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Economic Development  

 

 

 

           

 

Summary Facts
Smyth County, Virginia

Population Characteristics

 

Population

Households

*1990

32,370

13,132

*2000

33,081

15,111

2003

32,827

NA

2004

32,900

NA

2005

32,300

NA

2010

33,800

NA

 

 

 

 

 

*Source:  Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, U.VA.
* Source:  U.S. Census

Area in square miles

Total Area

452.3

Water Area

0.2

Land Area

452.1

 

 

Source:  Smyth County GIS -Zoning Map 

Density per square mile of land area

Population

73.2

Housing units

33.4

 

 

Source:  2000 U.S. Census

Age Characteristics of the Population

 

Number

Percentage

<5 years

1,769

5.30%

5-19 years

6,175

18.60%

20-24 years

1,842

5.60%

25-44 years

9,298

28.10%

45-64 years

8,593

26.00%

65-74 years

2,953

8.90%

75+ years

2,451

7.40%

 
 
 
 
 
 
*Source:  2000 U.S. Census
 Race Characteristics of the Population

White

96.90%

Black/African Americans

1.90%

American Indian/Alaska Native

0.20%

Asian/Pacific Islander

0.20%

Hispanic

0.90%

Some other race

0.30%

 

 

 

 

*Source:  2000 U.S. Census 

Average Income 

Year

Per Capita

  AGI*

2000

$20,188

$33,333

2001

$20,276

$33,223

2002

$20,817

$33,738

2003

$21,703

$33,781

2004

$23,113

NA+

 

 

 

 

*Source: Bureau of Economic Analysis
*Married Couples
+Data always lags one year behind therefore 2003 is last data available
 

Unemployment Rates (%) 

Year

Unemployment Rate %

2005

4.5

2004

5.4

2003

9.6

2002

9.5

2001

8.8

2000

5.8

1999

6.1

1998

5.5

1997

8.4

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Source:  Virginia Employment Commission 
 

 Public Education 

Public School Enrollment (2004-2005)

  4,939

Annual Cost per Pupil

$7,739

 

 

Number of Schools

 

      Elementary

4

      Primary 

1

      Intermediate (3-5)

1

      Middle

3

      High School

3

      Combined (Elementary/Middle)

1

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Source:  Smyth County School Board
 

 Student to Teach Ratio

Elementary

17.7

Middle

17.9

Secondary

18.2

 

 

*Source: Smyth County School Board

 Level of Enrollment 

 

Number of Students

Percent Enrolled

Population 3 years and over enrolled in school

6,761

100.0%

Nursery School, Preschool

273

4.0%

Kindergarten

410

6.1%

Elementary School (grades 1-8)

3,256

48.2%

High School (grades 9-12)

1,782

26.4%

College or Graduate School

1,040

15.4%

Source:  2000 U.S. Census

  Educational Attainment 

Population 25 years and over

23,255

100.0%

Less than 9th grade

3,488

15.0%

9th to 12th grade, no diploma

4,068

17.5%

*High school graduate

7,992

34.4%

Some college, no degree

3,961

17.0%

Associate degree

1,276

5.5%

Bachelor’s degree

1,717

7.4%

Graduate or professional degree

753

3.2%

 

 

 

High school graduate or higher

67.5%

 

Bachelor’s degree or higher

10.6%

 

*Includes Equivalency

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

*Source:  2000 U.S. Census

 Colleges and Universities Enrollment 

 

2005 Enrollment

Virginia Tech

21,567

Emory & Henry College

1,028

Wytheville Community College

3,740

Virginia Highlands Community College

4,596

 Geography/Land Use (2006)

Land Area (square miles)

452.1

Agricultural/Rural* (acres)

187,741

Commercial* (acres)

478

Industrial* (acres)

1020

Public/Open Space*

88,169

 

 

 

*Not including towns

Source:  Smyth County GIS -Zoning Map 

Residential Building Permits 

Fiscal Year

Single Family

Manufactured

2000

65

256

2001

66

308

2002

49

252

2003

49

112

2004

68

109

2005

50

123

                                

 

 

 

 

*Source: Smyth County Department of Inspections

 Employment By Industry 

Industry

Number

Percentage

Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing & Hunting, and Mining

321

2.2%

Construction

937

6.3%

Manufacturing

4,958

33.3%

Wholesale Trade

343

2.3%

Retail Trade

1,767

11.9%

Transportation, Warehousing, and Utilities

568

3.8%

Information

203

1.4%

Finance, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing

384

2.6%

Professional, Scientific, Management, Administrative,

 

 

         and Waste management services

512

3.4%

Educational, Health and Social Services

2,756

18.5%

Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, Accommodation and

 

 

         Food Services

812

5.4%

Other Services (Except Public Administrative)

580

3.9%

Public Administrative

765

5.1%

*Source:  2000 U.S. Census

Market Value of Real Estate (Sales in Millions) 

Year

Value in Millions of Dollars

1998

902.8

1999

914.5

2000

922.5

2001

937.9

2002

948.8

2003

949.6

2004

1193.6

                                            

 

 

 

 

 

*Source: Virginia Department of Taxation

 

 


The Chamber of Commerce of Smyth County, Inc.
214 West Main Street PO Box 924
Marion, VA 24354
Phone: 276-783-3161   Fax: 276-783-8003
info@smythchamber.org