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Giles County, Virginia

Coordinates: 37°19′N 80°42′W / 37.32°N 80.70°W / 37.32; -80.70
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Giles County
County
Giles County Courthouse
Giles County Courthouse
Official seal of Giles County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Giles 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°19′N 80°42′W / 37.32°N 80.7°W / 37.32; -80.7
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1806
Named forWilliam Branch Giles
SeatPearisburg
Largest townPearisburg
Area
 • Total
360 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Land356 sq mi (920 km2)
 • Water4.6 sq mi (12 km2)  1.3%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
16,787
 • Density47/sq mi (18/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.virginiasmtnplayground.com

Giles County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia on the West Virginia state line. As of the 2020 census, the population was 16,787.[1] Its county seat is Pearisburg.[2]

Giles County is included in the Blacksburg-Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Giles County is the location of Mountain Lake, one of only two natural fresh water lakes in Virginia. The lake drains into Little Stony Creek, which passes over a waterfall known as The Cascades before reaching the New River.

History

[edit]
William Branch Giles, for whom the county was named

Giles County was established in 1806 from Montgomery, Monroe, Wythe, and Tazewell counties. The county is named for William Branch Giles[3] who was born in Amelia County in 1762. Giles became a lawyer and from there was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served from 1790 to 1815. He also served in the Virginia General Assembly from 1816 to 1822. In 1827, he was elected Governor. In all, he served his nation and state around a total of forty years.

Geography

[edit]

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 360 square miles (930 km2), of which 356 square miles (920 km2) is land and 4.6 square miles (12 km2) (1.3%) is water.[4] Giles County is one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[5] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[6]

It is the site of two of the highest mountain peaks of Virginia.

Adjacent counties

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National protected area

[edit]

Major highways

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  • I-73 (future)
  • US 219 (Federal Street)
  • US 460 (Virginia Avenue)
  • SR 42 (Virginia State Route 42) (disconnected; one piece comes in from Bland County to VA 100 while the other goes from U.S. 460 into Craig County)
  • SR 61 (Wolf Creek Highway outside of Narrows)
  • SR 100 (Virginia State Route 100)

Railroads

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18103,745—
18204,52120.7%
18305,27416.7%
18405,3070.6%
18506,57023.8%
18606,8834.8%
18705,875−14.6%
18808,79449.7%
18909,0903.4%
190010,79318.7%
191011,6237.7%
192011,9012.4%
193012,8047.6%
194014,63514.3%
195018,95629.5%
196017,219−9.2%
197016,741−2.8%
198017,8106.4%
199016,366−8.1%
200016,6571.8%
201017,2863.8%
202016,787−2.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010[11] 2020[12]

2020 census

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Giles County, Virginia – Racial and ethnic composition
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 may be of any race.
Race / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic) Pop 2010[11] Pop 2020[12] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 16,580 15,673 95.92% 93.36%
Black or African American alone (NH) 259 238 1.50% 1.42%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 19 28 0.11% 0.17%
Asian alone (NH) 54 69 0.31% 0.41%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 0 0 0.00% 0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 7 19 0.04% 0.11%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 158 516 0.91% 3.07%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 209 244 1.21% 1.45%
Total 17,286 16,787 100.00% 100.00%

2010 census

[edit]

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 17,286 people, 7,215 households, and 4,899 families residing in the county. The population density was 48 people per square mile (19 people/km2). There were 8,319 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.74% White, 1.51% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.36% from other races, and 0.95% from two or more races. 1.21% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 7,215 households, out of which 29.27% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.46% were married couples living together, 10.49% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.10% were non-families. 27.86% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.56% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 4.89% from 20 to 24, 23.85% from 25 to 44, 29.43% from 45 to 64, and 18.03% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.14 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.55 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,231, and the median income for a family was $53,750. Males had a median income of $41,521 versus $36,886 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,766. About 6.60% of families (2000 census) and 12.7% of the population were below the poverty line[14](2012), including 17.70% of those under age 18 (2012)and 10.50% of those age 65 or over (2000 census).

