Ritchie County, West Virginia

Ritchie County
County
Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°11′N81°04′W / 39.18°N 81.07°W / 39.18; -81.07
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Founded	February 18, 1843
Named for	Thomas Ritchie
Seat	Harrisville
Largest town	Harrisville
Area
• Total	454 sq mi (1,180 km2)
• Land	452 sq mi (1,170 km2)
• Water	1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%
Population  (2020)
• Total	8,444
• Estimate  (2021)	8,383
• Density	19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.ritchiecounty.wv.gov

Ritchie County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,444. ^[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]

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 United States 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

• U.S. Route 50
• West Virginia Route 16
• West Virginia Route 31
• West Virginia Route 47
• West Virginia Route 74

Adjacent counties

• Pleasants County (north)
• Tyler County (northeast)
• Doddridge County (east)
• Gilmer County (southeast)
• Calhoun County (south)
• Wirt County (southwest)
• Wood County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1850	3,902		—
1860	6,847		75.5%
1870	9,055		32.2%
1880	13,474		48.8%
1890	16,621		23.4%
1900	18,901		13.7%
1910	17,875		−5.4%
1920	16,506		−7.7%
1930	15,594		−5.5%
1940	15,389		−1.3%
1950	12,535		−18.5%
1960	10,877		−13.2%
1970	10,145		−6.7%
1980	11,442		12.8%
1990	10,233		−10.6%
2000	10,343		1.1%
2010	10,449		1.0%
2020	8,444		−19.2%
2021 (est.)	8,383	[8]	−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010–2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census 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 (8.9 people/km²). There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/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. ^[13] 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 units per square mile (5.0 units/km²). ^[14] 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. ^[13] In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 13.2% were American, and 11.3% were English. ^[15]

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. ^[13]

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. ^[16]

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 ^[17] along with views on environmental, social and cultural issues increasingly at odds with the national Democratic party. ^[18] 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. ^[19]

United States presidential election results for Ritchie County, West Virginia ^[20]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	3,473	85.75%	517	12.77%	60	1.48%
2020	3,649	85.20%	586	13.68%	48	1.12%
2016	3,405	82.95%	496	12.08%	204	4.97%
2012	2,921	77.07%	768	20.26%	101	2.66%
2008	2,781	72.31%	998	25.95%	67	1.74%
2004	3,086	73.55%	1,070	25.50%	40	0.95%
2000	2,717	71.27%	1,024	26.86%	71	1.86%
1996	1,906	49.75%	1,385	36.15%	540	14.10%
1992	2,184	49.46%	1,474	33.38%	758	17.16%
1988	2,874	66.25%	1,446	33.33%	18	0.41%
1984	3,355	72.79%	1,231	26.71%	23	0.50%
1980	3,081	65.68%	1,450	30.91%	160	3.41%
1976	2,874	59.69%	1,941	40.31%	0	0.00%
1972	3,635	78.59%	990	21.41%	0	0.00%
1968	3,106	66.50%	1,281	27.42%	284	6.08%
1964	2,717	54.77%	2,244	45.23%	0	0.00%
1960	3,972	71.40%	1,591	28.60%	0	0.00%
1956	4,140	73.78%	1,471	26.22%	0	0.00%
1952	4,238	71.79%	1,665	28.21%	0	0.00%
1948	3,619	67.71%	1,712	32.03%	14	0.26%
1944	3,963	70.60%	1,650	29.40%	0	0.00%
1940	4,982	67.13%	2,439	32.87%	0	0.00%
1936	4,639	61.97%	2,825	37.74%	22	0.29%
1932	4,055	55.42%	3,179	43.45%	83	1.13%
1928	4,195	70.40%	1,711	28.71%	53	0.89%
1924	4,152	62.61%	2,403	36.23%	77	1.16%
1920	4,377	67.39%	2,050	31.56%	68	1.05%
1916	2,225	56.03%	1,657	41.73%	89	2.24%
1912	937	26.31%	1,270	35.65%	1,355	38.04%

Notable sights

• Historic Berdine's Five and Dime
• North Bend State Park
• North Bend Rail Trail
• The Double Scoop Ice Cream Parlor Cairo, WV
• Pine Hill Pottery
• Sunny Hollow Farms
• Old Stone House Museum

Communities

City

• Pennsboro

Towns

• Auburn
• Cairo
• Ellenboro
• Harrisville (county seat)
• Pullman

Magisterial districts

• Clay
• Grant
• Murphy
• Union

Unincorporated communities

• Berea
• Brohard
• Burnt House
• Fonzo
• Macfarlan
• Petroleum
• Smithville

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Ritchie County history sources". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
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. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021" . Retrieved October 20, 2022.
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. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
13. "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.
14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
15. "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.
16. "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.
17. Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
18. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times , April 24, 2014
19. "Presidential Election of 1912 – Map by Counties (.xlsx file for €15)". Géoelections. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
20. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

39°11′N81°04′W / 39.18°N 81.07°W / 39.18; -81.07