Fayette County, West Virginia

Fayette County, West Virginia

Fayette County courthouse, Fayetteville
Map of West Virginia highlighting Fayette 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 February 28, 1831
Named for Marquis de la Fayette
Seat Fayetteville
Largest city Oak Hill
Area
 • Total 668 sq mi (1,730 km2)
 • Land 662 sq mi (1,715 km2)
 • Water 6.8 sq mi (18 km2), 1.0%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 44,997
 • Density 68/sq mi (26/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.fayettecounty.wv.gov
Cathedral Falls

Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 46,039.[1] Its county seat is Fayetteville.[2]

Fayette County is a part of the Beckley, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.[3]

History

Fayette County was created by Act of the Virginia General Assembly, passed February 28, 1831,[4] from parts of Greenbrier, Kanawha, Nicholas, and Logan counties. It was named in honor of the Marquis de la Fayette, who had played a key role assisting the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War.[5] Virginia previously had a Fayette County, which was lost to form the new state of Kentucky. Accordingly, in the State records of Virginia, there will be listings for Fayette County from 1780–1792 and Fayette County from 1831-1863. Neither location is still located in Virginia and despite naming a county after him twice, Virginia no longer has a county named for the Marquis de la Fayette.

A substantial portion was subdivided from Fayette County to form Raleigh County in 1850. Fayette was one of 50 counties that broke off from the rest of Virginia and formed the new state of West Virginia during the American Civil War. In 1871, an Act of the West Virginia Legislature severed a small portion to form part of Summers County.[6]

Fayette County was home to a disastrous mine explosion at Red Ash in March 1900, in which 46 miners were killed.[7]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 668 square miles (1,730 km2), of which 662 square miles (1,710 km2) is land and 6.8 square miles (18 km2) (1.0%) is water.[8] Plum Orchard Lake, a reservoir southwest of Oak Hill, is the second largest lake in West Virginia.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18403,924—
18503,9550.8%
18605,99751.6%
18706,64710.8%
188011,56073.9%
189020,54277.7%
190031,98755.7%
191051,90362.3%
192060,37716.3%
193072,05019.3%
194080,62811.9%
195082,4432.3%
196061,731−25.1%
197049,332−20.1%
198057,86317.3%
199047,952−17.1%
200047,579−0.8%
201046,039−3.2%
Est. 201544,997[9]−2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[14] of 2000, there were 47,579 people, 18,945 households, and 13,128 families residing in the county. The population density was 72 people per square mile (28/km²). There were 21,616 housing units at an average density of 33 per square mile (13/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.74% White, 5.57% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.15% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 18,945 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.10% were married couples living together, 13.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.70% were non-families. 26.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.40% 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 21.70% under the age of 18, 9.60% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,788, and the median income for a family was $30,243. Males had a median income of $28,554 versus $18,317 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,809. About 18.20% of families and 21.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.90% of those under age 18 and 13.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 46,039 people, 18,813 households, and 12,459 families residing in the county.[15] The population density was 69.6 inhabitants per square mile (26.9/km2). There were 21,618 housing units at an average density of 32.7 per square mile (12.6/km2).[16] The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% white, 4.6% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.[15] In terms of ancestry, 16.9% were German, 15.5% were Irish, 10.8% were English, and 9.5% were American.[17]

Of the 18,813 households, 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.7% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.8% were non-families, and 29.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 43.0 years.[15]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,912 and the median income for a family was $42,077. Males had a median income of $39,301 versus $24,874 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,082. About 16.4% of families and 21.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 30.9% of those under age 18 and 12.5% of those age 65 or over.[18]

Politics

Presidential election results[19]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 59.35% 8,350 38.51% 5,419
2008 50.40% 7,658 47.66% 7,242
2004 46.45% 7,881 52.87% 8,971
2000 40.34% 5,897 57.26% 8,371

Economy

The county has a tradition of coal mining, which still serves as a primary source of employment in the area. A Georgia Pacific lumber mill has its home to the west of Mt. Hope, adjacent to U.S. Route 19. There exists a large metal alloy plant in Alloy. The Mount Olive Correctional Complex, West Virginia's only maximum security state prison, is also located in Fayette County.

Notable people

Communities

Cities

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.register-herald.com/local/x503822301/Fayette-Raleigh-MPO-expands-to-include-entirety-of-both-counties
  4. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/fayette.html
  5. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 124.
  6. ↑ http://burgesslegacy.org/fayette/chapter_i.htm
  7. ↑ http://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/29
  8. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  10. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  14. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  15. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  18. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  19. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  20. ↑ http://www.visitwv.com/vacation/mount-hope-jubilee/

External links

 Nicholas County
Kanawha County Greenbrier County
   Fayette County, West Virginia  
Raleigh County Summers County

Coordinates: 38°02′N 81°05′W / 38.03°N 81.09°W / 38.03; -81.09

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