Mason County, West Virginia | |
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 Logo | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWest Virginia | |
 West Virginia's location within theU.S. | |
| Coordinates:38°46′N82°01′W / 38.77°N 82.02°W /38.77; -82.02 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| Founded | January 2, 1804 |
| Seat | Point Pleasant |
| Largest city | Point Pleasant |
| Area | |
• Total | 445 sq mi (1,150 km2) |
| • Land | 431 sq mi (1,120 km2) |
| • Water | 14 sq mi (36 km2) 3.1% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 25,453 |
• Estimate (2021) | 25,157 |
| • Density | 59.1/sq mi (22.8/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | masoncountywv |
Mason County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWest Virginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 25,453.[1] Itscounty seat and largest city isPoint Pleasant.[2] The county was founded in 1804 and named forGeorge Mason,[3] delegate to theU.S. Constitutional Convention. Before the Civil War, the county was in the State of Virginia.
Mason County is part of thePoint Pleasant, WV-OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.[citation needed]
In the second half of 1749, theFrench explorer,Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville, claimed French sovereignty over theOhio Valley, burying a lead plaque at the meeting point of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, naming the placePoint Pleasant.
In theBattle of Point Pleasant (October 10, 1774), fought on the future site of the town, over one thousand Virginia militiamen, led by ColonelAndrew Lewis (1720–1781), defeated a roughly equal force of an Algonquin confederation ofShawnee andMingo warriors led by Shawnee ChiefCornstalk (ca. 1720–1777). The event is celebrated locally as the "First Battle of theAmerican Revolutionary War" and in 1908 theU.S. Senate authorized erection of a local monument to commemorate it as such. Most historians, however, regard it not as a battle of the Revolution (1775–1783), but as a part ofLord Dunmore's War (1774). White settlers may have established their permanent settlement by 1774, for Col. Lewis had established "Camp Point Pleasant" at the time of the Battle and the settlement that followed also took that name.
According toHardesty's West Virginia Counties (1883), regarding the first white settlers in Mason County south of Point Pleasant:
All that part of the district lying on the Ohio river bottoms above Eighteen-mile Creek, was included in the grant made by Congress to the heirs ofGeneral Mercer, who was killed at thebattle of Princeton,New Jersey, January 3, 1777, while fighting by the side ofWashington; hence the nameMercer Bottom. Who located and surveyed the lands cannot now be learned, but his grandson,Charles Fenton Mercer, of Virginia, afterward put the lands in market and sold them in quantities to suit purchasers. Thomas Hannan, whose name is preserved in that of the district, was the first actual settler – locating in the year 1790. Andrew Fleming and a Mr. Mercer, two hunters, had previously erected a cabin on the land which he purchased, and this was occupied by him until he could build a better one. Soon Jesse George purchased seventy acres of land at the mouth of Flatfoot Creek ... and became the second actual settler. Then came John Hereford, Robert Hereford, Thomas Powell, Edward S. Menager, John Morris — who discovered the first salt water on Kanawha river — George Withers, Robert Cremeans, James George, Rev. John Canterbury ...
The settlement at Point Pleasant did not receive an official charter until 1794. The first road through what later became Mason County was laid out byThomas Hannan (1757–1835) in 1798 under contract to the federal government. It traversed the distance from present-daySt Albans, (West) Virginia toChillicothe, Ohio. This road (parts are still known as "Hannan Trace Road") is one of the oldest roads in Ohio. It became a main highway connecting Chillicothe and points east during the time when that settlement served as the capital of theNorthwest Territory and the first capital of Ohio.
The Virginia General Assembly officially created Mason County fromKanawha County on January 2, 1804. It was named forGeorge Mason IV (1725–1792), known as the "Father of theUnited States Bill of Rights" and aFounding Father of the United States. By 1810, the total county population stood at almost two thousand people. Before theAmerican Civil War it developed as a river port (farmers upstream on the Kanawha River could ship their goods to Point Pleasant and from there down the Ohio River and sometimes the Mississippi River to market) as well as coal.
In the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, Mason County's delegate, lawyer James H. Couch (1821–1899), although a slaveholder, voted against secession. Mason County then sent no delegates to the Virginia House of Delegates until West Virginia's statehood, which Virginia's House of Delegates refused to recognize, thus seating James Hutcheson who had been elected by Confederate soldiers in their camp. Meanwhile, William W. Newman claimed to represent Mason as well as nearby Jackson, Cabell, Wayne and Wirt counties throughout the war.[4] Mason County sent more than 1000 men to the Union army and one company of 61 men to the Confederate Army (the37th Virginia Infantry).[5] In March 1863, in the only wartime skirmish in Mason County, during theJones-Imboden Raid, the 6th Virginia Cavalry and 8th Virginia Cavalry attacked the Mason County Courthouse, where they believed munitions stored, leaving bullet holes in the walls until a replacement was built in 1954.[6]
Point Pleasant's Battle Monument State Park, also known asTu-Endie-Wei, was dedicated on October 10, 1901, to commemorate the Battle of Point Pleasant, at the time claimed to have been the first battle of the Revolutionary War. It significantly predates the 1928 establishment of theWest Virginia state park system. The park includes the tavern begun in 1796 by Walter Newman, later operated as a museum of local history by theDaughters of the American Revolution.
