Town of Saltville, Virginia
Seal
Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia
Coordinates: 36°52′25″N 81°45′39″W / 36.87361, -81.76083
Country	United States
State	Virginia
Counties	Smyth, Washington
Government
- Mayor	Jeffrey L. Campbell
Area
- Total	8.1 sq mi (21.0 km²)
- Land	8.1 sq mi (20.9 km²)
- Water	.04 sq mi (0.1 km²)  .49%
Elevation	1,726 ft (526 m)
Population (2000)
- Total	2,204
- Density	273.8/sq mi (105.7/km²)
	U.S. Census Bureau, 2000 Population Estimates
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
- Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code	24370
Area code(s)	276
FIPS code	51-70096[1]
GNIS feature ID	1486913[2]
Website: http://www.saltville.org/

Saltville is a town in Smyth and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 2,204 at the 2000 census.

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. ^[3]

During the American Civil War Saltville was one of the Confederacy's main saltworks. The saltworks were considered vital to the Confederate war effort because the salt was used in preserving meat for Confederate soldiers and civilians. As such, the town became a target for Northern forces intent on capturing the saltworks and removing it from Confederate control. On October 2, 1864 the Battle of Saltville was fought here. In the battle Union forces attacked Saltville but were defeated by Confederate troops. Two months later General George Stoneman, a Union cavalry commander, led a second attack on the saltworks, this time the Confederates were defeated and the saltworks were destroyed by Union troops. The loss of Saltville was considered a major blow to the Confederacy's dwindling resources.

The View from Battle at Cedar Branch marker above Saltville.

Battle at Cedar Branch Marker

Geography

Saltville is located at 36°52′25″N, 81°45′39″W (36.873480, -81.760833)^[4].

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

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 Mathieson 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. ^{[5] [6] [7] [8]}

Museum of the Middle Appalachians

Saltville, VA is also home of the Museum of the Middle Appalachians. The museum is centrally located in the town and offers an excellent view into the past of the town and the region. The museum is home to numerous exhibits concerning the town including the geologic past, civil war, history as a company town, and the woodland Indians. ^[9]

Government

Saltville's current mayor is Jeff Campbell. Mayor Campbell succeeded the previous mayor of 26 years, the very popular Frank "T-Bone" Lewis in a hotly contested election in 2004. The town is also regulated by a town council consisting of six other members.^[10]

Demographics

As of the census^[1] of 2000, there were 2,204 people, 909 households, and 660 families residing in the town. The population density was 273.7 people per square mile (105.7/km²). There were 1,003 housing units at an average density of 124.5/sq mi (48.1/km²). 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, 33.2% were married couples living together, 35.1% 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 $24,917, and the median income for a family was $32,394. Males had a median income of $25,379 versus $12,717 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,908. About 22.7% of families and 37.4% 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.

Notable natives

• Clay Davidson - Country musician
• Madam Russell - Sister of Patrick Henry, famous Methodist leader
• JEB Stuart - Confederate general
• Hobart Smith - Old time music legend
• Texas Gladden- Sister of Smith, also a successful musician
• Homer Davenport - Mountainman, featured in the non fiction novel "In Search of America"
• R.B. Worthy - Olin-Matheson executive, former high school namesake (R.B Worthy Shakers)
• 'Big' Tom Buchanan - Reality TV personality, "Survivor"
• Robert Porterfield - founder of the Barter Theater, grew up in Saltville.

References

1. ^ ^{a b} American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
2. ^ US Board on Geographic Names. United States Geological Survey (2007-10-25). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
3. ^ Virginia Museum Natural History
4. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
5. ^ The Atlanta Journal - Constitution Article on Dam
6. ^ Roanoke Times Article on Dam
7. ^ US EPA Superfund Site
8. ^ VA Department Environmental Quality
9. ^ Museum of the Middle Appalachians
10. ^ Saltville Town Council

External links

• http://www.saltville.org/ - Town's official website

• Saltville, Virginia is at coordinates 36°52′25″N 81°45′39″W / 36.87348, -81.760833 (Saltville, Virginia)Coordinates: 36°52′25″N 81°45′39″W / 36.87348, -81.760833 (Saltville, Virginia)

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Smyth County, Virginia County seat: Marion Towns Chilhowie | Marion | Saltville Unincorporated communities Adwolf | Atkins | Seven Mile Ford | Sugar Grove

v â€¢ d â€¢ e Municipalities and communities of Washington County, Virginia County seat: Abingdon Towns Abingdon | Damascus | Glade Spring | Meadowview Unincorporated communities Clinchburg | Emory-Meadowview | Friendship | Hayter's Gap | Konnarock | Lodi | Mendota