Smyth County, VA elected officials: supervisors or council members, sheriff, school board and cities

Who holds every elected county, school board, city and special-district office in Smyth County: 19 seats on 7 elected bodies.

Board of Supervisors (counties) or City Council (cities)

Smyth County Board of Supervisors

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it now
Supervisor, AtkinsCharles E. Atkins source
Supervisor, North ForkRicky A. Billings source
Supervisor, ParkKristopher S. Ratliff source
Supervisor, Rye ValleyW. Jason Parris source
Supervisor, ChilhowieMike L. Sturgill source
Supervisor, Royal OakS. Courtney Widener source
Supervisor, SaltvilleRoscoe D. "Mike" Call source

Official website

County officers

OfficeWho holds it now
Clerk of the Circuit CourtJohn H. Graham source
Commissioner of the RevenueBradley A. Powers source
Commonwealth's AttorneyPhillip L. "Bucky" Blevins, Jr. source
SheriffB. C. "Chip" Shuler source
TreasurerThomas W. Burkett, II source

School Board

Smyth County School Board

Each member is elected by the voters of their district.

OfficeWho holds it now
School Board Member, AtkinsSusan B. Williams source
School Board Member, North ForkCharles M. "Mac" Buchanan, Jr. source
School Board Member, ParkLynn M. White source
School Board Member, Rye ValleySue Dye Tilson source
School Board Member, ChilhowieBenjamen L. Adams source
School Board Member, Royal OakPaul L. Grinstead source
School Board Member, SaltvilleJoseph D. Johnson source

Official website

How many local governments Smyth County has

The Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments counts 10 local governments in Smyth County. This page lists the ones whose offices are elected.

Kind of governmentCensus count (2022)Listed on this page
County government11
Cities, towns, villages and townships30
School districts (school boards)01
Special districts (elected boards)60

Census Bureau, 2022 Census of Governments: Government Units Listing (census.gov).

About these counts

The Census Bureau counts every independent local government once, in the county it assigns it to: the one it mostly serves or where it's based. A city or district that crosses county lines is counted in only one county, so it may be listed on this page but counted elsewhere, or the other way around. Many special districts, such as housing authorities, have appointed boards, and some places have more than one elected body, so the two columns measure different things. School systems run by a county, city or the state aren't counted as separate governments (1 in Smyth County), though their boards may be listed here; in some states the Bureau counts community or state colleges as school districts. The counts are as of 2022.

Who lives in Smyth County

29,420people
46.4median ageU.S.: 38.9
$49,883 household incomeU.S.: $80,734
16.8%below the U.S.: 12.5%
16.8%of adults 25+ with a bachelor's degreeU.S.: 35.7%
$139,600median home valueU.S.: $332,700
3.1%unemployed (of the labor force)U.S.: 5.2%
1.4%born outside the U.S.U.S.: 14.1%
6.9%of adults are veteransU.S.: 6.2%
5.5%U.S.: 8.4%
44.5%of renting households pay of income on rentU.S.: 51.1%
21.8%of homeowners with a mortgage pay of income on housing costsU.S.: 28.1%

Race and Hispanic origin: Hispanic or Latino 2.1% · White 93.4% · Black 2% · Asian 0.1% · Other or more than one race 2.4% (Hispanic or Latino people can be of any race; the other groups are non-Hispanic.)

Census Bureau, 2020–2024 5-year estimates (data.census.gov).

About these figures

The American Community Survey asks about 3.5 million households a year about who lives there, their work, income, schooling and housing. The 5-year estimates pool 2020–2024 answers so that every county and district has enough of them. They're estimates with a (larger for smaller places), and they're different from the once-a-decade census count. "Median" means half are above and half below. Household income is before taxes and includes everyone in the household. The unemployment share here is the survey's five-year average, so it differs from the monthly rate in the BLS jobs report. Race and Hispanic origin are as people describe themselves.

Health insurance means any coverage, private or public (such as Medicaid or Medicare), when people answered; the share is of everyone except people on active military duty and people living in institutions such as prisons and nursing homes. The housing shares are of renting households, and of homeowners with a mortgage, for whom the Census Bureau can compute them (households with no income, or renters who pay no cash rent, are left out). Rent here is gross rent, rent plus utilities; owner costs include the mortgage, property taxes, insurance, utilities and fees.

Jobs in Smyth County

4.6%September 2026, preliminary. A year earlier: 4.3%. Virginia: 3.6%.
531people unemployedSeptember 2026, preliminary.
11,038people employedSeptember 2026, preliminary. Counted where they live, not where they work.
11,569in the September 2026, preliminary.
Unemployment rate, yearly average, Smyth County 0.0%1.9%3.9%5.8%7.8% 20162018202020222024

Yearly average unemployment rate, 2016–2025.

