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{{Short description|County in West Virginia, United States}}
'''Preston County''' is a [[county]] located in the [[U.S. State|State]] of [[West Virginia]]. As of [[2000]], the population is 29,334.
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}


{{Infobox settlement
== Geography ==
| name = Preston County
The county has a total area of 1,687 [[square kilometer|km<sup>2</sup>]] (651 [[square mile|mi<sup>2</sup>]]). 1,679 km<sup>2</sup> (648 mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is land and 8 km<sup>2</sup> (3 mi<sup>2</sup>) of it is water. The total area is 0.47% water.
| official_name =
| settlement_type = [[County (United States)|County]]
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline = {{multiple image
| border = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style = border:1;
| caption_align = center
| perrow = 1/2/2
| image1 = The Preston County Courthouse in Kingwood, West Virginia LCCN2015631570.tif
| caption1 = Preston County Courthouse
| image2 = Administration building of the Arthurdale planned community, a communal town built during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Arthurdale, West Virginia LCCN2011634934.tif
| caption2 = [[Arthurdale|Arthurdale New Deal Community]]
| image3 = Cheat River Rowlesburg.jpg
| caption3 = [[Cheat River]]
| image4 = Cranesville Swamp - Bog.jpg
| caption4 = [[Cranesville Swamp Preserve]]
| image5 = James Clark McGrew House.jpg
| caption5 = [[James Clark McGrew House]] in [[Kingwood, West Virginia|Kingwood]]
}}
| image_flag = Bicentennial Flag of Preston County, West Virginia.svg
| image_seal = Seal of Preston County, West Virginia.svg
| image_map = Map of West Virginia highlighting Preston County.svg
| map_caption = Location of Preston County in [[West Virginia]]
| image_map1 = West Virginia in United States.svg
| map_caption1 = West Virginia's location within the U.S.
| coordinates = {{coord|39.47|-79.67|display=title,inline|type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990}}
| subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
| subdivision_type1 = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1 = {{flag|West Virginia|size=23px}}
| established_title = Founded
| established_date = January 19, 1818
| named_for = [[James Patton Preston]]
| seat_type = [[Seat]]
| seat = [[Kingwood, West Virginia|Kingwood]]
| parts_type = and Largest city
| parts = [[seatlargestcity| ]]
| leader_title = Commission President
| leader_name = Samantha Stone ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Preston swears in new commissioner|url=https://www.dominionpost.com/2019/01/02/preston-swears-in-new-commissioner/|access-date=October 25, 2023|publisher=The Dominion Post}}</ref>
| leader_title1 = County Commission
| leader_name1 = Don Smith ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 General Election Results: Preston County|url=https://www.wboy.com/top-stories/2020-general-election-results-preston-county/|access-date=October 24, 2023|publisher=WBOY-TV}}</ref><br/>Hunter Thomas ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Summary Results Report WV Preston County Results|url=https://www.prestoncountyclerkwv.com/services/elections/election-results/|access-date=October 24, 2023|publisher=Preston County Clerk}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi = 651
| area_land_sq_mi = 649
| area_water_sq_mi = 2.6
| area_water_percent = 0.4
| area_rank = [[List of counties in West Virginia|8th]]
| population_total = 34216
| population_as_of = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| pop_est_as_of = 2021
| population_est = 34358 {{increase}}
| population_rank = [[List of counties in West Virginia|15th]]
| timezone1 = [[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−5 (Eastern)]]
| timezone1_DST = [[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−4 (EDT)]]
| area_code = [[Area codes 304 and 681|304, 681]]
| blank_name_sec1 = Congressional district
| blank_info_sec1 = [[West Virginia's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
<!-- State Legislative distrists -->
| blank_name_sec2 = Senate district
| blank_info_sec2 = [[West Virginia's 14th Senate district|14th]]
| blank1_name_sec2 = House of Delegates district
| blank1_info_sec2 = [[West Virginia House of Delegates#Current members|83rd, 84th]]
| website = http://www.prestoncountywv.org/
}}


