Pound, Virginia

Pound is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,089 as recorded in the 2000 census.

Geography

Pound is located at (37.123820, -82.607859).

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.8 km²), all of it land.

Demographics

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,089 people, 455 households, and 322 families residing in the town. The population density was 417.6 people per square mile (161.1/km²). There were 516 housing units at an average density of 197.9/sq mi (76.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.71% White, 0.09% Native American, 0.09% from other races, and 1.10% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.18% of the population.

There were 455 households out of which 31.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.2% were non-families. 25.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 24.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 29.8% from 25 to 44, 21.5% from 45 to 64, and 16.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 87.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.8 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $29,107, and the median income for a family was $33,688. Males had a median income of $32,065 versus $22,143 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,375. About 19.4% of families and 23.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.9% of those under age 18 and 9.8% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Pound is home to two public schools: J.W. Adams Combined School and Pound High School.

Notable Residents

Former U-2 pilot Francis Gary Powers called Pound, VA his hometown. After living in Grundy, VA, Powers' family moved to Pound, VA.

Napoleon Hill (1883-1970), the American personal-success author of 'Think And Grow Rich' was born and grew up on the Pound River in Wise County, Virginia near the town of Pound.

Interesting Information

Pound High School was known as Christopher Gist High School for many years until the name was changed. CGHS also fielded several championship teams in the state in Girls Basketball. Pound and the surrounding area routinely served up basketball teams of strong championship calibre and state championships. The fact that girls basketball was allowed to be played in rural Appalachia during the 1930s and 40's, is a testament to the area's sports driven persona and lifestyle.

Actor Tommy Lee Jones was arrested in this sleepy country town for intoxication and disorderly conduct. Jones was in the area filming the Michael Apted film Coal Miner's Daughter. The movie starred Sissy Spacek and was filmed in around Wise County and neighboring Letcher County, KY. Jones was allowed to cool off and returned to filming the movie but giving law enforcement officials a handful during his incarceration.

References

External links