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Pulaski County, Virginia

Coordinates: 37°04′N 80°43′W / 37.06°N 80.71°W / 37.06; -80.71
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Pulaski County
County
Pulaski County Courthouse
Pulaski County Courthouse
Official seal of Pulaski County
Seal
Map of Virginia highlighting Pulaski County
Location within the U.S. state of Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting Virginia
Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°04′N 80°43′W / 37.06°N 80.71°W / 37.06; -80.71
Country United States
State Virginia
Founded1839
Named forCasimir Pulaski
SeatPulaski
Largest townPulaski
Area
 • Total330 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Land320 sq mi (800 km2)
 • Water10 sq mi (30 km2)  3.0%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total33,800 Decrease
 • Density100/sq mi (40/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district9th
Websitewww.pulaskicounty.org

Pulaski County is a county located in the southwestern part of the U.S. state of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 33,800.[1] Its county seat is Pulaski.[2] Pulaski County is part of the Blacksburg–Christiansburg, VA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

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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, an exiled Polish nobleman who fought during the American Revolution as part of George Washington's army. 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.[3]

This area of the Blue Ridge has rolling hills and was settled by mostly small farmers, recent Scots-Irish and German immigrants and their descendants who migrated down the Shenandoah Valley from Pennsylvania in the mid to late-18th century. They pushed out or killed most Native Americans in the area. The new settlers were yeomen, who held fewer slaves than in the Tidewater area. Nonetheless, by 1840 about one-quarter of the population was made up of enslaved black Americans. The county had 3,739 persons, consisting of 2,768 free whites, and 971 blacks. Some 17 of the latter were free blacks.

Geography

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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 one of the 423 counties served by the Appalachian Regional Commission,[4] and it is identified as part of "Greater Appalachia" by Colin Woodard in his book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America.[5]

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 human-made lake on the New River created for a hydroelectric project of Appalachian Power Company. Claytor Lake State Park, located on the north side of the lake, provides 497 acres of park with camping, cabins, picnic areas, and a swimming beach, as well as a marina. 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.

Pulaski County has several public boating sites including Harry DeHaven Park, in Allisonia on Rt.639, in Dublin on Rt. 660, and Gatewood Reservoir, a 162-acre water supply impoundment owned by the Town of Pulaski.

Adjacent counties / Independent city

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Law Enforcement

Pulaski County Sheriff is Michael W. Worrell, a law enforcement veteran with twenty plus years of service to the citizens of Pulaski County. He is a graduate of Pulaski County High School and Radford University.

National protected area

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Major highways

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18403,739—
18505,11836.9%
18605,4165.8%
18706,53820.7%
18808,75533.9%
189012,79046.1%
190014,60914.2%
191017,24618.1%
192017,111−0.8%
193020,56620.2%
194022,76710.7%
195027,75821.9%
196027,258−1.8%
197029,5648.5%
198035,22919.2%
199034,496−2.1%
200035,1271.8%
201034,872−0.7%
202033,800−3.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010[10] 2020[11]

2020 census

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Pulaski County, Virginia - Demographic Profile
(NH = Non-Hispanic)
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2010[10] Pop 2020[11] % 2010 % 2020
White alone (NH) 31,972 29,716 91.68% 87.92%
Black or African American alone (NH) 1,744 1,633 5.00% 4.83%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) 61 49 0.17% 0.14%
Asian alone (NH) 179 177 0.51% 0.52%
Pacific Islander alone (NH) 7 3 0.02% 0.01%
Some Other Race alone (NH) 25 100 0.07% 0.30%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) 452 1,418 1.30% 4.20%
Hispanic or Latino (any race) 432 704 0.96% 2.08%
Total 34,872 33,800 100.00% 100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2000 Census

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As of the census[12] 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 people/km2). There were 16,325 housing units at an average density of 51 units per square mile (20 units/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.

Economy

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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.[13]

Schools

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Secondary and Higher Education

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Middle schools

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  • Pulaski County Middle School

Elementary schools

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  • Pulaski Elementary School
  • Dublin Elementary School
  • Critzer Elementary School
  • Riverlawn Elementary School
  • Snowville Elementary School

Communities

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Towns

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Census-designated places

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Other unincorporated communities

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Politics

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United States presidential election results for Pulaski County, Virginia[14]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 12,127 69.79% 4,925 28.34% 324 1.86%
2016 10,322 68.06% 4,172 27.51% 671 4.42%
2012 8,920 60.76% 5,292 36.05% 468 3.19%
2008 8,857 58.85% 5,918 39.32% 275 1.83%
2004 8,769 61.53% 5,310 37.26% 172 1.21%
2000 7,089 55.83% 5,255 41.39% 353 2.78%
1996 5,387 43.78% 5,333 43.34% 1,584 12.87%
1992 6,148 43.96% 5,633 40.27% 2,206 15.77%
1988 6,844 58.40% 4,686 39.99% 189 1.61%
1984 8,242 64.90% 4,364 34.36% 93 0.73%
1980 5,747 47.73% 5,769 47.92% 524 4.35%
1976 4,764 44.84% 5,546 52.20% 314 2.96%
1972 6,281 72.01% 2,311 26.50% 130 1.49%
1968 4,409 53.35% 2,497 30.21% 1,359 16.44%
1964 3,101 46.10% 3,620 53.82% 5 0.07%
1960 3,059 58.75% 2,104 40.41% 44 0.85%
1956 3,517 63.05% 1,994 35.75% 67 1.20%
1952 2,815 62.03% 1,715 37.79% 8 0.18%
1948 1,691 48.99% 1,412 40.90% 349 10.11%
1944 1,302 37.65% 2,155 62.32% 1 0.03%
1940 1,023 31.43% 2,226 68.39% 6 0.18%
1936 1,180 33.51% 2,337 66.37% 4 0.11%
1932 1,109 32.11% 2,314 66.99% 31 0.90%
1928 1,998 52.32% 1,821 47.68% 0 0.00%
1924 1,422 43.33% 1,767 53.84% 93 2.83%
1920 1,710 48.43% 1,814 51.37% 7 0.20%
1916 721 38.68% 1,057 56.71% 86 4.61%
1912 196 13.27% 781 52.88% 500 33.85%

Pulaski County reps in state government

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Pulaski County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 30, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ History of Pulaski County (PDF)
  4. ^ "About the Appalachian Region". Appalachian Regional Commission. Retrieved June 21, 2024.
  5. ^ Woodard, Colin. "The Maps That Show That City vs. Country Is Not Our Political Fault Line". New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
  6. ^ "Census of Population and Housing from 1790-2000". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2022.
  7. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  8. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  9. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 4, 2014.
  10. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Wythe County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  11. ^ a b "P2 HISPANIC OR LATINO, AND NOT HISPANIC OR LATINO BY RACE - 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Pulaski County, Virginia". United States Census Bureau.
  12. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. ^ Andrews, Kate. Volvo electric trucks to be produced at NRV plant in early 2021. Virginia Business, December 3, 2020.
  14. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  15. ^ Rogers, George Wesley (1959). Officers of the Senate of Virginia 1776–1956. Library of Congress Catalog Card Number 59-12727: Garrett & Massie, Inc. p. 57.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  16. ^ Rogers, George Wesley (1959). Officers of the Senate of Virginia. Library of Congress Catalog Number 59-12727: Garrett & Massie, Inc. p. 61.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  17. ^ "Governor Tyler Hotel".
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37°04′N 80°43′W / 37.06°N 80.71°W / 37.06; -80.71

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