Lewis County, West Virginia

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 390 sqmi, of which 385 sqmi is land and 4.8 sqmi (1.2%) is water.

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. Lewis County was initially divided into five townships: Battelle, Jane Lew, Lincoln, Sheridan, and Willey. Between 1870 and '80, these were renamed "Collins Settlement", "Court House", "Freemans Creek", "Hackers Creek", and "Skin Creek". In the 1990s, Collins Settlement and Court House Districts were consolidated into one district, known as "Courthouse-Collins Settlement"; Hackers Creek and Skin Creek were also consolidated, forming "Hackers Creek-Skin Creek".

Major highways

• [[Image:I-79 (WV).svg|20px]] Interstate 79
• [[Image:US 19.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 19
• [[Image:US 48.svg|20px]] U.S. Highway 48
• [[Image:US 33.svg|20px]] [[Image:US 119.svg|23px]] U.S. Highway 33/119
• [[Image:WV-4.svg|20px]] West Virginia Route 4

Adjacent counties

• Harrison County (north)
• Upshur County (east)
• Webster County (south)
• Braxton County (southwest)
• Gilmer County (west)
• Doddridge County (northwest)

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 17,033. Of the residents, 20.7% were under the age of 18 and 20.8% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.4 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 94.9% White, 0.4% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from some other race, and 3.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.1% of the population.

There were 7,112 households in the county, of which 26.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 8,204 housing units, of which 13.3% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 74.0% were owner-occupied and 26.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 12.0%.

The median income for a household in the county was $45,345 and the poverty rate was 17.2%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 16,372 people, 6,863 households, and 4,570 families living in the county.{{cite web |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030938/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54041 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184954/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54041 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213013410/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54041 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

Of the 6,863 households, 28.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 43.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,293 and the median income for a family was $42,281. Males had a median income of $31,950 versus $25,945 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,240. About 13.6% of families and 19.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 12.9% of those age 65 or over.{{cite web |access-date=April 3, 2016 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020103/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54041 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 16,919 people, 6,946 households, and 4,806 families living in the county. The population density was 44 /mi2. There were 7,944 housing units at an average density of 21 /mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.59% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.29% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.70% from two or more races. 0.50% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 6,946 households, out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.60% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.10% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 25.90% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,066, and the median income for a family was $32,431. Males had a median income of $27,906 versus $18,733 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,933. 19.90% of the population and 16.30% of families were below the poverty line. 27.00% of those under the age of 18 and 11.20% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Politics

Communities

City

• Weston (county seat)

Town

• Jane Lew

Magisterial districts

• Courthouse-Collins Settlement
• Freemans Creek
• Hackers Creek-Skin Creek

Unincorporated communities

• Aberdeen
• Alkires Mills
• Alum Bridge
• Arnold
• Aspinall
• Bablin
• Bealls Mills
• Ben Dale
• Bennett
• Berlin
• Brownsville
• Butchersville
• Camden
• Churchville
• Copley
• Cox Town
• Crawford
• Emmart
• Freemansburg
• Gaston
• Georgetown
• Homewood
• Horner
• Ingo
• Ireland
• Jackson Mill
• Jacksonville
• Kitsonville
• Lightburn
• McGuire Park
• Orlando
• Pickle Street
• Roanoke
• Turnertown
• Walkersville
• Valley Chapel
• Vadis

Footnotes

References

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties.
3. "West Virginia Counties".
4. (August 22, 2012). "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau.
5. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, ''West Virginia: A History'', 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
6. [[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census. U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau.
8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library.
9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau.
10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000". United States Census Bureau.
11. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Demographic Profile (DP1)".
12. (2021). "2020 Decennial Census Redistricting Data (Public Law 94-171)".
13. "Explore Census Data".
14. "P004: Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2000: DEC Summary File 1 – Lewis County, West Virginia". [[United States Census Bureau]].
15. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2010: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lewis County, West Virginia".
16. "P2 Hispanic or Latino, and Not Hispanic or Latino by Race – 2020: DEC Redistricting Data (PL 94-171) - Lewis County, West Virginia".
17. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections".