Carroll County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Carroll County
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Carroll County Courthouse and Confederate Monument
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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 | 1842 | |
| Named for | Charles Carroll | |
| Seat | Hillsville | |
| 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)
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| • 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 (1,238 km2), and, as of the 2020 census, the population was 29,155.
Contents
History
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
- Galax, Virginia - west
- Grayson County, Virginia - west
- Wythe County, Virginia - northwest
- Pulaski County, Virginia - north
- Floyd County, Virginia - northeast
- Patrick County, Virginia - southeast
- Surry County, North Carolina - south
National protected areas
- Blue Ridge Parkway (part)
- Jefferson National Forest (part)
- Mount Rogers National Recreation Area (part)
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 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | 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/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% |
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.
Communities
Town
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
- Austinville
- Dugspur
- Lambsburg
- Laurel Fork
- Sylvatus
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).
Notable people
- Doc Ayers – Major League Baseball pitcher, Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers
- Kylene Barker – Miss America 1979
- Frank Beamer – Head football coach at Virginia Tech - List of college football coaches with 200 wins
- George Lafayette Carter – land, railroad entrepreneur, instrumental in the establishment of East Tennessee State University
- Charles B. Morris (1931-1996) – U.S. Army, Awarded the Medal of Honor, December 14, 1967
- Ernest Stoneman (1893–1968) – early country music recording artist
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Carroll (Virginia) para niños