'''Preston County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] located in the [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 Census]], the population was 34,216.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/prestoncountywestvirginia/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Kingwood, West Virginia|Kingwood]].<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx|access-date=June 7, 2011|title=Find a County|publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was formed from [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]] in 1818 and named for Virginia Governor [[James Patton Preston]].<ref>[http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html West Virginia Counties] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010923185022/http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |date=September 23, 2001}}. Wvculture.org. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.</ref>
Preston County has a small boundary in its southeast corner with [[Grant County, West Virginia]] and is bounded in the south by [[Tucker County, West Virginia]], in the southwest by [[Barbour County, West Virginia]], in the west by [[Taylor County, West Virginia]] and [[Monongalia County, West Virginia]], in the north by [[Fayette County, Pennsylvania]] and in the east by [[Garrett County, Maryland]]


Preston County is part of the [[Morgantown metropolitan area|Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area]], and is the southernmost county of the [[Pittsburgh DMA|Pittsburgh media market]]. It is the home of The Buckwheat Festival, a county fair known for making [[buckwheat pancake]]s.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Preston County Buckwheat Festival|url=https://www.visitmountaineercountry.com/events/buckwheat-festival/|access-date=January 18, 2022|website=VisitMountaineerCountry.com|language=en-US}}</ref>
== Demographics ==
As of [[2000]], there are 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density is 17/km<sup>2</sup> (45/mi<sup>2</sup>). There are 13,444 housing units at an average density of 8 persons/km<sup>2</sup> (21 persons/mi<sup>2</sup>). The racial makeup of the county is 98.84% White, 0.29% [[African American]], 0.11% [[Native American]], 0.15% [[Asia|Asian]], 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population are [[Hispanic]] or [[Latino]] of any race.


==History==
There are 11,544 households out of which 31.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% are married couples living together, 9.10% have a woman whose husband does not live with her, and 27.60% are non-families. 23.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.50 and the average family size is 2.94.
Native Americans lived in (and traveled through) what would one day become Preston County; they crossed-over from the [[Ohio River]] watershed, which drains into the [[Mississippi River]], into the [[Chesapeake Bay watershed]]. From 1736, European traders and explorers lived in the County, and one boundary stone was laid in 1746—the Fairfax Stone marking the limits of the North Branch of the River. Larger numbers of white settlers began arriving in 1766, with even more coming to the region after the [[American Revolutionary War]]. Traveling by foot or horseback, settlers built their own log cabins. Further development followed from 1818, when the [[National Road]] was built slightly to the north. When the earliest railroads came, in 1851, all land passed into private ownership, the population increased 70% in a decade, and industrialization truly began.<ref>Oren Morton, A History of Preston County, part 1 (Kingwood W.Va., Journal Publishing Company 1914) pp. 9-11</ref>


During the [[American Civil War]], more Preston County men enlisted in [[Union (American Civil War)|Union]] service than with the [[Confederacy (American Civil War)|Confederacy]]. There were relatively few [[slave owners]] in Preston County, and naturally, few slaves. There were virtually none within a half-hour’s walk from the old [[Clarksburg, West Virginia|Clarksburg]]-[[Winchester, Virginia|Winchester]] Road, dated to the late [[Thirteen Colonies|colonial era]]. The [[United States Census]] indicates that Preston County’s all-time slavery peak occurred in 1830, with 125 slaves accounted for, alongside 27 free colored persons.<ref>Morton p. 138</ref>
In the county, the population is spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.90 males.


On June 20, 1863, Preston was one of 50 Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the State of West Virginia. Later that year, the counties were divided into [[civil township]]s, with the intention of encouraging [[local government]]. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state of West Virginia, and the townships were converted into [[minor civil division|magisterial districts]] in 1872.<ref>Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, ''West Virginia: A History'', 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.</ref> Preston County was divided into eight districts: Grant, Kingwood, Lyon, Pleasant, Portland, Reno, Union, and Valley. These remained largely unchanged until the 1990s, when they were consolidated into five new magisterial districts: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census|U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.</ref>
The median income for a household in the county is $27,927, and the median income for a family is $32,904. Males have a median income of $26,440 versus $17,905 for females. The per capita income for the county is $13,596. 18.30% of the population and 14.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.40% are under the age of 18 and 14.50% are 65 or older.


