Wood County, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 TheWood County Courthouse in Parkersburg | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWest Virginia | |
| Coordinates:39°13′N81°31′W / 39.21°N 81.51°W /39.21; -81.51 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| Founded | December 21, 1798 |
| Named after | James Wood |
| Seat | Parkersburg |
| Largest city | Parkersburg |
| Area | |
• Total | 377 sq mi (980 km2) |
| • Land | 367 sq mi (950 km2) |
| • Water | 11 sq mi (28 km2) 2.8% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 84,296 |
• Estimate (2023) | 83,052 |
| • Density | 230/sq mi (88.7/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
| Website | www |
Wood County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWest Virginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 84,296,[1] making it West Virginia's fifth-most populous county. Itscounty seat isParkersburg.[2] The county was formed in 1798 from the western part of Harrison County and named forJames Wood, governor of Virginia from 1796 to 1799.[3]
Wood County is part of theParkersburg-Vienna, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Wood County was formed on December 21, 1798, from portions of Harrison County. It was named for the thenGovernor of Virginia (1796–99),James Wood, formerly a brigadier general in theAmerican Revolutionary War.
In 1861, Virginia seceded from the Union. The delegates of the 40 western counties who opposed secession formed their own government and seceded from the Confederate state of Virginia. West Virginia was granted statehood in 1863.
Later that year, West Virginia's counties were divided intocivil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted intomagisterial districts.[4] Wood County was divided into ten districts: Clay, Harris, Lubeck, Parkersburg, Slate, Steele, Tygart, Union, Walker, and Williams.[5]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 377 square miles (980 km2), of which 366 square miles (950 km2) is land and 11 square miles (28 km2) (2.8%) is water.[6]
Wood County's northern and western boundary is theOhio River. TheLittle Kanawha River flows northwestward through the county to its mouth at the Ohio River in Parkersburg. Tributaries of the Little Kanawha River in Wood County includeWorthington Creek,Tygart Creek, andWalker Creek.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1800 | 1,217 | — | |
| 1810 | 3,036 | 149.5% | |
| 1820 | 5,860 | 93.0% | |
| 1830 | 6,429 | 9.7% | |
| 1840 | 7,923 | 23.2% | |
| 1850 | 9,450 | 19.3% | |
| 1860 | 11,046 | 16.9% | |
| 1870 | 19,000 | 72.0% | |
| 1880 | 25,006 | 31.6% | |
| 1890 | 28,612 | 14.4% | |
| 1900 | 34,452 | 20.4% | |
| 1910 | 38,001 | 10.3% | |
| 1920 | 42,306 | 11.3% | |
| 1930 | 56,521 | 33.6% | |
| 1940 | 62,399 | 10.4% | |
| 1950 | 66,540 | 6.6% | |
| 1960 | 78,331 | 17.7% | |
| 1970 | 86,818 | 10.8% | |
| 1980 | 93,648 | 7.9% | |
| 1990 | 86,915 | −7.2% | |
| 2000 | 87,986 | 1.2% | |
| 2010 | 86,956 | −1.2% | |
| 2020 | 84,296 | −3.1% | |
| 2023 (est.) | 83,052 | [8] | −1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 84,296. Of the residents, 20.6% were under the age of 18 and 20.9% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 43.8 years. For every 100 females there were 95.3 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 93.3 males.[13][14]
The racial makeup of the county was 92.7% White, 1.2%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.7%Asian, 0.5% from some other race, and 4.7% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.4% of the population.[14]
There were 36,192 households in the county; 26.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.3% weremarried couples living together, 28.1% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present, and 23.1% had a male householder with no spouse present. About 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household and family size was 2.86.[13]
There were 40,304 housing units, of which 10.2% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 71.0% were owner-occupied and 29.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 10.0%.[13]
The median income for a household was $54,750 and the poverty rate was 12.9%.[15]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[16] | Pop 2010[17] | Pop 2020[18] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 85,247 | 83,352 | 77,718 | 96.89% | 95.86% | 92.20% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 858 | 940 | 1,016 | 0.98% | 1.08% | 1.21% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 182 | 184 | 148 | 0.21% | 0.21% | 0.18% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 448 | 468 | 564 | 0.51% | 0.54% | 0.67% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 26 | 28 | 17 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 58 | 70 | 209 | 0.07% | 0.08% | 0.25% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 653 | 1,170 | 3,450 | 0.74% | 1.35% | 4.09% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 514 | 744 | 1,174 | 0.58% | 0.86% | 1.39% |
| Total | 87,986 | 86,956 | 84,296 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 86,956 people, 36,571 households, and 24,262 families living in the county.[19] The population density was 237.4 inhabitants per square mile (91.7/km2). There were 40,215 housing units at an average density of 109.8 units per square mile (42.4 units/km2).[20] The racial makeup of the county was 96.4% white, 1.1% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.[19] In terms of ancestry, 22.3% wereGerman, 19.6% wereAmerican, 13.7% wereEnglish, and 13.6% wereIrish.[21]
Of the 36,571 households, 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.1% were married couples living together, 11.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.35 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 42.2 years.[19]
The median income for a household in the county was $42,146 and the median income for a family was $52,058. Males had a median income of $42,497 versus $27,893 for females. The per capita income for the county was $22,890. About 12.3% of families and 16.4% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 7.8% of those age 65 or over.[22]
As of thecensus[23] of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families living in the county. The population density was 240 inhabitants per square mile (93/km2). There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 units per square mile (42 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.32%White, 1.01%Black orAfrican American, 0.21%Native American, 0.51%Asian, 0.04%Pacific Islander, 0.14% fromother races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population wereHispanic orLatino of any race.
