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County in Virginia, United States

Wise County is a county located in the U. S. state of Virginia. The county was formed in 1856 from Lee, Scott, and Russell Counties and named for Henry A. Wise, who was the Governor of Virginia at the time. The county seat is in Wise.

The Cherokee colonized the area including Wise from the Xualae between 1671 and 1685. It was later contested by the Six Nations and the Shawnee. Cherokee and Shawnee hunting parties fought a protracted battle at the headwaters of the Clinch River for two days in the summer of 1786, a victory for the Cherokee although losses were heavy on both sides. The first white explorers to reach present day Wise county are said to have been Thomas Walker and Christopher Gist, both in 1750. Several forts were built all along the Clinch from 1774 onward, but only after Chickamauga Cherokee leader Bob Benge was slain in 1794 was present day Wise considered safe for white settlers even to hunt in. One of the earliest settlers within the county was William Wells around 1792. In the 1880s, coal deposits became the dominant resource utilized in the area. The Stonega Coke and Coal Company (SC&C) was formed in the town of Appalachia, Virginia. Immigration trends and economic conditions across the country attracted many people to the area for work, including African Americans and Irish, Polish, Italian, and Hungarian immigrants. Virginia's two highest security state prisons are located in Wise County: Red Onion State Prison, opened in 1998, and Wallens Ridge State Prison, opened in 1999. In July 2012 Dominion Energy built Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center in Wise County, a hybrid power plant that burns 80% coal and up to 20% biomass. In 2014, the plant was fined $47,651 by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality for emitting carbon monoxide and other gases at levels exceeding state regulations.

According to the U. S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 405 square miles (1,049 km2), of which 403 square miles (1,044 km2) is land and 2 square miles (5 km2) (0.5%) is water. The county is part of the Appalachians and has many mountainous features, including the peak of High Knob and Powell Valley.

As of the census of 2010, there were 41,452 people, 15,968 households, and 10,892 families residing in the county. The population density was There were 17,940 housing units at an average density of The racial makeup of the county was 93% White, 5.2% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, and 0.90% from two or more races. 1.10% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 15,968 households, out of which 31.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50,30% were married couples living together, 12.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.80% were non families. 27.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.40% 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 2.90. In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.80% under the age of 18 and 14.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 107 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 107.08 males. The median income for a household in the county was $35,053. The per capita income for the county was $17,512. About 19.30% of the population were below the poverty line. The homeownership rate for the county is 70.00%

Wise County Public Schools operates thirteen school facilities in the county for its students. For several years the Wise County School Board has considered consolidating high schools, and in 2011 it consolidated six high schools into three; Union High which serves the western part of the county, Central High which serves the central and northern parts of the county, and Eastside High which serves the eastern part of the county.

Wise County Christian School operates as a private school in the county.

The Clinch Valley Times is a weekly newspaper serving Castlewood and St. Paul, Virginia, and the surrounding areas. The Coalfield Progress is a twice weekly newspaper covering news through the county. The Post also at and the Wetlands Estonoa Project, an Appalachian Wetland and part of the Clinch River Watershed.

The Trail of the Lonesome Pine Outdoor Drama is performed in Big Stone Gap, Virginia throughout the summer. It is the Commonwealth of Virginia's official outdoor drama. The Pro Art Association offers a variety of theatrical, musical, and fine arts events throughout the school year. It is headquartered in Wise. The Wise County Summer Academy of Art, sponsored by Wise County Public Schools and funded in part by the Virginia Commission of Arts, provides fine arts programming for children throughout the summer months, including large scale productions and touring performance opportunities. The Appalachian Children's Theater (ACT) promotes performing arts and fine arts education for children in Southwest Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Northeast Tennessee. In 2006, the organization opened its newly renovated facility in Downtown Wise. The Charles W. Harris Art Gallery is located on the site of the Wise County Public Library in Wise.

"Clinch River Days" is a festival to celebrate mountain heritage and takes place in St. Paul each spring. Best Friend Festival held in Norton, VA annually. The Virginia Kentucky District Fair is held each summer in Wise. The Wise County Famous Fall Fling is an annual event held in Downtown Wise. Coeburn holds its annual Guest River Rally over the Labor Day weekend in September. Appalachia Coal Railroad Days is held each summer in Appalachia. Pound Heritage Days is held annually the week before Labor Day in Pound. Dock Boggs Oldtime Music Festival held the second weekend in September at the Country Cabin in Norton, Virginia. Mountain Craft Days held the third weekend of October on the campus of Mountain Empire Community College in Big Stone Gap, Virginia. The RTE 23 Music Festival is held at the end of August ever year on the campus of the University of Virginia's College at Wise.

The independent city of Norton lies within the confines of Wise County, but is not a part of the county.