==Geography==
== Cities and Towns ==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|651|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|649|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|2.6|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 30, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

In West Virginia's coldest month of January 1977, [[Terra Alta, West Virginia|Terra Alta]] in Preston County saw a statewide record snowfall of {{convert|104|in|m|2}}.<ref>West Virginia encyclopedia; [https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/939 The Weather]</ref>

===Major highways===
{{div col}}
*[[File:I-68 (WV).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 68 (West Virginia)|Interstate 68]]
*[[File:US 50.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia|U.S. Highway 50]]
*[[File:US 219.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Route 219 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 219]]
*[[File:WV-7.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 7]]
*[[File:WV-24.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 24]]
*[[File:WV-26.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 26]]
*[[File:WV-72.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 72]]
*[[File:WV-92.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 92]]
{{div col end}}

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Fayette County, Pennsylvania]] (north)
*[[Garrett County, Maryland]] (east)
*[[Tucker County, West Virginia|Tucker County]] (south)
*[[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour County]] (southwest)
*[[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]] (west)
*[[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]] (northwest)
*[[Grant County, West Virginia|Grant County]] (southeast)

===National protected area===
*[[Monongahela National Forest]] (part)
State parks
* [[Cathedral State Park]] (also a Registered [[National Natural Landmark]])
* [[Fairfax Stone|Fairfax Stone State Park]]

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1820= 3422
|1830= 5144
|1840= 6866
|1850= 11708
|1860= 13312
|1870= 14555
|1880= 19091
|1890= 20355
|1900= 22727
|1910= 26341
|1920= 27996
|1930= 29043
|1940= 30416
|1950= 31399
|1960= 27233
|1970= 25455
|1980= 30460
|1990= 29037
|2000= 29334
|2010= 33520
|2020= 34216
|estyear=2021
|estimate=34358
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021|access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html|title=U.S. Decennial Census|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 11, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 34,216 people and 12,510 households residing in the county. There were 15,174 housing units in Preston. The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% [[White American|White]], 6% [[African American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.2% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 3.3% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 2% of the population.

Of the 12,510 households, 56.8% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no spouse present, 14.4% had a male householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 3.04. The median age in the county was 43.5 years with 19% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $55,755 and the poverty rate was 14.4%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Preston_County,_West_Virginia?g=050XX00US54077 |access-date=2023-03-30 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

=== 2010 census ===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 33,520 people, 12,895 households, and 9,038 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54077
|title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data
|access-date=April 3, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011645/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54077
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|51.7|PD/sqmi}}. There were 15,097 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.3|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54077
|access-date=April 3, 2016
|title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213192609/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54077
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 29.4% were [[Germans|German]], 14.3% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 9.5% were [[Americans|American]], and 8.9% were [[English people|English]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54077
|title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
|access-date=April 3, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031158/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54077
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

Of the 12,895 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.0 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The age distribution was 19.55% under the age of 18, 7.36% from 18 to 24, 27.58% from 25 to 44, 29.83% from 45 to 64, and 15.68% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.63 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.48 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,753 and the median income for a family was $46,622. Males had a median income of $38,713 versus $25,808 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,329. About 10.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web
|url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54077
|title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
|access-date=April 3, 2016
|publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]
|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035226/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54077
|archive-date=February 13, 2020
|url-status=dead
}}</ref>

==Politics and government==
===Federal politics===
Preston County lies within [[West Virginia's 2nd congressional district]]. The current representative of the district is [[Alex Mooney]] (R).

