Gate City: Demographics & People
Gate City is home to 1,928 people, in 886 households. Population shrank 0.6% from 1,939 (2022) to 1,928 (2024). Median age 41.4 years. (6.3y younger than Scott County; 3.6y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 17% of the population. Population is 92% White (non-Hispanic) and 3% Hispanic or Latino. The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.12). 58% of households are family-led. County is gaining 719 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 39% adult obesity, 20% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 42% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 62 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.6% from 1,939 (2022) to 1,928 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~1,917 (extrapolated at -0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 1,902.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 21,576 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 1,939 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 1,928 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 1,928 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 1,902 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.4y is 2.5 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 17% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 16.9% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 1,928 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 326 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 552.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 636.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 414 |
| Population under 18 | 326 |
| Median age | 41.4 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 1,928 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.12 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 1,761 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 49 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 65 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 11.6% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 3 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 93.9% |
| Black population | 2.8% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 2.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 91.5% (vs Virginia 53.8%) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Ancestry
Self-reported ancestry from Census ACS — what residents report as their ethnic origin, separate from race. Counts can exceed population because people can list multiple ancestries.
Top (7)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.7% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 0% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 301 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,585 |
| Share born in this state | 15.6% |
| Share born in another state | 84.4% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 82.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.7% |
| Naturalized citizens | 0.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 3 |
| From Europe | 3 |
Households & Family Composition
886 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 58% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 526 families, 30% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 353 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 526 |
| Married couples with children | 156 |
| Single-parent households | 9 |
| Average household size | 2.21 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 7.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 29 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 13 |
| Family households | 513 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 57.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 886 households (vs Virginia 14,324) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Residential Stability & Migration
How long residents have lived here and where they came from. 5.3% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 719 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 5.3% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 16,778 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 16,059 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 719 |
| Migration · Population growing | Yes |
| Migration · Year | 2022-2023 |
Sources: IRS SOI Migration 2021-2022 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Disability
Census ACS measures self-reported functional limitations — vision, hearing, mobility, cognitive, self-care, or independent-living. The U.S. baseline disability rate is about 12–13%; rates trend higher with median age.
| Residents with a disability | 230 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 12.2% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51169 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 169 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Scott |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 23.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 18.40 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 29.80 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51169 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Scott County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Medium metro |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 728 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51169 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Scott County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 68.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 58.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 32.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 21,566 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Metro |
| Family Score · Score | 5.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 7 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 16.9% |
| Family Score · Rating | good |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 1,928, stable, established, working-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 1,928 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Scott County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade