Nicholas County, West Virginia
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 654 square miles (1,690 km), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km) (1.2%) is water.
In 1863, 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. Nicholas County was divided into six districts: Grant, Jefferson, Kentucky, Mumble-the-peg, Summersville, and Wilderness. In 1873, Mumble-the-peg became Hamilton District. A seventh district, Beaver, was created in the 1880s.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 19
West Virginia Route 20
West Virginia Route 39
West Virginia Route 41
West Virginia Route 55
Battlefields
Carnifex Ferry Battlefield, Keslers Cross Lanes
Adjacent counties
- Braxton County (north)
- Webster County (northeast)
- Greenbrier County (southeast)
- Fayette County (southwest)
- Clay County (northwest)
- Kanawha County (west)
National protected areas
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 1,853 | — | |
1830 | 3,346 | 80.6% | |
1840 | 2,515 | −24.8% | |
1850 | 3,963 | 57.6% | |
1860 | 4,627 | 16.8% | |
1870 | 4,458 | −3.7% | |
1880 | 7,223 | 62.0% | |
1890 | 9,309 | 28.9% | |
1900 | 11,403 | 22.5% | |
1910 | 17,699 | 55.2% | |
1920 | 20,717 | 17.1% | |
1930 | 20,686 | −0.1% | |
1940 | 24,070 | 16.4% | |
1950 | 27,696 | 15.1% | |
1960 | 25,414 | −8.2% | |
1970 | 22,552 | −11.3% | |
1980 | 28,126 | 24.7% | |
1990 | 26,775 | −4.8% | |
2000 | 26,562 | −0.8% | |
2010 | 26,233 | −1.2% | |
2020 | 24,604 | −6.2% | |
2021 (est.) | 24,300 | −1.2% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 26,562 people, 10,722 households, and 7,762 families living in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km). There were 12,406 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 10,722 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,974, and the median income for a family was $32,074. Males had a median income of $30,508 versus $17,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,207. About 15.00% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 26,233 people, 10,938 households, and 7,591 families living in the county. The population density was 40.6 inhabitants per square mile (15.7/km). There were 13,064 housing units at an average density of 20.2 units per square mile (7.8 units/km). The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were Irish, 19.0% were German, 12.9% were English, and 10.1% were American.
Of the 10,938 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,457 and the median income for a family was $45,127. Males had a median income of $42,302 versus $25,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,359. About 14.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Year | Republican | Democratic | Third party | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
No. | % | No. | % | No. | % | |
2020 | 8,279 | 77.86% | 2,226 | 20.93% | 128 | 1.20% |
2016 | 7,251 | 75.70% | 1,840 | 19.21% | 488 | 5.09% |
2012 | 5,898 | 67.09% | 2,664 | 30.30% | 229 | 2.60% |
2008 | 4,804 | 51.32% | 4,357 | 46.54% | 200 | 2.14% |
2004 | 5,485 | 52.99% | 4,788 | 46.26% | 78 | 0.75% |
2000 | 4,359 | 50.81% | 4,059 | 47.31% | 161 | 1.88% |
1996 | 2,649 | 31.03% | 4,769 | 55.87% | 1,118 | 13.10% |
1992 | 2,959 | 31.05% | 5,042 | 52.91% | 1,528 | 16.04% |
1988 | 3,731 | 41.75% | 5,173 | 57.89% | 32 | 0.36% |
1984 | 4,656 | 50.21% | 4,588 | 49.48% | 29 | 0.31% |
1980 | 3,885 | 40.83% | 5,265 | 55.33% | 366 | 3.85% |
1976 | 3,462 | 35.70% | 6,235 | 64.30% | 0 | 0.00% |
1972 | 5,907 | 61.95% | 3,628 | 38.05% | 0 | 0.00% |
1968 | 3,678 | 39.22% | 4,858 | 51.81% | 841 | 8.97% |
1964 | 2,628 | 27.65% | 6,878 | 72.35% | 0 | 0.00% |
1960 | 4,297 | 42.67% | 5,774 | 57.33% | 0 | 0.00% |
1956 | 5,263 | 51.89% | 4,880 | 48.11% | 0 | 0.00% |
1952 | 4,386 | 43.86% | 5,615 | 56.14% | 0 | 0.00% |
1948 | 3,391 | 40.22% | 5,018 | 59.51% | 23 | 0.27% |
1944 | 3,259 | 43.09% | 4,305 | 56.91% | 0 | 0.00% |
1940 | 4,299 | 44.73% | 5,312 | 55.27% | 0 | 0.00% |
1936 | 3,964 | 40.02% | 5,872 | 59.28% | 70 | 0.71% |
1932 | 3,684 | 40.50% | 5,327 | 58.56% | 86 | 0.95% |
1928 | 3,917 | 52.36% | 3,495 | 46.72% | 69 | 0.92% |
1924 | 3,347 | 45.02% | 3,956 | 53.21% | 131 | 1.76% |
1920 | 3,691 | 50.53% | 3,564 | 48.79% | 50 | 0.68% |
1916 | 2,056 | 44.77% | 2,467 | 53.72% | 69 | 1.50% |
1912 | 584 | 14.40% | 2,018 | 49.75% | 1,454 | 35.85% |
Elected officials
Position | Elected Official |
---|---|
Nicholas County Commission |
|
Nicholas County Assessor | Ernie Dennison |
Nicholas County Circuit Clerk | Debbie Facemire |
Nicholas County Clerk | Robert Painter |
Nicholas County Prosecutor | Jonathan Sweeney |
Nicholas County Sheriff | William Nunley |
Communities
Cities
- Richwood
- Summersville (county seat)
Magisterial districts
- Beaver
- Grant
- Hamilton
- Jefferson
- Kentucky
- Summersville
- Wilderness
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
See also
- Carnifex Ferry Battlefield State Park
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Nicholas County, West Virginia
- Nicholas County Schools