Wayne County, West Virginia

Wayne County, West Virginia
Map of West Virginia highlighting Wayne 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 January 18, 1842
Named for Anthony Wayne
Seat Wayne
Largest town Kenova
Area
 • Total 512 sq mi (1,326 km2)
 • Land 506 sq mi (1,311 km2)
 • Water 6.1 sq mi (16 km2), 1.2%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 40,971
 • Density 81/sq mi (31/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.waynecountywv.org

Wayne County is the westernmost county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 42,481.[1] Its county seat is Wayne.[2] The county was founded in 1842 and named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.[3]

Wayne County is part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Charleston-Huntington-Ashland, WV-OH-KY Combined Statistical Area.

History

Wayne County, West Virginia was originally Wayne County, Virginia, which was created from part of Cabell County in 1842. The county was named for General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

Settlement

There was no white settlement in the area that became Wayne County until after 1794, due to the constant threat of Indian attack. The area was made safe for white settlement in 1794 through the defeat of the Shawnee at the Battle of Fallen Timbers by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne.

When the first permanent European settlers came to Wayne County around the year 1800, the area was part of Kanawha County. Most of the original pioneer settlers were self-sufficient farmers. They raised their own food, sheep for wool clothing, and made their buildings, furnishings and tools out of the surrounding forest. A few trading posts provided the manufactured goods the pioneers could not make for themselves. Later, grist mills at Wayne, Dickson, south of East Lynn and at Lavalette ground their corn into meal and their wheat into flour.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,330 km2), of which 506 square miles (1,310 km2) is land and 6.1 square miles (16 km2) (1.2%) is water.[4]

Rivers and lakes

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Wayne County is one of two US counties (The other being Apache County, Arizona) to border two counties of the same name, neither of which is in the same state as the county itself (Lawrence County, Ohio and Lawrence County, Kentucky).

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18504,760—
18606,74741.7%
18707,85216.4%
188014,73987.7%
189018,65226.5%
190023,61926.6%
191024,0812.0%
192026,0128.0%
193031,20620.0%
194035,56614.0%
195038,6968.8%
196038,9770.7%
197037,581−3.6%
198046,02122.5%
199041,636−9.5%
200042,9033.0%
201042,481−1.0%
Est. 201540,971[5]−3.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 42,903 people, 17,239 households, and 12,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 19,107 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.23% Native Americans, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,239 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,352, and the median income for a family was $32,458. Males had a median income of $31,554 versus $20,720 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,906. About 16.20% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 42,481 people, 17,347 households, and 12,128 families residing in the county.[11] The population density was 84.0 inhabitants per square mile (32.4/km2). There were 19,227 housing units at an average density of 38.0 per square mile (14.7/km2).[12] The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[11] In terms of ancestry, 18.1% were Irish, 16.9% were English, 13.0% were American, and 11.8% were German.[13]

Of the 17,347 households, 30.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 11.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.1% were non-families, and 26.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92. The median age was 41.3 years.[11]

The median income for a household in the county was $35,079 and the median income for a family was $44,886. Males had a median income of $40,233 versus $25,765 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,410. About 16.4% of families and 20.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 15.0% of those age 65 or over.[14]

Politics

Presidential election results[15]
Year Republican Democrat
2012 62.02% 8,688 35.20% 4,931
2008 57.98% 8,947 39.77% 6,137
2004 54.11% 10,070 45.20% 8,411
2000 49.21% 7,993 48.89% 7,940

Transportation

Rail

Air

The public Tri-State Airport, the major airport serving the Huntington-Ashland area, is located in Wayne County south of Interstate 64. The airport is accessible from Interstate 64 via Exit 1. Commercial air service is provided by Allegiant Air, Delta Connection, and US Airways Express.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Ceredo

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

In popular culture

The following books take place in Wayne County:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html
  4. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Incorporated Places: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved April 5, 2016.
  6. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  8. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  10. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  11. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  12. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  13. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-04-10.
 Boyd County, Kentucky Lawrence County, Ohio Cabell County
Lawrence County, Kentucky Lincoln County
   Wayne County, West Virginia  
Martin County, Kentucky Mingo County

Coordinates: 38°09′N 82°26′W / 38.15°N 82.43°W / 38.15; -82.43

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