Town of Saltville, Virginia | ||
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Town | ||
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Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia | ||
Coordinates: 36°52′25″N 81°45′39″W / 36.87361°N 81.76083°WCoordinates: 36°52′25″N 81°45′39″W / 36.87361°N 81.76083°W | ||
Country | United States | |
State | Virginia | |
Counties | Smyth, Washington | |
Government | ||
• Mayor | C. Todd Young | |
Area | ||
• Total | 8.1 sq mi (21.0 km2) | |
• Land | 8.1 sq mi (20.9 km2) | |
• Water | .04 sq mi (0.1 km2) .49% | |
Elevation | 1,726 ft (526 m) | |
Population (2010) | ||
• Total | 2,077 | |
• Density | 274/sq mi (105.7/km2) | |
U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 Population Estimates | ||
Time zone | EST (UTC-5) | |
• Summer (DST) | EDT (UTC-4) | |
ZIP code | 24370 | |
Area code(s) | 276 | |
FIPS code | 51-70096 | |
GNIS feature ID | 1486913 | |
Website | http://www.saltville.org/ |
Saltville is a town in Smyth and Washington counties in the U.S. state of Virginia. The population was 2,077 at the 2010 census. It is part of the Kingsport–Bristol (TN)–Bristol (VA) Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a component of the Johnson City–Kingsport–Bristol, TN-VA Combined Statistical Area – commonly known as the "Tri-Cities" region.
Saltville was named for the salt marshes in the area. Prior to European settlement, these marshes attracted local wildlife. Excavations at the SV-2 archaeological site in the area have recovered several well preserved skeletons of now extinct species dating back to the last ice age. Indigenous peoples of varying cultures hunted at the marshes. The historic Native American people in the area were the Chisca.
Archaeologists in 1992 proposed the existence of a prehistoric "Saltville Complex Petty Chiefdom", with a paramount village located at the Northwood High School site, 44SM8. They reported "Saltville style gorgets" as well as iron and copper materials, scattered across the region.
During the spring of 1567, Spanish conquistador Hernando Moyano de Morales led a force of 15-20 soldiers northward from Fort San Juan in Joara, a city in what is now western North Carolina. The force attacked and burned the Chisca village of Maniatique, which may have been located at or near the site of Saltville.