Bland County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bland County
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Bland County Courthouse
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Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
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 Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  Virginia |
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| Founded | 1861 | ||
| Named for | Richard Bland | ||
| Seat | Bland | ||
| Largest community | Bland | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 359 sq mi (930 km2) | ||
| • Land | 358 sq mi (930 km2) | ||
| • Water | 1 sq mi (3 km2) 0.3% | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 6,270 | ||
| • Density | 17.47/sq mi (6.743/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| Congressional district | 9th | ||
Bland County is a county found in the southwestern part of Virginia. The main town, or county seat, is Bland. In 2020, about 6,270 people lived there.
Bland County was created in 1861. It was formed from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles counties. The county was named after Richard Bland. He was an important leader from Virginia.
In 2020, Bland County had 6,270 people. This makes it the fourth least populated county in Virginia. Bland County is also special because it does not have any incorporated cities or towns.
Contents
County History: How Bland County Began
People wanted to create Bland County because it was hard to travel. They had to go long distances to reach their county seats. The mountain trails were difficult to cross. This made it tough for people to handle legal matters.
Also, more people were moving into the area. They did not like paying taxes for services far away. These reasons led the Virginia General Assembly to act. They decided to form a new county in southwestern Virginia.
Bland County officially started on March 30, 1861. It was made from parts of Wythe, Tazewell, and Giles counties. Later, more land from Giles County was added. The county got its name from Richard Bland. He was a Virginia statesman. He helped lead the fight for freedom from England.
Geography: Exploring Bland County's Land
According to the United States Census Bureau, Bland County covers about 358.7 square miles. Most of this area, about 357.7 square miles, is land. Only about 1.0 square mile (0.3%) is water.
Bland County is located in the Appalachian Mountains. The county has many mountains. Small river valleys run through the area. It is entirely within the Ridge and Valley region.
The North Fork of the Holston River starts in Bland County.
Neighboring Counties
- Mercer County, West Virginia – to the north
- Giles County – to the northeast
- Pulaski County – to the southeast
- Wythe County – to the south
- Smyth County – to the southwest
- Tazewell County – to the west
Protected Natural Areas
- Jefferson National Forest (part of it)
Main Roads and Highways
I-74 (future road)
I-77
US 52
SR 42
SR 61
SR 598
Demographics: Who Lives in Bland County
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1870 | 4,000 | — | |
| 1880 | 5,004 | 25.1% | |
| 1890 | 5,129 | 2.5% | |
| 1900 | 5,497 | 7.2% | |
| 1910 | 5,154 | −6.2% | |
| 1920 | 5,593 | 8.5% | |
| 1930 | 6,031 | 7.8% | |
| 1940 | 6,731 | 11.6% | |
| 1950 | 6,436 | −4.4% | |
| 1960 | 5,982 | −7.1% | |
| 1970 | 5,423 | −9.3% | |
| 1980 | 6,349 | 17.1% | |
| 1990 | 6,514 | 2.6% | |
| 2000 | 6,871 | 5.5% | |
| 2010 | 6,824 | −0.7% | |
| 2020 | 6,270 | −8.1% | |
| 2022 (est.) | 6,148 | −9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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2020 Census: A Look at the Population
The 2020 census collected information about the people living in Bland County. This table shows the different groups of people. It separates people by race and ethnicity.
| Race / Ethnicity (NH = Not Hispanic) | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 6,494 | 5,857 | 95.16% | 93.41% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 228 | 167 | 3.34% | 2.66% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 18 | 4 | 0.26% | 0.06% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 0 | 0.01% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 0 | 5 | 0.00% | 0.08% |
| Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH) | 43 | 177 | 0.63% | 2.82% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 39 | 60 | 0.57% | 0.96% |
| Total | 6,824 | 6,270 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Communities: Places to Live
These are some of the communities in Bland County:
Census-Designated Places
Other Communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Bland (Virginia) para niños
