Pulaski County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pulaski County
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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 | 1839 | |
| Named for | Casimir Pulaski | |
| Seat | Pulaski | |
| Largest town | Pulaski | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 330 sq mi (900 km2) | |
| • Land | 320 sq mi (800 km2) | |
| • Water | 10 sq mi (30 km2) 3.0% | |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 34,872 | |
| • Estimate
(2018)
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34,066 | |
| • Density | 105.7/sq mi (40.8/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 9th | |
Pulaski County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 34,872. Its county seat is Pulaski.
Pulaski County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Pulaski County was formed on March 30, 1839 from parts of Montgomery and Wythe counties, becoming the 87th county of the Commonwealth of Virginia. It was named for Count Casimir Pulaski, who fought during the American Revolution as part of George Washington's army. Pulaski had been a nobleman in Poland, but had been exiled. He joined the army in 1777 and became a brigadier general and chief of cavalry in the Continental Army. He was fatally wounded at Savannah and died on October 11, 1779. Casimir Pulaski is one of the most honored American heroes in terms of places and events named in his honor.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 330 square miles (850 km2), of which 320 square miles (830 km2) is land and 10 square miles (26 km2) (3.0%) is water.
Pulaski County is the site of Claytor Lake State Park, which is located on Claytor Lake, a 4,500-acre (18 km2), 21-mile (34 km) long man made lake on the New River created for a hydroelectric project of Appalachian Power Company. It is named for W. Graham Claytor, Sr. (1886–1971) of Roanoke, Virginia, a vice president of Appalachian Power who supervised construction of the dam and creation of the lake.
Adjacent counties / Independent city
- Bland County, Virginia – northwest
- Giles County, Virginia – north
- Montgomery County, Virginia – northeast
- Radford, Virginia – northeast
- Floyd County, Virginia – southeast
- Carroll County, Virginia – south
- Wythe County, Virginia – southwest
National protected area
- Jefferson National Forest (part)
Major highways
I-81
US 11
SR 99
SR 100
SR 114
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1840 | 3,739 | — | |
| 1850 | 5,118 | 36.9% | |
| 1860 | 5,416 | 5.8% | |
| 1870 | 6,538 | 20.7% | |
| 1880 | 8,755 | 33.9% | |
| 1890 | 12,790 | 46.1% | |
| 1900 | 14,609 | 14.2% | |
| 1910 | 17,246 | 18.1% | |
| 1920 | 17,111 | −0.8% | |
| 1930 | 20,566 | 20.2% | |
| 1940 | 22,767 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 27,758 | 21.9% | |
| 1960 | 27,258 | −1.8% | |
| 1970 | 29,564 | 8.5% | |
| 1980 | 35,229 | 19.2% | |
| 1990 | 34,496 | −2.1% | |
| 2000 | 35,127 | 1.8% | |
| 2010 | 34,872 | −0.7% | |
| 2018 (est.) | 34,066 | −2.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2013 |
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As of the census of 2000, there were 35,127 people, 14,643 households, and 10,147 families residing in the county. The population density was 110 people per square mile (42/km2). There were 16,325 housing units at an average density of 51 per square mile (20/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.60% White, 5.57% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races, and 0.94% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 14,643 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.90% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.60% under the age of 18, 7.30% from 18 to 24, 29.20% from 25 to 44, 27.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 97.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,873, and the median income for a family was $42,251. Males had a median income of $30,712 versus $21,596 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,973. About 10.60% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.90% of those under age 18 and 11.50% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Towns
Census-designated places
Other unincorporated communities
Economy
The Volvo Trucks North America plant in Pulaski County will begin manufacturing a battery-powered VNR Electric truck model starting in early 2021. It is the largest Volvo truck plant in the world, and the Dublin, Virginia facility currently employed close to 3,000 people building multiple models of heavy-duty trucks.
