Randolph County, West Virginia

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,405.[1] Its county seat is Elkins.[2] The county was founded in 1787 and is named for Edmund Jennings Randolph.[3]

Randolph County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 38°47′N 79°52′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedOctober 16, 1787
Named forEdmund Jennings Randolph
SeatElkins
Largest cityElkins
Area
 • Total1,040 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Land1,040 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Water0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.03%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total29,405
 • Estimate 
(2018)
28,823
 • Density28/sq mi (11/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websiteelkinsrandolphwv.com

Randolph County comprises the Elkins, West Virginia, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

The first attempt by whites at settlement in present-day Randolph County came in 1752 or '53 when David Tygart — for whom the Tygart Valley River was named — and Robert Foyle (later called Files) located (separately) with their families in the vicinity of present-day Beverly. Although there had been no recent history of conflicts between whites and Indians in that immediate area, that summer a party of Indians traveling the Shawnee Trail discovered the Foyle cabin and killed seven members of the family. One son escaped and alerted the Tygart family, allowing all to escape. (The Tygart-Foyle settlements were the first white settlements attempted anywhere within the Monongahela River watershed in present-day West Virginia.) No other white settlement was attempted in present Randolph until 1772.[4][5]

When Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) was created out of the vast Harrison County on October 16, 1787, it included not only present-day Randolph County, but parts of what are now eight other counties.[6] It took its name from the surname of the then Governor of Virginia. The name of the new county seat, originally Randolph Court House, or Edmundton (the latter from the Governor's given name), was changed to Beverly by 1790.[7] Beverly remained the county seat until 1890 when county government was moved to Elkins.

Minor actions of the American Civil War which took place in Randolph County include the Battle of Rich Mountain and a part of the Battle of Cheat Mountain, both in 1861. These operations came in the course of the Western Virginia Campaign.

Randolph 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 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.[8] Randolph County was divided into nine districts: Beverly, Clarke, Clay, Dry Fork, Green, Mingo Flats, Reynolds, Scott, and Union. Several of these were renamed during the 1870s: Clark became Valley Bend, Clay became New Interest, Green became Leadsville, Mingo Flats was abbreviated to Mingo, Reynolds became Huttonsville, Scott became Roaring Creek, and Union became Middle Fork.[9]

Geography
Wildflowers add a splash of color to grazing fields near Osceola in July.
Fall in the forest

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,040 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 1,040 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water.[10] It is the largest county in West Virginia by area.

Rivers

Mountains

Caves and caverns

National Natural Landmarks

Major highways
  • U.S. Highway 33
  • U.S. Highway 48
  • U.S. Highway 219
  • U.S. Highway 250

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
1790951—
18001,82692.0%
18102,85456.3%
18203,35717.6%
18305,00048.9%
18406,20824.2%
18505,243−15.5%
18604,990−4.8%
18705,56311.5%
18808,10245.6%
189011,63343.6%
190017,67051.9%
191026,02847.3%
192026,0840.2%
193025,049−4.0%
194030,25920.8%
195030,5581.0%
196026,349−13.8%
197024,596−6.7%
198028,73416.8%
199027,803−3.2%
200028,2621.7%
201029,4054.0%
Est. 201828,823[11]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]
1790–1960[13] 1900–1990[14]
1990–2000[15] 2010–2018[1]

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 28,262 people, 11,072 households, and 7,661 families living in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 13,478 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,072 households out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,299, and the median income for a family was $32,632. Males had a median income of $24,751 versus $17,819 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,918. About 13.40% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 29,405 people, 11,695 households, and 7,753 families living in the county.[17] The population density was 28.3 inhabitants per square mile (10.9/km2). There were 14,189 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3/km2).[18] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 1.2% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[17] In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 15.9% were Irish, 12.0% were English, 10.2% were American, and 5.4% were Italian.[19]

Of the 11,695 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 43.4 years.[17]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,176 and the median income for a family was $47,071. Males had a median income of $34,903 versus $25,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,472. About 12.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.[20]

Politics
Presidential elections results
Presidential election results by year, showing percentage of popular vote and votes counted[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 69.6% 7,629 24.9% 2,735 5.5% 605
2012 63.0% 6,160 34.2% 3,342 2.8% 276
2008 55.9% 6,060 41.9% 4,539 2.2% 234
2004 56.7% 6,512 42.6% 4,892 0.8% 86
2000 55.0% 5,248 42.2% 4,028 2.8% 266
1996 33.2% 3,348 54.2% 5,469 12.6% 1,272
1992 34.2% 3,496 49.9% 5,097 15.9% 1,629
1988 47.4% 4,746 52.2% 5,233 0.4% 38
1984 55.6% 6,100 44.1% 4,839 0.2% 25
1980 40.1% 4,374 54.4% 5,937 5.6% 610
1976 39.9% 4,822 60.1% 7,265
1972 64.5% 6,923 35.5% 3,809
1968 41.1% 4,508 50.7% 5,562 8.2% 897
1964 27.1% 2,984 72.9% 8,012
1960 41.8% 5,018 58.2% 6,989
1956 48.9% 5,448 51.1% 5,697
1952 43.9% 5,452 56.1% 6,976
1948 36.5% 3,802 63.3% 6,586 0.2% 24
1944 36.9% 3,681 63.1% 6,299
1940 33.1% 4,196 66.9% 8,465
1936 31.3% 3,711 68.5% 8,109 0.2% 22
1932 31.3% 3,418 67.7% 7,397 1.0% 108
1928 46.2% 4,436 53.0% 5,085 0.8% 76
1924 36.6% 3,526 55.1% 5,314 8.3% 797
1920 46.1% 4,158 51.9% 4,676 2.0% 184
1916 39.8% 2,165 55.6% 3,024 4.7% 253
1912 14.8% 756 50.3% 2,563 34.9% 1,782

Communities
View from atop Yokum Knob, Randolph County, West Virginia

City

Towns

Magisterial districts
  • Beverly
  • Dry Fork
  • Huttonsville
  • Leadsville
  • Middle Fork
  • Mingo
  • New Interest
  • Roaring Creek
  • Valley Bend

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

Notable people

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 November 26, 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. It has been thought that Tygart was again among those settling then, but this is not certain.
  5. Maxwell, Hu (1899). The History of Barbour County, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time, The Acme Publishing Company, Morgantown, W.Va. (Reprinted, McClain Printing Company, Parsons, W.Va., 1968). pp. 180–181.
  6. These current counties are Upshur, Braxton, Pocohontas, Preston, Barbour, Tucker, Lewis and Webster.
  7. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 110.
  8. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  9. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  10. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  11. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved May 21, 2019.
  12. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  13. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  14. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  15. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. "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.
  18. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  19. "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.
  20. "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.
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
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