Places of Virginia

The geography and history of the Commonwealth

Wise County, Virginia

Quick answer: Wise County is a county in Virginia with its seat at Wise. Its estimated population in 2025 was 34,824, down 3.6% since 2020. It covers about 403 square miles of land.
Typecounty
County seatWise
Established1856
Population, 2025 estimate34,824
Population, 2020 estimate36,072
Change 2020–2025-3.5%
Rank by population in Virginia49 of 133
Forested gorge at Breaks Interstate Park on the Virginia–Kentucky line
Photo: vastateparksstaff · CC BY 2.0 (license), via Wikimedia Commons, resized

Overview

Wise County is one of the 95 counties of Virginia.[1] The county seat is Wise.[2] The county was established in 1856.[2] The name comes from Henry A. Wise.[2]

Population of Wise County

The U.S. Census Bureau estimated the population of Wise County at 34,824 in July 2025, down 3.6% from the April 2020 base of 36,126.[1] That made it 49th of Virginia's 133 counties and independent cities by population. It ranked 124th for growth since 2020.[1]

From 2020 to 2025 the Census Bureau counted about 1,714 births and 3,043 deaths, so deaths outnumbered births by 1,329.[1] More people moved in from other parts of the United States than moved away. Net domestic migration was 7. Moves from abroad added 32.[1]

Geography

Wise County covers 403.4 square miles of land and 2.0 square miles of water.[3] By land area it ranks 44th of 133 in Virginia.[3] It had about 86 people per square mile in 2025, so it is mostly rural. Its geographic center lies near 36.97° N, 82.62° W.[3]

The county borders Dickenson County, Lee County, the City of Norton, Russell County and Scott County in Virginia, as well as land in Kentucky.[4]

The U.S. Geological Survey place-name database lists 161 named streams, 21 named summits, 10 lakes and reservoirs, 22 gaps and 1 spring in the county.[5]

Towns

Wise County has 6 incorporated towns. With their estimated 2025 populations, they are: Big Stone Gap (5,102), Wise (2,853), Coeburn (1,535), Appalachia (1,369), Pound (836), St. Paul (672, part).[6] In Virginia, towns remain part of the county around them, unlike independent cities. "Part" means only the share of the town inside this county.

Frequently asked questions

What is the county seat of Wise County?
Wise.

What is the population of Wise County?
About 34,824 people in 2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

How big is Wise County?
About 403 square miles of land, plus 2.0 square miles of water.

References

Official website: www.wisecounty.org

Boundary on the map: Census TIGERweb. See all counties and cities on the map.