Generally speaking, most of the State of West Virginia has become a Republican bastion in the 21st century, after having leaned heavily Democratic between the [[New Deal]] and [[Presidency of Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton]]). However, Preston County has seemingly always been a Republican stronghold, if not quite as ‘rock-ribbed’ as its neighbor, [[Grant County, West Virginia|Grant County]], or nearby [[Garrett County, Maryland]], two counties that have historically ''never'' voted for a Democrat in the post-Civil War years. Preston County has, by comparison, voted Democratic on at least one occasion, during [[Lyndon Johnson]]’s 1964 landslide election; however, Johnson's win over [[Barry Goldwater]] was much more decisive than his narrow victory in analogous [[Upshur County, West Virginia#Politics|Upshur County]], and Bill Clinton came within 20 votes in 1996.
{| class=wikitable
! colspan = 6 | Voter Registration and Party Enrollment of Preston County<<ref>{{cite web |url= https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/VoterRegistrationTotals/2023/Jul2023.pdf|title=West Virginia Voter Registration|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=July 31, 2023 |publisher=West Virginia Secretary of State|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>
|-
! colspan = 2 | Party
! Total
! Percentage
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
| [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 4,302
| style="text-align:center;" | 22.25%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
| [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
| style="text-align:center;" | 10,264
| style="text-align:center;" | 53.10%
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
| Independents, unaffiliated, and other
| style="text-align:center;" | 4,765
| style="text-align:center;" | 24.65%
|-
! colspan = 2 | Total
! style="text-align:center;" | 19,371
! style="text-align:center;" | 100.00%
|}

{{PresHead|place=Preston County, West Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 28, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|11,176|2,953|340|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|11,190|3,163|220|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|9,538|2,470|756|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|7,889|2,931|363|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|7,325|4,205|266|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|7,855|3,963|111|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|6,607|3,515|317|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|4,257|4,237|1,812|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|4,429|3,933|2,133|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|5,804|4,357|35|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|6,955|4,054|22|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|5,828|4,317|601|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|5,719|5,595|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|7,807|2,977|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|5,636|4,020|561|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|4,015|6,264|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|6,908|4,221|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|7,953|3,365|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|8,059|4,278|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|6,020|3,527|49|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|6,785|2,997|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|8,213|4,730|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|7,553|5,410|34|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|6,359|4,872|115|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|7,783|2,355|78|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|6,396|2,445|534|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|6,729|2,150|125|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|3,838|1,694|105|West Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Progressive|1,461|1,845|2,608|West Virginia}}

===State politics===
Preston County is represented by two Senators in the [[West Virginia Senate]]. Senate members Jay Taylor (R), and Randy Smith (R) both serve in [[West Virginia's 14th Senate district]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.wvlegislature.gov/districts/SD/sd_rc.cfm |title=Senate District Map |publisher=West Virginia Legislature}}</ref> The county is also represented in the [[West Virginia House of Delegates]] by two Delegates. The Delegates for Preston County are George Street (R) for district 83 and D. Rolland Jennings (R) for district 84.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://www.wvlegislature.gov/districts/SD/sd_rc.cfm |title=House Select Committee on Redistricting |publisher=West Virginia Legislature}}</ref>

===County government===
Preston County is governed by a County Commission. The commission is made up of the Commission President and Commissioners whom wield administrative powers of the county's government. Samantha Stone (R) is the current President of the County Commission.

The Preston County Commission consists of two members. The current members of the County Commission are Don Smith (R) and Hunter Thomas (R).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://prestoncountywv.gov/county-commission/|title=COUNTY COMMISSION |website=Preston County Commission}}</ref>

==Communities==

===City===
*[[Kingwood, West Virginia|Kingwood]]

===Towns===
{{div col}}
*[[Albright, West Virginia|Albright]]
*[[Albright, West Virginia|Albright]]
* Amboy
* Arthurdale
** This was named for Richard Arthur, the owner of the land. It is the only place in the United States with this name.
* Aurora
** Originally a German settlement, the name was suggested because of the town's altitude.
*[[Brandonville, West Virginia|Brandonville]]
*[[Brandonville, West Virginia|Brandonville]]
* Bretz
*[[Bruceton Mills, West Virginia|Bruceton Mills]]
*[[Bruceton Mills, West Virginia|Bruceton Mills]]
** An early settler, John M. Hoffman, named this community for his step-father, George Bruce, who claimed direct descendance from [[Robert Bruce]], King of Scotland. The post office existed in 1870. It is the only place in the United States with this name
* Cascade
* Clifton Mills
** The post office here existed in 1881; it was discontinued November 22, 1963
* Corinth
** This was originally called Spencer but was changed in 1890 to avoid duplication of names in the state. It is named after the biblical city.
* Cuzzart
* Eglon
* Hazelton
* Hopemont
* Horse Shoe Run
* Independence
*[[Kingwood, West Virginia|Kingwood]]
* Manheim
*[[Masontown, West Virginia|Masontown]]
*[[Masontown, West Virginia|Masontown]]
*[[Newburg, West Virginia|Newburg]]
*[[Newburg, West Virginia|Newburg]]
Line 45: Line 277:
*[[Terra Alta, West Virginia|Terra Alta]]
*[[Terra Alta, West Virginia|Terra Alta]]
*[[Tunnelton, West Virginia|Tunnelton]]
*[[Tunnelton, West Virginia|Tunnelton]]
{{div col end}}

