- Name
- Wythe
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- Alternate names
- Wythe (Getty Vocabulary Program)
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- Type
- County
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- Coordinates
- 36.917°N 81.05°W
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- Located in
- Virginia, United States (1790 - )
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- See also
- Bland, Virginia, United States (Child county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
- Giles, Virginia, United States (Child county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
- Montgomery, Virginia, United States (Parent county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
- Pulaski, Virginia, United States (Child county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
- Russell, Virginia, United States (Parent county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
- Smyth, Virginia, United States (Child county (source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990))
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| Contained Places
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Larger map
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- Census-designated place
- Fort Chiswell
- Max Meadows
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- Inhabited place
- Allison
- Austinville
- Barren Springs
- Bertha
- Bethany
- Blacklick
- Blessing
- Cline
- Collier
- Copenhavers
- Cripple Creek
- Crockett
- Crowgeys
- Fairview
- Farmers Store
- Favonia
- Flatwood
- Fosters Falls
- Galena
- Grahams Forge
- Groseclose
- Grubb
- Gunton Park
- Henley
- High Rocks Mill
- Huddle
- Ivanhoe
- Jett
- Kegleys
- Kent
- Laswell
- Locust Hill
- Lone Ash
- Long Spur
- Murpheyville
- Patterson
- Petunia
- Pierce Mill
- Poplar Camp
- Porters Crossroads
- Rackettown
- Red Hill
- Retreat
- Rowe Crossroads
- Shiloh
- Shupe
- Siloam
- Simmerman
- Speedwell
- Staley Crossroads
- Stones Mill
- Stringtown
- Stroupes Store
- Summit
- Sutherland
- Walton Furnace
- West Piney
- Wilson
- Wytheville
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- source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- source: Family History Library Catalog
- the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
Wythe County is a county located in the U.S. state — officially, "Commonwealth" — of Virginia. As of the 2000 census, the population was 27,599. Its county seat is Wytheville6.
History
- the text in this section is copied from an article in Wikipedia
Wythe County was formed from Montgomery County in 1790. It was named after George Wythe, the first Virginian signer of the Declaration of Independence. During the Civil War the Battle of Cove Mountain was fought in the county.
Wythe County is also home to the Austinville community which was founded by Stephen and his brother Moses Austin, father of the famous Stephen F. Austin. In the 1790's the Austins took over the mines that produced lead and zinc. Lead was mined and shipped throughout the fledgling country. Shot was also produced utilizing the drop process.
<p>Located near Fosters Falls, the old shot tower still stands as a testament to the citizens of Wythe County. Lead was hoisted to the top of the tower using block and tackle and oxen. The lead was melted in a retort and then poured through a sieve at the top of the tower. The droplets of molten lead would become round during the 150 foot descent. The shot would collect in a kettle of water and workers would enter through a 110 foot access tunnel located near the bank of the New River to retrieve the shot from the kettle.
<p>The lead mines closed in 1982 due to new EPA standards and the lack of market for lead. the mines have since filled with water; the main shaft extended in excess of 1100 feet straight down. <p>Another notable community is Fort Chiswell. A pyramid marker stands along the I-81 and I-77 intersection. The community was named for Colonel Chiswell who helped establish the mines (1757) prior to the Austin's purchase.
Wythe County (established in 1790) was once part of Montgomery County, but the courts became so busy that a new county was formed to allow for a smaller jurisdiction.
Timeline
| Date | Event | Source
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| 1790 | County formed | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1790 | Court records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1790 | Land records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1790 | Marriage records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1790 | Probate records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1800 | First census | Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
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| 1853 | Birth records recorded | Source:Red Book: American State, County, and Town Sources
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| 1870 | No significant boundary changes after this year | Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
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Population History
- source: Source:Population of States and Counties of the United States: 1790-1990
| Census Year | Population
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| 1800 | 6,380
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| 1810 | 8,356
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| 1820 | 9,692
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| 1830 | 12,163
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| 1840 | 9,375
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| 1850 | 12,024
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| 1860 | 12,305
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| 1870 | 11,611
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| 1880 | 14,318
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| 1890 | 18,019
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| 1900 | 20,437
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| 1910 | 20,372
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| 1920 | 20,217
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| 1930 | 20,704
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| 1940 | 22,721
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| 1950 | 23,327
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| 1960 | 21,975
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| 1970 | 22,139
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| 1980 | 25,522
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| 1990 | 25,466
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