Bland County, Virginia

Bland County is a county located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The county seat is the unincorporated area of Bland.[1] At the 2020 census, the population was 6,270.

For the county in Australia, see Bland County, New South Wales.

Bland County
County
Bland County Courthouse
Bland County Courthouse
Flag of Bland County
Flag
Official seal of Bland County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Bland County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°08′N 81°08′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1861
Named forRichard Bland
SeatBland
Largest communityBland
Area
 • Total359 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Land358 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Water1 sq mi (3 km2)  0.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total6,270
 • Density17/sq mi (6.7/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.blandcountyva.gov

Bland County was created in 1861 from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles counties in Virginia. The new county was named in honor of Richard Bland, a Virginia statesman who served in the House of Burgesses and the Continental Congress.

As of the 2020 census, the county population was 6,270, making it the 4th least populated county in Virginia.[2] Bland County is also one of the few counties in the United States that do not contain any incorporated municipalities.

History
Richard Bland, for whom the county was named

The push to create Bland County resulted from popular dissatisfaction with the distances required to travel to the various county seats in the area. The distances and the difficult mountain trails created a significant hardship for those needing to conduct legal affairs. In addition, the growing population resented paying taxes for benefits outside of the local area. This pressure eventually persuaded the Virginia General Assembly to take action to form a new county in the southwestern portion of the state.[3]

Bland County was officially formed on March 30, 1861, from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles counties. Additional land from Giles County was added later. The county was named after Richard Bland, a Virginia statesman and political figure who helped lead the struggle for freedom and independence from England.[4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 358.7 square miles (929.0 km2), of which 357.7 square miles (926.4 km2) is land and 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) (0.3%) is water.[5]

Bland County lies within the Appalachian Regional Commission's definition of the Appalachian region. The county is mountainous with small river valleys running through the county. The county lies entirely within the Ridge and Valley physiographic province.

The North Fork of the Holston River has its head waters in Bland County.

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18704,000—
18805,00425.1%
18905,1292.5%
19005,4977.2%
19105,154−6.2%
19205,5938.5%
19306,0317.8%
19406,73111.6%
19506,436−4.4%
19605,982−7.1%
19705,423−9.3%
19806,34917.1%
19906,5142.6%
20006,8715.5%
20106,824−0.7%
20206,270−8.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census
Bland County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 6,494 5,857 95.16% 93.41%
Black or African American alone (NH) 228 167 3.34% 2.66%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 1 0 0.01% 0.00%
Asian alone (NH) 18 4 0.26% 0.06%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 1 0 0.01% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 0 5 0.00% 0.08%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 43 177 0.63% 2.82%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 39 60 0.57% 0.96%
Total 6,824 6,270 100.00% 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[12] of 2000, there were 6,871 people, 2,568 households, and 1,908 families residing in the county. The population density was 19 people per square mile (7.3 people/km2). There were 3,161 housing units at an average density of 9 units per square mile (3.5 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 94.82% White, 4.19% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.12% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.68% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 37.4% were of American, 11.8% German, 11.5% English and 10.9% Irish ancestry according to Census 2000.

There were 2,568 households, out of which 28.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.40% were married couples living together, 8.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.70% were non-families. 23.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.85.

The population distribution of Bland County is: 19.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 30.60% from 25 to 44, 27.90% 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 119.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 121.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,397, and the median income for a family was $35,765. Males had a median income of $30,801 versus $23,380 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,744. 12.40% of the population and 9.10% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 14.20% are under the age of 18 and 22.60% are 65 or older.

Government

Board of Supervisors

2022-2024

  • District 1: K. Adam Kidd, Chair (R)
  • District 2: Stephen Kelley, Vice Chair (R)
  • District 3: Randy Johnson, Chair (I)
  • District 4: Keith Costello (R)

Constitutional officers
  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Lisa Hall (R)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Cindy U. Wright (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Patrick D. White (R)
  • Sheriff: Jason Ramsey (R)
  • Treasurer: John F. Goins (I)

Bland County is represented by Republican Travis Hackworth in the Virginia Senate, Republican James W. "Will" Morefield in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

United States presidential election results for Bland County, Virginia[13]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 2,903 83.44% 532 15.29% 44 1.26%
2016 2,573 81.97% 453 14.43% 113 3.60%
2012 2,144 72.73% 735 24.93% 69 2.34%
2008 2,031 68.64% 864 29.20% 64 2.16%
2004 1,962 68.48% 846 29.53% 57 1.99%
2000 1,759 65.44% 851 31.66% 78 2.90%
1996 1,167 46.00% 939 37.01% 431 16.99%
1992 1,368 48.31% 1,001 35.35% 463 16.35%
1988 1,556 61.12% 937 36.80% 53 2.08%
1984 1,812 67.29% 867 32.19% 14 0.52%
1980 1,278 54.50% 1,002 42.73% 65 2.77%
1976 1,047 51.91% 961 47.65% 9 0.45%
1972 1,352 70.64% 527 27.53% 35 1.83%
1968 938 50.38% 560 30.08% 364 19.55%
1964 717 45.67% 851 54.20% 2 0.13%
1960 848 50.75% 822 49.19% 1 0.06%
1956 1,113 57.16% 813 41.76% 21 1.08%
1952 1,000 57.21% 743 42.51% 5 0.29%
1948 822 50.49% 738 45.33% 68 4.18%
1944 744 49.40% 762 50.60% 0 0.00%
1940 693 47.83% 753 51.97% 3 0.21%
1936 642 45.05% 778 54.60% 5 0.35%
1932 556 41.00% 783 57.74% 17 1.25%
1928 826 58.96% 575 41.04% 0 0.00%
1924 609 49.96% 604 49.55% 6 0.49%
1920 478 54.26% 403 45.74% 0 0.00%
1916 420 53.85% 356 45.64% 4 0.51%
1912 206 33.50% 289 46.99% 120 19.51%

The county is a historically Republican county. The only Democrats who have carried it since 1910 have been Woodrow Wilson in 1912 when the Republican Party was split between William Howard Taft and Theodore Roosevelt, Franklin D. Roosevelt in each of his four elections, and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1964, all national Democratic Party landslides.

Communities

Census-designated places

Additional community

See also

References
  1. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  2. "Bland County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  3. "A Brief History of Bland County". Bland County Historical Society. Retrieved August 21, 2014.
  4. Salmon, Emily; Edward D.C. Campbell, Jr., eds. (1994). The Hornbook of Virginia History: a ready-reference guide to the Old Dominion's people, places, and past (4th ed.). Richmond: Library of Virginia. ISBN 0884901777.
  5. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  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 1, 2014.
  8. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 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 1, 2014.
  10. "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Bland 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) - Bland County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.

37.13°N 81.13°W / 37.13; -81.13

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