Big Stone Gap: Demographics & People
About 5,162 people live in Big Stone Gap, in 1,562 households. Population shrank 0.6% from 5,193 (2022) to 5,162 (2024). Median age 41.0 years. (0.8y younger than Wise County; 3.2y older than Virginia). Children under 18 are 21% of the population. Population is 76% White (non-Hispanic) and 16% Black. The community is somewhat diverse (Simpson index 0.37). 59% of households are family-led. County is gaining 237 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 42% adult obesity, 21% smoke.
- 3.3 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 41% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 63 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population shrank 0.6% from 5,193 (2022) to 5,162 (2024). Estimated 2026 population: ~5,131 (extrapolated at -0.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 5,089.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 36,130 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | -0.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 5,193 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 5,162 |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | stable |
| Population | 5,162 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 5,089 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 41.0y is 2.1 years older than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 21% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 41.0 years (vs Virginia 37.8y) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 20.8% |
| Age Summary · Character | established |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 5,162 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 1,074 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 1,101.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 2,063.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 924 |
| Population under 18 | 1,074 |
| Median age | 41.0 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 5,162 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.37 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as somewhat diverse.
| White residents | 3,876 |
|---|---|
| Black residents | 1,030 |
| Asian residents | 56 |
| Hispanic or Latino residents | 74 |
| Diversity Index · Diversity index (Simpson) | 36.5% |
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | somewhat diverse |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 4 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 77.0% |
| Asian population | 0.3% (vs Virginia 5.6%) |
| Black population | 16.2% (vs Virginia 18.2%) |
| Hispanic or Latino population | 1.8% (vs Virginia 10.1%) |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 76.5% (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 (8)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS). 1.1% are foreign-born — below the U.S. average of 13.9%. 2% have naturalized to U.S. citizenship.
| Residents born in this state | 3,467 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 1,561 |
| Share born in this state | 67.2% |
| Share born in another state | 32.8% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 30.2% |
| Foreign-born residents | 1.1% |
| Naturalized citizens | 1.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 207 |
| From Africa | 144 |
Households & Family Composition
1,562 households. Averaging 2.2 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 59% are family households — below the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 984 families, 22% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 1,015 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 984 |
| Married couples with children | 219 |
| Single-parent households | 140 |
| Average household size | 2.22 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 16.1% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 36 |
| Family households | 923 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 59.1% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 1,562 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. 18.4% moved within the county in the past year — the U.S. baseline is roughly 8–10%. The surrounding county is gaining 237 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Moved within the county (past year) | 18.4% |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 27,380 |
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 27,143 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 237 |
| 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 | 340 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.7% |
Group Quarters
Group quarters are non-household living arrangements counted by the Census — college dormitories, nursing homes, military barracks, group homes, correctional facilities, and similar institutional or shared housing. 1,441 residents live in group quarters (27.9% of population).
| Living in group quarters | 1,441 |
|---|
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 195 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Wise |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 34.8% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 29.80 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 40.30 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Wise County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Micropolitan |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,269 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51195 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Wise County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 61.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 50.2% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 35.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 37,383 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 3.60 |
| Family Score · Schools | 3 |
| Family Score · Childcare Centers | 2 |
| Family Score · Youth Sports Orgs | 1 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 20.8% |
| Family Score · Rating | fair |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 5,162, stable, established, middle-class, mixed |
| Town Summary · Population | 5,162 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Wise County |
Sources: NCES school congressional district assignment · federal dataset cascade