Smithfield, Virginia

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

For the community in western Virginia, see Smithfield, Russell County, Virginia.

Smithfield is an incorporated town in Isle of Wight County, in the South Hampton Roads region of Virginia in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the town population was 6,324.

The town, originally founded in the 17th century as a seaport, is most famous for the curing and production of ham. The Virginia General Assembly passed a statute defining Smithfield ham by law in 1926.

Today, Smithfield Foods, a Fortune 500 Company which owns Smithfield Packing Company and others, is the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. The company, based in Smithfield, processes 20 million hogs and raises 12 million annually.

[edit] Geography

Smithfield is located at 36°58′44″N, 76°37′7″W (36.978767, -76.618578)^GR1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 27.1 km² (10.4 mi²). 24.7 km² (9.5 mi²) of it is land and 2.4 km² (0.9 mi²) of it (8.80%) is water.

[edit] Demographics

As of the census^GR2 of 2000, there are 6,324 people, 2,438 households, and 1,830 families residing in the town. The population density is 256.2/km² (663.8/mi²). There are 2,552 housing units at an average density of 103.4/km² (267.9/mi²). The racial makeup of the town is 67.22% White, 30.87% African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.22% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.93% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,438 households out of which 37.1% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% are married couples living together, 17.8% have a female householder with no husband present, and 24.9% are non-families. 21.5% of all households are made up of individuals and 9.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.55 and the average family size is 2.95.

In the town the population is spread out with 27.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 29.3% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 89.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 82.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town is $43,224, and the median income for a family is $53,906. Males have a median income of $40,845 versus $24,419 for females. The per capita income for the town is $19,301. 12.0% of the population and 11.8% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 12.7% of those under the age of 18 and 15.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line. 53.6% of African American families are below the poverty line.