There were 36,275 households, out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% weremarried couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% were non-families. 27.10% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,285, and the median income for a family was $40,436. Males had a median income of $34,899 versus $22,109 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $18,073. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of those age 65 or over.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third Parties |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 64.72%23,422 | 29.10%10,532 | 6.18%2,237 |
| 2020 | 68.32%26,232 | 25.87%9,933 | 3.03%1,162 |
| 2016 | 44.67%%15,959 | 48.26%17,240 | 7.08%2,527 |
| 2012 | 48.51%16,272 | 48.55%16,284 | 2.94%986 |
| 2011 | 53.58%7,888 | 43.45%6,396 | 2.96%437 |
| 2008 | 21.56%7,658 | 75.35%26,769 | 3.09%1,098 |
| 2004 | 34.40%13,383 | 64.01%24,904 | 1.60%622 |
Wood County is an outlier in West Virginia. After being stronglyUnionist duringthe Virginia Secession Convention[25] it identified with the Republican Party after the Civil War. Although not as Republican as the trio ofRitchie,Doddridge andTyler Counties, it has consistently voted Republican in the majority ofpresidential elections for most of the century and a half since, even when the state as a whole was a Democratic stronghold for most of the time from the 1930s through the 1990s. The only Democrats to win Wood County have beenSamuel J. Tilden in 1876,Woodrow Wilson in 1912 and 1916,Franklin D. Roosevelt between 1932 and 1940,Harry S. Truman in 1948, andLyndon Johnson in 1964. Out of these, Tilden and Truman were the only Democrats who did not go on to win over 400 electoral votes. However, Democratic candidates in local and state elections historically performed better, with a plurality of voters in Wood County remaining registered as Democrats until afterBarack Obama's election in 2008.[26]
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 2,509 | 29.37% | 3,784 | 44.29% | 2,251 | 26.35% |
| 1916 | 4,521 | 47.69% | 4,817 | 50.81% | 142 | 1.50% |
| 1920 | 10,463 | 53.72% | 8,839 | 45.38% | 176 | 0.90% |
| 1924 | 10,086 | 50.29% | 9,378 | 46.76% | 591 | 2.95% |
| 1928 | 15,184 | 69.90% | 6,412 | 29.52% | 125 | 0.58% |
| 1932 | 12,144 | 47.30% | 13,294 | 51.78% | 235 | 0.92% |
| 1936 | 12,574 | 42.75% | 16,829 | 57.21% | 11 | 0.04% |
| 1940 | 15,005 | 48.45% | 15,962 | 51.55% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 14,566 | 51.58% | 13,676 | 48.42% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 14,198 | 49.83% | 14,224 | 49.92% | 71 | 0.25% |
| 1952 | 19,917 | 58.46% | 14,154 | 41.54% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 21,096 | 61.30% | 13,320 | 38.70% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 22,131 | 58.97% | 15,396 | 41.03% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 14,947 | 40.94% | 21,560 | 59.06% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 18,960 | 51.76% | 14,293 | 39.02% | 3,379 | 9.22% |
| 1972 | 27,315 | 71.50% | 10,886 | 28.50% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 18,382 | 51.84% | 17,075 | 48.16% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 20,080 | 56.54% | 13,622 | 38.36% | 1,810 | 5.10% |
| 1984 | 24,821 | 68.42% | 11,357 | 31.30% | 101 | 0.28% |
| 1988 | 19,450 | 59.73% | 12,959 | 39.80% | 154 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | 15,441 | 42.83% | 13,529 | 37.52% | 7,084 | 19.65% |
| 1996 | 15,502 | 47.45% | 13,261 | 40.59% | 3,909 | 11.96% |
| 2000 | 20,428 | 60.34% | 12,664 | 37.40% | 765 | 2.26% |
| 2004 | 24,948 | 63.60% | 14,025 | 35.75% | 254 | 0.65% |
| 2008 | 22,896 | 63.38% | 12,573 | 34.80% | 657 | 1.82% |
| 2012 | 22,183 | 65.10% | 11,230 | 32.96% | 663 | 1.95% |
| 2016 | 25,434 | 70.51% | 8,400 | 23.29% | 2,237 | 6.20% |
| 2020 | 27,202 | 70.17% | 10,926 | 28.19% | 637 | 1.64% |
| 2024 | 26,380 | 70.46% | 10,317 | 27.56% | 743 | 1.98% |
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{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Places adjacent to Wood County, West Virginia | |
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