Wise, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Wise is a town in Wise County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 3,286 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
of Wise County
. It was originally incorporated as the town of Gladeville in 1874. The town's name was changed to Wise in 1924. Wise is named after Virginia governor
Henry A. Wise
.
The town is also the home of the University of Virginia's College at Wise
.
, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 3,255 people, 1,424 households, and 868 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,059.4 people per square mile (409.4/km²). There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of 518.8 per square mile (200.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.24% White, 1.94% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.77% from other races
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 1,424 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,531, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $30,170 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $18,760. About 12.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
, one private school
, and one college
.
), a north-south highway that runs through the west end of the town. Wise is also home to the Lonesome Pine Airport
(LNP). The airport is located approximately three miles northeast of the central business district
.
Three buildings in the town of Wise are on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Colonial Hotel
, now known as the Inn at Wise Court House, was added to the Register in 1991. The Wise County Courthouse was added to the Register ten years earlier, in 1981. In February 2006, the Register listed the E. M. Fulton House
. All of these buildings are located on Main Street.
The downtown area hosts the Battles at Wise Civil War Living History Presentation and Re-Enactment on the second weekend of July each year.
Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1856, the county was formed from land taken from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. As of 2010, the population was 41,452, making it the largest...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 3,286 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Wise County
Wise County, Virginia
Wise County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. In 1856, the county was formed from land taken from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties. It was named after Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. As of 2010, the population was 41,452, making it the largest...
. It was originally incorporated as the town of Gladeville in 1874. The town's name was changed to Wise in 1924. Wise is named after Virginia governor
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
Henry A. Wise
Henry A. Wise
Henry Alexander Wise was an American politician and governor of Virginia, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
.
The town is also the home of the University of Virginia's College at Wise
University of Virginia's College at Wise
The University of Virginia's College at Wise is the liberal arts college of the University of Virginia, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, located in Wise, Virginia...
.
Geography
Wise is locaated in the middle of bfe According to the United States Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the town has a total area of 3.1 square miles (8.0 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 3,255 people, 1,424 households, and 868 families residing in the town. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 1,059.4 people per square mile (409.4/km²). There were 1,594 housing units at an average density of 518.8 per square mile (200.5/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.24% White, 1.94% African American, 0.28% Native American, 1.14% Asian, 0.77% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.65% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.41% of the population.
There were 1,424 households out of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.0% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.0% were non-families. 34.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.17 and the average family size was 2.79.
In the town the population was spread out with 19.7% under the age of 18, 11.3% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 23.4% from 45 to 64, and 15.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 101.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.7 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,531, and the median income for a family was $36,875. Males had a median income of $30,170 versus $21,389 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the town was $18,760. About 12.6% of families and 15.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Wise features four public schools of the Wise County Public School SystemWise County Public Schools (Virginia)
Wise County Public Schools is a school district based in Wise, Virginia in Wise County. It operates 5 elementary/primary schools, 1 combined school, 3 middle schools, 3 high schools, an alternative school and a vocational-technical school....
, one private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
, and one college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
.
Wise County School System Public Schools
- Wise Primary School
- L. F. Addington Middle School
- J. J. Kelly High SchoolJ. J. Kelly High SchoolJ. J. Kelly High School is a former public high school in Wise, Virginia. The school was opened in 1953. It was part of the Wise County Public Schools system. It was named after a former county school board superintendent, Dr. J. J. Kelly, Jr. The enrollment in 2005 was 504 students and employed...
(1953-2011) - Central High SchoolCentral High School (Wise, Virginia)Central High School is a public high school in Wise, Virginia. The building was first opened in 1953 as J. J. Kelly High School. It is part of the Wise County Public Schools system. It is a consolidated school, created by merging J. J. Kelly High with Pound High School in 2011. The mascot for...
(opened in 2011) - Wise County Career-Technical Center
Transportation
The largest highway in Wise is Orby Cantrell Highway (U.S. Highway 23), a north-south highway that runs through the west end of the town. Wise is also home to the Lonesome Pine AirportLonesome Pine Airport
Lonesome Pine Airport is a public airport located three miles northeast of the central business district of Wise, a town in Wise County, Virginia, USA. This general aviation airport covers and has one runway. It was once served with commercial airline service on Appalachian Airlines. ...
(LNP). The airport is located approximately three miles northeast of the central business district
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
.
Theater and the arts
- The Pro-Art Association offers a variety of theatrical, musical, and fine-arts events throughout the school year.
- The Appalachian Children's Theater (ACT) promotes performing arts and fine arts education for children in Southwest VirginiaSouthwest VirginiaSouthwest Virginia, often abbreviated as SWVA, is a mountainous region of Virginia in the westernmost part of the commonwealth. Southwest Virginia has been defined alternatively as all Virginia counties on the Appalachian Plateau, all Virginia counties west of the Eastern Continental Divide, or...
, Eastern Kentucky, and Northeast Tennessee. In 2006, the organization opened its newly renovated facility on Main Street. - The Charles W. Harris Art Gallery is located on the site of the Wise County Public Library.
- The University of Virginia's College at Wise possesses a state of the art theater that usually sees two productions a year.
Notable residents
- George C. ScottGeorge C. ScottGeorge Campbell Scott was an American stage and film actor, director and producer. He was best known for his stage work, as well as his portrayal of General George S. Patton in the film Patton, and as General Buck Turgidson in Stanley Kubrick's Dr...
- Actor, Director, Producer - Carroll DaleCarroll DaleCarroll Wayne Dale is a former American football wide receiver. He played college football at Virginia Tech from 1956–59. Dale was named second-team All American in 1958 and 1959....
- Former Green Bay PackersGreen Bay PackersThe Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
and Virginia Tech receiver, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletic Development at the University of Virginia's College at WiseUniversity of Virginia's College at WiseThe University of Virginia's College at Wise is the liberal arts college of the University of Virginia, and a member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges, located in Wise, Virginia...
.
Historic downtown
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Colonial Hotel
Colonial Hotel (Wise, Virginia)
Colonial Hotel in Wise, Virginia, also known as Inn at Wise Courthouse is a building built in 1910. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991....
, now known as the Inn at Wise Court House, was added to the Register in 1991. The Wise County Courthouse was added to the Register ten years earlier, in 1981. In February 2006, the Register listed the E. M. Fulton House
E. M. Fulton House
The E. M. Fulton House in Wise, Virginia is a Colonial Revival Style house built in 1905. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2006.-References:...
. All of these buildings are located on Main Street.
The downtown area hosts the Battles at Wise Civil War Living History Presentation and Re-Enactment on the second weekend of July each year.