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Rural Retreat, Virginia facts for kids

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Town of Rural Retreat, Virginia
Former railroad depot
Former railroad depot
Official seal of Town of Rural Retreat, Virginia
Seal
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Country United States
State Virginia
County Wythe
Area
 • Total 2.28 sq mi (5.90 km2)
 • Land 2.28 sq mi (5.89 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
2,513 ft (766 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 1,483
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,448
 • Density 636.20/sq mi (245.66/km2)
  U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Population Estimates
Time zone UTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24368
Area code(s) 276
FIPS code 51-69456
GNIS feature ID 1486817

Rural Retreat is a small town located in Wythe County, Virginia, in the United States. In 2010, the town had a population of 1,483 people. It is known for its friendly community and its connection to local history.

History of Rural Retreat

Rural Retreat has some important historical places. The Kimberling Lutheran Cemetery was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This list includes sites across the country that are important to American history.

Another important site is the Rural Retreat Depot, which was added to the National Register in 2014. This depot was once a busy railroad station, showing the town's past link to train travel.

Geography and Location

Where is Rural Retreat?

Rural Retreat is located in the state of Virginia. It is part of Wythe County.

How Big is the Town?

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town covers a total area of 2.2 square miles (about 5.8 square kilometers). All of this area is land, meaning there are no large lakes or rivers within the town limits.

Population and People

How Many People Live Here?

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 286
1920 463
1930 436 −5.8%
1940 440 0.9%
1950 478 8.6%
1960 413 −13.6%
1970 872 111.1%
1980 1,083 24.2%
1990 972 −10.2%
2000 1,350 38.9%
2010 1,483 9.9%
2019 (est.) 1,448 −2.4%
U.S. Decennial Census

As of the year 2000, there were 1,350 people living in Rural Retreat. These people made up 570 households. A household is a group of people living together in one home.

Who Lives in Rural Retreat?

About 29.6% of households had children under 18 living with them. Many households were married couples living together. Some households had a female head without a husband present.

The average household had about 2.37 people. The average family had about 2.84 people.

Age Groups in Town

The population in Rural Retreat is spread across different age groups.

  • About 22.7% of the people were under 18 years old.
  • About 9.7% were between 18 and 24 years old.
  • About 27.7% were between 25 and 44 years old.
  • About 23.6% were between 45 and 64 years old.
  • About 16.3% were 65 years old or older.

The median age in the town was 38 years. This means half the people were younger than 38 and half were older.

Notable People from Rural Retreat

Rural Retreat has been home to several interesting people who have made a name for themselves.

  • Doris Crouse-Mays: A leader in labor, working for the rights of workers.
  • William N. Doak: He served as the third United States Secretary of Labor. This is a very important job in the U.S. government, helping to manage work and labor laws.
  • Dr. Charles T. Pepper: Some people say he is the person for whom the famous drink "Dr Pepper" was named.
  • Deacon Phillippe: A professional baseball player who pitched in major league baseball.
  • Pamela Stafford: Known as a model, a designer of fashion, and an artist.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Rural Retreat para niños

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