Wirt County, West Virginia


Wirt County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,194, making it the least populous county in West Virginia. Its county seat is Elizabeth. The county was created in 1848 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for U.S. Attorney General and presidential candidate William Wirt. The county is served by one high school, Wirt County High School.
Wirt County is part of the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
WWW Official Site

History

Wirt County was created from parts of Jackson and Wood counties on January 19, 1848. The county was named after William Wirt.
The first European pioneer was William Beauchamp, a veteran of the Continental Navy and a Methodist minister. Beauchamp arrived in 1796 with a claim to 1400 acres on the Little Kanawha River. He farmed, built a mill, and laid out the town of Elizabeth, named after his daughter.
Burning Springs was the site of an oil rush in the 1860s. In 1863 the town was burned, along with 100,000 gallons of oil, by Confederate cavalrymen.
On June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War, Wirt County was one of fifty Virginia counties admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia. Later that year, West Virginia'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. Wirt County was divided into seven districts: Burning Springs, Clay, Elizabeth, Newark, Reedy, Spring Creek, and Tucker. Except for minor adjustments, the seven historic magisterial districts remained largely unchanged for over a century. In the 1980s, they were consolidated into three new districts: Central, Northeast, and Southwest.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and is water.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 5,194. Of the residents, 20.9% were under the age of 18 and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.4 years. For every 100 females there were 100.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 99.2 males.
The racial makeup of the county was 96.5% White, 0.1% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, none Asian, 0.2% from some other race, and 3.0% from two or more races. Latino Americans|Hispanic or Latino] residents of any race comprised 0.4% of the population.
There were 2,211 households in the county, of which 26.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.4% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 26.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
There were 2,702 housing units, of which 18.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.8% were owner-occupied and 19.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.0% and the rental vacancy rate was 4.2%.
Race / Ethnicity Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010
White alone 5,7715,6104,99998.26%98.13%96.25%
Black or African American alone 17960.29%0.16%0.12%
Native American or Alaska Native alone 121240.20%0.21%0.08%
Asian alone 51000.09%0.17%0.00%
Pacific Islander alone 0140.00%0.02%0.08%
Other race alone 6080.10%0.00%0.15%
Mixed race or Multiracial 44491510.75%0.86%2.91%
Hispanic or Latino 1826220.31%0.45%0.42%
Total5,8735,7175,194100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 5,717 people, 2,391 households, and 1,689 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 3,231 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 1.5% black or African American, 1.7% two or more races, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% American Indian. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.5% were American, 23.0% were German, 12.4% were Irish, and 9.3% were English.
Of the 2,391 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 25.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.82. The median age was 44.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $36,705 and the median income for a family was $43,517. Males had a median income of $35,829 versus $28,460 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,438. About 11.8% of families and 19.2% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.6% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,873 people, 2,284 households, and 1,699 families living in the county. The population density was. There were 3,266 housing units at an average density of. The racial makeup of the county was 98.55% White, 0.29% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.10% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.31% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 2,284 households, out of which 35.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% were married couples living together, 8.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% were non-families. 22.20% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.56 and the average family size was 2.97.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.00 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $30,748, and the median income for a family was $33,872. Males had a median income of $29,088 versus $17,965 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,000. About 17.00% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.60% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

Communities

Town

Magisterial districts

Current

  • Central
  • Northeast
  • Southwest

Historic

  • Burning Springs
  • Clay
  • Elizabeth
  • Newark
  • Reedy
  • Spring Creek
  • Tucker

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities