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Wyoming County, West Virginia

Coordinates: 37°37′N 81°32′W / 37.61°N 81.54°W / 37.61; -81.54
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Wyoming County
Wyoming County Courthouse and Jail in Pineville
Official seal of Wyoming County
Map of West Virginia highlighting Wyoming County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°37′N 81°32′W / 37.61°N 81.54°W / 37.61; -81.54
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJanuary 26, 1850
SeatPineville
Largest cityMullens
Area
 • Total
502 sq mi (1,300 km2)
 • Land499 sq mi (1,290 km2)
 • Water2.4 sq mi (6 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total
21,382
 • Estimate 
(2021)
21,051 Decrease
 • Density43/sq mi (16/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.wyomingcounty.com

Wyoming County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,382.[1] Its county seat is Pineville.[2] The county was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Lenape word meaning "large plains".[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 502 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km2) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km2) (0.5%) is water.[4] The county is drained by the branches of Sandy and Guyandotte rivers. The land surface is mountainous.[5]

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.[6] Wyoming County was divided into six districts: Barkers Ridge,[i] Center,[ii] Clear Fork, Huff Creek,[iii] Oceana, and Slab Fork. A seventh district, Baileysville, was created from portions of Clear Fork and Huff Creek in 1881. Except for minor adjustments, the seven historic magisterial districts remained largely unchanged for over a century. In the 1990s, they were consolidated into three new districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
18501,645
18602,86173.9%
18703,17110.8%
18804,32236.3%
18906,24744.5%
19008,38034.1%
191010,39224.0%
192015,18046.1%
193020,92637.9%
194029,77442.3%
195037,54026.1%
196034,836−7.2%
197030,095−13.6%
198035,99319.6%
199028,990−19.5%
200025,708−11.3%
201023,796−7.4%
202021,382−10.1%
2021 (est.)21,051[8]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,709 people, 10,454 households, and 7,704 families living in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20 people/km2). There were 11,698 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.59% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,454 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,932, and the median income for a family was $29,709. Males had a median income of $32,493 versus $18,812 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,220. About 20.20% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.90% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 23,796 people, 9,687 households, and 6,947 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 47.6 inhabitants per square mile (18.4/km2). There were 10,958 housing units at an average density of 21.9 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.[13] The largest ancestry groups were: 13.8% Irish, 13.2% English, 13.2% American, 12.6% German, 2.1% Italian, 1.2% Scotch-Irish, 1.2% Dutch, and 1.1% Scottish.[15]

Of the 9,687 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.6 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,343 and the median income for a family was $46,221. Males had a median income of $43,942 versus $26,428 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,662. About 13.4% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Wyoming County, West Virginia[17]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 7,353 85.58% 1,157 13.47% 82 0.95%
2016 6,547 83.08% 1,062 13.48% 271 3.44%
2012 5,769 76.65% 1,583 21.03% 174 2.31%
2008 4,621 61.37% 2,735 36.32% 174 2.31%
2004 4,985 57.18% 3,694 42.37% 39 0.45%
2000 3,473 44.08% 4,289 54.44% 116 1.47%
1996 2,155 25.21% 5,550 64.92% 844 9.87%
1992 2,821 29.36% 5,782 60.19% 1,004 10.45%
1988 3,516 36.31% 6,138 63.38% 30 0.31%
1984 5,379 48.48% 5,691 51.29% 25 0.23%
1980 4,537 39.41% 6,624 57.54% 351 3.05%
1976 4,286 35.54% 7,775 64.46% 0 0.00%
1972 7,926 63.95% 4,468 36.05% 0 0.00%
1968 3,947 34.04% 6,641 57.27% 1,007 8.68%
1964 3,377 26.88% 9,188 73.12% 0 0.00%
1960 5,083 37.14% 8,603 62.86% 0 0.00%
1956 7,044 49.74% 7,118 50.26% 0 0.00%
1952 6,124 40.41% 9,029 59.59% 0 0.00%
1948 4,198 38.34% 6,725 61.43% 25 0.23%
1944 4,253 38.66% 6,748 61.34% 0 0.00%
1940 4,378 35.94% 7,802 64.06% 0 0.00%
1936 3,601 34.84% 6,734 65.16% 0 0.00%
1932 4,007 47.69% 4,396 52.31% 0 0.00%
1928 3,987 56.68% 3,047 43.32% 0 0.00%
1924 3,327 54.69% 2,358 38.76% 398 6.54%
1920 2,950 61.78% 1,825 38.22% 0 0.00%
1916 1,484 55.17% 1,199 44.57% 7 0.26%
1912 569 27.38% 881 42.40% 628 30.22%

Communities

City

Towns

Magisterial districts

Current

  • District 1
  • District 2
  • District 3

Historic

  • Baileysville
  • Barkers Ridge
  • Center
  • Clear Fork
  • Huff
  • Oceana
  • Slab Fork

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ Spelled "Barker's Ridge" before 1890.
  2. ^ Originally spelled "Centre".
  3. ^ Originally "Huff's Creek".

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Wyoming County history sources". Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ^ Ripley, George; Dana, Charles A., eds. (1879). "Wyoming. III. A S. county of West Virginia" . The American Cyclopædia.
  6. ^ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  7. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "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 16, 2014.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

37°37′N 81°32′W / 37.61°N 81.54°W / 37.61; -81.54