Ritchie County, West Virginia

Ritchie County, West Virginia
Location in the state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1843
Seat	Harrisville
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	454 sq mi (1,176 km²) 454 sq mi (1,176 km²) 0.48 sq mi (1 km²), 0.02%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	10,449 23/sq mi (9/km²)
Website	www.ritchiecounty.wv.gov/

Ritchie County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 10,449. Its county seat is Harrisville. It was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper publisher Thomas Ritchie.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 454 square miles (1,175 km²), of which 454 square miles (1,175 km²) is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) (0.02%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 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 (west)
• Wood County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical populations
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%

The Ritchie County Courthouse in Harrisville in 2007

As of the census of 2000, there were 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 families residing in the county. The population density was 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% White, 0.14% Black or African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.13% Asian, 0.11% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,184 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.00% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,332, and the median income for a family was $34,809. Males had a median income of $28,147 versus $18,149 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,175. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 14.10% 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

Localities

Towns

• Auburn
• Cairo
• Ellenboro
• Harrisville
• Pennsboro
• Pullman

Other places

• Berea
• Brohard
• Fonzo
• Macfarlan
• Petroleum
• Smithville

See also

• Hughes River Wildlife Management Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Ritchie County, West Virginia
• North Bend State Park
• North Bend Rail Trail
• Ritchie Mines Wildlife Management Area