Wood County, West Virginia

Wood County
County
The Wood County Courthouse in Parkersburg
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°13′N81°31′W / 39.21°N 81.51°W / 39.21; -81.51
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Founded	December 21, 1798
Named for	James Wood
Seat	Parkersburg
Largest city	Parkersburg
Area
• Total	377 sq mi (980 km2)
• Land	367 sq mi (950 km2)
• Water	11 sq mi (30 km2)  2.8%
Population  (2020)
• Total	84,296
• Estimate  (2021)	83,624
• Density	220/sq mi (86/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.woodcountywv.com

First courthouse in Wood County (ca. 1802), sketch by Joseph H. Diss Debar

Wood County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 84,296, ^[1] making it West Virginia's fifth-most populous county. Its county seat is Parkersburg. ^[2] The county was formed in 1798 from the western part of Harrison County and named for James Wood, governor of Virginia from 1796 to 1799. ^[3]

Wood County is part of the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

History

Wood County was formed on December 21, 1798, from portions of Harrison County. It was named for the then Governor of Virginia (1796–99), James Wood, formerly a brigadier general in the American Revolutionary War.

In 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. The delegates of the 40 western counties who opposed secession formed their own government and seceded from the Confederate state of Virginia. West Virginia was granted statehood in 1863.

Later that year, 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. ^[4] Wood County was divided into ten districts: Clay, Harris, Lubeck, Parkersburg, Slate, Steele, Tygart, Union, Walker, and Williams. ^[5]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km²), of which 366 square miles (950 km²) is land and 11 square miles (28 km²) (2.8%) is water. ^[6]

Wood County's northern and western boundary is the Ohio River. The Little Kanawha River flows northwestward through the county to its mouth at the Ohio River in Parkersburg. Tributaries of the Little Kanawha River in Wood County include Worthington Creek, Tygart Creek, and Walker Creek. ^[7]

Major highways

Interstate 77 U.S. Route 50 West Virginia Route 2 West Virginia Route 14

West Virginia Route 31 West Virginia Route 47 West Virginia Route 68 West Virginia Route 95

Adjacent counties

• Washington County, Ohio (north)
• Pleasants County (northeast)
• Ritchie County (east)
• Wirt County (southeast)
• Jackson County (south)
• Meigs County, Ohio (southwest)
• Athens County, Ohio (west)

National protected area

• Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1800	1,217		—
1810	3,036		149.5%
1820	5,860		93.0%
1830	6,429		9.7%
1840	7,923		23.2%
1850	9,450		19.3%
1860	11,046		16.9%
1870	19,000		72.0%
1880	25,006		31.6%
1890	28,612		14.4%
1900	34,452		20.4%
1910	38,001		10.3%
1920	42,306		11.3%
1930	56,521		33.6%
1940	62,399		10.4%
1950	66,540		6.6%
1960	78,331		17.7%
1970	86,818		10.8%
1980	93,648		7.9%
1990	86,915		−7.2%
2000	87,986		1.2%
2010	86,956		−1.2%
2020	84,296		−3.1%
2021 (est.)	83,624	[8]	−0.8%
U.S. Decennial Census [9] 1790–1960 [10] 1900–1990 [11] 1990–2000 [12] 2010–2020 [1]

2000 census

As of the census ^[13] of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families living in the county. The population density was 240 inhabitants per square mile (93/km²). There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 units per square mile (42 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 1.01% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 36,275 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,285, and the median income for a family was $40,436. Males had a median income of $34,899 versus $22,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 86,956 people, 36,571 households, and 24,262 families living in the county. ^[14] The population density was 237.4 inhabitants per square mile (91.7/km²). There were 40,215 housing units at an average density of 109.8 units per square mile (42.4 units/km²). ^[15] The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. ^[14] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% were German, 19.6% were American, 13.7% were English, and 13.6% were Irish. ^[16]

Of the 36,571 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% 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 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 42.2 years. ^[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $42,146 and the median income for a family was $52,058. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $27,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,890. About 12.3% of families and 16.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over. ^[17]

Politics

Wood County was strongly Unionist during the Virginia Secession Convention ^[18] and has been one of the most Republican counties in West Virginia for most of the century and a half since. The only Democrats to win Wood County have been Samuel J. Tilden in 1876, Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916, Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1932 and 1940, Harry S. Truman in 1948, and Lyndon Johnson in 1964.

