Raleigh County, West Virginia

Raleigh County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 78,859.[1] Its county seat is Beckley.[2] The county was founded in 1850 and is named for Sir Walter Raleigh.[3]

Raleigh County
U.S. county
The Raleigh County Courthouse in Beckley
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 37°47′N 81°16′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJanuary 23, 1850
Named forSir Walter Raleigh
SeatBeckley
Largest cityBeckley
Area
 • Total609 sq mi (1,580 km2)
 • Land605 sq mi (1,570 km2)
 • Water4.0 sq mi (10 km2)  0.7%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total78,859
 • Estimate 
(2018)
74,254
 • Density130/sq mi (50/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district3rd
Websitewww.raleighcounty.com

Raleigh County is included in the Beckley, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Raleigh County was formed on January 23, 1850 from portions of Fayette County, then a part of Virginia. Alfred Beckley (1802–88) said that he named the county for Sir Walter Raleigh (1552–1618), the "enterprising and far-seeing patron of the earliest attempts to colonize our old Mother State of Virginia".[4]

Raleigh was one of fifty Virginia Counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. 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, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.[5] Raleigh County was initially divided into six townships: Clear Fork, Marsh Fork, Richman, Shady Spring, Town, and Trap Hill. These became magisterial districts in 1872, and the same year a seventh district, Slab Fork, was created from land that had previously belonged to Wyoming County. These remained largely unchanged over the next century, but in the 1970s the seven historic magisterial districts were consolidated into three new districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.[6]

Heavily involved in the coal mining industry, Raleigh County has been the scene of numerous deadly accidents, of which the most severe was the Eccles Mine Disaster in 1914. At least one hundred and eighty miners died in what was the second-worst coal mining disaster in state history. More recently, the 2010 Upper Big Branch Mine disaster, which killed twenty-nine miners, occurred in Raleigh County.

On December 27, 1919, Powell Green, a Black veteran of World War I, was lynched as part of the Red Summer of 1919.

The town of Sophia in Raleigh County was the home of Senator Robert C. Byrd.

Geography

The New River flows northwestward along the county's east border. The county terrain consists of wooded hills, carved with drainages.[7] The terrain slopes to the north and west; its highest point is near its southmost corner, at 3,524' (1074m) ASL.[8] The county has a total area of 609 square miles (1,580 km2), of which 605 square miles (1,570 km2) is land and 4.0 square miles (10 km2) (0.7%) is water.[9]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Protected areas[7]

Lakes[7]
  • Flat Top Lake
  • Glade Creek Reservoir
  • Little Beaver Lake
  • Stephens Lake

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18501,765—
18603,36790.8%
18703,6739.1%
18807,367100.6%
18909,59730.3%
190012,43629.6%
191025,633106.1%
192042,48265.7%
193068,07260.2%
194086,68727.3%
195096,27311.1%
196077,826−19.2%
197070,080−10.0%
198086,82123.9%
199076,819−11.5%
200079,2203.1%
201078,859−0.5%
Est. 201874,254[10]−5.8%
US Decennial Census[11]
1790–1960[12] 1900–1990[13]
1990–2000[14] 2010–2018[1]
The Flag Of Raleigh County in Beckley

2000 census

As of the 2000 United States Census, there were 79,220 people, 31,793 households, and 22,096 families in the county. The population density was 131/sqmi (50.6/km²). There were 35,678 housing units at an average density of 59/sqmi (22.8/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 89.63% White, 8.52% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.80% from two or more races. 0.92% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. This number is around 0.3% based on a 2006 Census Estimate by the US Census Bureau.

There were 31,793 households out of which 28.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 11.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.88.

The county population contained 21.50% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.60% from 25 to 44, 25.70% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,181, and the median income for a family was $35,315. Males had a median income of $33,000 versus $20,672 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,233. About 14.60% of families and 18.50% of the population were below the poverty line, including 28.70% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 78,859 people, 31,831 households, and 21,322 families in the county.[15] The population density was 130/sqmi (50.3/km²). There were 35,931 housing units at an average density of 59.4/sqmi (22.9/km²).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 88.5% white, 8.2% black or African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.3% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 41.8% were American, 9.1% were English, 8.6% were German, and 8.5% were Irish.[17]

Of the 31,831 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.2% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 28.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 41.1 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,036 and the median income for a family was $49,837. Males had a median income of $42,405 versus $27,347 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,457. About 14.5% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Politics

Raleigh County voters have tended to vote Republican in recent decades. In 67% of national elections since 1980, the county selected the Republican Party candidate (as of 2016).

Presidential election results
Presidential elections results[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 73.8% 22,048 21.6% 6,443 4.7% 1,401
2012 71.5% 20,614 26.8% 7,739 1.7% 484
2008 62.1% 17,548 36.2% 10,237 1.7% 474
2004 60.7% 18,519 38.7% 11,815 0.6% 191
2000 52.3% 12,587 45.9% 11,047 1.8% 427
1996 36.5% 8,628 53.1% 12,547 10.4% 2,447
1992 34.5% 8,700 52.2% 13,171 13.3% 3,343
1988 42.0% 10,395 57.7% 14,302 0.3% 85
1984 50.0% 14,571 49.6% 14,442 0.4% 109
1980 37.2% 10,713 58.8% 16,955 4.0% 1,163
1976 35.0% 10,637 65.0% 19,768
1972 64.4% 19,150 35.6% 10,586
1968 29.7% 8,775 60.1% 17,744 10.1% 2,987
1964 22.8% 6,952 77.3% 23,606
1960 37.2% 12,088 62.9% 20,448
1956 50.1% 16,318 49.9% 16,264
1952 38.2% 14,005 61.9% 22,704
1948 34.4% 10,414 65.1% 19,697 0.5% 148
1944 36.5% 10,323 63.5% 17,988
1940 33.7% 11,752 66.3% 23,105
1936 28.2% 9,001 71.6% 22,840 0.1% 44
1932 42.3% 11,441 57.1% 15,456 0.7% 181
1928 52.8% 11,581 47.2% 10,366
1924 49.4% 8,643 44.5% 7,776 6.1% 1,067
1920 56.2% 7,668 43.4% 5,916 0.5% 62
1916 52.2% 3,791 45.7% 3,319 2.1% 151
1912 13.7% 897 35.9% 2,343 50.4% 3,288

Communities

City

Towns

Magisterial districts

Current
  • District 1
  • District 2
  • District 3

Historic
  • Clear Fork
  • Marsh Fork
  • Richmond
  • Shady Spring
  • Slab Fork
  • Town
  • Trap Hill

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on October 29, 2013. Retrieved May 30, 2015.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Wood, Jim. Raleigh County: West Virginia, p. 91 (1994). BJW Printing & Office Supplies, Beckley WV
  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, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  7. Raleigh County WV Google Maps (accessed 20 March 2019)
  8. ""Find an Altitude/Raleigh County WV" Google Maps (accessed 20 March 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved March 20, 2019.
  9. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  10. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  11. "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  12. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  13. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  14. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  15. "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  17. "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  18. "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  19. Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

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