Pocahontas County, West Virginia

Pocahontas County, West Virginia
Location in the state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1821
Seat	Marlinton
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	942 sq mi (2,440 km²) 940 sq mi (2,435 km²) 2 sq mi (5 km²), 0.71%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	8,719 9/sq mi (3.57/km²)
Website	www.pocahontascountycommission.com/

Morning fog on a rural mountain road.

Pocahontas County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,719.[1] It was established in 1821 and is named after the Native American chief's daughter from Jamestown, Virginia. Its county seat is Marlinton. Pocahontas County is the home to the National Radio Astronomy Observatory Green Bank Telescope and is part of the National Radio Quiet Zone.

History

When Andrew Lewis, early American pioneer, soldier, surveyor, and soldier from Virginia, came to survey one of the land grants for the Greenbrier Company in 1751, he found Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell living where Marlinton is found today. They had come from Frederick Maryland in 1749 and are considered the first settlers west of the Alleghenies. They built their original cabin where Marlin Run met Knapp’s Creek but Lewis found Sewell living in a large hollow sycamore tree near the cabin in what is now the area between Eighth and Ninth Avenues between Eighth and Ninth Streets.

The move Westward by settlers was not met well by the Indians as this was one of their many favored hunting areas. A treaty of 1758 confirmed the land west of the Allegheny Mountains to the Indians and forbidding any of his Majesty’s subjects to settle or hunt.

As the white settlers encroached onto the Indian land, there were many raids and massacres reported. After the Revolution, the Indian squabbles quieted and the settlers’ land claims were secured in an orderly manner.

In June 1863 West Virginia became the 35th state of the Union. Although part of Virginia at the time, the two areas differed culturally and pioneering individuals traditionally settled the western portion, while a slave holding aristocratic society developed in the eastern portion. When Virginia seceded from the Union in 1861 the residents of the western counties, few of whom owned slaves, decided to stay with the Union. For West Virginia it truly was a Civil War.

The railroads came late to Pocahontas County as building rails over the mountains was not only a tedious job, but an expensive job. It was not until 1899 that construction began but after that, the task moved with startling speed. The 1900 census of the county indicate many Europeans came to the region to build the railroads.

Commercial timbering quickly began upon completion of the railroads, including a large mill owned by the West Virginia Pulp & Paper Company (now MeadWestvaco) at Cass. By the end of 1920 dozens of small railroading towns dotted the landscape along the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway line.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 942 square miles (2,439 km²), of which 940 square miles (2,435 km²) is land and 2 square miles (4 km²) (0.17%) is water.

The highest point is believed to be Thorny Flat on Cheat Mountain in the northwestern part of the county. At an estimated 4,848 feet (1,478 m), it is the second-highest summit in West Virginia.^{[citation needed]}

Birthplace of rivers

The county is the site of the headwaters for eight rivers: Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Gauley River, Greenbrier River, Tygart Valley River, Williams River, and Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. The Monongahela National Forest protects much of the river headwaters, thereby helping to ensure improved downstream water quality.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 219 U.S. Highway 250 West Virginia Route 28 West Virginia Route 39

West Virginia Route 55 West Virginia Route 66 West Virginia Route 84 West Virginia Route 92

National protected area

• Monongahela National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1830	2,542		—
1840	2,922		14.9%
1850	3,598		23.1%
1860	3,958		10.0%
1870	4,069		2.8%
1880	5,561		36.7%
1890	6,814		22.5%
1900	8,570		25.8%
1910	14,740		72.0%
1920	15,002		1.8%
1930	14,555		−3.0%
1940	13,906		−4.5%
1950	12,480		−10.3%
1960	10,136		−18.8%
1970	8,870		−12.5%
1980	9,919		11.8%
1990	9,008		−9.2%
2000	9,131		1.4%
2010	8,719		−4.5%

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 835 households, and 527 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (4/km²). There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile (3/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.38% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,835 households out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 106.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,401, and the median income for a family was $32,511. Males had a median income of $26,173 versus $16,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,384. About 12.70% of families and 17.10% of individuals were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

Incorporated towns & cities

• Town of Durbin
• Town of Hillsboro
• Town of Marlinton

Below is partial listing of known unincorporated communities within Pocahontas County. A complete listing is available here

Unincorporated communities

Arborvale Bartow Buckeye Cass Clover Lick Droop

Dunmore Frank Green Bank Huntersville Knapp Mill Point

Minnehaha Springs Seebert Slatyfork Snowshoe Stony Bottom

Official points of interest

National Register of Historic Places listings

• Camp Allegheny
• Camp Bartow Historic District
• Cass Historic District
• Cass Scenic Railroad
• Reber Radio Telescope (also a National Historic Landmark)
• GW Jeep Site
• Locust Creek Covered Bridge
• The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
• Richard Beard House

• Huntersville Presbyterian Church
• Droop Mountain Battlefield
• Frank and Anna Hunter House
• IOOF Lodge Building
• Marlinton Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Station
• Pocahontas County Opera House in Marlinton
• Pocahontas County Courthouse and Jail
• Pocahontas Times Print Shop
• McNeel Mill

National Natural Landmarks

• Cranberry Glades Botanical Area
• Gaudineer Scenic Area
• Swago Karst Area (de-designated in 2006 at owner's request)

National Literary Landmarks

• The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace (Website)

Economy

Tourism

As of 2008, there were approximately 30,000 out-of-towners who own property in Pocahontas County. The tourism industry has continued to be one of the county's largest economic industries. The main tourist attraction is Snowshoe Mountain which attracts thousands of visitors every summer and winter.^{[citation needed]}

Notable natives and residents

• Pearl S. Buck was born in Hillsboro and her house is preserved as The Pearl S. Buck Birthplace
• W. E. Blackhurst Known as "Tweard" by the citizens of Pocahontas County, this author wrote of the logging industry at the turn of the century in a style called "low level, high interest" (easy to understand language and dialog and interesting plotlines). His most famous work may be Riders of the Flood, which was turned into a subject for the outdoor theater in the town of Ronceverte.
• B.J. Gudmundsson is award-winning film-maker for Patchwork Films, a nonprofit renowned for its documentaries on mountaintop removal, the Appalachian culture, the lives of remarkable citizens, and New England.
• Another Patchwork filmmaker, Doug Chadwick, also resides in Pocahontas County. [2]
• Aaron Tumblin was the 2006 West Virginia State champion in the 4H Forestry Invitational for Forestry and Pacing. [3]

See also

• Cass Scenic Railroad State Park
• Droop Mountain Battlefield State Park
• Greenbrier River Trail
• Handley Wildlife Management Area
• National Radio Astronomy Observatory
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Pocahontas County, West Virginia
• Watoga State Park
• Shavers Mountain
• Spice Run Wilderness

External links

• Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia by William T. Price
• Free Libraries of Pocahontas County
• Durbin Public Library
• Green Bank Public Library
• Hillsboro Public Library
• McClintic Public Library