Montgomery County, Virginia

Montgomery County is a county located in the Valley and Ridge area of the U.S. state of Virginia. As population in the area increased, Montgomery County was formed in 1777 from Fincastle County, which in turn had been taken from Botetourt County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 94,392.[2] Its county seat is Christiansburg.[3]

Montgomery County
U.S. county
Montgomery County Courthouse
Seal
Motto(s): 
Freedom Increases Responsibility
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°10′N 80°23′W
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1772
Named forRichard Montgomery
SeatChristiansburg
Largest townBlacksburg
Area
 • Total389 sq mi (1,010 km2)
 • Land387 sq mi (1,000 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.6%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total94,392
 • Estimate 
(2018)[1]
98,985
 • Density240/sq mi (94/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.montva.com

Montgomery County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is dominated economically by the presence of Virginia Tech, Virginia's second largest public university,[4] which is the county's largest employer.[5]

Board of Supervisors

The Montgomery County Board of Supervisors sets the annual budget and tax rates, enacts legislation governing the county and its citizens, sets policies and oversees their implementation. There are seven supervisors; one is elected from each of the seven geographic districts. Terms are four years; three or four seats are up for re-election each odd year.[6]

SupervisorDistrict
[Vice Chair] Sara Bohn A
Chris TuckB
[Chair] Steve FijalkowskiC
Todd KingD
Darrell SheppardE
Mary BiggsF
April DeMottsG

History

Montgomery County was established on December 31, 1776, made from parts of Fincastle County, which was disbanded at this time and split into Montgomery, Washington, and Kentucky counties. Later, Montgomery lost land to form counties which now border it, including some counties which later formed West Virginia.[7]

The county is named for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 389 square miles (1,010 km2), of which 387 square miles (1,000 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.6%) is water.[8] The western part of the county is in the New River watershed.

Adjacent counties and city

National protected area

Major highways

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
179013,228—
18009,044−31.6%
18108,409−7.0%
18208,7333.9%
183012,30640.9%
18407,405−39.8%
18508,35912.9%
186010,61727.0%
187012,55618.3%
188016,69332.9%
189017,7426.3%
190015,852−10.7%
191017,2688.9%
192018,5957.7%
193019,6055.4%
194021,2068.2%
195029,78040.4%
196032,92310.6%
197047,15743.2%
198063,51634.7%
199073,91316.4%
200083,62913.1%
201094,39212.9%
2018 (est.)98,985[1]4.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790-1960[10] 1900-1990[11]
1990-2000[12] 2010-2015[2]

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 94,392 people living in the county. 87.6% were White, 5.4% Asian, 3.9% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% of some other race and 2.1% of two or more races. 2.7% were Hispanic or Latino (of any race).

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 83,629 people, 30,997 households, and 17,203 families living in the county. The population density was 215 people per square mile (83/km2). There were 32,527 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.00% White, 3.65% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 3.97% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.63% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 30,997 households, out of which 25.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.80% were married couples living together, 7.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 6.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 17.10% under the age of 18, 31.30% from 18 to 24, 25.60% from 25 to 44, 17.30% from 45 to 64, and 8.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 26 years. For every 100 females, there were 110.00 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 110.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,330, and the median income for a family was $47,239. Males had a median income of $33,674 versus $23,555 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,077. About 8.80% of families and 23.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 14.60% of those under age 18 and 8.80% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Despite being in the Solid South, Montgomery County did not consistently back Democratic candidates in the early 20th century, being a swing county from 1900 to 1940. From 1944 to 1988, the county was consistently Republican, though the presence of a major university in Virginia Tech helped make the county more competitive to the Democratic Party towards the end of that streak. It has since become a bellwether county, backing the national winner in every election from 1980 to 2008. The county backed the losing candidate, by very narrow margins of 103 votes in 2012 and 562 votes in 2016, but again backed the winning candidate in 2020.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[14][15]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 45.8% 20,629 51.6% 23,218 2.6% 1,190
2016 45.2% 19,459 46.5% 20,021 8.3% 3,551
2012 48.8% 20,006 48.5% 19,903 2.7% 1,100
2008 46.8% 19,028 51.7% 21,031 1.5% 594
2004 54.2% 17,070 44.8% 14,128 1.0% 317
2000 51.5% 13,991 43.2% 11,720 5.3% 1,449
1996 43.3% 10,517 44.7% 10,867 12.0% 2,914
1992 42.5% 10,606 42.7% 10,658 14.7% 3,671
1988 57.5% 12,326 41.6% 8,909 1.0% 209
1984 62.9% 12,428 36.4% 7,202 0.7% 135
1980 47.4% 8,222 43.0% 7,455 9.6% 1,667
1976 50.6% 7,971 47.9% 7,539 1.5% 232
1972 70.6% 9,348 27.9% 3,692 1.6% 208
1968 61.5% 7,098 23.4% 2,700 15.2% 1,749
1964 54.2% 4,604 45.6% 3,872 0.2% 13
1960 66.3% 4,270 33.5% 2,157 0.3% 18
1956 70.1% 4,598 28.2% 1,848 1.7% 113
1952 70.7% 3,881 29.1% 1,600 0.2% 10
1948 59.6% 2,070 32.4% 1,126 8.0% 277
1944 53.7% 1,936 45.8% 1,652 0.5% 19
1940 46.4% 1,890 53.2% 2,168 0.4% 17
1936 49.9% 1,852 49.3% 1,832 0.8% 29
1932 44.7% 1,522 53.0% 1,805 2.3% 78
1928 65.8% 1,861 34.2% 967
1924 44.4% 964 52.7% 1,142 2.9% 63
1920 53.8% 1,160 44.9% 969 1.3% 28
1916 53.5% 891 45.9% 765 0.7% 11
1912 21.9% 349 42.9% 684 35.3% 563
1908 51.4% 795 47.5% 734 1.2% 18
1904 51.1% 725 45.8% 650 3.0% 42
1900 53.8% 1,391 42.6% 1,102 3.7% 95
1896 53.5% 1,594 44.2% 1,317 2.3% 68
1892 40.5% 1,128 46.2% 1,286 13.3% 369
1888 50.6% 1,516 44.5% 1,335 4.9% 148
1884 47.9% 1,308 51.8% 1,416 0.3% 9
1880 31.1% 601 68.4% 1,323 0.5% 10

Education

Colleges and universities

Public High schools

Private High schools
  • Pathway Christian Academy
  • Dayspring Christian Academy

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved July 14, 2019.
  2. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  3. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  4. "Rankings | Largest U.S. colleges - Universities with the highest enrollment | State | Virginia (VA)". www.collegeraptor.com. Retrieved 2018-09-05.
  5. Virginia Employment Commission (August 30, 2018). "Virginia Community Profile: Montgomery County" (PDF). Virginia Labor Market Information. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 5, 2018.
  6. https://www.montgomerycountyva.gov/Elected-Officials/board-of-supervisors
  7. https://www.newrivernotes.com/montgomery_index.htm
  8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 3, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  14. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 3 April 2018.
  15. "Our Campaigns - U.S. President". Retrieved January 22, 2021.

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