Wise, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wise
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Wise County Courthouse
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Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
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| Country | United States | ||
| State | Virginia | ||
| County | Wise | ||
| Founded | 1874 | ||
| Incorporated | 1924 | ||
| Area | |||
| • Total | 3.04 sq mi (7.87 km2) | ||
| • Land | 3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2) | ||
| • Water | 0.01 sq mi (0.03 km2) | ||
| Elevation | 2,451 ft (747 m) | ||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,970 | ||
| • Density | 959.39/sq mi (370.41/km2) | ||
| Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | ||
| ZIP code |
24293
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| Area code(s) | 276 | ||
| FIPS code | 51-87072 | ||
| GNIS feature ID | 1498553 | ||
| Website | townofwise.net | ||
Wise is a town located in Wise County, Virginia. It is the main town, also known as the county seat, of Wise County. In 2020, about 2,970 people lived there.
The town started as Gladeville in 1874. Its name changed to Wise in 1924. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the last governor of Virginia before the American Civil War.
Wise is also home to the University of Virginia's College at Wise.
Contents
Exploring Wise: Location and Weather
Wise is found right in the middle of Wise County. The town covers about 3.1 square miles (8.0 km2) of land.
Wise's Climate: Weather Patterns
The weather in Wise has mild, humid summers. Winters are usually mild to cool. Wise has a type of weather called a subtropical highland climate. This means it gets enough rain and has comfortable temperatures.
| Climate data for Wise, Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1955–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
75 (24) |
80 (27) |
87 (31) |
90 (32) |
95 (35) |
93 (34) |
94 (34) |
93 (34) |
92 (33) |
79 (26) |
73 (23) |
95 (35) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 42.6 (5.9) |
46.5 (8.1) |
55.2 (12.9) |
65.5 (18.6) |
72.0 (22.2) |
78.0 (25.6) |
80.6 (27.0) |
79.8 (26.6) |
75.5 (24.2) |
66.2 (19.0) |
55.0 (12.8) |
46.0 (7.8) |
63.6 (17.6) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 33.6 (0.9) |
36.9 (2.7) |
44.4 (6.9) |
54.1 (12.3) |
61.4 (16.3) |
67.8 (19.9) |
70.9 (21.6) |
69.8 (21.0) |
64.8 (18.2) |
55.0 (12.8) |
44.7 (7.1) |
37.2 (2.9) |
53.4 (11.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 24.6 (−4.1) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
33.6 (0.9) |
42.7 (5.9) |
50.7 (10.4) |
57.7 (14.3) |
61.2 (16.2) |
59.8 (15.4) |
54.1 (12.3) |
43.7 (6.5) |
34.3 (1.3) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
43.2 (6.2) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) |
−15 (−26) |
−8 (−22) |
16 (−9) |
24 (−4) |
31 (−1) |
40 (4) |
38 (3) |
31 (−1) |
14 (−10) |
4 (−16) |
−17 (−27) |
−24 (−31) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.34 (110) |
4.37 (111) |
4.74 (120) |
4.78 (121) |
4.60 (117) |
4.86 (123) |
5.77 (147) |
4.13 (105) |
3.55 (90) |
2.87 (73) |
3.26 (83) |
4.36 (111) |
51.63 (1,311) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 12.8 (33) |
11.6 (29) |
8.6 (22) |
1.7 (4.3) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.9 (2.3) |
1.9 (4.8) |
9.6 (24) |
47.1 (120) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 15.4 | 14.6 | 14.7 | 13.1 | 14.5 | 14.0 | 15.7 | 12.9 | 10.6 | 10.6 | 11.2 | 14.7 | 162.0 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 7.8 | 7.0 | 4.3 | 1.3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 28.6 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
Who Lives in Wise: Population Facts
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 128 | — | |
| 1890 | 186 | 45.3% | |
| 1900 | 511 | 174.7% | |
| 1910 | 806 | 57.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,071 | 32.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,112 | 3.8% | |
| 1940 | 1,226 | 10.3% | |
| 1950 | 1,574 | 28.4% | |
| 1960 | 2,614 | 66.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,891 | 10.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,894 | 34.7% | |
| 1990 | 3,193 | −18.0% | |
| 2000 | 3,255 | 1.9% | |
| 2010 | 3,286 | 1.0% | |
| 2020 | 2,970 | −9.6% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2020, Wise had 2,970 people. This was about 10% fewer than 20 years before.
In 2000, there were 3,255 people living in Wise. There were 1,424 households and 868 families. The town had about 1,059 people per square mile. Most people (95.24%) were White. About 1.94% were African American, and 1.14% were Asian.
About 26.3% of households had children under 18. Many households (47.0%) were married couples. About 39.0% were not families. The average household had 2.17 people.
The population had a mix of ages. About 19.7% were under 18. About 15.0% were 65 or older. The average age was 38 years.
Learning in Wise: Schools and College
Wise has several schools and a college. These are part of the Wise County Public School System.
Public Schools in Wise County
- Wise Primary School
- L. F. Addington Middle School
- Central High School (opened in 2011)
- Wise County Career-Technical Center
- Wise County Alternative Education Center
Private Schools in Wise
- Wise County Christian School
Higher Education in Wise
- University of Virginia's College at Wise
Getting Around Wise: Transportation
The biggest road in Wise is Orby Cantrell Highway. This is part of US 23. It runs north and south through the western part of town. Wise also has the Lonesome Pine Airport (LNP). This airport is about three miles northeast of the town's center.
Enjoying Wise: Theater and Arts
Wise offers many ways to enjoy theater and art!
- The Pro-Art Association puts on plays, music, and art shows. These happen throughout the school year.
- The Appalachian Children's Theater (ACT) helps kids learn about performing and fine arts. They work with children in Southwest Virginia and nearby areas. In 2006, ACT opened a newly fixed-up building on Main Street.
- The Charles W. Harris Art Gallery is located at the Wise County Public Library.
- The University of Virginia's College at Wise has a modern theater. It usually puts on two shows each year.
Famous People from Wise
Some well-known people have come from Wise:
- George C. Scott – a famous actor, director, and producer.
- Carroll Dale – a football player for the Los Angeles Rams and Green Bay Packers.
- Glen Roberts – a college basketball player.
Wise's Sister City
Wise has one sister city. This is a special friendship between towns in different countries.
Çeşme, İzmir Province, Turkey
Exploring Historic Downtown Wise
In 1862, during the American Civil War, Gladeville (now Wise) was a headquarters for Confederate General Humphrey Marshall. Union soldiers attacked the town on June 1, 1862. They captured the town clerk and burned half the town. Today, a historical marker remembers this event. People also hold a Civil War re-enactment every July.
Three buildings on Main Street in Wise are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This means they are important historical sites.
- The Colonial Hotel, now called the Inn at Wise Court House, was added in 1991.
- The Wise County Courthouse was added in 1981.
- The E. M. Fulton House was added in 2006.
Images for kids
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Wise County Courthouse
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Logo of the Town of Wise
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Another logo for Wise, Virginia
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Location of Wise in Virginia
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Buildings in Wise
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Historic E. M. Fulton House
See also
In Spanish: Wise (Virginia) para niños
