Ritchie County
County
Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville
Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville
Map of West Virginia highlighting Ritchie County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°11′N 81°04′W / 39.18°N 81.07°W / 39.18; -81.07
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedFebruary 18, 1843
Named forThomas Ritchie
SeatHarrisville
Largest townHarrisville
Area
 • Total454 sq mi (1,180 km2)
 • Land452 sq mi (1,170 km2)
 • Water1.7 sq mi (4 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,444
 • Estimate 
(2021)
8,383 Decrease
 • Density19/sq mi (7.2/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.ritchiecounty.wv.gov

Ritchie County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,444.[1] Its county seat is Harrisville.[2] The county was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper publisher Thomas Ritchie.[3]

History

Ritchie was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Later that year, the new state'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] Ritchie County was divided into four districts: Clay, Grant, Murphy, and Union.[5]

In 1911, historian Minnie Kendall Lowther published "The History of Ritchie County." Her book is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive histories of any county in West Virginia.[6]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 454 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,902—
18606,84775.5%
18709,05532.2%
188013,47448.8%
189016,62123.4%
190018,90113.7%
191017,875−5.4%
192016,506−7.7%
193015,594−5.5%
194015,389−1.3%
195012,535−18.5%
196010,877−13.2%
197010,145−6.7%
198011,44212.8%
199010,233−10.6%
200010,3431.1%
201010,4491.0%
20208,444−19.2%
2021 (est.)8,383[8]−0.7%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 families living in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (8.9 people/km2). There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,184 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,332, and the median income for a family was $34,809. Males had a median income of $28,147 versus $18,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,175. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 10,449 people, 4,367 households, and 2,960 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 23.1 inhabitants per square mile (8.9/km2). There were 5,843 housing units at an average density of 12.9 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 13.2% were American, and 11.3% were English.[15]

Of the 4,367 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.3 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $32,619 and the median income for a family was $39,919. Males had a median income of $31,807 versus $23,966 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 13.9% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

After having leaned strongly towards the Democratic Party between the New Deal and Bill Clinton's presidency, most of West Virginia has since 2000 seen an extremely rapid swing towards the Republican Party due to declining unionization[17] along with views on environmental, social and cultural issues increasingly at odds with the national Democratic party.[18] In contrast, Ritchie County along with neighbouring Doddridge County and Tyler County were historically powerfully Unionist and have always been solidly Republican since the Civil War. Only one Democratic presidential nominee has carried Ritchie County since West Virginia's statehood: Woodrow Wilson in 1912, and he won by a mere six votes with only 34.22 percent of all votes against a Republican Party mortally divided between conservative incumbent Taft and progressive Theodore Roosevelt.[19]

United States presidential election results for Ritchie County, West Virginia[20]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 3,649 85.20% 586 13.68% 48 1.12%
2016 3,405 82.95% 496 12.08% 204 4.97%
2012 2,921 77.07% 768 20.26% 101 2.66%
2008 2,781 72.31% 998 25.95% 67 1.74%
2004 3,086 73.55% 1,070 25.50% 40 0.95%
2000 2,717 71.27% 1,024 26.86% 71 1.86%
1996 1,906 49.75% 1,385 36.15% 540 14.10%
1992 2,184 49.46% 1,474 33.38% 758 17.16%
1988 2,874 66.25% 1,446 33.33% 18 0.41%
1984 3,355 72.79% 1,231 26.71% 23 0.50%
1980 3,081 65.68% 1,450 30.91% 160 3.41%
1976 2,874 59.69% 1,941 40.31% 0 0.00%
1972 3,635 78.59% 990 21.41% 0 0.00%
1968 3,106 66.50% 1,281 27.42% 284 6.08%
1964 2,717 54.77% 2,244 45.23% 0 0.00%
1960 3,972 71.40% 1,591 28.60% 0 0.00%
1956 4,140 73.78% 1,471 26.22% 0 0.00%
1952 4,238 71.79% 1,665 28.21% 0 0.00%
1948 3,619 67.71% 1,712 32.03% 14 0.26%
1944 3,963 70.60% 1,650 29.40% 0 0.00%
1940 4,982 67.13% 2,439 32.87% 0 0.00%
1936 4,639 61.97% 2,825 37.74% 22 0.29%
1932 4,055 55.42% 3,179 43.45% 83 1.13%
1928 4,195 70.40% 1,711 28.71% 53 0.89%
1924 4,152 62.61% 2,403 36.23% 77 1.16%
1920 4,377 67.39% 2,050 31.56% 68 1.05%
1916 2,225 56.03% 1,657 41.73% 89 2.24%
1912 937 26.31% 1,270 35.65% 1,355 38.04%

Notable sights

Communities

City

Towns

Magisterial districts

Unincorporated communities

Notes

References

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Ritchie County history sources". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 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. ^ "September 18, 1947: Historian Minnie Kendall Lowther Dies in Harrisville". West Virginia Public Broadcasting. August 26, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2015.
  7. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  8. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  9. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  10. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  11. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 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 11, 2014.
  13. ^ a b c "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.
  14. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "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.
  16. ^ "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.
  17. ^ Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  18. ^ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  19. ^ "Presidential Election of 1912 – Map by Counties (.xlsx file for €15)". Géoelections. Archived from the original on June 13, 2018. Retrieved June 6, 2017.
  20. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

39°11′N 81°04′W / 39.18°N 81.07°W / 39.18; -81.07

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