Smyth County /

Smyth County is a county located in the U.S. state of Virginia. As of 2009, the population was 32,091. Its county seat is Marion. Smyth County was formed on February 23, 1832, from Washington and Wythe counties . The county is named after Alexander Smyth, a general during the War of 1812 who was elected to the state Senate and House of Delegates, and was a Representative to the United States Congress. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 452 square miles (1,171 km²), of which 452 square miles (1,171 km²) is land and 0 square miles (1 km²) (0.05%) is water. As of the census of 2000, there were 33,081 people, 13,493 households, and 9,607 families residing in the county. The population density was 73 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 15,111 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.86% White, 1.87% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.18% Asian, 0.32% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. 0.86% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. There were 13,493 households out of which 29.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them,