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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