Harrison County, West Virginia

Harrison County, West Virginia
Seal
Location in the state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1784
Seat	Clarksburg
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	417 sq mi (1,080 km²) 416 sq mi (1,077 km²) 1 sq mi (3 km²), 0.13%
Population  - (2000)  - Density	68,652 166/sq mi (64/km²)
Website	www.harrisoncountywv.com/

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 69,099. [1] The county seat is Clarksburg. Harrison County is part of the Clarksburg, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 417 square miles (1,080.0 km²), of which 416 square miles (1,077.4 km²) is land and 1 square mile (2.6 km²) (0.13%) is water. The county is drained by the West Fork River and its tributaries, including Tenmile Creek, Simpson Creek, Elk Creek, and Hackers Creek.

Major Highways

Interstate 79 U.S. Highway 19 U.S. Highway 50 West Virginia Route 20 West Virginia Route 23

West Virginia Route 57 West Virginia Route 58 West Virginia Route 66 West Virginia Route 98

Adjacent Counties

• Marion County (north)
• Taylor County and Barbour County (east)
• Upshur County (southeast)
• Lewis County (south)
• Doddridge County (west)
• Wetzel County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1790	2,080		—
1800	4,848		133.1%
1810	9,958		105.4%
1820	10,932		9.8%
1830	14,722		34.7%
1840	17,669		20.0%
1850	11,728		−33.6%
1860	13,790		17.6%
1870	16,714		21.2%
1880	20,181		20.7%
1890	21,919		8.6%
1900	27,690		26.3%
1910	48,381		74.7%
1920	74,793		54.6%
1930	78,567		5.0%
1940	82,911		5.5%
1950	85,296		2.9%
1960	77,856		−8.7%
1970	73,028		−6.2%
1980	77,710		6.4%
1990	69,371		−10.7%
2000	68,652		−1.0%

Views of Main Street in Clarksburg (left) and the Benedum Civic Center in Bridgeport (right). Clarkburg and Bridgeport are the largest cities in Harrison County.

Left, the West Virginia Black Heritage Festival in Clarksburg, WV. Center, the Scottish Festival & Celtic Gathering in Bridgeport, WV. Right, the West Virginia Italian Heritage Festival in Clarksburg.

As of the census of 2000, there were 68,652 people, 27,867 households, and 19,088 families residing in the county. The population density was 165 people per square mile (64/km²). There were 31,112 housing units at an average density of 75 per square mile (29/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.55% White, 1.61% Black or African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 0.86% from two or more races. 0.96% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 27,867 households out of which 29.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.30% were married couples living together, 11.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 27.70% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.20% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.10% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 16.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $30,562, and the median income for a family was $36,870. Males had a median income of $30,721 versus $22,110 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,810. About 13.60% of families and 17.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.10% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

Cities	Towns	CDPs	Other communities
Bridgeport Clarksburg Salem Shinnston Stonewood	Anmoore Lost Creek Lumberport Nutter Fort West Milford	Despard Enterprise	Arlington Gypsy Jimtown Glen Falls

Charles Pointe Master-Planned Community

Harrison County is the site of West Virginia's first master-planned community, Charles Pointe, which is currently under construction in the city of Bridgeport, WV and comprises 1,700 acres (6.9 km²) that will combine commercial, residential, and recreational areas into one master-planned community. Adjacent to Charles Pointe, the new United Hospital Center, a $278 million state-of-the-art medical facility, is also currently being constructed. Directly across from the United Hospital Center site, White Oaks, a planned business community is also under way, and will support the new hospital and the FBI CJIS complex, which is also located nearby to the White Oaks site. This area of West Virginia's Interstate 79 is considered part of a "High Tech Corridor."

History

Harrison County was created in 1784, formed from Monongalia County and named for Benjamin Harrison V, a Virginian who was the father of William Henry Harrison, ninth President of the United States and great-grandfather of Benjamin Harrison, twenty-third president.

Historical Landmarks

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Harrison County, West Virginia

• Simpson Creek Covered Bridge
• Fletcher Covered Bridge
• Oak Mounds
• Kelly Miller High School
• The Waldomore

See also

• Center Branch Wildlife Management Area
• North Bend Rail Trail
• Watters Smith Memorial State Park

External links

• Harrison County Chamber of Commerce
• Harrison County Commission
• Harrison County Development Authority
• Harrison County Genealogical Society
• Harrison County Schools
• WVGenWeb Harrison County