Bland County, Virginia

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

Bland County Courthouse

Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Bland County
Location in the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded 1861
Named for Richard Bland
Seat Bland
Largest community Bland
Area
 • Total 359 sq mi (930 km2)
 • Land 358 sq mi (927 km2)
 • Water 1 sq mi (3 km2), 0.3%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 6,561
 • Density 18/sq mi (7/km²)
Congressional district 9th
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.blandcountyva.gov

Bland County is a United States county located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Like most of Southwestern Virginia, it is part of the Appalachian region. The county seat is the unincorporated village of Bland.[1]

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 2010 census, the county population was 6,824, making it the sixth 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
Census Pop. %±
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%
Est. 20156,561[6]−3.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2013[2]

As of the census[11] 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/km²). There were 3,161 housing units at an average density of 9 per square mile (3/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

Constitutional officers

Bland County is represented by Republican Ben Chafin 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.

Communities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  2. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  3. ↑ "A Brief History of Bland County". Bland County Historical Society. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  4. ↑ Salmon, edited by Emily J.; Jr, Edward D.C. Campbell, (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. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on May 11, 2015. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 1, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2013-09-11. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. ↑ http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2015%20November%20General/Site/Locality/BLAND%20COUNTY/Index.html
  13. ↑ http://results.elections.virginia.gov/vaelections/2015%20November%20General/Site/Locality/BLAND%20COUNTY/Index.html

External links

 Mercer County, West Virginia Giles County
Tazewell County
  Bland County, Virginia  
Smyth County Wythe County Pulaski County

Coordinates: 37°08′N 81°08′W / 37.13°N 81.13°W / 37.13; -81.13

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