===Magisterial districts===
====Current====
{{div col}}
*First
*Second
*Third
*Fourth
*Fifth
{{div col end}}

====Historic====
{{div col}}
*Grant
*Kingwood
*Lyon
*Pleasant
*Portland
*Reno
*Union
*Valley
{{div col end}}

===Census-designated place===
*[[Aurora, West Virginia|Aurora]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Afton, West Virginia|Afton]]
*[[Alpine Lake, West Virginia|Alpine Lake]]
*[[Amboy, West Virginia|Amboy]]
*[[Arthurdale, West Virginia|Arthurdale]]
*[[Austen, West Virginia|Austen]]
*[[Borgman, West Virginia|Borgman]]
*[[Bretz, Preston County, West Virginia|Bretz]]
*[[Bull Run, Preston County, West Virginia|Bull Run]]
*[[Cascade, West Virginia|Cascade]]
*[[Clifton Mills, West Virginia|Clifton Mills]]
*[[Colebank, West Virginia|Colebank]]
*[[Corinth, West Virginia|Corinth]]
*[[Cuzzart, West Virginia|Cuzzart]]
*[[Denver, West Virginia|Denver]]
*[[Eglon, West Virginia|Eglon]]
*[[Etam, West Virginia|Etam]]
*[[Evansville, West Virginia|Evansville]]
*[[Fellowsville, West Virginia|Fellowsville]]
*[[Gladefarms, West Virginia|Gladefarms]]
*[[Hardman, West Virginia|Hardman]] (partial)
*[[Hazelton, West Virginia|Hazelton]]
*[[Herring, West Virginia|Herring]]
*[[Hopemont, West Virginia|Hopemont]]
*[[Hopewell, Preston County, West Virginia|Hopewell]]
*[[Horse Shoe Run, West Virginia|Horse Shoe Run]]
*[[Howesville, West Virginia|Howesville]]
*[[Independence, Preston County, West Virginia|Independence]]
*[[Lenox, West Virginia|Lenox]]
*[[Little Sandy, West Virginia|Little Sandy]]
*[[Manheim, West Virginia|Manheim]]
*[[Macomber, West Virginia|Macomber]]
*[[Manown, West Virginia|Manown]]
*[[Marquess, West Virginia|Marquess]]
*[[Mount Olivet, Preston County, West Virginia|Mount Olivet]]
*[[Mount Vernon, West Virginia|Mount Vernon]]
*[[Orr, West Virginia|Orr]]
*[[Pisgah, West Virginia|Pisgah]]
*[[Pleasantdale, Preston County, West Virginia|Pleasantdale]]
*[[Preston, West Virginia|Preston]]
*[[Rockville, West Virginia|Rockville]]
*[[Rodemer, West Virginia|Rodemer]]
*[[Rohr, West Virginia|Rohr]]
*[[Ruthbelle, West Virginia|Ruthbelle]]
*[[Saint Joe, West Virginia|Saint Joe]]
*[[Scotch Hill, West Virginia|Scotch Hill]]
*[[Sell, West Virginia|Sell]]
*[[Silver Lake, West Virginia|Silver Lake]]
*[[Sinclair, West Virginia|Sinclair]]
*[[Snider, West Virginia|Snider]]
*[[Stevensburg, West Virginia|Stevensburg]]
*[[Sugar Valley, Preston County, West Virginia|Sugar Valley]]
*[[Thornton, Preston County, West Virginia|Thornton]]
*[[Threefork Bridge, West Virginia|Threefork Bridge]]
*[[Turner Douglass, West Virginia|Turner Douglass]]
*[[Valley Point, West Virginia|Valley Point]]
*[[Victoria, West Virginia|Victoria]]
*[[West End, West Virginia|West End]]
*[[White Oak Springs, West Virginia|White Oak Springs]]
*[[Zevely, West Virginia|Zevely]]
{{div col end}}

