Braxton County, West Virginia

Braxton County is a county in the central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 14,523.[1] The county seat is Sutton.[2] The county was formed in 1836[3] from parts of Lewis, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties and named for Carter Braxton, a Virginia statesman and signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Braxton County
U.S. county
The Braxton County Courthouse in Sutton in 2007
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°42′N 80°44′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJanuary 15, 1836
Named forCarter Braxton
SeatSutton
Largest townSutton
Area
 • Total516 sq mi (1,340 km2)
 • Land511 sq mi (1,320 km2)
 • Water5.5 sq mi (14 km2)  1.1%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total14,523
 • Estimate 
(2018)
14,089
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Website

In 2010, the center of population of West Virginia was in northern Braxton County.[4]

Important salt works were located at Bulltown and here, in 1772, Captain Bull and his family and friendly Delaware Indians were massacred by frontiersmen.[5] Jesse Hughes helped Jeremiah Carpenter and track and kill the Indians responsible for the Carpenter massacre. Jeremiah was a notable fiddle player who wrote a song Shelvin’ Rock about the experience of escaping to rock shelter.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 516 square miles (1,340 km2), of which 511 square miles (1,320 km2) is land and 5.5 square miles (14 km2) (1.1%) is water.[6]

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.[7] Braxton County was originally divided into four townships: Clay, Franklin, Lincoln, and Washington, which became magisterial districts in 1872. All four districts were renamed in 1873: Clay District became Kanawha, Franklin became Holly, Lincoln became Otter, and Washington became Birch. Two years later, Salt Lick District was formed from part of Kanawha. The two districts were reconsolidated between 1910 and 1920, when the territory of Kanawha District was added to Salt Lick; otherwise they remained stable for the next sixty years. Between 1980 and 1990, the county was reorganized into four new magisterial districts: Northern, Southern, Eastern, and Western.[8]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18402,575—
18504,21263.6%
18604,99218.5%
18706,48029.8%
18809,78751.0%
189013,92842.3%
190018,90435.7%
191023,02321.8%
192023,9734.1%
193022,579−5.8%
194021,658−4.1%
195018,082−16.5%
196015,152−16.2%
197012,666−16.4%
198013,8949.7%
199012,998−6.4%
200014,70213.1%
201014,523−1.2%
Est. 201814,089[9]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2018[1]

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 14,702 people, 5,771 households, and 4,097 families living in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile (11/km²). There were 7,374 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.02% White, 0.69% Black or African American, 0.35% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.71% from two or more races. 0.44% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,771 households out of which 30.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.30% were married couples living together, 9.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.00% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.80% under the age of 18, 7.50% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.80% from 45 to 64, and 15.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 102.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,412, and the median income for a family was $29,133. Males had a median income of $27,560 versus $17,778 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,349. About 17.90% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 14,523 people, 6,000 households, and 4,043 families living in the county.[15] The population density was 28.4 inhabitants per square mile (11.0/km2). There were 7,415 housing units at an average density of 14.5 per square mile (5.6/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.4% black or African American, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.0% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 19.7% were German, 15.0% were Irish, 11.7% were English, and 8.0% were American.[17]

Of the 6,000 households, 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.8% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.6% were non-families, and 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 43.8 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,158 and the median income for a family was $40,421. Males had a median income of $42,355 versus $22,557 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,469. About 17.0% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.4% of those under age 18 and 13.0% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Politics

Braxton County, although initially opposed to secession during the first session of the Virginia Secession Convention, later became supportive. Consequently, up until the decline of coal mining unionization,[19] and growing opposition to socially controversial issues,[20] Braxton County was overwhelmingly Democratic. Like all of West Virginia, it has seen an extremely rapid shift to the Republicans over the past five elections.

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 69.4% 3,537 25.9% 1,321 4.8% 242
2012 56.7% 2,725 41.5% 1,998 1.8% 87
2008 48.6% 2,629 49.9% 2,704 1.5% 82
2004 49.4% 2,986 50.2% 3,035 0.5% 30
2000 47.5% 2,529 51.0% 2,719 1.5% 80
1996 28.8% 1,441 60.1% 3,001 11.1% 554
1992 26.6% 1,535 58.9% 3,396 14.5% 834
1988 37.3% 2,024 62.3% 3,377 0.4% 22
1984 46.3% 2,902 53.5% 3,350 0.2% 13
1980 37.5% 2,403 59.2% 3,795 3.3% 210
1976 32.3% 1,913 67.7% 4,012
1972 53.2% 3,155 46.8% 2,771
1968 40.4% 2,441 54.0% 3,268 5.6% 341
1964 28.1% 1,867 71.9% 4,787
1960 41.6% 2,977 58.4% 4,185
1956 46.8% 3,441 53.2% 3,913
1952 44.3% 3,382 55.7% 4,259
1948 40.0% 2,864 59.9% 4,287 0.1% 7
1944 41.2% 3,023 58.8% 4,313
1940 41.5% 4,056 58.5% 5,709
1936 39.5% 3,709 60.3% 5,667 0.2% 16
1932 36.9% 3,560 62.6% 6,043 0.6% 58
1928 46.6% 4,028 53.0% 4,582 0.5% 41
1924 44.2% 4,192 54.5% 5,168 1.4% 130
1920 49.9% 4,274 49.9% 4,269 0.2% 20
1916 44.0% 2,332 55.8% 2,957 0.2% 9
1912 11.5% 580 51.7% 2,611 36.8% 1,855

Communities

Towns

Magisterial districts
  • Eastern
  • Northern
  • Southern
  • Western

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on 2011-05-31. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2001-09-23. Retrieved 2013-07-23.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "Centers of Population by State: 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved May 11, 2014.
  5. The Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia from 1768 to 1795 1915 The Republican Publishing Company Hamilton, OH
  6. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  7. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  8. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  9. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 29, 2019.
  10. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  12. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  13. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  14. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 – County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. "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 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  18. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006–2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on 2020-02-13. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  19. Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  20. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, The New York Times, April 24, 2014
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-27.

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