Saltville, Virginia

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View of Saltville from scenic stop off highway entering town

Saltville is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,204 at the 2000 census.

1 History
2 Geography
- 2.1 Muck Dam Collapse
3 Government
4 Demographics
5 External links

[edit] History

Saltville was named for the salt marshes in the area. Prior to European settlement, these marshes attracted local wildlife. Excavations have recovered several well preserved skeletons of now extinct species dating back to the last ice age.^{[citation needed]}

On October 2, 1864 during the American Civil War, the Battle of Saltville was fought here. In the battle Union forces attacked Saltville but were defeated by Confederate troops. Another, more minor battle, was also fought here during Stoneman's Raid.

[edit] Geography

Saltville is located at 36°52′25″N, 81°45′39″W (36.873480, -81.760833)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 21.0 km² (8.1 mi²). 20.8 km² (8.1 mi²) of it is land and 0.1 km² (0.04 mi²) of it (0.49%) is water.

[edit] Muck Dam Collapse

Saltville was the home of the famous "Muck Dam" break in the early 1920's which allowed the release of a huge volume of liquid chemical waste (stored there by the Matheison Alkali Company) into the North Holston River taking the lives of several people who lived along the river. The river remained polluted and virtually dead for several decades afterward.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Government

Saltville's current mayor is Jeff Campbell. Mayor Campbell succeeded the previous mayor of 26 years, Frank "T-Bone" Lewis in a hotly contested election in 2004 which included charges of election fraud by supporters of Mr. Lewis.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there were 2,204 people, 909 households, and 660 families residing in the town. The population density was 105.7/km² (273.7/mi²). There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 48.1/km² (124.5/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.96% White, 0.41% African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.05% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.

There were 909 households out of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 15.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.3% were non-families. 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 22.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 17.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.1 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,917, and the median income for a family was $36,394. Males had a median income of $30,379 versus $17,717 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,908. About 12.7% of families and 17.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.0% of those under age 18 and 17.5% of those age 65 or over.