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CITY · 1990 CENSUS

Big Stone Gap

Virginia · 4,748 residents · 4.80 sq mi
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The short version

Big Stone Gap is a city of 4,748 people in Virginia. That trails the Virginia median by roughly 45%. The median age is 37.2, about 4 years above the US median. The typical home is worth $45,400. About 12% of adults have finished a four-year degree. Median household income is $18,460, under the $30,130 national median.

At a glance
Lower income
below the US median
US median: $30,130
Older
median age 37.2
US median: 33.0
Less educated
12% hold a bachelor's degree
US average: 20%
More affordable
home values down 10%, inflation adjusted
US median home: $93,722
Section 01

Population & growth

Total population
4,748
−2%vs 2000
vs 4,856 in 2000
1990 – 2025
Median age
37.2
−6%vs 2000
vs 39.8 in 2000
US average: 33.0
Land area
4.80 sq mi
Population, 1990 – 2024
5K5K5K5K6K19902000201020202024Big Stone Gap
20245K
1990201020202024
Age distribution, 1990
Under 56.5%(310)
US avg: 7.3%
5 to 98.2%(391)
US avg: 7.3%
10 to 146.2%(295)
US avg: 6.9%
15 to 197.7%(364)
US avg: 7.1%
20 to 245.4%(257)
US avg: 7.5%
25 to 3412.8%(606)
US avg: 17.5%
35 to 4414%(665)
US avg: 15.1%
45 to 5410.2%(482)
US avg: 10.2%
55 to 649.7%(459)
US avg: 8.5%
65 to 749.5%(450)
US avg: 7.3%
75 to 848%(378)
US avg: 4%
85 and over1.9%(91)
US avg: 1.2%
BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
Section 02

Income & economy

Median household income
$18,460
+13%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $21,584 in 2000
US average: $30,130
1990 – 2024
Per capita income
$9,743
−27%vs 2000
vs $13,284 in 2000
US average: $14,340
Poverty rate
17.0%
−8.8 ptsvs 2000
vs 25.8% in 2000
US average: 13.2%
Section 03

Housing

Median home value
$45,400
−10%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $66,600 in 2000
US average: $93,722
1990 – 2024
Median gross rent
$340
+35%inflation adjusted, since 2000
vs $333 in 2000
US average: $450
Owner-occupied
69.2%
+4.5 ptsvs 2000
vs 64.7% in 2000
30.8% rent
Section 04

Race & ethnicity

2000
White, non-Hispanic93.4%(4,536)
Black4.4%(214)
Hispanic / Latino0.6%(29)
Asian0.4%(21)
Other0%
1990
White, non-Hispanic93.3%(4,429)
Black5.2%(248)
Hispanic / Latino0.2%(9)
Asian0.9%(44)
Other0.6%(27)

No data for the years selected.

Section 04 · Origins

Detailed origins & ancestry

Detailed origin tables are available for 2024; showing 2024 data.

Hispanic origin
Puerto Rican0.9%(46)
Mexican0.3%(14)
Panamanian0.2%(10)
Salvadoran0.1%(7)
Dominican0.1%(6)
Ancestry
American20.4%(1,052)
English12.3%(636)
Irish8%(411)
German5.3%(275)
Scottish3.9%(199)
British1.4%(72)
Norwegian1.2%(61)
Scotch-Irish0.8%(43)
French0.8%(41)
Arab0.6%(33)
Austrian0.6%(30)
+ 9 more ancestry groups with data
West Indian0.5%(25)
Moroccan0.3%(15)
Italian0.3%(13)
Lithuanian0.3%(13)
Nigerian0.2%(11)
Lebanese0.2%(8)
Ethiopian0.1%(5)
Armenian0.1%(3)
Russian0%(2)
Section 05

Education

Bachelor's degree or higher
12.4%
−4.0 ptsvs 2000
vs 16.4% in 2000
US average: 20.3%
High school or higher
55.7%
−10.9 ptsvs 2000
vs 66.5% in 2000
US average: 75.2%
Graduate degree
5.5%
−0.7 ptsvs 2000
vs 6.2% in 2000
US average: 7.1%
Section 06

Commute & transportation

Average commute
16.1 min
+4%vs 2000
vs 15.5 min in 2000
US average: 21.9
Section 07

Work & employment

No data for the years selected.

Section 08

People & community

No data for the years selected.

Marital status (2024)
Men 15+
Never married45.6%(1,255)
Married35.7%(981)
Widowed4%(111)
Divorced14.7%(404)
Women 15+
Never married27.1%(415)
Married44.6%(683)
Widowed12.3%(188)
Divorced16.1%(246)
SHARE WITHIN EACH SEX · POPULATION 15 AND OVER · 2024
Section 09

Health coverage

Showing 2024 (the nearest year with coverage data).

Uninsured
4.6%
−13.8 ptssince 2013
from 18.4% in 2013
US average: 8.4%
Employer-based
41.1%
+0.7 ptssince 2020
from 40.4% in 2020
US average: 54.8%
Direct-purchase
5.9%
−4.0 ptssince 2020
from 9.9% in 2020
US average: 13.8%
Medicare
24.5%
−0.3 ptssince 2020
from 24.8% in 2020
US average: 18.4%
Medicaid
46.4%
+17.0 ptssince 2020
from 29.4% in 2020
US average: 20.9%
VA health care
2.8%
−1.2 ptssince 2020
from 4.0% in 2020
US average: 2.2%
Any private
45.2%
−9.9 ptssince 2020
from 55.1% in 2020
US average: 67.1%
Any public
67.3%
+13.8 ptssince 2020
from 53.5% in 2020
US average: 36.7%

Shares are "alone or in combination": a person with both Medicare and Medicaid counts in each, so categories overlap and do not sum to 100%.

Section 09 · Service history

Veterans

Veterans by period of service, 2024
Gulf War (2001 or later)32.9%(95)
US avg: 26.4%
Gulf War (1990s)30.4%(88)
US avg: 24.3%
Vietnam era31.1%(90)
US avg: 33.1%
Korean War2.4%(7)
US avg: 4.5%
World War II0%(0)
US avg: 1%

Share of the 289 veterans here. A veteran who served across eras counts in each, so shares can total more than 100%. Peacetime-only service is included in the total but not shown as an era.

BAR + DOT: THIS PLACE · TICK: US AVERAGE
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Frequently asked

How many people live in Big Stone Gap, Virginia?

Big Stone Gap, Virginia has about 4,748 residents according to the 1990 Census.

What is the median household income in Big Stone Gap, Virginia?

The typical household in Big Stone Gap, Virginia earns about $18,460 a year. Half of households make more than that, and half make less.

Is Big Stone Gap, Virginia expensive?

In Big Stone Gap, Virginia, the median home is worth about $45,400, and the typical rent is about $340 a month.

How educated are people in Big Stone Gap, Virginia?

About 12.4% of adults age 25 and over in Big Stone Gap, Virginia hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the poverty rate in Big Stone Gap, Virginia?

About 17.0% of people in Big Stone Gap, Virginia live below the federal poverty line.

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DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR + DECENNIAL CENSUS · UPDATED 2024

How we source and harmonize this data →