Hancock County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hancock County
|
|
|---|---|
Peter Tarr Furnace Site
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
|
|
 West Virginia's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| Founded | January 15, 1848 |
| Named for | John Hancock |
| Seat | New Cumberland |
| Largest city | Weirton |
| Area | |
| • Total | 88 sq mi (230 km2) |
| • Land | 83 sq mi (210 km2) |
| • Water | 5.4 sq mi (14 km2) 6.1% |
| Population
(2010)
|
|
| • Total | 30,676 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
|
28,810 |
| • Density | 348.6/sq mi (134.6/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 30,676. Its county seat is New Cumberland and its largest city is Weirton. The county was created from Brooke County in 1848 and named for John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence. Hancock County is the northernmost point in both West Virginia and, by some definitions, the Southern United States; being at the tip of the state's Northern Panhandle. Hancock County is part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.
Contents
History
Hancock County was formed from Brooke County in 1848, some 15 years before West Virginia became a state. Both counties were once part of Ohio County, Virginia, which had been formed from West Augusta District in 1776. Hancock County has significant Revolutionary-period roots due to its location on the Ohio River south of Fort Pitt and north of Fort Henry in Wheeling. It was the site of the infamous massacre of Chief Logan's family in 1774 (at Baker's Tavern across the Ohio River from the mouth of Yellow Creek, the current site of Mountaineer Race Track and Casino), an event that sparked Lord Dunmore's War. Adam Poe had his famous fight with the Indian known as Big Foot at the mouth of Tomlinson Run in 1781. Historical markers commemorate both events. Significant Revolutionary War forts and blockhouses in Hancock County included Holliday's Cove Fort (now downtown Weirton) and Chapman's Blockhouse (New Cumberland). Source: "Every Home a Fort, Every Man a Warrior," Michael Edward Nogay, ISBN 978-0-578-01862-1 [Tri-State Publishing Co., 2009].
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 88 square miles (230 km2), of which 83 square miles (210 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (6.1%) is water. It is the smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Hancock County is approximately 1363 ft. and located about 1800 ft. ESE of Emmanuel Mission Church. [1]
Major highways
US 30 / Lincoln Highway
West Virginia Route 2
West Virginia Route 8
Adjacent counties
- Columbiana County, Ohio (northwest)
- Beaver County, Pennsylvania (east)
- Washington County, Pennsylvania (southeast)
- Brooke County (south)
- Jefferson County, Ohio (west)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 4,050 | — | |
| 1860 | 4,445 | 9.8% | |
| 1870 | 4,363 | −1.8% | |
| 1880 | 4,882 | 11.9% | |
| 1890 | 6,414 | 31.4% | |
| 1900 | 6,693 | 4.3% | |
| 1910 | 10,465 | 56.4% | |
| 1920 | 19,975 | 90.9% | |
| 1930 | 28,511 | 42.7% | |
| 1940 | 31,572 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 34,388 | 8.9% | |
| 1960 | 39,615 | 15.2% | |
| 1970 | 39,749 | 0.3% | |
| 1980 | 40,418 | 1.7% | |
| 1990 | 35,233 | −12.8% | |
| 2000 | 32,667 | −7.3% | |
| 2010 | 30,676 | −6.1% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 28,810 | −6.1% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019 |
|||
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 30,676 people, 13,297 households, and 8,732 families living in the county. The population density was 371.3 inhabitants per square mile (143.4/km2). There were 14,541 housing units at an average density of 176.0 per square mile (68.0/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 2.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 21.1% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.6% were Italian, 12.5% were English, 8.0% were Polish, and 6.2% were American.
Of the 13,297 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 45.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $38,565 and the median income for a family was $46,978. Males had a median income of $40,961 versus $28,915 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,118. About 11.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
- Chester
- New Cumberland (county seat)
- Weirton (part)
Census-designated place
Unincorporated communities
- Congo
- Fairhaven
- Kings Creek
- Lawrenceville
- Lennyville
- Moscow
- New Manchester
- Sun Valley
- Vermont Terrace
Population ranking
The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Hancock County.
† county seat
| Rank | City/Town/etc. | Population (2010 Census) | Municipal type |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Weirton partially in Brooke County | 19,746 | City |
| 2 | Chester | 2,585 | City |
| 3 | Newell | 1,376 | CDP |
| 4 | † New Cumberland | 1,103 | City |
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Hancock (Virginia Occidental) para niños
