Moving to Saint Paul, Virginia
Saint Paul, Virginia is a small town situated in the heart of Southwest Virginia. It is located in the Blue Ridge Mountains, and is part of the Appalachian Trail. The town has a population of approximately 1,500 people and covers an area of 0.7 square miles.
The town was founded by settlers from Scotland and Ireland in 1780, who named it after Saint Paul’s Episcopal Church that was built in 1790. The church is still standing today and serves as an important landmark for the community.
Saint Paul is known for its unique culture, which includes traditional Appalachian music, crafts, and cuisine. The town hosts several festivals throughout the year including the annual Bluegrass Music Festival in May and the Fall Festival in October. Every summer there are outdoor concerts held at the local park which draw people from all over the region to enjoy some great music.
The economy of Saint Paul relies heavily on tourism as it is home to several popular attractions such as Natural Tunnel State Park, which features a natural limestone tunnel that was carved by flowing water millions of years ago. Another popular attraction is the Carter Family Fold which hosts regular performances by local musicians playing traditional mountain music.
Saint Paul has several restaurants offering up traditional Southern cuisine such as fried chicken, biscuits and gravy, pulled pork sandwiches and more. There are also a few shops downtown where visitors can find handmade crafts made by local artisans such as quilts, pottery and wood carvings.
The town also has many outdoor activities available including hiking on nearby trails or fishing on one of its two lakes – Lake Witten or Lake George – both of which offer beautiful views of the surrounding mountainside scenery. There are also plenty of opportunities for camping with several campgrounds nearby offering RV sites as well as primitive tent camping sites along with access to hiking trails and fishing spots throughout the area.
Overall, Saint Paul offers something for everyone whether you’re looking for some great music or just want to take in some beautiful scenery while enjoying some delicious Southern cooking – this charming little mountain town has something for everyone.
Population: 1,000. Estimated population in July 2024: 964 (-3.6% change)
Males: 453 (45.3%), Females: 547 (54.7%)
Wise County
Zip code: 24283
Demographics
Median resident age: 41.6 years
Median household income: $24,833
Median house value: $76,200
Population by Race
Races in St. Paul:
- White Non-Hispanic (95.2%)
- Black (1.8%)
- Two or more races (1.3%)
- American Indian (1.1%)
Ancestries: United States (22.0%), English (11.2%), Irish (8.6%), German (6.9%), Scotch-Irish (3.7%), Dutch (3.2%).
Elevation: 1492 feet
Land area: 1.0 square miles
Population by Education
For population 25 years and over in St. Paul
- High school or higher: 67.8%
- Bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.2%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4%
- Unemployed: 6.3%
- Mean travel time to work: 23.0 minutes
For population 15 years and over in St. Paul town
- Never married: 18.1%
- Now married: 56.6%
- Separated: 2.6%
- Widowed: 11.5%
- Divorced: 11.2%
0.8% Foreign born
Population change in the 1990s: +10 (+1.0%).
Hospitals
Hospitals/medical centers near St. Paul:
- RUSSELL CNTY MED CNTR (about 14 miles; LEBANON, VA)
- DICKENSON COUNTY MEDICAL CENTER (about 20 miles; CLINTWOOD, VA)
- NORTON COMMUNITY HOSPITAL (about 23 miles; NORTON, VA)
Airports
Airports certified for carrier operations nearest to St. Paul:
- TRI-CITIES RGNL TN/VA (about 31 miles; BRISTOL/JOHNSON/KINGSPORT, TN; Abbreviation: TRI)
- TRI-STATE/MILTON J. FERGUSON FIELD (about 102 miles; HUNTINGTON, WV; Abbreviation: HTS)
- RALEIGH COUNTY MEMORIAL (about 103 miles; BECKLEY, WV; Abbreviation: BKW)
Other public-use airports nearest to St. Paul:
- LONESOME PINE (about 16 miles; WISE, VA; Abbreviation: LNP)
- VIRGINIA HIGHLANDS (about 25 miles; ABINGDON, VA; Abbreviation: VJI)
- GRUNDY MUNI (about 26 miles; GRUNDY, VA; Abbreviation: GDY)
Colleges and Universities
Colleges/universities with over 2000 students nearest to St. Paul:
- NORTHEAST STATE TECHNICAL COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 26 miles; BLOUNTVILLE, TN; Full-time enrollment: 2,729)
- SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 38 miles; RICHLANDS, VA; Full-time enrollment: 2,412)
- EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY (about 42 miles; JOHNSON CITY, TN; Full-time enrollment: 9,498)
- APPALACHIAN STATE UNIVERSITY (about 63 miles; BOONE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 12,245)
- BLUEFIELD STATE COLLEGE (about 80 miles; BLUEFIELD, WV; Full-time enrollment: 2,096)
- WALTERS STATE COMMUNITY COLLEGE (about 84 miles; MORRISTOWN, TN; Full-time enrollment: 3,893)
- UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT ASHEVILLE (about 89 miles; ASHEVILLE, NC; Full-time enrollment: 2,759)