Virginia

Wise

36,130
2020 population
1860
first census record
17
census records

About Wise

Wise, Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1860, when it recorded a population of 4,508. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 36,130.

Its recorded population peaked at 56,336 in 1950, and has since declined by roughly 36 percent.

On the ground today, one documented military engagement has been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Pound Gap, Kentucky/Virginia, and 22 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
202036,130
201041,452
200040,123
199043,820
198048,620
197039,948
196048,575
195056,336
194052,458
193051,167
192046,500
191034,162
190019,653
18909,345
18807,772
18704,785
18604,508
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Wise

Military engagements that took place in Wise, Virginia.

Skirmish at Pound Gap, Kentucky/Virginia
1862

Historic places in Wise

National Register of Historic Places listings in Wise, Virginia.

Fulton, E.M., House
Wise
Tacoma School
Coeburn
U.S. Post Office and Courthouse
Big Stone Gap
Sunnydale Farm
Pound
Terrace Park Girl Scout Cabin
Big Stone Gap
Colonial Hotel
Wise
"June Tolliver" House
Big Stone Gap
Wise County Courthouse
Wise
Flat Gap High School
Pound
Derby Historic District
Appalachia
Southwest Virginia Museum Historical State Park
Big Stone Gap
Stonega Historic District
Appalachia
Virginia City Church
St. Paul
St. Paul Historic District
St. Paul
Christ Episcopal Church
Big Stone Gap
Fox, John, Jr., House
Big Stone Gap
Browse all Virginiahistoric sites ›

Other counties in Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Wise County, Virginia

This page charts the census history of Wise County, Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Virginiahistory ›NRHP historic sites ›Notable people from Virginia›

Frequently asked about Wise

When does Wise first appear in the US census?
Wise, Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1860, with a recorded population of 4,508.
What is the population of Wise?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Wise had a recorded population of 36,130.
When did Wise's population peak?
Wise's recorded population peaked at 56,336 in 1950.
Were any battles fought in Wise?
1 documented military engagement took place in Wise, including Skirmish at Pound Gap, Kentucky/Virginia.
How many historic places are in Wise?
22 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Wise, Virginia.
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