Norton, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Norton, Virginia
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A view overlooking Norton, Virginia at Flag Rock
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Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | None (Independent city) | |
| Founded | 1894 | |
| Named for | Eckstein Norton | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 7.51 sq mi (19.46 km2) | |
| • Land | 7.48 sq mi (19.37 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.03 sq mi (0.09 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,133 ft (650 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 3,687 | |
| • Density | 490.9/sq mi (189.47/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
24273
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| Area code(s) | 276 | |
| FIPS code | 51-57688 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1485924 | |
| Website | http://www.nortonva.org/ | |
Norton is a special kind of city in Virginia. It's called an independent city. This means it's not part of any county.
Norton is located in the far western part of Virginia. In 2020, about 3,687 people lived there. This makes it the city with the smallest population in Virginia.
Contents
History of Norton
Norton was first called "Prince's Flats." The town wanted the Louisville and Nashville Railroad to build a train station there. So, they changed the name to Norton. This honored Eckstein Norton, who was the head of the railroad at that time.
Norton was built along the famous Wilderness Trail. This trail was first explored by Daniel Boone. Later, Christopher Gist mapped and settled much of the area. Norton became an important center for trading timber. Later, in the 1830s and 1840s, it grew even more because of the coal mining boom.
The historic Hotel Norton is a special building in the city. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Geography and Location
Norton is situated near two rivers, the Powell River and the Guest River. Even though it's an independent city, it is completely surrounded by Wise County.
The city covers about 7.5 square miles (19.46 square kilometers). Almost all of this area is land.
Main Roads in Norton
US 23
US 58 Alt.
Population Changes Over Time
The population of Norton has changed over the years. Here's how many people have lived there during different census counts:
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1900 | 654 | — | |
| 1910 | 1,866 | 185.3% | |
| 1920 | 3,068 | 64.4% | |
| 1930 | 3,077 | 0.3% | |
| 1940 | 4,006 | 30.2% | |
| 1950 | 4,315 | 7.7% | |
| 1960 | 4,996 | 15.8% | |
| 1970 | 4,001 | −19.9% | |
| 1980 | 4,757 | 18.9% | |
| 1990 | 4,247 | −10.7% | |
| 2000 | 3,904 | −8.1% | |
| 2010 | 3,958 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,687 | −6.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
Education in Norton
The city of Norton has its own school system. It is called Norton City Schools. This system manages two schools for students.
The schools are John I. Burton High School for older students. There is also Norton Elementary and Middle School for younger students.
Famous People from Norton
Many interesting people have come from Norton. Here are a few of them:
- Dock Boggs – A well-known musician and songwriter.
- James L. Camblos (1888–1970) – He was a mayor of Norton. He also served as a state delegate.
- Vernon Crawford "Jack" Cooke – A talented bluegrass musician.
- Jacob Cress – A skilled furniture maker.
See also
In Spanish: Norton (Virginia) para niños
