Calhoun County, West Virginia

Calhoun County, West Virginia

The Calhoun County Courthouse in Grantsville
Map of West Virginia highlighting Calhoun 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 March 5, 1856
Named for John C. Calhoun
Seat Grantsville
Largest town Grantsville
Area
 • Total 281 sq mi (728 km2)
 • Land 279 sq mi (723 km2)
 • Water 1.4 sq mi (4 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 7,470
 • Density 27/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 2nd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.calhouncounty.wv.gov

Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 7,627.[1] Its county seat is Grantsville.[2] The county was founded in 1856 and is named for South Carolina politician John C. Calhoun.[3][4]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 281 square miles (730 km2), of which 279 square miles (720 km2) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km2) (0.5%) is water.[5]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18602,502—
18702,93917.5%
18806,072106.6%
18908,15534.3%
190010,26625.9%
191011,2589.7%
192010,268−8.8%
193010,8665.8%
194012,45514.6%
195010,259−17.6%
19607,948−22.5%
19707,046−11.3%
19808,25017.1%
19907,885−4.4%
20007,582−3.8%
20107,6270.6%
Est. 20157,470[6]−2.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 7,582 people, 3,071 households, and 2,201 families residing in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10/km²). There were 3,848 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.91% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,071 households out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,578, and the median income for a family was $26,701. Males had a median income of $25,609 versus $14,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,491. About 19.10% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.40% of those under age 18 and 24.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,627 people, 3,268 households, and 2,178 families residing in the county.[12] The population density was 27.3 inhabitants per square mile (10.5/km2). There were 3,963 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 21.3% were Irish, 7.7% were American, 7.3% were English, and 5.7% were Dutch.[14]

Of the 3,268 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 45.1 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $26,922 and the median income for a family was $34,897. Males had a median income of $32,229 versus $20,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 13.2% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

Presidential election results[16]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 59.68% 1,319 37.01% 818
2008 56.24% 1,366 40.88% 993
2004 54.97% 1.588 43.82% 1,266
2000 54.49% 1,425 42.52% 1,112

Attractions

Calhoun County is home to four public parks: The Upper West Fork Park in Chloe on West Virginia Route 16, the West Fork Park in Arnoldsburg on U.S. Route 33, Mt. Zion Park on West Virginia Route 16, and Calhoun County Park on West Virginia Route 16.

Calhoun is home to the annual Ramp Festival in April, the West Virginia Wood Festival in June, the Bluegrass Festival in May, another Bluegrass Festival in August, the West Virginia Molasses Festival in September, and Octoberfest Celebration. Also, the Hometown Country Christmas Craft show is sponsored by and held in the county court house the first week of December.

Calhoun County is home to one of the last 500 drive-in theaters in the nation, Mt. Zion Drive In. Calhoun also has one of the largest genealogy collections in the state, housed at Calhoun County Library. The library is also home to the "West Virginia Room" which includes books on West Virginia and by West Virginians.

Communities

Town

Unincorporated communities

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. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/calhoun.html
  4. ↑ http://www.polsci.wvu.edu/wv/history.html
  5. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  12. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  13. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-04-10.

External links

 Wirt County Ritchie County
Roane County Gilmer County
   Calhoun County, West Virginia  
Clay County Braxton County

Coordinates: 38°50′N 81°07′W / 38.84°N 81.12°W / 38.84; -81.12

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