profile". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
19. "Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications". WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. January 2, 2021. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
20. "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
21. "Senate of Virginia". apps.senate.virginia.gov. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
22. "Camblos". The Post. July 16, 1970. p. 5. Retrieved October 13, 2024– via Newspapers.com.
23. "Jacob Cress / American Art". Americanart.si.edu. Retrieved June 1, 2015.

External links

• City of Norton