Every month, last two years
MonthRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
September 2026 (preliminary)4.6%53111,03811,569
August 20264.3%50111,03311,534
July 20264.6%53111,08511,616
June 20264.8%56411,07311,637
May 20264.5%52611,16811,694
April 20264.2%49111,27411,765
March 20264.8%56311,22811,791
February 20265.2%61511,18111,796
January 20265.3%63111,17311,804
December 20254.6%54111,12311,664
November 20255.2%60711,13411,741
October 2025not collected (2025 federal shutdown)
September 20254.3%51111,31511,826
August 20254.5%52911,34411,873
July 20254.1%48611,42211,908
June 20254.3%51211,34811,860
May 20254.0%47311,34811,821
April 20253.6%43011,64912,079
March 20254.1%49211,60012,092
February 20254.2%50811,52012,028
January 20254.1%49711,52912,026
December 20243.6%43411,52211,956
November 20244.1%48511,45311,938
October 20243.8%45811,61012,068
Yearly averages
YearRateUnemployedEmployedLabor force
2025 (11 months)4.3%50811,39411,902
20243.8%47111,82612,297
20233.2%40412,23212,636
20223.2%39211,78712,179
20214.6%55311,58412,137
20207.4%88811,14412,032
20194.0%49711,84612,343
20184.4%54111,80212,343
20175.4%67711,88412,561
20166.0%78012,23013,010

Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, : BLS publishes county figures only that way, so they rise and fall with the seasons; compare a month with the same month a year earlier rather than with the month before. Virginia's figure above is on the same basis; seasonally adjusted, as in BLS's monthly state release, it was 3.6% in September 2026. The latest month is preliminary and is revised the next month, and BLS revises earlier years each spring. People are counted where they live. October 2025 wasn't collected during the 2025 federal government shutdown, so 2025's yearly average covers 11 months.

Crime reported in Smyth County

181.4 per 100,0002025. Virginia: 205.9.
773.5 per 100,0002025. Virginia: 1,353.5.
1murders2025, 53 violent crimes in all.
Earlier years
YearViolentRatePropertyRate
202553181.4226773.5
202444149.6288979.1
202346156.1287973.9
202248162.83321,125.9
202132106.53071,022.1
202052173.13471,155.2
201956185.04441,466.4
201858189.84181,367.9
201739125.65871,890.6
201676242.35671,807.7
By police agency (4)
AgencyYearViolentPropertyPeople served
Smyth County Sheriff's Office2025278620,291
Marion Police Department202521945,566
Saltville Police Department20251191,762
Chilhowie Police Department20254271,599

Crimes to the county's city and county police agencies (FBI Uniform Crime Reporting, Return A), per 100,000 people they serve. Years with incomplete reporting are left out. Crime in Virginia · the U.S.

Police staffing

3.11 per 1,000 residents2025, 4 agencies serving 29,218 people.
91sworn officers2025, full-time, as of October 31.
2civilian staff2025, full-time.
Agencies counted (4), 2025
AgencyOfficersCiviliansPeople served
Smyth County Sheriff's Office59120,291
Marion Police Department2015,566
Saltville Police Department601,762
Chilhowie Police Department601,599
Earlier years
YearOfficersPer 1,000CiviliansAgencies
2025913.1124
2022762.58134
2020772.56144
2019732.4184
2018742.4284
2017712.2984
2016772.4524

Full-time employees of the county's city police departments and sheriff's office, as each reported them to the FBI (Uniform Crime Reporting, Law Enforcement Employees), per 1,000 people in the areas those agencies serve (the FBI's population figures). A year is shown only when every one of these agencies sent a count; a count under half or over double the agency's own counts in nearby years is treated as not sent. Towns policed under contract by another agency are counted through that agency. State police, campus and other agencies aren't included. Sheriffs' offices often also run the county jail and courthouse security, so their staff counts include those jobs.

Quick answers

Who is the Smyth County Clerk of the Circuit Court?
John H. Graham is the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Smyth County, Virginia.
Who is the Smyth County Commissioner of the Revenue?
Bradley A. Powers is the Commissioner of the Revenue of Smyth County, Virginia.
Who is the Smyth County Commonwealth's Attorney?
Phillip L. "Bucky" Blevins, Jr. is the Commonwealth's Attorney of Smyth County, Virginia.
Who is the Smyth County Sheriff?
B. C. "Chip" Shuler is the Sheriff of Smyth County, Virginia.
Who is the Smyth County Treasurer?
Thomas W. Burkett, II is the Treasurer of Smyth County, Virginia.
Who are the Smyth County commissioners?
Charles E. Atkins (Supervisor, Atkins); Ricky A. Billings (Supervisor, North Fork); Kristopher S. Ratliff (Supervisor, Park); W. Jason Parris (Supervisor, Rye Valley); Mike L. Sturgill (Supervisor, Chilhowie); S. Courtney Widener (Supervisor, Royal Oak); Roscoe D. "Mike" Call (Supervisor, Saltville).
Who is on the Smyth County School Board?
Susan B. Williams (Atkins); Charles M. "Mac" Buchanan, Jr. (North Fork); Lynn M. White (Park); Sue Dye Tilson (Rye Valley); Benjamen L. Adams (Chilhowie); Paul L. Grinstead (Royal Oak); Joseph D. Johnson (Saltville).
What is the population of Smyth County?
About 29,420 people, with a median age of 46.4; the median household income is $49,883 and 16.8% live below the poverty line (Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
What is the unemployment rate in Smyth County?
4.6% in September 2026 (preliminary): 531 people unemployed in a labor force of 11,569, against 4.3% a year earlier (Bureau of Labor Statistics, Local Area Unemployment Statistics, not seasonally adjusted).
How many local governments are there in Smyth County?
10 in the Census Bureau's 2022 Census of Governments: 1 county, 3 municipal and 6 special district governments.

Officeholders as of November 6, 2026, from the Virginia Department of Elections' certified results (its Historical Elections Database) of each seat's last election; officials appointed or resigned since then may differ; each name links to its source. Officials change between elections (appointments, resignations), and the body's own website is the authority. Party is shown only for offices elected on a partisan ballot.

Smyth County's 2026 ballot and results · Every Virginia county + independent city · Virginia's members of Congress

See your members of Congress and every race and measure on your ballot in Smyth County, from your address. Your address stays in your browser.Look up my races

See something wrong on this page? Report a problem · Corrections