Brooke County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brooke County
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Old Main, Bethany College
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Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
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 West Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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| Country |  United States |
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| State |  West Virginia |
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| Founded | November 30, 1797 | |
| Named for | Robert Brooke | |
| Seat | Wellsburg | |
| Largest city | Follansbee | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 92.57 sq mi (239.8 km2) | |
| • Land | 89.20 sq mi (231.0 km2) | |
| • Water | 3.37 sq mi (8.7 km2) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 22,559 | |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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22,140  |
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| • Density | 252.90/sq mi (97.65/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
| Congressional district | 1st | |
Brooke County is a place in the northern part of West Virginia, a state in the United States. It's known as a county. In 2020, about 22,559 people lived here. The main town and government center is Wellsburg.
Brooke County was created in 1797. It was named after Robert Brooke, who was the Governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796. This county is also part of a larger group of cities and towns called the Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History of Brooke County
The first European settlers came to this area around 1747. They were brothers named Jonathan, Israel, and Friend Cox. They claimed land near Buffalo Creek and the Ohio River. They used a method called a "tomahawk claim," which meant they marked trees to show their ownership.
Later, in 1788, Charles Prather bought some of this land. A trading post was set up by Alexander Wells and Richard Owings. In 1791, the town around this post was named "Charlestown." On November 30, 1796, Brooke County was officially formed, and Charlestown became its county seat.
To avoid confusion with other towns named Charlestown in Virginia, the county seat's name was changed. On December 28, 1816, it became Wellsburg. This name honored Charles Wells, who was Charles Prather's son-in-law.
Wellsburg became an important place. The first glass factory was built there in 1813. This was easy because the Ohio River allowed for good transportation. In 1818, Alexander Campbell started a school. This school later became Bethany College in 1840. It is the oldest private college in West Virginia.
During the American Civil War, officials from Brooke County helped create the new state of West Virginia. This happened after their efforts to stop Virginia from leaving the United States failed. In 1866, Wellsburg received a new plan for its government from the West Virginia legislature. Samuel Marks became the first elected mayor of Wellsburg.
Around 1863, West Virginia counties were divided into smaller areas called "civil townships." These were meant to help with local government. Later, in 1872, they became "magisterial districts." Brooke County had three districts: Buffalo, Cross Creek, and Wellsburg. Today, the districts are Follansbee, Weirton, and Wellsburg.
Geography of Brooke County
Brooke County covers about 93 square miles. Most of this area, about 89 square miles, is land. The rest, about 3.4 square miles, is water. It is the second-smallest county in West Virginia. The highest point in Brooke County is about 1,372 feet high. It is located south of Franklin.
Main Roads
US 22
WV 2
WV 27
WV 27 Alt.
WV 67
WV 88
WV 105
Neighboring Counties
- Hancock County (north)
- Washington County, Pennsylvania (east)
- Ohio County (south)
- Jefferson County, Ohio (west)
Protected Natural Areas
- Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part of it is in Brooke County)
People of Brooke County (Demographics)
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1800 | 4,706 | — | |
| 1810 | 5,843 | 24.2% | |
| 1820 | 6,631 | 13.5% | |
| 1830 | 7,041 | 6.2% | |
| 1840 | 7,948 | 12.9% | |
| 1850 | 5,054 | −36.4% | |
| 1860 | 5,494 | 8.7% | |
| 1870 | 5,464 | −0.5% | |
| 1880 | 6,013 | 10.0% | |
| 1890 | 6,660 | 10.8% | |
| 1900 | 7,219 | 8.4% | |
| 1910 | 11,098 | 53.7% | |
| 1920 | 16,527 | 48.9% | |
| 1930 | 24,663 | 49.2% | |
| 1940 | 25,513 | 3.4% | |
| 1950 | 26,904 | 5.5% | |
| 1960 | 28,940 | 7.6% | |
| 1970 | 29,685 | 2.6% | |
| 1980 | 31,117 | 4.8% | |
| 1990 | 26,992 | −13.3% | |
| 2000 | 25,447 | −5.7% | |
| 2010 | 24,069 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 22,559 | −6.3% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 22,140 | −8.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
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In 2010, there were 24,069 people living in Brooke County. There were about 10,020 households, which are groups of people living together. The population density was about 270 people per square mile.
Most people in the county were white (97.0%). About 1.2% were Black or African American, and 0.4% were Asian. People from Hispanic or Latino backgrounds made up 0.7% of the population.
Many families in Brooke County have German, Irish, Italian, or English roots. The average age of people in the county was 44.8 years old.
The average income for a household in the county was about $39,475 per year. For families, the average income was about $52,528 per year. About 11.0% of all people in the county lived below the poverty line. This included 16.5% of those under 18 years old.
Education in Brooke County
Brooke County is home to Bethany College. This is the oldest private college in the state of West Virginia.
Communities in Brooke County
Brooke County has several cities, towns, and smaller communities.
Cities
- Follansbee
- Weirton (part of this city is in Brooke County)
- Wellsburg (This is the county seat, where the main government offices are)
Town
Villages
Magisterial Districts
These are areas used for local government.
Current Districts
- Follansbee
- Weirton
- Wellsburg
Past Districts
- Buffalo
- Cross Creek
Census-Designated Places
These are areas that are like towns but are not officially incorporated.
Unincorporated Communities
These are smaller communities that are not officially part of a city or town.
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Brooke para niños