Government

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Board of Supervisors

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  • At-Large District: Paul W. "Chappy" Baker (I)
  • At-Large District: Richard "Ricky" McCoy (I)
  • Central District: Jeffrey Morris (I)
  • Eastern District: Perry Martin (I)
  • Western District: John Lawson (I)

Constitutional officers

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  • Clerk of the Circuit Court: Sherry E Gautier (I)
  • Commissioner of the Revenue: Lisa Corell (I)
  • Commonwealth's Attorney: Robert M. Lilly, Jr. (I)
  • Sheriff: W. Morgan Millirons (I)
  • Treasurer: Angela L. Higginbotham (I)

Giles is represented by Democrat John S. Edwards in the Virginia Senate, Republican Jason Ballard in the Virginia House of Delegates, and Republican H. Morgan Griffith in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Law enforcement

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The Giles County Sheriff's Department patrols and investigates crimes in the county. It also serves process, provides security for the county court, and operates the county's E-911 service.[15] Since the establishment of the Sheriff's Office, 1 officer has died in the line of duty, in 1954.[16]

Presidential election results

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United States presidential election results for Giles County, Virginia[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 7,102 76.67% 2,069 22.34% 92 0.99%
2020 6,876 74.93% 2,156 23.50% 144 1.57%
2016 5,910 71.97% 1,950 23.75% 352 4.29%
2012 4,660 61.66% 2,730 36.12% 168 2.22%
2008 4,462 57.24% 3,192 40.95% 141 1.81%
2004 4,320 57.62% 3,047 40.64% 131 1.75%
2000 3,574 52.40% 3,004 44.05% 242 3.55%
1996 2,566 38.15% 3,196 47.52% 964 14.33%
1992 3,023 39.61% 3,346 43.84% 1,263 16.55%
1988 3,490 52.50% 3,042 45.76% 116 1.74%
1984 4,340 58.18% 3,047 40.84% 73 0.98%
1980 2,978 42.91% 3,627 52.26% 335 4.83%
1976 2,731 40.53% 3,779 56.08% 229 3.40%
1972 3,671 64.34% 1,869 32.75% 166 2.91%
1968 2,722 43.36% 2,045 32.58% 1,510 24.06%
1964 1,952 37.78% 3,133 60.63% 82 1.59%
1960 2,030 46.91% 2,214 51.17% 83 1.92%
1956 2,270 51.84% 2,016 46.04% 93 2.12%
1952 1,935 52.94% 1,717 46.98% 3 0.08%
1948 1,448 46.48% 1,529 49.09% 138 4.43%
1944 1,203 41.34% 1,703 58.52% 4 0.14%
1940 1,024 37.32% 1,716 62.54% 4 0.15%
1936 1,047 40.33% 1,547 59.59% 2 0.08%
1932 1,016 36.26% 1,754 62.60% 32 1.14%
1928 1,313 50.38% 1,293 49.62% 0 0.00%
1924 852 38.21% 1,319 59.15% 59 2.65%
1920 877 44.14% 1,104 55.56% 6 0.30%
1916 596 41.39% 839 58.26% 5 0.35%
1912 267 21.43% 725 58.19% 254 20.39%

Communities

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Towns

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After the dissolution of the Town of Glen Lyn in 2024[18], Giles County has four incorporated towns.

Town Population
in 2022[19]
Narrows 2,046
Pearisburg 2,832
Pembroke 1,129
Rich Creek 735

Unincorporated communities

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Education

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Giles county is home to three public elementary/middle schools, two public high schools, and one technical school:[20]

Eastern Elementary/Middle School (Pembroke)
Macy McClaugherty Elementary/Middle School (Pearisburg)
Narrows Elementary/Middle School (Narrows)
Giles High School (Pearisburg)
Narrows High School (Narrows)
Giles County Technology Center (Pearisburg)

The schools have a combined enrollment of 2425 as of mid 2014.

[edit]

The county and its courthouse are the setting of the 2013 Wish You Well (film).

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Giles County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 137.
  4. ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  5. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  6. ^ Woodard, Colin (July 30, 2018). "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  7. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  8. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  9. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 2, 2014.
  10. ^ "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 2, 2014.
  11. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Giles County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ a b "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Giles County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
  14. ^ "Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved September 1, 2014.
  15. ^ "Sheriff". Virginia's Mountain Playground. Retrieved October 22, 2022.
  16. ^ Officer Down Memorial page
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  18. ^ Hemphill, Michael. "The Giles County town of Glen Lyn votes itself out of existence". Cardinal News. Retrieved December 14, 2024.
  19. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places in Virginia: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2022 (SUB-IP-EST2022-POP-51)". United States Census Bureau. May 2023. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  20. ^ "School Data" (PDF). Giles County. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 26, 2014. Retrieved August 24, 2014.
[edit]

37°19′N 80°42′W / 37.32°N 80.70°W / 37.32; -80.70

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