Russell County, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Russell County
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Russell County Courthouse in Lebanon
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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 |
| State |  Virginia |
| Founded | January 2, 1786 |
| Named for | William Russell |
| Seat | Lebanon |
| Largest town | Lebanon |
| Area | |
| • Total | 477 sq mi (1,240 km2) |
| • Land | 474 sq mi (1,230 km2) |
| • Water | 2.9 sq mi (8 km2) 0.6% |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 25,781 |
| • Density | 54.05/sq mi (20.868/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 9th |
Russell County is a place in Virginia, a state in the USA. It's called a county. In 2020, about 25,781 people lived here. The main town, where the county government is, is Lebanon.
History
How Russell County Started
Russell County was created on January 2, 1786. It was formed from a part of Washington County. A historian named L.P. Summers once wrote that Washington County lost a lot of land and people when Russell County was made. The county was named after Colonel William Russell, who was from Culpeper County.
Early Buildings and Growth
The first court meeting happened in May 1786. It was held in a house in the Castle's Woods settlement, which is now Castlewood. Later, a special building was made for the county's court. This old building is still standing today and is known as "The Old Courthouse." The courthouse used now in Lebanon has been open since 1874.
Russell County used to be much bigger. Over time, parts of it were used to create other counties. These new counties include Tazewell County, Lee County, Scott County, Wise County, Buchanan County, and Dickenson County.
Famous People and Businesses
Some famous people from Russell County include Daniel Boone, who was a well-known explorer. Other important leaders were Governor H.C. Stuart, State Representative Boyd C. Fugate, and State Senator Macon M. Long.
Russell County is also home to a very old business called Stuart Land & Cattle. It's one of the biggest cattle farms east of the Mississippi River. Its main office is in Rosedale.
You can learn a lot about the county's past from old newspapers. These include the Clinch Valley Times, the Tazewell Republican, the Abingdon Virginian, and the Lebanon News.
Geography
Land and Water
Russell County covers about 477 square miles. Most of this is land, about 474 square miles. Only a small part, about 2.9 square miles, is water.
The county is part of a larger area called "Greater Appalachia." This region is known for its mountains and unique culture. Russell County is also one of the counties helped by the Appalachian Regional Commission. This group works to improve life in the Appalachian region.
Mountains
Russell County has Beartown Mountain, which is the fourth highest mountain peak in all of Virginia.
Neighboring Counties
Russell County shares its borders with several other counties:
- Dickenson County – to the northwest
- Buchanan County – to the north
- Tazewell County – to the east
- Smyth County – to the southeast
- Washington County – to the south
- Scott County – to the southwest
- Wise County – to the west
Main Roads
These are some of the important highways that go through Russell County:
US 19
US 58 Alt.
SR 63
SR 65
SR 67
SR 71
SR 80
SR 82
Demographics
Population Changes Over Time
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1790 | 3,338 | — | |
| 1800 | 4,808 | 44.0% | |
| 1810 | 6,319 | 31.4% | |
| 1820 | 5,536 | −12.4% | |
| 1830 | 6,714 | 21.3% | |
| 1840 | 7,878 | 17.3% | |
| 1850 | 11,919 | 51.3% | |
| 1860 | 10,280 | −13.8% | |
| 1870 | 11,103 | 8.0% | |
| 1880 | 13,906 | 25.2% | |
| 1890 | 16,126 | 16.0% | |
| 1900 | 18,031 | 11.8% | |
| 1910 | 23,474 | 30.2% | |
| 1920 | 26,786 | 14.1% | |
| 1930 | 25,957 | −3.1% | |
| 1940 | 26,627 | 2.6% | |
| 1950 | 26,818 | 0.7% | |
| 1960 | 26,290 | −2.0% | |
| 1970 | 24,533 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 31,761 | 29.5% | |
| 1990 | 28,667 | −9.7% | |
| 2000 | 30,308 | 5.7% | |
| 2010 | 28,897 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 25,781 | −10.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010 2020 |
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The population of Russell County has changed a lot over the years. In 2020, the population was 25,781 people.
Who Lives in Russell County?
Here's a look at the different groups of people living in Russell County in 2020:
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
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| White alone (NH) | 28,142 | 24,754 | 97.39% | 96.02% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 227 | 222 | 0.79% | 0.86% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 40 | 17 | 0.14% | 0.07% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 53 | 42 | 0.18% | 0.16% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 9 | 25 | 0.03% | 0.10% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 150 | 552 | 0.52% | 2.14% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 275 | 168 | 0.95% | 0.65% |
| Total | 28,897 | 25,781 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: The US Census counts Hispanic/Latino people as an ethnic group. This table separates them from the main racial groups.
In 2000, there were 30,308 people living in the county. The average number of people per square mile was about 64. About 31% of households had children under 18. Most households (60.9%) were married couples. The average household had 2.44 people.
The median age in the county was 39 years old. This means half the people were younger than 39 and half were older. For every 100 females, there were about 102.7 males.
The median income for a household in 2000 was $26,834. This is the middle income for all households. About 16.3% of the people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 21.3% of children under 18.
Education
Public High Schools
Russell County has several public high schools:
- Castlewood High School, in Castlewood
- Honaker High School, in Honaker
- Lebanon High School, in Lebanon
Fire and Rescue Services
These are the groups that help with fires and emergencies in Russell County:
- Castlewood Fire and Rescue
- Lebanon Lifesaving Crew
- New Garden Rescue
- Lebanon Fire
- Honaker Fire
- Dante Rescue
- Dante Fire
- Copper Creek Fire
- Belfast Fire
- Saint Paul Fire
- Cleveland Volunteer Fire Department
- Cleveland Lifesaving Crew
Communities
Towns
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated:
- Castlewood
- Dante (partly in Dickenson County)
- Raven (mostly in Tazewell County)
Other Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially towns or census-designated places:
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Russell (Virginia) para niños