==See also==
*[[Briery Mountain Wildlife Management Area]]
*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Preston County, West Virginia]]
*''[[Maryland v. West Virginia]]''
*[[Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area]]
*[[Upper Deckers Creek Wildlife Management Area]]

==References==
<references />

==Further reading==
* Cox, Connie Loraine, ''Our Place In History: Southwestern Preston County, West Virginia'', [[Headline Books]], [[Terra Alta, West Virginia|Terra Alta, WV]], 2005. (Written and oral histories, photographs)

==External links==
*[http://www.prestoncountywv.org/ Preston County Commission]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre = Preston County, West Virginia
|North = [[Fayette County, Pennsylvania]]
|Northeast =
|East = [[Garrett County, Maryland]]
|Southeast = [[Grant County, West Virginia|Grant County]]
|South = [[Tucker County, West Virginia|Tucker County]]
|Southwest = [[Barbour County, West Virginia|Barbour County]]
|West = [[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]]
|Northwest = [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]]
}}
{{Preston County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Preston County, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1818 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Counties of Appalachia]]
[[Category:Morgantown metropolitan area]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1818]]
[[Category:Northwestern Turnpike]]
[[Category:West Virginia counties on the Potomac River]]

Latest revision as of 00:48, 19 December 2024

Preston County
County
Preston County Courthouse
Arthurdale New Deal Community
Cheat River
Cranesville Swamp Preserve
James Clark McGrew House in Kingwood
Flag of Preston County
Flag
Official seal of Preston County
Seal
Location of Preston County in West Virginia
Location of Preston County in West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°28′N 79°40′W / 39.47°N 79.67°W / 39.47; -79.67
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJanuary 19, 1818
Named forJames Patton Preston
SeatKingwood
and Largest city
Government
 • Commission PresidentSamantha Stone (R)[1]
 • County CommissionDon Smith (R)[2]
Hunter Thomas (R)[3]
Area
 • Total
1,690 km2 (651 sq mi)
 • Land1,680 km2 (649 sq mi)
 • Water7 km2 (2.6 sq mi)  0.4%
 • Rank8th
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
34,216
 • Estimate 
(2021)
34,358 Increase
 • Rank15th
 • Density20/km2 (53/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Area code(s)304, 681
Congressional district2nd
Senate district14th
House of Delegates district83rd, 84th
Websitehttp://www.prestoncountywv.org/

Preston County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 Census, the population was 34,216.[4] Its county seat is Kingwood.[5] The county was formed from Monongalia County in 1818 and named for Virginia Governor James Patton Preston.[6]

Preston County is part of the Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the southernmost county of the Pittsburgh media market. It is the home of The Buckwheat Festival, a county fair known for making buckwheat pancakes.[7]

History

[edit]

Native Americans lived in (and traveled through) what would one day become Preston County; they crossed-over from the Ohio River watershed, which drains into the Mississippi River, into the Chesapeake Bay watershed. From 1736, European traders and explorers lived in the County, and one boundary stone was laid in 1746—the Fairfax Stone marking the limits of the North Branch of the River. Larger numbers of white settlers began arriving in 1766, with even more coming to the region after the American Revolutionary War. Traveling by foot or horseback, settlers built their own log cabins. Further development followed from 1818, when the National Road was built slightly to the north. When the earliest railroads came, in 1851, all land passed into private ownership, the population increased 70% in a decade, and industrialization truly began.[8]

During the American Civil War, more Preston County men enlisted in Union service than with the Confederacy. There were relatively few slave owners in Preston County, and naturally, few slaves. There were virtually none within a half-hour’s walk from the old Clarksburg-Winchester Road, dated to the late colonial era. The United States Census indicates that Preston County’s all-time slavery peak occurred in 1830, with 125 slaves accounted for, alongside 27 free colored persons.[9]

