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32-527: Wytheville ( / ˈ w ɪ θ v ɪ l / WITH -vil ) is a town in, and the county seat of, Wythe County , Virginia , United States. It is named after George Wythe , a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence and mentor to Thomas Jefferson . Wytheville's population was 8,264 at the 2020 census . Interstate Highways 77 and 81 were constructed to intersect at the town. During

64-479: A male householder with no partner present. 40.8% of all households consisted of single individuals living alone. The average household size was 2.1 and the average family size was 2.9. In total 19.5% of the population was under the age of 18 and 25.3% were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.2 years. For every 100 females, there were 87 males. In the period of 2018-2022, the Census Bureau estimated that

96-624: A town and county seat. Robert Adams completed a town survey in November of that year, dividing the area into half-acre lots. The town did not have an official name yet, but was generally known as Wythe Court House. Two years later, in October 1792, the town was officially named Evansham, for prominent local citizen Jesse Evans. After a disastrous fire in March 1839, the town was renamed Wytheville. At that time, it

128-551: Is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia . As of the 2020 census , the population was 28,290. Its county seat is Wytheville . Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County in 1790. It was named after George Wythe , the first Virginian signer of the Declaration of Independence . During the Civil War the Battle of Cove Mountain was fought in

160-541: Is an important point on both I-77 and I-81 and lies amidst a wrong-way concurrency of I-77 and I-81. It is located about halfway between Bristol , Tennessee / Virginia and Roanoke . On the I-77 corridor, it is located about halfway between Charleston , West Virginia and Charlotte, North Carolina . The nearby community of Fort Chiswell is the control city for the northbound traffic on I-77 coming from Charlotte, Statesville , Elkin , and Mount Airy, North Carolina . In

192-601: Is mostly an elevated plateau, lying between Iron Mountain on the south and Walker's Mountain on the northwest. The soil is generally fertile. Iron ore, lead, bituminous coal, limestone, and gypsum are very abundant, and there are traces of silver found in the lead mines. Wythe County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission , and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of

224-527: The National Register of Historic Places . Wytheville is located at 36°56′52″N 81°5′13″W  /  36.94778°N 81.08694°W  / 36.94778; -81.08694 (36.947679, −81.086955). According to the United States Census Bureau , the town has a total area of 14.3 sq mi (37.0 km), of which 0.04 sq mi (0.1 km) (0.14%) is water. Wytheville

256-514: The New River to retrieve the shot from the kettle. The lead mines closed in 1982 due to new United States Environmental Protection Agency standards and the lack of a market for lead. The mines have since filled with water; the main shaft extended in excess of 1100 feet straight down. On August 15, 1926, the lynching of Raymond Byrd occurred at the Wythe County jail. Another notable area within

288-446: The 2020 census , there were 8,264 people, residing in the town. The population density was 570.4 people per square mile (211.07/km). The racial makeup of the town was 86.3% White (85.9% non-Hispanic white ), 6.7% Black or African American (6.6% non- Hispanic black ), 0.4% Native American , 1.1% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 1.1% from other races , and 4.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.3% of

320-784: The 5,513 inhabitants of the town, 184 people contracted the disease, resulting in 17 fatalities. From the beginning of June until the end of August, parents kept children inside, and large gatherings were cancelled to diminish the chance of infection. As the epidemic progressed, ambulances drove victims approximately 80 miles (130 km) to Memorial Crippled Children's Hospital in Roanoke, Virginia . Hearses from local funeral homes were used when ambulances were unavailable. African-American patients with polio were repeatedly denied admission to Roanoke's hospital and were forced to drive approximately 180 miles (290 km) to St. Philip's Hospital in Richmond ,

352-576: The American Civil War, Wytheville had a strategic importance. It was attacked in 1863 ( Toland's Raid ) and 1865 ( Stoneman's 1865 Raid ). The town is the birthplace of Edith Bolling Wilson , second wife of President Woodrow Wilson . Wythe County was created in 1789 and named for George Wythe , the "father of American Jurisprudence" and signer of the Declaration of Independence . In May 1790, Chris Simmerman donated 85 acres, John Davis donated 10 acres, and Robert Williams donated 5 acres to establish

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384-527: The Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America . 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. As of the census of 2000, there were 27,599 people, 11,511 households, and 8,103 families residing in the county. The population density

416-429: The age of 18 living with them, 56.20% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.70% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83. In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.80% under

448-468: The age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.90% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.40 males. For every 100 females aged 18 and over, there were 88.30 males. The median income for a household in the county was $ 32,235, and the median income for a family was $ 40,188. Males had a median income of $ 29,053 versus $ 20,550 for females. The per capita income for

480-474: The approximate location of the former fort. The community was named for Colonel John Chiswell who helped establish the lead mines (1757) prior to the Austin's purchase. Wythe County's location, at the confluence of I-81 and I-77 which is, incidentally, a wrong-way concurrency , has led to its growth for industry and tourism. Recently Gatorade and Pepsi manufacturing facilities have located here, primarily due to

512-410: The area. Its first winery opened in 2006 and a second opened in 2007. A dinner theatre is located in the county seat, Wytheville . According to the U.S. Census Bureau , the county has a total area of 465 square miles (1,200 km ), of which, 462 square miles (1,200 km ) of it is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km ) (0.6%) is water. The county is intersected by the New River . The land

544-402: The citizens of Wythe County. Lead was hoisted to the top of the tower using block and tackle and oxen. The lead was melted in a retort and then poured through a sieve at the top of the tower. The droplets of molten lead would become round during the 150-foot descent. The shot would collect in a kettle of water and slave laborers would enter through a 110-foot access tunnel located near the bank of

