Virginia 9th

Southwest Virginia Demographics 2010

While the data presented here goes back a few years, the fact is the region is worse off today in post 911. Private funded research produces very different results from publicly funded studies. Most important here are the stats between Bristol and Dickenson County. Bristol, Virginia has a 3% unemployment rate while Dickenson County has over 15%, but the poverty rates are nearly the same. This is the result of poverty wage scales and the determination of Bristol politicians in driving down pay-scales and blocking out better jobs to protect low-wage employers.

Census 2010 update: http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51167.html

Much of the data shows that after perhaps a billion dollars in government programs to repair the regional economy has failed. Incomes are still about half the state average, one-fourth to one-third of the population is disabled. In Bristol Virginia private sector employment fell almost 25%! The poverty rate is often double the state average.

Russell County and Lebanon provided some shocking figures in 2010. Former Governor now Senator Mark Warner hatched a scheme to "farm shore" the State's ITT infrastructure in a juicy $2 billion plus contract to Northrop Grumman in 2005. Press reports in 2010 and now the census shows few of the 1000 new high-tech ever materialized.



There has no measurable economic growth outside that of surrounding communities, zero population, no new business, etc. While there is no measurable benefit to the general community after the County forked out another $10 million in corporate welfare, Northrop Grumman and their partner AMS-CGI report record profits. In fact employment in counties not even in this questionable deal had higher employment growth that Russell County.

Population: 29,250
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 0.0%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 62.5% VA: 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 9.4% VA: 29.5%
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 5.9%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 8,620
Median household income, 2008 $32,100 VA: $61,210
Per capita money income, 1999 $14,863 VA: $23,975
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 19.4% VA: 10.2%

Buchanan
Population, 2009 estimate 22,860
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 -15.3% 11.4%
Population estimates base (April 1) 2000 26,978 7,079,048
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 52.9% VA 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 8.0% VA 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 8,855
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 -5.4% VA 10.1%1
Median household income, 2008 $26,571 VA $61,210

Scott County, VA
Population, 2009 estimate 22,585
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 -3.5% VA: +11.4%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2009 19.6%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 64.4% VA: 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 8.3% VA: 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 6,413
Median household income, 2008 $33,668 VA $61,210
Per capita money income, 1999 $15,073 VA $23,975
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 14.5% 10.1%

Wise County
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 -1.0% VA 11.4%
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 62.5% VA 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 10.8% VA 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 10,765
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 21.5% VA 10.2%
Median household income, 2008 $32,758 $61,210
Population, 2009 estimate 25,166
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 6.7% VA 11.4%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 60.6% VA 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 9.5% VA 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 7,234 1,155,083

Washington County
Population, 2009 estimate 53,018
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 3.7% 11.4%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2009 17.3%
Bachelor's degree or higher, pct of persons age 25+, 2000 16.1% 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 11,181
Median household income, 2008 $41,594 $61,210
Per capita money income definition and source info Per capita money income, 1999 $18,350
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 22.3%
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 14.2%

Dickenson County
Population, 2009 estimate 16,087
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 -1.9%
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 21.8%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 58.9% VA 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 6.7% VA 29.5%
Persons with a disability, age 5+, 2000 5,364
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 21.4%
Median household income, 2008 $27,680 $61,210
Per capita money income, 1999 $12,822

Bristol VA
Population, 2009 estimate 17,690
Population, percent change, April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2009 1.9%
Persons under 5 years old, percent, 2009 5.8%
Persons under 18 years old, percent, 2009 19.8%
Persons 65 years old and over, percent, 2009 23.6%
Private non-farm employment, percent change 2000-2007 -24.9% VA: + 10.1%
High school graduates, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 72.4% VA 81.5%
Bachelor's degree or higher, percent of persons age 25+, 2000 17.0% VA: 29.5%
Median household income, 2008 $33,791 VA: $61,210
Per capita money income, 1999 $17,311 VA: $23,975
Persons below poverty level, percent, 2008 21.3% VA: 10.2%



The cost of living according to Kiplinger's Best Cities 2010 shows that Bristol VA/TN is right at the national average at 100.0 while the income is about half the state average. The problem is yes, the cost of living might be lower in this region, but that doesn't compensate for the much lower income levels of around 50% of the Virginia state average. For comparison:

St. Louis, MO-IL 90.0
Dallas, TX 91.9
Houston, TX 91.9
Tampa, FL 92.2
Atlanta, GA 96.0
Detroit, MI 98.2
Phoenix, AZ 99.6
U.S. Metro Average 100.0
Miami, FL 105.2
Minneapolis, MN 110.3
Riverside City, CA 112.3
Chicago, IL 116.8
Baltimore, MD 119.3
Seattle, WA 120.2
Philadelphia, PA 125.0
Boston, MA 131.1
San Diego, CA 131.6
Los Angeles, CA 133.3
Washington, DC 139.7
San Francisco, CA 162.5
New York, NY (Manhattan) 209.7

Source: "ACCRA Cost of Living Index, Second Quarter 2010"
Council for Community and Economic Research, August 2010.



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