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Upshur County, West Virginia facts for kids

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Upshur County
U.S. county
The Upshur County Courthouse, designed by architect Harrison Albright pictured in Buckhannon in 2006
The Upshur County Courthouse, designed by architect Harrison Albright pictured in Buckhannon in 2006
Official seal of Upshur County
Seal
Map of West Virginia highlighting Upshur County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  West Virginia
Founded March 26, 1851
Named for 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 (0.3 km2)  0.03%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 23,816
 • Estimate 
(2021)
 23,791 Decrease
 • Density 67.09/sq mi (25.90/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Upshur County is a place in West Virginia, a state in the United States. In 2020, about 23,816 people lived there. Its main town, called the county seat, is Buckhannon. The county was created in 1851 from parts of Randolph, Barbour, and Lewis counties. It was named after Abel Parker Upshur. He was an important leader and judge from Virginia. Upshur also worked for the US government as the Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy. He served under President John Tyler.

Exploring Upshur County's Geography

Upshur County covers about 355 square miles. Most of this area is land. Only a tiny part, about 0.1 square miles, is water. The county is part of a special area called the United States National Radio Quiet Zone. This means there are rules about radio signals here. The highest point in Upshur County is 3,160 feet high. It is located near Sugar Run, close to the border with Randolph County.

How Upshur County is Divided

In 1863, West Virginia counties were split into smaller areas called townships. This was done to help local governments. But it was hard to manage in rural areas. So, in 1872, these townships became "magisterial districts." Upshur County first had six districts: Banks, Buckhannon, Meade, Union, Warren, and Washington. In the 1990s, these six districts were changed. They became three new districts: First, Second, and Third.

Main Roads in Upshur County

These are the most important roads that go through Upshur County:

  • US 33.svg U.S. Highway 33
  • US 48.svg U.S. Highway 48
  • US 119.svg U.S. Highway 119
  • WV-4.svg West Virginia Route 4
  • WV-20.svg West Virginia Route 20

Neighboring Counties

Upshur County shares its borders with these other counties:

People and Population in Upshur County

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
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%
2021 (est.) 23,791 −1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

The number of people living in Upshur County has changed over many years. You can see how the population has grown and shrunk in the chart above.

Population in 2020

In 2020, about 23,816 people lived in Upshur County. There were 9,599 households, which are groups of people living together. Most people, about 94.4%, were White. About 0.9% were African American, and 0.7% were Asian. People of Hispanic or Latino background made up about 1.3% of the population. The average age of people in the county was 41.9 years old. About 20.8% of the people were under 18 years old. The average income for a household was $44,470.

Population in 2010

In 2010, there were 24,254 people living in Upshur County. There were 9,619 households. Most people, about 97.6%, were White. About 1% of the population was of Hispanic or Latino origin. The average age was 40.9 years. The average income for a household was $36,114. About 19.3% of the people were living below the poverty line.

Communities in Upshur County

City

  • Buckhannon (This is the county seat, the main town)

Magisterial Districts

Current Districts

  • First
  • Second
  • Third

Historic Districts

Upshur County was first divided into six townships in 1863. These were later replaced in the 1990s.

  • Banks District, named after Nathaniel Prentiss Banks
  • Buckhannon District, named after the county's main town
  • Meade District, named after General George Gordon Meade
  • Union District, named for soldiers who fought for the Union
  • Warren District, named after Gouverneur Kemble Warren
  • Washington District, named after President George Washington

Small Towns and Areas (Unincorporated Communities)

Upshur County's Economy

The economy in Upshur County includes several important activities. These are coal mining and timber (cutting down trees for wood). Higher education is also a big part of the economy. The main town, Buckhannon, is home to West Virginia Wesleyan College. This is a small, private college. The West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek also brings in money. It is a popular place for tourists to visit. Upshur County also has coal mines, like the Sago Mine.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Upshur (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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