On June 20, 1863, Preston was one of 50 Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the State of West Virginia. Later that year, the counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state of West Virginia, and the townships were converted into magisterial districts in 1872.[10] Preston County was divided into eight districts: Grant, Kingwood, Lyon, Pleasant, Portland, Reno, Union, and Valley. These remained largely unchanged until the 1990s, when they were consolidated into five new magisterial districts: First, Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth.[11]

Geography

[edit]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 651 square miles (1,690 km2), of which 649 square miles (1,680 km2) is land and 2.6 square miles (6.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[12]

In West Virginia's coldest month of January 1977, Terra Alta in Preston County saw a statewide record snowfall of 104 inches (2.64 m).[13]

Major highways

[edit]

Adjacent counties

[edit]

National protected area

[edit]

State parks

Demographics

[edit]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18203,422—
18305,14450.3%
18406,86633.5%
185011,70870.5%
186013,31213.7%
187014,5559.3%
188019,09131.2%
189020,3556.6%
190022,72711.7%
191026,34115.9%
192027,9966.3%
193029,0433.7%
194030,4164.7%
195031,3993.2%
196027,233−13.3%
197025,455−6.5%
198030,46019.7%
199029,037−4.7%
200029,3341.0%
201033,52014.3%
202034,2162.1%
2021 (est.)34,358[14]0.4%
U.S. Decennial Census[15]
1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17]
1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[4]

2020 census

[edit]

As of the 2020 census, there were 34,216 people and 12,510 households residing in the county. There were 15,174 housing units in Preston. The racial makeup of the county was 90.1% White, 6% African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% from other races, and 3.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 2% of the population.

Of the 12,510 households, 56.8% were married couples living together, 22.7% had a female householder with no spouse present, 14.4% had a male householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 3.04. The median age in the county was 43.5 years with 19% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $55,755 and the poverty rate was 14.4%.[19]

2010 census

[edit]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 33,520 people, 12,895 households, and 9,038 families residing in the county.[20] The population density was 51.7 inhabitants per square mile (20.0/km2). There were 15,097 housing units at an average density of 23.3 per square mile (9.0/km2).[21] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[20] In terms of ancestry, 29.4% were German, 14.3% were Irish, 9.5% were American, and 8.9% were English.[22]

Of the 12,895 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.9% were non-families, and 24.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.0 years.[20]

The age distribution was 19.55% under the age of 18, 7.36% from 18 to 24, 27.58% from 25 to 44, 29.83% from 45 to 64, and 15.68% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.63 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.48 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $40,753 and the median income for a family was $46,622. Males had a median income of $38,713 versus $25,808 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,329. About 10.1% of families and 13.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 19.0% of those under age 18 and 9.9% of those age 65 or over.[23]

Politics and government

[edit]

Federal politics

[edit]

Preston County lies within West Virginia's 2nd congressional district. The current representative of the district is Alex Mooney (R).

Generally speaking, most of the State of West Virginia has become a Republican bastion in the 21st century, after having leaned heavily Democratic between the New Deal and Bill Clinton). However, Preston County has seemingly always been a Republican stronghold, if not quite as ‘rock-ribbed’ as its neighbor, Grant County, or nearby Garrett County, Maryland, two counties that have historically never voted for a Democrat in the post-Civil War years. Preston County has, by comparison, voted Democratic on at least one occasion, during Lyndon Johnson’s 1964 landslide election; however, Johnson's win over Barry Goldwater was much more decisive than his narrow victory in analogous Upshur County, and Bill Clinton came within 20 votes in 1996.

