Wood County, West Virginia

Wood County, West Virginia

The Wood County Courthouse in Parkersburg
Map of West Virginia highlighting Wood County
Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded December 21, 1798
Named for James Wood
Seat Parkersburg
Largest city Parkersburg
Area
 • Total 377 sq mi (976 km2)
 • Land 367 sq mi (951 km2)
 • Water 11 sq mi (28 km2), 2.8%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 86,452
 • Density 236/sq mi (91/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.woodcountywv.com
First courthouse in Wood County (ca. 1802), sketch by Joseph H. Diss Debar.

Wood County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 86,956,[1] making it the fifth-most populous county in West Virginia. Its county seat is Parkersburg.[2] The county was formed in 1798 from the western part of Harrison County and it was named for James Wood, governor of Virginia from 1796 to 1799.[3]

Wood County is included in the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.

History

Wood County was formed on December 21, 1798 from portions of Harrison County. It was named for James Wood, a brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War who was then Governor of Virginia (1796–99). In 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. The delegates of the 40 western counties who opposed secession formed their own government and seceded from the Confederate state of Virginia. West Virginia was granted statehood in 1863.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 366 square miles (950 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.8%) is water.[4]

Wood County's northern and western boundary is the Ohio River. The Little Kanawha River flows northwestward through the county to its mouth at the Ohio River in Parkersburg. Tributaries of the Little Kanawha River in Wood County include Worthington Creek, Tygart Creek, and Walker Creek.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18001,217—
18103,036149.5%
18205,86093.0%
18306,4299.7%
18407,92323.2%
18509,45019.3%
186011,04616.9%
187019,00072.0%
188025,00631.6%
189028,61214.4%
190034,45220.4%
191038,00110.3%
192042,30611.3%
193056,52133.6%
194062,39910.4%
195066,5406.6%
196078,33117.7%
197086,81810.8%
198093,6487.9%
199086,915−7.2%
200087,9861.2%
201086,956−1.2%
Est. 201586,452[6]−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile (92/km²). There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 per square mile (42/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 1.01% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 36,275 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.10% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,285, and the median income for a family was $40,436. Males had a median income of $34,899 versus $22,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 86,956 people, 36,571 households, and 24,262 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 237.4 inhabitants per square mile (91.7/km2). There were 40,215 housing units at an average density of 109.8 per square mile (42.4/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were German, 19.6% were American, 13.7% were English, and 13.6% were Irish.[14]

Of the 36,571 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 42.2 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,146 and the median income for a family was $52,058. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $27,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,890. About 12.3% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

Presidential election results[16]
Year Republican Democrat
2016 70.49% 25,168 23.32% 8,327
2012 65.10% 22,183 32.96% 11,230
2008 63.38% 22,896 34.80% 12,573
2004 63.60% 24,948 35.75% 14,025
2000 60.34% 20,428 37.40% 12,664

Communities

Cities

Town

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. pp. 22–23, 33–34. ISBN 0-89933-246-3.
  6. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-11-18.
 Washington County, Ohio Pleasants County
Athens County, Ohio Ritchie County
   Wood County, West Virginia  
Meigs County, Ohio Jackson County Wirt County

Coordinates: 39°13′N 81°31′W / 39.21°N 81.51°W / 39.21; -81.51

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