The Marietta Manufacturing Company (shipbuilders) moved to Point Pleasant in 1915; the facility continued to build mine-planting vessels and other small ships through World War II, but closed in 1970. During World War II theWest Virginia Ordnance Works manufactured TNT in Mason County about 5 miles north of Point Pleasant; it was later repurposed as theMcClintic Wildlife Management Area as well as an industrial park. The county's worst disaster occurred on December 15, 1967, when theSilver Bridge, a link-suspension bridge which had connected Point Pleasant toKanauga, Ohio alongU.S. Route 35 since 1928, collapsed during the rush hour commute. The disaster killed 46 people and injured nine others, and drew attention to poor bridge maintenance practices, as well as bridge loads greatly exceeding their original tolerances. The important bridge was replaced two years later by theSilver Memorial Bridge, which stands today.[7]
In 1981, the West Virginia Department of Agriculture acquired land that had been farmed after the Civil War by GeneralJohn McCausland, the last fully confirmed Confederate general to die. Added to theNational Register of Historic Places in 2003, it now operates asSmithland Farm. The River Museum opened on May 1, 2004, but closed in 2018 after a disastrous fire.[8]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 445 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (3.1%) is water.[9]
Prior to its establishment in 1804, the land that would become Mason County was part of the vast and largely unorganized territory claimed by Virginia west of theAlleghenies. It was attached to various counties beginning withOrange in 1734,Augusta in 1738, andBotetourt in 1770. Beginning in 1772, the portion of Mason County south of the Kanawha River was part ofFincastle County, the West Virginia portion of which becameMonroe County in 1777. The remaining West Virginia portion of Botetourt County, including the northern part of present-day Mason County, becameGreenbrier County in 1778. In 1789, the western portions of Greenbrier and Monroe Counties, extending to the Ohio andBig Sandy Rivers, were combined to formKanawha County.[10]
Mason County was separated from Kanawha County in 1804, including all of its current territory, as well as portions of what are nowJackson,Putnam, andRoane Counties. The northern and western boundaries were formed by the Ohio River, and the county's southwestern boundary, originally with Kanawha County, and now withCabell, remains unchanged. Until 1831, Mason County shared a boundary withWood County, running southeasterly from the Ohio River north ofRavenswood to the northwestern boundary of Kanawha County, thence in a southwesterly direction to the present border with Cabell County. The formation of Jackson County in 1831 from portions of Mason, Wood, and Kanawha Counties removed the eastern portion of Mason County, including the part now in Roane County, while the formation of Putnam County from portions of Mason, Cabell, and Kanawha Counties in 1848 removed the southeastern portion of the county. This was the last major change[i] to Mason County's boundaries.[10]
After West Virginia gained its independence from Virginia in 1863, the state's counties were divided intocivil townships, with the goal of placing authority in the hands of local governments.[11] Mason County was divided into ten townships, each of which was named after a pioneer settler[ii] of Mason County.[12] However, township government proved impractical across the heavily rural state, with citizens unable to meet on a regular basis, and inadequate tax revenue to meet township responsibilities.[11] Following the adoption of theConstitution of West Virginia in 1872, the townships were converted intomagisterial districts, and the county courts (latercounty commissions) empowered to establish, consolidate, or otherwise modify them.[12][13]
U.S. Route 35
West Virginia Route 2
West Virginia Route 62
West Virginia Route 87
West Virginia Route 817| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1810 | 1,991 | — | |
| 1820 | 4,868 | 144.5% | |
| 1830 | 6,534 | 34.2% | |
| 1840 | 6,777 | 3.7% | |
| 1850 | 7,539 | 11.2% | |
| 1860 | 9,173 | 21.7% | |
| 1870 | 15,978 | 74.2% | |
| 1880 | 22,293 | 39.5% | |
| 1890 | 22,863 | 2.6% | |
| 1900 | 24,142 | 5.6% | |
| 1910 | 23,019 | −4.7% | |
| 1920 | 21,459 | −6.8% | |
| 1930 | 20,788 | −3.1% | |
| 1940 | 22,270 | 7.1% | |
| 1950 | 23,537 | 5.7% | |
| 1960 | 24,459 | 3.9% | |
| 1970 | 24,306 | −0.6% | |
| 1980 | 27,045 | 11.3% | |
| 1990 | 25,178 | −6.9% | |
| 2000 | 25,957 | 3.1% | |
| 2010 | 27,324 | 5.3% | |
| 2020 | 25,453 | −6.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 25,157 | [14] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] 1790–1960[16] 1900–1990[17] 1990–2000[18] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 inhabitants per square mile (23/km2). There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 units per square mile (11 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.37%White, 0.50%Black orAfrican American, 0.18%Native American, 0.27%Asian, 0.01%Pacific Islander, 0.11% fromother races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 10,587 households, out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% weremarried couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% 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 92.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,134, and the median income for a family was $32,953. Males had a median income of $32,382 versus $17,074 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $14,804. About 16.60% of families and 19.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.
