Carroll County, Virginia Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Carroll County

U.S. county

Carroll County Courthouse and Confederate Monument

Seal

Location within the U.S. state of Virginia

Virginia's location within the U.S.

Country

United States

State

Virginia

Founded

1842

Largest town

Hillsville

Area

• Total

478 sq mi (1,240 km²)

• Land

475 sq mi (1,230 km²)

• Water

3 sq mi (8 km²) 0.6%

Population

(2020)

• Total

29,155

• Density

60.99/sq mi (23.550/km²)

Time zone

UTC−5 (Eastern)

• Summer (DST)

UTC−4 (EDT)

Congressional district

9th

Carroll County is a United States county located in the southwestern part of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Roughly one fifth of the county lies in the Virginia Piedmont region, while the rest is part of the Appalachian Mountains. The county seat and largest town is Hillsville.

The county was established in 1842 from part of Grayson County, and was officially named in honor of Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The borders of Carroll County were later expanded by including land from Patrick County.

The total size of the county is 478 square miles (1,240 km²), and, as of the 2020 census, the population was 29,155.

History
Geography
Demographics
- 2020 census
Education
- Public high schools
Communities
Notable people
See also

History

Charles Carroll of Carrollton, for whom the county was named

The first European settlers arrived in the region in the mid 18th century. These were primarily Scotch-Irish pioneers, who were used to high mountain altitudes. However, early settlement was slow, mostly due to the poor agricultural soil of the area. As a result, lead mining was one of the first economic activities in the region.

As the area's population density increased, Carroll County was created in 1842 from part of Grayson County. The new county was officially named for Charles Carroll, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, from Maryland. However, other accounts assert that John Carroll, a Virginia state legislator, had named the county in his own honor, but was blocked by a political rival who had it officially named for Charles Carroll instead.

Parts of Patrick County were added later to increase the size of Carroll County. The first piece was taken in 1845, and another part, which would later become the Fancy Gap District, was added in 1854.

Geography

It is the only county in Virginia with Piedmont topography of roughly one fifth in the southeast part of the county and mountain topography of roughly four fifths elsewhere of the county. The Blue Ridge escarpment usually defines the county lines in both North Carolina and Virginia. The CDP community of Cana is in the Virginia Piedmont while the rest of the county is in the Appalachian Mountains.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 478 square miles (1,240 km²), of which 475 square miles (1,230 km²) is land and 3 square miles (7.8 km²) (0.6%) is water.

Adjacent counties / Independent city

Protected areas

National

Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
Jefferson National Forest (part)
Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (part)

Other

Devil's Den Nature Preserve

Major highways

I-74 (future)
I-77
US 52
US 58
US 221
SR 94
SR 100
SR 148

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	%±
1850	5,909	—
1860	8,012	35.6%
1870	9,147	14.2%
1880	13,323	45.7%
1890	15,497	16.3%
1900	19,303	24.6%
1910	21,116	9.4%
1920	21,283	0.8%
1930	22,141	4.0%
1940	25,904	17.0%
1950	26,695	3.1%
1960	23,178	−13.2%
1970	23,092	−0.4%
1980	27,270	18.1%
1990	26,594	−2.5%
2000	29,245	10.0%
2010	30,042	2.7%
2020	29,155	−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010 2020

2020 census

**Carroll 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	Pop 2020	% 2010	% 2020
White alone (NH)	28,820	27,040	95.93%	92.75%
Black or African American alone (NH)	177	163	0.59%	0.56%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	49	35	0.16%	0.12%
Asian alone (NH)	51	80	0.17%	0.27%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	5	3	0.02%	0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	11	42	0.04%	0.14%
Mixed Race or Multi-Racial (NH)	153	750	0.51%	2.57%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	776	1,042	2.58%	3.57%
Total	30,042	29,155	100.00%	100.00%

Education

Public high schools

Carroll County High School, in Hillsville, serves the county. Home of the Cavaliers, CCHS is a 9-12 comprehensive high school. The school was created by the consolidation of Woodlawn High School (Woodlawn, Virginia) and Hillsville High School (Hillsville, Virginia).

CCHS Official Site: https://web.archive.org/web/20070203233356/http://www.ccpsd.k12.va.us/schpages/cchs/index.htm

Communities

Town

Hillsville

Census-designated places

Cana
Fancy Gap
Hilltown (also in Grayson County)
Woodlawn

Other unincorporated communities

Notable people

Floyd Allen (1856-1913) – former landowner and chief patriarch of the powerful Allen clan; convicted and executed for murder after sensational 1912 Hillsville courthouse shootout that killed five people including Circuit Judge Thornton Massie, Commonwealth's Attorney William Foster, and sheriff Lewis Webb.
Doc Ayers – former Major League Baseball pitcher, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers
Kylene Barker – Miss America 1979
Frank Beamer – former head football coach at Virginia Tech - List of college football coaches with 200 wins
George Lafayette Carter – former land and railroad entrepreneur instrumental in the establishment of East Tennessee State University
Charles B. Morris (1931-1996) – former U.S. Army, awarded the Medal of Honor, 1967
Ernest Stoneman (1893–1968) – former country musician

Carroll County, Virginia facts for kids

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