Voter Registration and Party Enrollment of Preston County<[24]
Party Total Percentage
Democratic 4,302 22.25%
Republican 10,264 53.10%
Independents, unaffiliated, and other 4,765 24.65%
Total 19,371 100.00%
United States presidential election results for Preston County, West Virginia[25]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2024 11,176 77.24% 2,953 20.41% 340 2.35%
2020 11,190 76.79% 3,163 21.70% 220 1.51%
2016 9,538 74.73% 2,470 19.35% 756 5.92%
2012 7,889 70.54% 2,931 26.21% 363 3.25%
2008 7,325 62.10% 4,205 35.65% 266 2.26%
2004 7,855 65.85% 3,963 33.22% 111 0.93%
2000 6,607 63.29% 3,515 33.67% 317 3.04%
1996 4,257 41.31% 4,237 41.11% 1,812 17.58%
1992 4,429 42.20% 3,933 37.47% 2,133 20.32%
1988 5,804 56.92% 4,357 42.73% 35 0.34%
1984 6,955 63.05% 4,054 36.75% 22 0.20%
1980 5,828 54.23% 4,317 40.17% 601 5.59%
1976 5,719 50.55% 5,595 49.45% 0 0.00%
1972 7,807 72.39% 2,977 27.61% 0 0.00%
1968 5,636 55.16% 4,020 39.35% 561 5.49%
1964 4,015 39.06% 6,264 60.94% 0 0.00%
1960 6,908 62.07% 4,221 37.93% 0 0.00%
1956 7,953 70.27% 3,365 29.73% 0 0.00%
1952 8,059 65.32% 4,278 34.68% 0 0.00%
1948 6,020 62.73% 3,527 36.75% 49 0.51%
1944 6,785 69.36% 2,997 30.64% 0 0.00%
1940 8,213 63.46% 4,730 36.54% 0 0.00%
1936 7,553 58.11% 5,410 41.62% 34 0.26%
1932 6,359 56.05% 4,872 42.94% 115 1.01%
1928 7,783 76.18% 2,355 23.05% 78 0.76%
1924 6,396 68.22% 2,445 26.08% 534 5.70%
1920 6,729 74.73% 2,150 23.88% 125 1.39%
1916 3,838 68.09% 1,694 30.05% 105 1.86%
1912 1,461 24.70% 1,845 31.20% 2,608 44.10%

State politics

[edit]

Preston County is represented by two Senators in the West Virginia Senate. Senate members Jay Taylor (R), and Randy Smith (R) both serve in West Virginia's 14th Senate district.[26] The county is also represented in the West Virginia House of Delegates by two Delegates. The Delegates for Preston County are George Street (R) for district 83 and D. Rolland Jennings (R) for district 84.[27]

County government

[edit]

Preston County is governed by a County Commission. The commission is made up of the Commission President and Commissioners whom wield administrative powers of the county's government. Samantha Stone (R) is the current President of the County Commission.

The Preston County Commission consists of two members. The current members of the County Commission are Don Smith (R) and Hunter Thomas (R).[28]

Communities

[edit]

City

[edit]

Towns

[edit]

Magisterial districts

[edit]

Current

[edit]
  • First
  • Second
  • Third
  • Fourth
  • Fifth

Historic

[edit]
  • Grant
  • Kingwood
  • Lyon
  • Pleasant
  • Portland
  • Reno
  • Union
  • Valley

Census-designated place

[edit]

Unincorporated communities

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Preston swears in new commissioner". The Dominion Post. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  2. ^ "2020 General Election Results: Preston County". WBOY-TV. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  3. ^ "Summary Results Report WV Preston County Results". Preston County Clerk. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ West Virginia Counties Archived September 23, 2001, at the Wayback Machine. Wvculture.org. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.
  7. ^ "Preston County Buckwheat Festival". VisitMountaineerCountry.com. Retrieved January 18, 2022.
  8. ^ Oren Morton, A History of Preston County, part 1 (Kingwood W.Va., Journal Publishing Company 1914) pp. 9-11
  9. ^ Morton p. 138
  10. ^ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  11. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  12. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  13. ^ West Virginia encyclopedia; The Weather
  14. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  15. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  16. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  17. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  18. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  19. ^ "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
  20. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  21. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  22. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  23. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  24. ^ "West Virginia Voter Registration" (PDF). West Virginia Secretary of State. July 31, 2023. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  25. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  26. ^ "Senate District Map". West Virginia Legislature.
  27. ^ "House Select Committee on Redistricting". West Virginia Legislature.
  28. ^ "COUNTY COMMISSION". Preston County Commission.

Further reading

[edit]
  • Cox, Connie Loraine, Our Place In History: Southwestern Preston County, West Virginia, Headline Books, Terra Alta, WV, 2005. (Written and oral histories, photographs)
[edit]
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