Brooke County, West Virginia

History

The Ohio Company of Virginia petitioned the British King for 500,000 acres of land in the Ohio River Valley in 1747, but the first settlers to this area, in what later became known as West Virginia's Northern Panhandle, were brothers Jonathan, Israel and Friend Cox. They staked a "tomahawk claim" to 1200 acres (400 acres for each brother) at the mouth of Buffalo Creek and extending along the Ohio River. Their cousin George Cox staked an adjacent claim a few years later.

In 1788 Charles Prather purchased 481 acres from Friend Cox's heir, John Cox; by that year's end Alexander Wells, formerly of Baltimore, Maryland and later of Cross Creek Township, Pennsylvania, established a trading post (together with his Baltimore cousin Richard Owings). In 1791 the Ohio County Court incorporated the town around the post as "Charlestown" (after Prather's first name). On November 30, 1796, the Virginia General Assembly formed Brooke County, from parts of Ohio County, and designated "Charlestown" as the county seat. Across the Appalachian Continental Divide to the east in Jefferson County, another Charlestown had previously been incorporated (it is now known as Charles Town). In addition, Charleston had been established at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha rivers in 1788.

Addressing this confusion, the Virginia General Assembly on December 28, 1816, changed the Brooke county seat's name from "Charlestown" to Wellsburg, supposedly to honor Charles Wells, Prather's son-in-law. The first Masonic Lodge west of the Allegheny Mountains was established in Wellsburg on March 4, 1799. It was under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania for six years, but since December 17, 1817, it has been under the jurisdiction of the Grand Lodge of Virginia and later of West Virginia.

The first glass factory in Wellsburg was built in 1813, taking advantage of the relatively easy transportation on the Ohio River. When the National Road was built about five years later, its first crossing of the Ohio River was via a ferry further west. In 1818 Alexander Campbell founded the first Virginia school west of the Appalachians, which the Virginia General Assembly chartered in 1840 as Bethany College.

During the American Civil War, Brooke County's elected officials helped found the new state of West Virginia, after their efforts to block secession failed at the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861. Wellsburg received a new charter in 1866 from the newly established West Virginia legislature, and Samuel Marks became Wellsburg's first elected mayor.

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. Brooke County was divided into three districts: Buffalo, Cross Creek, and Wellsburg. Wellsburg District was co-extensive with the city of Wellsburg. The districts of Follansbee and Weirton were created between 1970 and 1980. Buffalo and Cross Creek Districts were discontinued in 2008.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 93 sqmi, of which 89 sqmi is land and 3.4 sqmi (3.6%) is water. It is the second-smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Brooke County is approximately 1372 ft. and located about 1.5 miles south of Franklin.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Hancock County (north)
• Washington County, Pennsylvania (east)
• Ohio County (south)
• Jefferson County, Ohio (west)

National protected area

• Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

|align-fn=center 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 22,559. Of the residents, 18.0% were under the age of 18 and 24.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.1 years. For every 100 females there were 97.1 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.4 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 1.6% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.

There were 9,683 households in the county, of which 24.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 27.3% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 32.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,719 housing units, of which 9.7% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.2% were owner-occupied and 25.8% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.6%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 24,069 people, 10,020 households, and 6,636 families living in the county. The population density was 269.8 PD/sqmi. There were 10,967 housing units at an average density of 122.9 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 1.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.5% were German, 17.5% were Irish, 16.4% were Italian, 11.5% were English, 7.2% were American, 5.9% were Scotch-Irish, and 5.7% were Polish.

Of the 10,020 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 44.8 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,475 and the median income for a family was $52,528. Males had a median income of $39,065 versus $29,824 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,377. About 7.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families living in the county. The population density was 286 PD/sqmi. There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 97.90% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,396 households, out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.40% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,981, and the median income for a family was $39,948. Males had a median income of $34,397 versus $19,711 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,131. About 9.50% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

Law and government

Brooke County is governed by a three-member County Commission who each serve in rotating 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Brooke County Commissioners in 2022 are President AJ Thomas, Tim Ennis, and Stacey Wise.

Brooke County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, which also includes Hancock and Ohio counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Jason A. Cuomo, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. David J. Sims, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson. All four Circuit Court judges were re-elected in November 2016.

Brooke County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and were elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair who were both elected to eight-year terms in November 2008.

Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Brooke County currently has two magistrates: Robin Snyder and Danielle Diserio.

Politics

Abutting free states Ohio and Pennsylvania, and with a largely German-American culture unlike any other part of antebellum Virginia, Brooke County and the rest of the Northern Panhandle were central to the vanguard who made West Virginia a new state during the Civil War. For the next six and a half decades, the county, aided by its association with Pennsylvania's powerful ironmonger-led Republican machines, voted solidly Republican to the point of supporting William Howard Taft during the disastrously divided 1912 election. From the New Deal until Bill Clinton, however, powerful unionization meant that Brooke County turned from solidly Republican to solidly Democratic except when the Democrats nominated the liberal George McGovern in 1972. Like all of West Virginia, since 2000 a combination of declining unionization and differences with the Democratic Party's liberal views on social issues has produced a dramatic swing to the Republican Party.

Education

Brooke County is the home of Bethany College which is the oldest private college in the state.

Communities

Cities

• Follansbee
• Weirton (part)
• Wellsburg (county seat)

Town

• Bethany

Villages

• Beech Bottom
• Windsor Heights

Magisterial districts

Current

• Follansbee
• Weirton
• Wellsburg

Historic

• Buffalo
• Cross Creek

Census-designated places

• Colliers
• Hooverson Heights

Unincorporated communities

• Arnold
• Coketown
• Dutch Town
• East Steubenville
• Fowlerstown
• Franklin
• Logrow
• Louise
• Power
• Rabbit Hill
• Rockdale
• Short Creek
• Virginville

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. (2003). "West Virginia: Individual County Chronologies". [[Newberry Library.
4. "Brooke County history sources".
5. "White House".
6. TX, Jean Suplick Matuson, Plano. "Washington Co., PA - Geography".
7. Nancy L. Caldwell, ''A History of Brooke County,'' (Brooke County Historical Society, 1975), p. 4
8. Caldwell, p. 5
9. Caldwell, p. 4 et seq
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]], [[United States Census. U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
12. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
13. "Brooke County High Point Trip Report".
14. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021".
15. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
16. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
17. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
18. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
19. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
20. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
21. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Brooke County, West Virginia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
22. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brooke County, West Virginia".
23. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Brooke County, West Virginia".
24. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". [[United States Census Bureau]].
25. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". [[United States Census Bureau]].
26. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
27. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". [[United States Census Bureau]].
28. "Tarr Out in Brooke County".
29. "Obituaries: Bernard 'Bernie' L. Kaziensko".
30. See West Virginia Secretary of State; [http://apps.sos.wv.gov/elections/results/index.aspx?year=2012&eid= Election Results Center]
31. MacKenzie, Scott; ‘The Fifth Border State: Slavery and the Formation of West Virginia, 1850-1868’ (thesis), ''Auburn University Electronic Theses and Dissertations''
32. Link, William A.; [https://textbooks.lib.wvu.edu/wvhistory/files/pdf/06_wv_history_reader_link.pdf ‘This Bastard New Virginia: Slavery, West Virginia Exceptionalism, and the Secession Crisis’]
33. Schwartzman, Gabe; [http://www.dailyyonder.com/how-coalfields-went-gop/2015/01/13/7668/ ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’]; ''Daily Yonder'', January 13, 2015
34. Cohn, Nate; [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014
35. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".