576-716: The closest hospital to serve blacks. The Town Council erected billboards at all five entrances to the county, warning potential visitors of the epidemic and urging tourists to return the following year. By the end of the summer, all five billboards were stolen or demolished. Though the Town Council offered a reward for information, no one came forward. The Crockett's Cove Presbyterian Church , Haller-Gibboney Rock House , Loretto , St. John's Episcopal Church , St. John's Lutheran Church and Cemetery , Wythe County Poorhouse Farm , and Wytheville Historic District are listed on

608-433: The county is the unincorporated community of Fort Chiswell - named for a French and Indian War era fort. The fort and its surrounding buildings served as the county seat until the incorporated town of Wytheville was established approximately 10 miles to the west. The fort fell into disrepair and its ruins were covered over when the intersection of I-77 and I-81 was constructed in the 1970s. A pyramid marker now stands in

640-462: The county was $ 17,639. About 8.50% of families and 11.00% of the population were below the poverty line , including 12.50% of those under age 18 and 13.40% of those age 65 or over. The Wythe County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) is the primary law enforcement agency in Wythe County, Virginia. The sheriff preceding Charles Foster was Keith Dunagan, who had served for nearly 40 years before retiring. Since

672-520: The county. Prior to Wythe County's creation, what is now the Wythe County community of Austinville served as the county seat for Fincastle County , an extinct Virginia county whose borders stretched from Roanoke, Virginia, to the Mississippi River – a county roughly the size of half the State of Texas. Wythe County's Austinville community was founded by Stephen and his brother Moses Austin , father of

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704-457: The ease of access and central location along the Eastern seaboard. There are a variety of travel-related businesses including several hundred hotel rooms, several truck stops , and restaurants located in the county. Tourism takes a variety of different forms in Wythe County. There are numerous opportunities for those that enjoy outdoor activities including a variety of trails, campgrounds, and parks in

736-543: The establishment of the Wythe County Sheriff's Office, 1 deputy has died in the line of duty, in 1994. 36°55′N 81°05′W  /  36.92°N 81.09°W  / 36.92; -81.09 Haller-Gibboney Rock House It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. This article about a property in Wythe County, Virginia on the National Register of Historic Places

768-453: The famous Stephen F. Austin . In the 1790s the Austins took over the mines that produced lead and zinc; the town was named for the Austin surname, and not for any one particular Austin of the brothers who bore that surname. Lead was mined and shipped throughout the fledgling country; lead shot was also produced. Located near Fosters Falls, Jackson Ferry Shot Tower still stands as a testament to

800-724: The median household income was $ 39,459, while the mean income was $ 66,606. For family households, the median income was $ 75,964 while the mean income was $ 95,921. The per capita income for the town was $ 33,813. 27.3% of the population were below the poverty line , including 39.7% of those under age 18 and 13.7% of those age 65 or over. WYVE 1280 on the AM dial was signed on in 1949. In August 2018, WYVE acquired FM Translator dial position 99.9FM. Three Rivers Media Corp. owns WYVE and its sister stations, WXBX and WLOY with towers in Wythe County and studio space adjacent to Downtown Wytheville. Wythe County, Virginia Wythe County ( / w ɪ θ / )

832-606: The near future, Interstate 74 will go through Wytheville in addition to the two other interstates. Due to the confluence of I-77, I-81, and several U.S. Highways and its location in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains , Wytheville is known as "The Hub of Southwest Virginia" and "The Crossroads of the Blue Ridge". Due to its elevation, the climate of Wytheville is either classified as mountain temperate or humid subtropical ( Köppen Cfb or Cfa , respectively), and

864-420: The population. There were 4,299 housing units at an average density of 296.7 units per square mile (113.8/km), containing 3,922 households. There were 2,102 (53.6%) family households. 22.7% of households had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.1% were married couples living together, 6.3% were cohabitating couples living together, 38% had a female householder with no partner present, and 20.% had

896-480: The relationship was consensual and thus did not constitute a crime. He was, however, eventually arrested on the accusation that he assaulted the minor daughter. Byrd was shot and killed by the mob while he was in his jail cell. Then his dead body was dragged a few miles behind a truck, placed in the boot of a car, and then hanged from a tree on Charley Brown's land near St. Paul Lutheran Church. The event provoked outrage and national coverage by newspapers. Byrd's death

928-694: The town straddles the border between USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 6B and 7A. Summers are warm and humid, although significantly cooler than low-elevation places within the state, with only 4.6 days of 90 °F (32 °C)+ highs annually, and winters are generally cool to cold, with occasional intervening warm periods and 11 nights of sub-10 °F (−12 °C) lows. Monthly mean temperatures range from 32.9 °F (0.5 °C) in January to 71.7 °F (22.1 °C) in July. Snowfall averages 20.5 inches (52 cm) per season and generally occurs from December to March. As of

960-505: Was 60 people per square mile (23 people/km ). There were 12,744 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km ). The racial makeup of the county was 95.76% White , 2.87% Black or African American , 0.16% Native American , 0.38% Asian , 0.01% Pacific Islander , 0.24% from other races , and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 11,511 households, out of which 28.90% had children under

992-507: Was a catalyst for Virginia's passing an anti-lynching law in 1928, largely because of a campaign led by Louis I. Jaffé , editor of the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot . It was supported by Governor Harry Flood Byrd Sr. , who linked the bill to his efforts to attract new businesses to the state. A few cases of polio during the summer of 1950 swelled into an epidemic of hundreds. It was known to cause infantile and even adult paralysis. Of

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1024-483: Was home to about 500 residents. In 1926, the last documented lynching in Virginia took place here, when Raymond Byrd , an African-American man, was murdered by a large group of masked and costumed men while under arrest in the local jail. Byrd was accused of raping or assaulting the three white daughters of Grover Grubb, his employer. The two older sisters, both of whom bore Byrd's children, were of age and revealed that

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