Upshur County, West Virginia | |
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![The Upshur County Courthouse, designed by architect Harrison Albright[1] pictured in Buckhannon in 2006](/mt/?noimg=&dark=on&url=https%3a%2f%2fen.wikipedia.org%2fwiki%2fFile%3aUpshur_County_Courthouse_Buckhannon.jpg) The Upshur County Courthouse, designed by architectHarrison Albright[1] pictured in Buckhannon in 2006 | |
 Seal | |
 Location within the U.S. state ofWest Virginia | |
| Coordinates:38°54′N80°14′W / 38.9°N 80.23°W /38.9; -80.23 | |
| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| Founded | March 26, 1851 |
| Named after | Abel Parker Upshur |
| Seat | Buckhannon |
| Largest city | Buckhannon |
| Area | |
• Total | 355 sq mi (920 km2) |
| • Land | 355 sq mi (920 km2) |
| • Water | 0.1 sq mi (0.26 km2) 0.03% |
| Population (2020) | |
• Total | 23,816 |
• Estimate (2024) | 23,529 |
| • Density | 67.1/sq mi (25.9/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 2nd |
| Website | www |
Upshur County is acounty in theU.S. state ofWest Virginia. As of the2020 census, the population was 23,816.[2] Itscounty seat isBuckhannon.[3] The county was formed in 1851 fromRandolph,Barbour, andLewis counties and named forAbel Parker Upshur, a distinguishedstatesman andjurist ofVirginia.[4] Upshur served asUnited States Secretary of State andSecretary of the Navy underPresidentJohn Tyler.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles (920 km2), of which 354.9 square miles (919 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (0.03%) is water.[5] The county falls within theUnited States National Radio Quiet Zone. The highest elevation in Upshur County is 3,160 feet or 963 meters, near Sugar Run on the Randolph and Upshur County lines just outside Palace Valley and Hemlock. It is reported there as an elevation marker at the site.
In 1863, 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.[6] Upshur County was divided into six districts: Banks, Buckhannon, Meade, Union, Warren, and Washington. In the 1990s, the six historic magisterial districts were consolidated into three new districts: First, Second, and Third.[7]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 | 7,292 | — | |
| 1870 | 8,023 | 10.0% | |
| 1880 | 10,249 | 27.7% | |
| 1890 | 12,714 | 24.1% | |
| 1900 | 14,696 | 15.6% | |
| 1910 | 16,629 | 13.2% | |
| 1920 | 17,851 | 7.3% | |
| 1930 | 17,944 | 0.5% | |
| 1940 | 18,360 | 2.3% | |
| 1950 | 19,242 | 4.8% | |
| 1960 | 18,292 | −4.9% | |
| 1970 | 19,092 | 4.4% | |
| 1980 | 23,427 | 22.7% | |
| 1990 | 22,867 | −2.4% | |
| 2000 | 23,404 | 2.3% | |
| 2010 | 24,254 | 3.6% | |
| 2020 | 23,816 | −1.8% | |
| 2024 (est.) | 23,529 | [8] | −1.2% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[9] 1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11] 1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[2] | |||
As of the2020 census, the county had a population of 23,816. Of the residents, 20.9% were under the age of 18 and 21.0% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 41.9 years. For every 100 females there were 96.4 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 95.9 males.[13]
The racial makeup of the county was 94.4% White, 0.9%Black or African American, 0.2%American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%Asian, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.8% fromtwo or more races.Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.3% of the population.[14]
There were 9,598 households in the county, of which 27.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 25.0% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.[13]
There were 11,178 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 73.8% were owner-occupied and 26.2% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.8% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.3%.[13]
| Race / Ethnicity(NH = Non-Hispanic) | Pop 2000[15] | Pop 2010[16] | Pop 2020[17] | % 2000 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 22,876 | 23,494 | 22,349 | 97.74% | 96.87% | 93.84% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 143 | 145 | 211 | 0.61% | 0.60% | 0.89% |
| Native American orAlaska Native alone (NH) | 37 | 51 | 37 | 0.16% | 0.21% | 0.16% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 71 | 85 | 87 | 0.30% | 0.35% | 0.37% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 1 | 1 | 5 | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.02% |
| Other race alone (NH) | 8 | 7 | 28 | 0.03% | 0.03% | 0.12% |
| Mixed race or Multiracial (NH) | 131 | 221 | 783 | 0.56% | 0.91% | 3.29% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 137 | 250 | 316 | 0.59% | 1.03% | 1.33% |
| Total | 23,404 | 24,254 | 23,816 | 100.00% | 100.00% | 100.00% |
As of the2010 United States census, there were 24,254 people, 9,619 households, and 6,528 families living in the county.[18] The population density was 68.4 inhabitants per square mile (26.4/km2). There were 11,099 housing units at an average density of 31.3 units per square mile (12.1 units/km2).[19] The racial makeup of the county was 97.6% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[18] In terms of ancestry, 18.1% wereGerman, 13.8% wereAmerican, 10.6% wereIrish, and 8.6% wereEnglish.[20]
Of the 9,619 households, 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.1% were non-families, and 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 40.9 years.[18]
The median income for a household in the county was $36,114 and the median income for a family was $44,937. Males had a median income of $36,517 versus $25,420 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,823. About 14.1% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.[21]
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 24,254 people, 9,619 households, and 6,528 families living in the county. Thepopulation density was 68.4 people per square mile (26.4 people/km2). There were 11,099 housing units at an average density of 31.3 units per square mile (12.1 units/km2). Theracial makeup of the county was 97.6% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1% from two or more races. 1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 9,619 households, out of which 28.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54% weremarried couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.1% were non-families. 26.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.4 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 24.7% from age 0 to 19, 7.60% from 20 to 24, 22.6% from 25 to 44, 28.3% from 45 to 64, and 16.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 97 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $39,381, whereas the median income for families was 44,937 . Males had a median income of $36,517 versus $25,420 for females. Theper capita income for the county was $19,498. About 14.1% of families and 19.3% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 26.7% of those under age 18 and 14.1% of those age 65 or over.
