Ritchie County, West Virginia

Ritchie County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,449.[1] Its county seat is Harrisville.[2] The county was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper publisher Thomas Ritchie.[3]

Ritchie County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°11′N 81°04′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedFebruary 18, 1843
Named forThomas Ritchie
SeatHarrisville
Largest townHarrisville
Area
 • Total454 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Land452 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total10,449
 • Estimate 
(2018)
9,721
 • Density23/sq mi (8.9/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.ritchiecounty.wv.gov

History

Ritchie was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Later that year, the new state'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.[4] Ritchie County was divided into four districts: Clay, Grant, Murphy, and Union.[5]

In 1911, historian Minnie Kendall Lowther published "The History of Ritchie County." Her book is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive histories of any county in West Virginia.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 454 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18503,902—
18606,84775.5%
18709,05532.2%
188013,47448.8%
189016,62123.4%
190018,90113.7%
191017,875−5.4%
192016,506−7.7%
193015,594−5.5%
194015,389−1.3%
195012,535−18.5%
196010,877−13.2%
197010,145−6.7%
198011,44212.8%
199010,233−10.6%
200010,3431.1%
201010,4491.0%
Est. 20189,721[8]−7.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2018[1]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,184 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% 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 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,332, and the median income for a family was $34,809. Males had a median income of $28,147 versus $18,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,175. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 10,449 people, 4,367 households, and 2,960 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 23.1 inhabitants per square mile (8.9/km2). There were 5,843 housing units at an average density of 12.9 per square mile (5.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 13.2% were American, and 11.3% were English.[16]

Of the 4,367 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.3 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,619 and the median income for a family was $39,919. Males had a median income of $31,807 versus $23,966 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 13.9% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

After having leaned strongly towards the Democratic Party between the New Deal and Bill Clinton's presidency, most of West Virginia has since 2000 seen an extremely rapid swing towards the Republican Party due to declining unionization[18] along with views on environmental, social and cultural issues increasingly at odds with the national Democratic party.[19] In contrast, Ritchie County along with neighbouring Doddridge County and Tyler County were historically powerfully Unionist and have always been solidly Republican since the Civil War. Only one Democratic presidential nominee has carried Ritchie County since West Virginia's statehood: Woodrow Wilson in 1912, and he won by a mere six votes with only 34.22 percent of all votes against a Republican Party mortally divided between conservative incumbent Taft and progressive Theodore Roosevelt.[20]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 83.0% 3,405 12.1% 496 5.0% 204
2012 77.1% 2,921 20.3% 768 2.7% 101
2008 72.3% 2,781 26.0% 998 1.7% 67
2004 73.6% 3,086 25.5% 1,070 1.0% 40
2000 71.3% 2,717 26.9% 1,024 1.9% 71
1996 49.8% 1,906 36.2% 1,385 14.1% 540
1992 49.5% 2,184 33.4% 1,474 17.2% 758
1988 66.3% 2,874 33.3% 1,446 0.4% 18
1984 72.8% 3,355 26.7% 1,231 0.5% 23
1980 65.7% 3,081 30.9% 1,450 3.4% 160
1976 59.7% 2,874 40.3% 1,941
1972 78.6% 3,635 21.4% 990
1968 66.5% 3,106 27.4% 1,281 6.1% 284
1964 54.8% 2,717 45.2% 2,244
1960 71.4% 3,972 28.6% 1,591
1956 73.8% 4,140 26.2% 1,471
1952 71.8% 4,238 28.2% 1,665
1948 67.7% 3,619 32.0% 1,712 0.3% 14
1944 70.6% 3,963 29.4% 1,650
1940 67.1% 4,982 32.9% 2,439
1936 62.0% 4,639 37.7% 2,825 0.3% 22
1932 55.4% 4,055 43.5% 3,179 1.1% 83
1928 70.4% 4,195 28.7% 1,711 0.9% 53
1924 62.6% 4,152 36.2% 2,403 1.2% 77
1920 67.4% 4,377 31.6% 2,050 1.1% 68
1916 56.0% 2,225 41.7% 1,657 2.2% 89
1912 26.3% 937 35.7% 1,270 38.0% 1,355[lower-alpha 1]

Notable sights

Communities

City

Towns

Magisterial districts
  • Clay
  • Grant
  • Murphy
  • Union

Unincorporated communities

See also

Notes
  1. The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 1,264 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 91 votes.

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 May 29, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  5. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  6. "September 18, 1947: Historian Minnie Kendall Lowther Dies in Harrisville". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. August 26, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  8. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  12. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  13. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  14. "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.
  15. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. "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.
  17. "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.
  18. Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  19. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  20. "Presidential Election of 1912 – Map by Counties (.xlsx file for €15)". Géoelections. Archived from the original on 2018-06-13. Retrieved 2017-06-06.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-28.

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