Russell County, Virginia

Russell County
Russell County
County
	Russell County Courthouse in Lebanon
	Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
	Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 36°56′N 82°06′W / 36.94°N 82.1°W
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Founded	January 2, 1786
Named for	William Russell
Seat	Lebanon
Largest town	Lebanon
Area
• Total	477 sq mi (1,240 km2)
• Land	474 sq mi (1,230 km2)
• Water	2.9 sq mi (8 km2) 0.6%
Population (2020)
• Total	25,781
• Density	54/sq mi (21/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	9th
Website	www.russellcountyva.us

Russell County (/rʌs.səl/) is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,781.^[1] Its county seat is Lebanon.^[2]

History

On January 2, 1786, Russell County was established from a section of Washington County. L.P. Summers, a Washington County historian later wrote, "Washington County lost a great extent of country and many valuable citizens when Russell County was formed."^[3] The county was named for Culpeper County native Colonel William Russell.^[4]

The first court met in May 1786 in the Castle's Woods settlement (present-day Castlewood) in the house of William Robinson. Later, a new place was built to house the County Seat. The structure used as a courthouse still stands, and is referred to as "The Old Courthouse." The present Courthouse, located in Lebanon, has been in use since 1874. Once vast, Russell County was split several times, giving rise to Tazewell County, Lee County, Scott County, Wise County, Buchanan County and Dickenson County.

Among Russell County's most famous politicians were Daniel Boone, Governor H.C. Stuart, State Representative Boyd C. Fugate and State Senator Macon M. Long. The largest cattle farm East of the Mississippi River, and one of the oldest corporations in the country, Stuart Land & Cattle, remains headquartered at Rosedale in Russell County.

Much of the county's history has been documented by Clinch Valley Times, the Tazewell Republican, the Abingdon Virginian, and the Lebanon News.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 477 square miles (1,240 km²), of which 474 square miles (1,230 km²) is land and 2.9 square miles (7.5 km²) (0.6%) is water.^[6]

The county has the fourth highest peak in Virginia, Beartown Mountain.

Adjacent counties

Dickenson County – northwest
Buchanan County – north
Tazewell County – east
Smyth County – southeast
Washington County – south
Scott County – southwest
Wise County – west

Major highways

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1790	3,338	—
1800	4,808	44.0%
1810	6,319	31.4%
1820	5,536	−12.4%
1830	6,714	21.3%
1840	7,878	17.3%
1850	11,919	51.3%
1860	10,280	−13.8%
1870	11,103	8.0%
1880	13,906	25.2%
1890	16,126	16.0%
1900	18,031	11.8%
1910	23,474	30.2%
1920	26,786	14.1%
1930	25,957	−3.1%
1940	26,627	2.6%
1950	26,818	0.7%
1960	26,290	−2.0%
1970	24,533	−6.7%
1980	31,761	29.5%
1990	28,667	−9.7%
2000	30,308	5.7%
2010	28,897	−4.7%
2020	25,781	−10.8%
U.S. Decennial Census^[7] 1790–1960^[8] 1900–1990^[9] 1990–2000^[10] 2010^[11] 2020^[12]

2020 census

**Russell County, Virginia - Demographic Profile**
(*NH = Non-Hispanic*)
Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2010^[11]	Pop 2020^[12]	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	28,142	24,754	97.39%	96.02%
Black or African American alone (NH)	227	222	0.79%	0.86%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	40	17	0.14%	0.07%
Asian alone (NH)	53	42	0.18%	0.16%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	1	1	0.00%	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	9	25	0.03%	0.10%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	150	552	0.52%	2.14%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	275	168	0.95%	0.65%
Total	28,897	25,781	100.00%	100.00%

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.

2010 Census

The 2010 census showed a population decline, with only 28,897 residing in Russell County.

As of the census^[13] of 2000, there were 30,308 people, 11,789 households, and 8,818 families residing in the county. The population density was 64 people per square mile (25 people/km²). There were 13,191 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.07% White, 3.08% Black or African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 0.28% from other races, and 0.40% from two or more races. 0.78% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,789 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.90% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.20% were non-families. 23.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.20% under the age of 18, 8.60% from 18 to 24, 30.90% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 13.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 102.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,834, and the median income for a family was $31,491. Males had a median income of $26,950 versus $20,108 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,863. About 13.00% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 16.90% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Public high schools

Fire and rescue services

Castlewood Fire and Rescue
Lebanon Lifesaving Crew
New Garden Rescue
Lebanon Fire
Honaker Fire
Dante Rescue
Dante Fire
Copper Creek Fire
Belfast Fire
Saint Paul Fire
Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department
Cleveland Lifesaving Crew

Communities

Towns

Census-designated places

Other unincorporated communities

Politics

United States presidential election results for Russell County, Virginia^[14]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	10,879	81.27%	2,373	17.73%	134	1.00%
2016	9,521	77.75%	2,330	19.03%	395	3.23%
2012	8,180	67.67%	3,718	30.76%	190	1.57%
2008	6,389	55.59%	4,932	42.91%	173	1.51%
2004	6,077	53.20%	5,167	45.23%	179	1.57%
2000	5,065	46.93%	5,442	50.43%	285	2.64%
1996	3,706	36.59%	5,437	53.68%	985	9.73%
1992	3,891	33.88%	6,480	56.43%	1,113	9.69%
1988	4,374	40.68%	6,222	57.86%	157	1.46%
1984	5,738	45.54%	6,760	53.66%	101	0.80%
1980	4,778	43.94%	5,764	53.01%	332	3.05%
1976	4,287	40.19%	6,014	56.38%	366	3.43%
1972	5,010	58.93%	3,367	39.60%	125	1.47%
1968	3,858	43.49%	3,554	40.06%	1,460	16.46%
1964	3,012	40.89%	4,330	58.78%	25	0.34%
1960	3,044	46.44%	3,496	53.34%	14	0.21%
1956	3,550	49.14%	3,641	50.40%	33	0.46%
1952	2,937	47.33%	3,253	52.42%	16	0.26%
1948	2,447	46.67%	2,689	51.29%	107	2.04%
1944	2,385	44.58%	2,945	55.05%	20	0.37%
1940	2,080	40.00%	3,109	59.79%	11	0.21%
1936	1,599	33.59%	3,143	66.03%	18	0.38%
1932	1,386	29.67%	3,274	70.09%	11	0.24%
1928	2,006	44.41%	2,511	55.59%	0	0.00%
1924	1,848	41.27%	2,554	57.03%	76	1.70%
1920	1,772	50.90%	1,704	48.95%	5	0.14%
1916	1,410	47.14%	1,570	52.49%	11	0.37%
1912	588	23.34%	1,298	51.53%	633	25.13%