Ritchie County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ritchie County
|
|
|---|---|
Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville
|
|
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
|
|
 West Virginia's location within the U.S. |
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  West Virginia |
| Founded | February 18, 1843 |
| Named for | Thomas Ritchie |
| Seat | Harrisville |
| Largest town | Harrisville |
| Area | |
| • Total | 454 sq mi (1,180 km2) |
| • Land | 452 sq mi (1,170 km2) |
| • Water | 1.7 sq mi (4 km2) 0.4%% |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 8,444 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
|
8,383  |
| • Density | 18.599/sq mi (7.181/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| Congressional district | 1st |
Ritchie County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,444. Its county seat is Harrisville. The county was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper publisher Thomas Ritchie.
Contents
History
Ritchie was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Later that year, the new state'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. Ritchie County was divided into four districts: Clay, Grant, Murphy, and Union.
In 1911, historian Minnie Kendall Lowther published "The History of Ritchie County." Her book is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive histories of any county in West Virginia.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 454 square miles (1,180 km2), of which 452 square miles (1,170 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.4%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Route 50
West Virginia Route 16
West Virginia Route 31
West Virginia Route 47
West Virginia Route 74
Adjacent counties
- Pleasants County (north)
- Tyler County (northeast)
- Doddridge County (east)
- Gilmer County (southeast)
- Calhoun County (south)
- Wirt County (southwest)
- Wood County (northwest)
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1850 | 3,902 | — | |
| 1860 | 6,847 | 75.5% | |
| 1870 | 9,055 | 32.2% | |
| 1880 | 13,474 | 48.8% | |
| 1890 | 16,621 | 23.4% | |
| 1900 | 18,901 | 13.7% | |
| 1910 | 17,875 | −5.4% | |
| 1920 | 16,506 | −7.7% | |
| 1930 | 15,594 | −5.5% | |
| 1940 | 15,389 | −1.3% | |
| 1950 | 12,535 | −18.5% | |
| 1960 | 10,877 | −13.2% | |
| 1970 | 10,145 | −6.7% | |
| 1980 | 11,442 | 12.8% | |
| 1990 | 10,233 | −10.6% | |
| 2000 | 10,343 | 1.1% | |
| 2010 | 10,449 | 1.0% | |
| 2020 | 8,444 | −19.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 8,383 | −19.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2020 |
|||
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 10,449 people, 4,367 households, and 2,960 families living in the county. The population density was 23.1 inhabitants per square mile (8.9/km2). There were 5,843 housing units at an average density of 12.9 units per square mile (5.0 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were German, 14.6% were Irish, 13.2% were American, and 11.3% were English.
Of the 4,367 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.3 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $32,619 and the median income for a family was $39,919. Males had a median income of $31,807 versus $23,966 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 13.9% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% of those age 65 or over.
Notable sights
- Historic Berdine's Five and Dime
- North Bend State Park
- North Bend Rail Trail
- The Double Scoop Ice Cream Parlor Cairo, WV
- Pine Hill Pottery
- Sunny Hollow Farms
- Old Stone House Museum
Communities
City
Towns
- Auburn
- Cairo
- Ellenboro
- Harrisville (county seat)
- Pullman
Magisterial districts
- Clay
- Grant
- Murphy
- Union
Unincorporated communities
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Ritchie para niños
