_at_Jones_Street_in_Gate_City,_Scott_County,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
_at_Virginia_State_Route_71_(Nickelsville_Highway)_in_Gate_City,_Scott_County,_Virginia.jpg){kind=link}
Why visit Gate City
Townapedia lists 2 museums and landmarks, 3 parks and trails and 12 places to eat in and around town.
Highlights include Gate City Historic District and R P Kane Athletic Field.
July is the warmest month, with average highs of 87°F; January lows average 27°F.
Weather in Gate City
Forecast from the National Weather Service. Full forecast
About Gate City
Gate City is a town in Scott County, Virginia, United States. The population was 2,043 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Scott County.
From the Wikipedia article Gate City, Virginia (this version), under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Museums and landmarks2
Gate City Historic District
Monument and historic site · National Register of Historic Places · 0.5 mi
Historic district in Virginia, United States
Parks, trails and playgrounds3
Restaurants and cafes12
Burger King
Fast food · Burger · 2.0 mi
231 US Highway 23 South, Weber City
Mo-Sa 06:00-24:00; Su 07:00-24:00
Taco Bell
Fast food · Tex-Mex · 0.7 mi
247 Kane Street, Gate City
Mo-Fr 07:00-23:45; Sa-Su 08:00-23:45
Long John Silver's
Fast food · Seafood · 0.7 mi
215 Kane Street, Gate City
Mo-Su 10:00-22:00
Pal's
Fast food · Burger · 0.6 mi
527 Kane Street, Gate City
Mo-Sa 06:00-22:00; Su 07:00-22:00
Churches and places of worship6
First Presbyterian Church
Church · Presbyterian · 0.6 mi
274 Jones Street, Gate City
House of Refuge Baptist Church
Church · Baptist · 1.2 mi
357 West Highland Street, Gate City
History
In 1771, Silas Engart received a land grant of 200 acres that included the location of the future town. By the time of Scott County's formation in 1815, landowner James Davidson Sr. donated approximately 13 acres of his plantation for establishing the county seat. The location of the town was such that it would emerge as an important commercial center for people and goods traveling through Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River.
When the county seat was established in 1815, it was named Winfield in honor of War of 1812 hero Gen. Winfield Scott. The main street of the new town honored war hero and future president Andrew Jackson.
In 1817, the town was renamed Estillville in honor of Benjamin Estill, a local judge instrumental in the formation of the new county. As a result of the county seat's location near Big Moccasin Gap and the North Fork of the Holston River, the town grew into a commercial center for people passing through on their way westward, for farmers hoping to sell goods, and businessmen in town for legal affairs. A regular wagon train and coach line service conveying people, mail, and commercial goods between Bedford and Estilville.
Gate City received its present name in 1886, when Attorney General Rufus A. Ayers pointed out that proximity to Big Moccasin Gap marked the town as the "Gate Way to the West." The town was incorporated in 1892.
From the History section of Gate City, Virginia on Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Shopping3
Gas and EV charging4
Schools, colleges and libraries14
Scott County Career And Technical Center
School · 0.9 mi
387 Broadwater Ave, Gate City
Healthcare2
Map of Gate City
46 places. The map loads OpenStreetMap tiles when you open it.
Climate by month
Monthly table
| Month | High | Low | Rain | Snow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 46°F | 27°F | 3.9 in | 1.7 in |
| Feb | 51°F | 30°F | 4.0 in | 1.6 in |
| Mar | 60°F | 36°F | 4.1 in | 0.7 in |
| Apr | 70°F | 45°F | 4.0 in | 0.0 in |
| May | 78°F | 54°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Jun | 84°F | 62°F | 3.7 in | 0.0 in |
| Jul | 87°F | 66°F | 5.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Aug | 86°F | 65°F | 3.8 in | 0.0 in |
| Sep | 81°F | 58°F | 3.0 in | 0.0 in |
| Oct | 71°F | 46°F | 2.4 in | 0.0 in |
| Nov | 59°F | 36°F | 3.2 in | 0.1 in |
| Dec | 50°F | 30°F | 4.0 in | 1.0 in |
U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 for Kingsport (9 mi away), NOAA NCEI.
People and cost of living
American Community Survey 5-year estimates, 2020-2024, U.S. Census Bureau. Estimates have margins of error, larger for small towns.
Disaster history
Scott County has had 16 federal disaster declarations since 2000, most often for severe storms.
- 2026-01-23: Severe Winter Storm (Winter Storm)
- 2025-04-04: Severe Winter Storms And Flooding (Severe Storm)
- 2024-10-01: Tropical Storm Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2024-09-29: Post-Tropical Cyclone Helene (Tropical Storm)
- 2020-04-02: Covid-19 Pandemic (Biological)
- 2020-03-13: Covid-19 (Biological)
OpenFEMA disaster declarations summaries.
Getting there and nearby towns
Tri-Cities Regional Airport (TRI) is the nearest airport with scheduled flights listed in OpenStreetMap, 15 miles away.
- Bloomingdale 6 mi southeast, about 10 min by car
- Mount Carmel 7 mi southwest, about 12 min by car
- Kingsport 9 mi south, about 14 min by car
- Church Hill 12 mi southwest, about 19 min by car
- Colonial Heights 12 mi southeast, about 19 min by car
- Spurgeon 15 mi southeast, about 25 min by car
- Blountville 16 mi southeast, about 26 min by car
- Fall Branch 16 mi south, about 26 min by car
- Oak Grove 17 mi southeast, about 28 min by car
- Gray 17 mi south, about 27 min by car
Drive times are estimates from straight-line distance, not routes.
Local news
Headlines from INDB, the NEMICO news database.
Reviews, tips and questions
Loading what members have shared...
Sources and licences
- NCES EDGE (Public domain): public schools
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991-2020 (Public domain): climate by month
- OpenFEMA (Public domain): disaster declarations
- OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL 1.0): places, airports, map data
- U.S. Census Bureau (Public domain): population, income, housing, education, commute
- Wikidata (CC0 1.0): elevation, founding date, time zone, website, landmarks and historic places
- Wikimedia Commons (see each image): photos
- Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0): overview and history text
Photo credits
- Jackson screet gate city, C. E. Price, Public domain
- Gate City, Wise Co, Betcantrell, CC BY-SA 3.0
- 2017-06-12 17 37 30 View south along U.S. Route 23 Business and U.S. Route 421 Business and east along U.S. Route 58 Business (Kane Street) at Jones Street in Gate City, Scott County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- 2017-06-12 17 30 38 View north along Virginia State Route 72 (Veterans Memorial Highway) at Virginia State Route 71 (Nickelsville Highway) in Gate City, Scott County, Virginia, Famartin, CC BY-SA 4.0
- Virginia State Route 71 - 8120909821, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Virginia State Route 71 - 8120927240, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
- Virginia State Route 71 - 8120911187, Dougtone, CC BY-SA 2.0
Page built October 30, 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us or suggest a place.