Smyth County Demographics

A map of Smyth County's Population by Race

Smyth County, Virginia has an estimated population of 29,420, a slight decrease from the 29,800 recorded in the 2020 Census. The population is 93.4% White, 2.2% Multiracial, 2.1% Hispanic, 2.0% Black, 0.2% Native American/Other, and 0.1% Asian. This demographic dot map shows the population of Smyth County, with one dot drawn for each person counted by the Census, color-coded by race.

Smyth is about as racially diverse as it was in the 2020 Census. It is considerably less diverse than Virginia overall. Demographers use a diversity index to measure the probability that two randomly selected individuals belong to different racial or ethnic groups. In Smyth County, that probability was 13.1% in 2020 and 12.7% in the most recent ACS estimates.

Smyth County is ranked the 59th most populous county in Virginia, out of 133 counties. Smyth County was ranked the 59th most populous county in the 2020 Census.

Smyth County's White Population

27,471 residents of Smyth County, or 93.4% of the population, identify as White. The share of White residents in Smyth County is significantly higher than in Virginia overall, where 58.4% of the population is White. Smyth County ranks 10th statewide in terms of White residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's White population has declined by an estimated 1.0%. White residents' share of Smyth County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 93.4%.

Smyth County is more White than neighboring Tazewell County (92.7% White), Grayson County (87.2% White), Ashe County (90.8% White), and Wythe County (92.9% White). Smyth County is less White than neighboring Washington County (94.1% White).

Smyth County's Black Population

598 residents of Smyth County, or 2.0% of the population, identify as Black. The share of Black residents in Smyth County is significantly lower than in Virginia overall, where 18.3% of the population is Black. Smyth County ranks 125th statewide in terms of Black residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's Black population has grown by an estimated 46.6%. Black residents' share of Smyth County's population has increased from 1.4% to 2.0%.

Smyth County is more Black than neighboring Ashe County (0.9% Black), and Washington County (1.8% Black). Smyth County is less Black than neighboring Tazewell County (3% Black), Grayson County (5.5% Black), and Wythe County (2.2% Black).

Smyth County's Asian Population

23 residents of Smyth County, or 0.1% of the population, identify as Asian. The share of Asian residents in Smyth County is lower than in Virginia overall, where 6.9% of the population is Asian. Smyth County ranks 112th statewide in terms of Asian residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's Asian population has declined by an estimated 77.9%. Asian residents' share of Smyth County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.1%.

Smyth County is less Asian than neighboring Tazewell County (0.6% Asian), Grayson County (1% Asian), Ashe County (0.4% Asian), Washington County (0.5% Asian), and Wythe County (0.8% Asian).

Smyth County's Hispanic Population

629 residents of Smyth County, or 2.1% of the population, identify as Hispanic. The share of Hispanic residents in Smyth County is lower than in Virginia overall, where 11% of the population is Hispanic. Smyth County ranks 116th statewide in terms of Hispanic residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's Hispanic population has grown by an estimated 12.7%. Hispanic residents' share of Smyth County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 2.1%.

Smyth County is more Hispanic than neighboring Tazewell County (1.4% Hispanic), Washington County (1.9% Hispanic), and Wythe County (1.6% Hispanic). Smyth County is less Hispanic than neighboring Grayson County (4.2% Hispanic), and Ashe County (6% Hispanic).

Smyth County's Native American/Other Population

52 residents of Smyth County, or 0.2% of the population, identify as American Indian/Alaska Native/Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander/Other. The share of Native American/Other residents in Smyth County is comparable to the share in Virginia overall, where 0.8% of the population is Native American/Other. Smyth County ranks 123rd statewide in terms of Native American/Other residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's Native American/Other population has declined by an estimated 39.5%. Native American/Other residents' share of Smyth County's population has remained roughly unchanged at 0.2%.

Smyth County is more Native American/Other than neighboring Tazewell County (0.1% Native American/Other). Smyth County is less Native American/Other than neighboring Grayson County (0.4% Native American/Other), Ashe County (0.4% Native American/Other), and Wythe County (0.6% Native American/Other).

Smyth County's Multiracial Population

647 residents of Smyth County, or 2.2% of the population, identify as Multiracial. The share of Multiracial residents in Smyth County is slightly lower than in Virginia overall, where 4.7% of the population is Multiracial. Smyth County ranks 107th statewide in terms of Multiracial residents as a share of the population, out of 133 counties.

Since the 2020 Census, Smyth County's Multiracial population has declined by an estimated 26.6%. Multiracial residents' share of Smyth County's population has decreased from 3.0% to 2.2%.

Smyth County is more Multiracial than neighboring Tazewell County (2.1% Multiracial), Grayson County (1.7% Multiracial), Ashe County (1.4% Multiracial), Washington County (1.6% Multiracial), and Wythe County (1.9% Multiracial).

Sources: Most recent population estimates are from the 2020-2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. 2020 population counts and map data are from 2020 Census State Redistricting Data. Geographic data are from Census TIGER/Line Shapefiles.