Brooke County, West Virginia

Brooke County, West Virginia
Map of West Virginia highlighting Brooke County
Location in the state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded November 30, 1797
Named for Robert Brooke
Seat Wellsburg
Largest city Follansbee
Area
 • Total 93 sq mi (241 km2)
 • Land 89 sq mi (231 km2)
 • Water 3.4 sq mi (9 km2), 3.6%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 23,350
 • Density 264/sq mi (102/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.brookewv.org

Brooke County is a county in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 24,069.[1] Its county seat is Wellsburg.[2] The county was created in 1797 from part of Ohio County[3] and named in honor of Robert Brooke, Governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796.[4]

Brooke County is part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.[5]

History

Brooke County was formed on November 30, 1796, from parts of Ohio County.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 93 square miles (240 km2), of which 89 square miles (230 km2) is land and 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) (3.6%) is water.[6] It is the second-smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Brooke County is approximately 1372 ft. and located about 1.5 miles south of Franklin.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18004,706—
18105,84324.2%
18206,63113.5%
18307,0416.2%
18407,94812.9%
18505,054−36.4%
18605,4948.7%
18705,464−0.5%
18806,01310.0%
18906,66010.8%
19007,2198.4%
191011,09853.7%
192016,52748.9%
193024,66349.2%
194025,5133.4%
195026,9045.5%
196028,9407.6%
197029,6852.6%
198031,1174.8%
199026,992−13.3%
200025,447−5.7%
201024,069−5.4%
Est. 201523,350[7]−3.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 25,447 people, 10,396 households, and 7,152 families residing in the county. The population density was 286 people per square mile (111/km²). There were 11,150 housing units at an average density of 126 per square mile (48/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.90% White, 0.85% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.09% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.39% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,396 households out of which 26.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.30% were married couples living together, 9.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.20% were non-families. 27.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.40% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 25.80% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 18.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,981, and the median income for a family was $39,948. Males had a median income of $34,397 versus $19,711 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,131. About 9.50% of families and 11.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.40% of those under age 18 and 9.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 24,069 people, 10,020 households, and 6,636 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 269.8 inhabitants per square mile (104.2/km2). There were 10,967 housing units at an average density of 122.9 per square mile (47.5/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.0% white, 1.2% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.1% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 21.5% were German, 17.5% were Irish, 16.4% were Italian, 11.5% were English, 7.2% were American, 5.9% were Scotch-Irish, and 5.7% were Polish.[15]

Of the 10,020 households, 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.7% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 29.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 44.8 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,475 and the median income for a family was $52,528. Males had a median income of $39,065 versus $29,824 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,377. About 7.9% of families and 11.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.5% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Law and Government

Brooke County is governed by a three-member County Commission who each serve in rotating 6-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. The County Commission annually chooses its own President. The Brooke County Commissioners in 2008 are President Bernard Kazienko, Marty Bartz, and Norma Tarr.

Brooke County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, which also includes Hancock and Ohio counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Martin J. Gaughan, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. Arthur M. Recht, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson. All four Circuit Court judges were re-elected in November 2008.

Brooke County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia which also includes Hancock and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and were elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair who were both elected to eight-year terms in November 2008.

Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Brooke County currently has two magistrates: Michael H. Allman and Deborah Lunsford.

Presidential election results[17]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 54.25% 5,060 42.94% 4,005
2008 50.33% 4,961 47.85% 4,717
2004 48.17% 5,189 50.99% 5,493
2000 44.60% 4,195 49.74% 4,678

Education

Brooke County is the home of Bethany College which is the oldest private college in the state.

The sole high school in the county is Brooke High School.

Communities

Cities

Town

Villages

McKinleyville, West Virginia

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

McKinleyville, West Virginia

Miscellaneous topics

Brooke County has paid Emergency Medical Services. Brooke County EMS provides both advanced life support (ALS) and basic life support (BLS) to the majority of Brooke County 24/7/365 with Station 1 located in Wellsburg and Station 2 located in Follansbee.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ "West Virginia: Individual County Chronologies". West Virginia Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2003. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  4. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/brooke.html
  5. ↑ http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-04-13.

External links

 Hancock County
Jefferson County, Ohio Washington County, Pennsylvania
   Brooke County, West Virginia  
Ohio County

Coordinates: 40°16′N 80°35′W / 40.27°N 80.58°W / 40.27; -80.58

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