Chilhowie

Chilhowie /tʃ ɪ l ˈ h aʊ i / is a town in Smyth County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,781 at the 2010 census. The name Chilhowie is said to come from a Cherokee word meaning "valley of many deer".[5]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2), all of it land.

Chilhowie was often the starting point of longhunter expeditions in the 1700s. An early settler was Samuel Stalnaker (1715-1769) who maintained a tavern there until the late 1760s.[6] It also sustained severe damage from an EF-2 tornado during the 2011 Super Outbreak.[7][8]

A.C. Beatie House, H.L. Bonham House, Chilhowie Methodist Episcopal Church, and the Downtown Chilhowie Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]

As of the 2000 census,[3] there were 1,827 people, 708 households, and 462 families living in the town. The population density was 704.6 people per square mile (272.4/km2). There were 775 housing units at an average density of 298.9 per square mile (115.5/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 94.47% White, 3.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 0.05% Asian, 1.48% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.13% of the population.

Out of a total of 708 households, 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.2% were married couples living together, 11.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.7% were non-families. 31.5% of households were made up of individuals, and 15.4% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.76.

The age distribution was 17.2% under the age of 18, 5.4% from 18 to 24, 24.2% from 25 to 44, 24.4% from 45 to 64, and 28.8% 65 or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females, there were 78.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.0 males.

The median household income was US$28,266, and the median family income was US$34,375. Males had a median income of US$24,306 compared with US$18,080 for females. The per capita income for the town was US$16,657. About 10.3% of families and 13.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.5% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Chilhowie has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[11]