Norton, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Norton, Virginia
Independent city
A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock
A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock
Official seal of Norton, Virginia
Seal
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Coordinates: 36°56′12″N 82°37′30″W / 36.93667°N 82.62500°W / 36.93667; -82.62500Coordinates: 36°56′12″N 82°37′30″W / 36.93667°N 82.62500°W / 36.93667; -82.62500
CountryUnited States
StateVirginia
CountyNone (Independent city)
Founded1894
Named forEckstein Norton[1]
Government
 • MayorJoseph Fawbush [2]
Area
 • Total7.51 sq mi (19.46 km2)
 • Land7.48 sq mi (19.37 km2)
 • Water0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2)
Elevation
2,133 ft (650 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total3,958
 • Estimate 
(2019)[4]
3,981
 • Density532.43/sq mi (205.57/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24273
Area code(s)276
FIPS code51-57688[5]
GNIS feature ID1485924[6]
Websitehttp://www.nortonva.org/

Norton is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, located in the far western tip of the state in Wise County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 3,958,[7] making it the least populous city in Virginia. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Norton with surrounding Wise County for statistical purposes.

History[]

The settlement was originally known as "Prince's Flats," but in a bid to convince the Louisville and Nashville Railroad[8] to build a depot there, the town was renamed after the then-current head of the railroad, Eckstein Norton. Norton was located on the Wilderness Trail, which had been blazed by Daniel Boone, and later extensively mapped and settled by Christopher Gist. The settlement developed as a central hub for the timber trade until the coal boom of the 1830-40s.[9]

The Hotel Norton is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[10]

Education[]

Norton City Schools is the school division of the city, operating John I. Burton High School and Norton Elementary and Middle School.

Geography[]

Norton is located at

 WikiMiniAtlas
36°56′12″N 82°37′31″W / 36.936805°N 82.625146°W / 36.936805; -82.625146, along the Powell and Guest Rivers. The entire area of Norton lies within the confines of Wise County, but is not a part of the county.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 7.5 square miles (19 km2), virtually all of which is land.

Major highways[]

Demographics[]

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1900654—
19101,866185.3%
19203,06864.4%
19303,0770.3%
19404,00630.2%
19504,3157.7%
19604,99615.8%
19704,001−19.9%
19804,75718.9%
19904,247−10.7%
20003,904−8.1%
20103,9581.4%
2019 (est.)3,981[4]0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2018[15]

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 3,904 people, 1,730 households, and 1,067 families residing in the city. The population density was 518.5 people per square mile (200.2/km2). There were 1,946 housing units at an average density of 258.4 per square mile (99.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 91.57% White, 6.15% Black, 0.08% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.13% Pacific Islander, 0.18% from other races, and 0.90% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.87% of the population.

There were 1,730 households, out of which 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 15.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.3% were non-families. 34.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 10.2% from 18 to 24, 27.3% from 25 to 44, 25.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 81.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $22,788, and the median income for a family was $30,889. Males had a median income of $30,000 versus $23,229 for females. The per capita income for the city was $16,024. About 19.1% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people[]

Politics[]

The city of Norton is located in the 9th congressional district, currently served by Morgan Griffith.[17] For state government, Norton lies in the 1st House district (Terry Kilgore) and the 38th Senate district (currently vacant, previously Ben Chafin[18]). [19][20]

Since 2004, Norton has reliably voted for the Republican candidate for President, increasing to forty percent margins in both 2016 and 2020.


Presidential Elections Results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2020 69.3% 1,109 29.0% 464 1.8% 28
2016 69.9% 1,021 26.2% 383 3.8% 56
2012 60.0% 895 37.9% 566 2.1% 31
2008 49.2% 744 49.1% 743 1.7% 25
2004 51.1% 768 48.2% 725 0.7% 11
2000 41.8% 639 56.7% 867 1.6% 24
1996 30.1% 416 58.0% 802 11.9% 164
1992 30.5% 472 56.3% 871 13.3% 205
1988 42.7% 608 55.9% 795 1.4% 20
1984 48.3% 806 50.5% 842 1.2% 20
1980 40.9% 572 54.4% 762 4.7% 66
1976 40.4% 577 56.7% 811 2.9% 42
1972 62.7% 823 35.3% 463 2.1% 27
1968 39.1% 495 43.8% 555 17.1% 217
1964 31.1% 372 68.9% 824
1960 51.0% 549 48.9% 526 0.1% 1
1956 55.1% 684 44.5% 552 0.4% 5

References[]

  1. ^ "Norton History | Norton, VA". City of Norton. Retrieved 18 November 2020.
  2. ^ "City Council". City of Norton. Retrieved 9 November 2020.
  3. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". United States Census Bureau. May 24, 2020. Retrieved May 27, 2020.
  5. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  6. ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 7, 2014. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  8. ^ "Evolution of Norton". City of Norton. City of Norton. Retrieved 5 May 2017.
  9. ^ Te nnis, Joe (2004). Southwest Virginia Crossroads: An Almanac of Place Names and Places to See. The Overmountain Press. p. 19. ISBN 978-1-57072-256-1.
  10. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  11. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  12. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  13. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  14. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 6, 2014.
  15. ^ "County Population Totals and Components of Change: 2010-2018". Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  16. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  17. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601. "H. Morgan Griffith (Virginia (VA)), 117th Congress Profile". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  18. ^ "Virginia state Sen. Ben Chafin dies from COVID-19 complications". WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. 2021-01-02. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  19. ^ "Virginia House of Delegates Member Listings". virginiageneralassembly.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  20. ^ "Senate of Virginia". apps.senate.virginia.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-02.
  21. ^ David Leip. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2020-12-10.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""