Upshur County was divided into six townships on July 31, 1863. They were replaced in the 1990s.
Whereas most of West Virginia has seen a rapid and continuing shift to the Republican Party since the 1990s, Upshur County – though strongly Democratic during theSecond Party System – has ever since statehood been a Republican stronghold due to its powerfulUnionist sympathies fromCivil War days, and the association of the Democratic Party with the “Slave Power” and creating a war the yeoman residents had no desire to fight.[22] The solitary post-Civil War Democrat to win the county has been Lyndon Johnson in 1964, and he won by only 168 votes. Since 1864, only two other Democrats –Jimmy Carter in 1976 andBill Clinton in 1996 – have topped forty percent in the county.
| Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party(ies) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
| 1912 | 835 | 23.88% | 895 | 25.59% | 1,767 | 50.53% |
| 1916 | 2,553 | 70.14% | 1,019 | 27.99% | 68 | 1.87% |
| 1920 | 4,936 | 77.17% | 1,418 | 22.17% | 42 | 0.66% |
| 1924 | 4,930 | 70.24% | 1,952 | 27.81% | 137 | 1.95% |
| 1928 | 5,277 | 75.20% | 1,683 | 23.98% | 57 | 0.81% |
| 1932 | 5,077 | 61.23% | 3,147 | 37.95% | 68 | 0.82% |
| 1936 | 5,745 | 64.30% | 3,163 | 35.40% | 26 | 0.29% |
| 1940 | 6,086 | 68.02% | 2,862 | 31.98% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1944 | 5,332 | 72.47% | 2,026 | 27.53% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1948 | 5,068 | 68.31% | 2,323 | 31.31% | 28 | 0.38% |
| 1952 | 5,938 | 72.66% | 2,234 | 27.34% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1956 | 5,707 | 73.28% | 2,081 | 26.72% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1960 | 5,123 | 66.42% | 2,590 | 33.58% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1964 | 3,606 | 48.86% | 3,774 | 51.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1968 | 4,565 | 62.44% | 2,319 | 31.72% | 427 | 5.84% |
| 1972 | 6,449 | 78.23% | 1,795 | 21.77% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1976 | 4,789 | 57.68% | 3,513 | 42.32% | 0 | 0.00% |
| 1980 | 4,751 | 58.66% | 2,867 | 35.40% | 481 | 5.94% |
| 1984 | 5,951 | 70.29% | 2,468 | 29.15% | 47 | 0.56% |
| 1988 | 4,813 | 60.97% | 3,065 | 38.83% | 16 | 0.20% |
| 1992 | 3,505 | 42.47% | 3,161 | 38.30% | 1,587 | 19.23% |
| 1996 | 3,325 | 44.65% | 3,052 | 40.98% | 1,070 | 14.37% |
| 2000 | 5,165 | 63.58% | 2,770 | 34.10% | 188 | 2.31% |
| 2004 | 6,191 | 66.62% | 3,034 | 32.65% | 68 | 0.73% |
| 2008 | 5,911 | 65.89% | 2,925 | 32.61% | 135 | 1.50% |
| 2012 | 5,939 | 71.57% | 2,158 | 26.01% | 201 | 2.42% |
| 2016 | 7,005 | 75.34% | 1,766 | 18.99% | 527 | 5.67% |
| 2020 | 7,771 | 76.01% | 2,256 | 22.07% | 196 | 1.92% |
| 2024 | 7,633 | 77.42% | 2,033 | 20.62% | 193 | 1.96% |
Economy includes coal mining and timber, as well as higher education—the Upshur County seat of Buckhannon is home to the small, private, liberal arts institutionWest Virginia Wesleyan College. TheWest Virginia State Wildlife Center inFrench Creek also generates some income as a popular tourist attraction. Upshur County also gained international attention during theSago Mine disaster in 2006; the blast and ensuing aftermath trapped 13 coal miners for nearly two days, only one of whom survived.[24]
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)Places adjacent to Upshur County, West Virginia | ||||||||||||||||
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Municipalities and communities ofUpshur County, West Virginia,United States | ||
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| Ghost town | ||
| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
38°54′N80°14′W / 38.90°N 80.23°W /38.90; -80.23
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