Fort Chiswell: Demographics & People
821 people call Fort Chiswell home, in 365 households. Population grew 6.6% from 770 (2022) to 821 (2024). Median age 37.8 years. (8.2y younger than Wythe County). Children under 18 are 16% of the population. Population is 100% White (non-Hispanic). The community is relatively homogeneous (Simpson index 0.00). 79% of households are family-led. County is gaining 725 residents per year (2022-2023). County health: 38% adult obesity, 15% smoke.
- 2.2 people per household (vs Virginia avg 2.6).
- 21% non-family households (singles, roommates) (vs Virginia 35%).
- 46 dependents per 100 working-age (youth + seniors / 18-64) (vs Virginia 62).
Population & Trend
Population grew 6.6% from 770 (2022) to 821 (2024) — about 11.0× the recent U.S. annual rate of ~0.6%/yr. Estimated 2026 population: ~876 (extrapolated at 3.3%/yr trend). Census Bureau Vintage estimate: 953.
| Census data vintage | 2024 |
|---|---|
| Population | 28,290 people |
| Annual growth rate · Population change | 6.6% |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2022) | 770 |
| Annual growth rate · Population (2024) | 821 |
| Annual growth rate · Population growing | Yes |
| Annual growth rate · Trend category | booming |
| Population | 821 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Population Estimate | 953 |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2023, Table B01003 · Refreshed 2026-04-12
Age Distribution
Median age 37.8y is 1.1 years younger than the U.S. median (38.9y). Children under 18 make up 16% — below the U.S. share of ~22%.
| Age Summary · Median age | 37.8 years (at Virginia median) |
|---|---|
| Age Summary · Children Pct | 15.7% |
| Age Summary · Character | family-oriented |
| Age Summary · Total Pop | 821 |
| Age Summary · Under 18 | 129 |
| Age Summary · 18 To 34 | 262.0× |
| Age Summary · 35 To 64 | 302.0× |
| Age Summary · 65 Plus | 128 |
| Population under 18 | 129 |
| Median age | 37.8 years (at Virginia median) |
Sources: Census ACS 5-Year 2024 — place-level B01001 query · Census ACS 5-Year 2023 · Refreshed 2026-04-29
Race, Ethnicity & Diversity
Of 821 residents, race / ethnicity breaks down by Census ACS counts (a person can identify with one or more groups). The Simpson diversity index is 0.00 (0 = single group, 1 = perfectly even distribution); this is read as relatively homogeneous.
| White residents | 770 |
|---|---|
| Diversity Index · Diversity label | relatively homogeneous |
| Diversity Index · Groups counted | 1 |
| Diversity Index · Largest group share | 100.0% |
| White (non-Hispanic) population | 100.0% (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 (4)
Citizenship & Origin
Where residents were born and their citizenship status (Census ACS).
| Residents born in this state | 554 |
|---|---|
| Residents born in another state | 267 |
| Share born in this state | 67.5% |
| Share born in another state | 32.5% |
| Native-born U.S. citizens | 32.5% |
| Total foreign-born residents | 317 |
Households & Family Composition
365 households. Averaging 2.3 people each — smaller than the U.S. average of 2.5. 79% are family households — above the U.S. share of ~65%. Of 259 families, 12% are married couples with children.
| Children under 18 | 123 |
|---|---|
| Total families | 259 |
| Married couples with children | 32 |
| Single-parent households | 48 |
| Average household size | 2.29 |
| Women who gave birth (past year) | 27.5% |
| Grandparents living with grandchildren | 543 |
| Grandparents responsible for grandchildren | 144 |
| Family households | 288 households (vs Virginia 9,367) |
| Households that are families | 78.9% (vs Virginia 65.0%) |
| Total households | 365 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. The surrounding county is gaining 725 residents per year on net (IRS migration data).
| Migration · People moving in (annual) | 25,026 |
|---|---|
| Migration · People moving out (annual) | 24,301 |
| Migration · Net migration (in − out) | 725 |
| 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 | 58 |
|---|---|
| Disability rate | 8.5% |
Other
| Congressional District · District | 9 |
|---|---|
| Congressional District · Formatted | VA-09 |
| Congressional District · Congress | 118th |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · State Fips | 51 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County Fips | 197 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · County | Wythe |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Birth Rate | 27.6% |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Lower Ci | 22.60 |
| Cdc Birth Rate · Upper Ci | 33.40 |
| Cdc Mortality · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Mortality · County | Wythe County |
| Cdc Mortality · Urban Rural | Noncore |
| Cdc Mortality · Total Deaths 2020 2023 | 1,375 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Fips | 51197 |
| Cdc Vaccination · County | Wythe County |
| Cdc Vaccination · Dose1 Pop Pct | 47.6% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Series Complete Pct | 40.3% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Booster Pct | 38.9% |
| Cdc Vaccination · Population 2019 | 28,684 |
| Cdc Vaccination · Metro Status | Non-metro |
| Family Score · Score | 8.00 |
| Family Score · Schools | 14 |
| Family Score · Children Pct | 15.7% |
| Family Score · Rating | excellent |
| Town Summary · Key Facts | population 821, booming, family-oriented, upper-middle, blue collar |
| Town Summary · Population | 821 people (vs Virginia 42,214) |
| Town Summary · County | Wythe County |
Sources: Census place-to-CD118 crosswalk (place_fips) · federal dataset cascade