As of thecensus of 2010, there were 27,324 people, 11,149 households, and 7,649 families residing in the county.[19] The population density was 63.4 inhabitants per square mile (24.5/km2). There were 13,006 housing units at an average density of 30.2 units per square mile (11.7 units/km2).[20] The racial makeup of the county was 97.7% white, 0.6% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 19.4% wereGerman, 11.3% wereIrish, 11.2% wereAmerican, and 7.6% wereEnglish.[21]
Of the 11,149 households, 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.5% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.4% were non-families, and 27.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 42.4 years.[19]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,027 and the median income for a family was $42,054. Males had a median income of $41,607 versus $25,444 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,609. About 14.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 27.3% of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.[22]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 1,024 | 21.45% | 1,812 | 37.95% | 1,939 | 40.61% |
| 1916 | 2,454 | 50.17% | 2,336 | 47.76% | 101 | 2.07% |
| 1920 | 4,912 | 59.88% | 3,177 | 38.73% | 114 | 1.39% |
| 1924 | 4,225 | 52.22% | 3,308 | 40.89% | 557 | 6.89% |
| 1928 | 5,125 | 64.13% | 2,814 | 35.21% | 53 | 0.66% |
| 1932 | 4,655 | 47.70% | 5,027 | 51.52% | 76 | 0.78% |
| 1936 | 5,894 | 54.67% | 4,852 | 45.00% | 36 | 0.33% |
| 1940 | 6,239 | 57.98% | 4,521 | 42.02% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 5,609 | 60.50% | 3,662 | 39.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 5,453 | 57.45% | 4,038 | 42.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1952 | 6,102 | 61.47% | 3,824 | 38.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 6,306 | 62.59% | 3,769 | 37.41% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 6,424 | 58.69% | 4,522 | 41.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 4,467 | 40.69% | 6,511 | 59.31% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 5,208 | 48.97% | 4,549 | 42.77% | 879 | 8.26% |
| 1972 | 7,129 | 64.01% | 4,008 | 35.99% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 5,205 | 43.47% | 6,769 | 56.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 6,040 | 49.88% | 5,683 | 46.94% | 385 | 3.18% |
| 1984 | 6,648 | 53.64% | 5,701 | 46.00% | 44 | 0.36% |
| 1988 | 5,332 | 49.26% | 5,468 | 50.51% | 25 | 0.23% |
| 1992 | 3,808 | 34.00% | 5,331 | 47.60% | 2,061 | 18.40% |
| 1996 | 3,581 | 34.32% | 5,284 | 50.65% | 1,568 | 15.03% |
| 2000 | 5,972 | 53.21% | 4,963 | 44.22% | 288 | 2.57% |
| 2004 | 6,487 | 54.10% | 5,408 | 45.10% | 95 | 0.79% |
| 2008 | 5,853 | 55.20% | 4,484 | 42.29% | 266 | 2.51% |
| 2012 | 5,741 | 58.64% | 3,778 | 38.59% | 271 | 2.77% |
| 2016 | 7,654 | 74.54% | 2,081 | 20.26% | 534 | 5.20% |
| 2020 | 8,491 | 75.77% | 2,526 | 22.54% | 189 | 1.69% |
| 2024 | 8,232 | 78.05% | 2,111 | 20.02% | 204 | 1.93% |
 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Mason County, West Virginia" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(November 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
Mason County Schools operates public schools.There are three junior/senior high schools, seven elementary schools and one primary school in Mason County.
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The Mason County Fair, held at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Point Pleasant, is the largest county fair inWest Virginia (in terms of attendance). It is held every year during the first week of August.
Mason County is the primary setting of theanalog horror web seriesLocal 58, created byKris Straub.
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Municipalities and communities ofMason County, West Virginia,United States | ||
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38°46′N82°01′W / 38.77°N 82.02°W /38.77; -82.02
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