United States presidential election results for Wood County, West Virginia ^[19]

Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	26,380	70.46%	10,317	27.56%	743	1.98%
2020	27,202	70.17%	10,926	28.19%	637	1.64%
2016	25,434	70.51%	8,400	23.29%	2,237	6.20%
2012	22,183	65.10%	11,230	32.96%	663	1.95%
2008	22,896	63.38%	12,573	34.80%	657	1.82%
2004	24,948	63.60%	14,025	35.75%	254	0.65%
2000	20,428	60.34%	12,664	37.40%	765	2.26%
1996	15,502	47.45%	13,261	40.59%	3,909	11.96%
1992	15,441	42.83%	13,529	37.52%	7,084	19.65%
1988	19,450	59.73%	12,959	39.80%	154	0.47%
1984	24,821	68.42%	11,357	31.30%	101	0.28%
1980	20,080	56.54%	13,622	38.36%	1,810	5.10%
1976	18,382	51.84%	17,075	48.16%	0	0.00%
1972	27,315	71.50%	10,886	28.50%	0	0.00%
1968	18,960	51.76%	14,293	39.02%	3,379	9.22%
1964	14,947	40.94%	21,560	59.06%	0	0.00%
1960	22,131	58.97%	15,396	41.03%	0	0.00%
1956	21,096	61.30%	13,320	38.70%	0	0.00%
1952	19,917	58.46%	14,154	41.54%	0	0.00%
1948	14,198	49.83%	14,224	49.92%	71	0.25%
1944	14,566	51.58%	13,676	48.42%	0	0.00%
1940	15,005	48.45%	15,962	51.55%	0	0.00%
1936	12,574	42.75%	16,829	57.21%	11	0.04%
1932	12,144	47.30%	13,294	51.78%	235	0.92%
1928	15,184	69.90%	6,412	29.52%	125	0.58%
1924	10,086	50.29%	9,378	46.76%	591	2.95%
1920	10,463	53.72%	8,839	45.38%	176	0.90%
1916	4,521	47.69%	4,817	50.81%	142	1.50%
1912	2,509	29.37%	3,784	44.29%	2,251	26.35%

Communities

Cities

• Parkersburg (county seat)
• Vienna
• Williamstown

Town

• North Hills

Magisterial districts

• Clay
• Harris
• Lubeck
• Parkersburg
• Slate
• Steele
• Tygart
• Union
• Walker
• Williams

Census-designated places

• Blennerhassett
• Boaz
• Lubeck
• Mineralwells
• Washington
• Waverly

Unincorporated communities

• Belleville
• Bonnivale
• Cedar Grove
• Central
• Eli
• Dallison
• Davisville
• Deerwalk
• Fort Neal
• Kanawha
• Mount Carmel
• New England
• Ogden
• Pettyville
• Rockport
• Slate
• Volcano
• Walker
• Wells Subdivision

See also

• Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park
• Fries Park
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wood County, West Virginia

References

1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved July 6, 2022.
2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 23, 2001. Retrieved February 4, 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. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
7. West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Me.: DeLorme. 1997. pp. 22–23, 33–34. ISBN   0-89933-246-3.
8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021" . Retrieved July 6, 2022.
9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 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 16, 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. ‘How Virginia Convention Delegates Voted on Secession, April 4 and April 17, 1861, and Whether They Signed a Copy of the Ordinance of Secession’
19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

39°13′N81°31′W / 39.21°N 81.51°W / 39.21; -81.51