Preston County, West Virginia
Preston County | |
---|---|
Coordinates: 39°28′N 79°40′W / 39.47°N 79.67°W | |
Country | United States |
State | West Virginia |
Founded | 1818 |
Seat | Kingwood |
Area | |
• Total | 651 sq mi (1,690 km2) |
• Land | 648 sq mi (1,680 km2) |
• Water | 3 sq mi (8 km2) 0.47% |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 33,520 |
• Density | 50/sq mi (20/km2) |
Website | www |
Preston County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Morgantown, West Virginia, Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Pittsburgh DMA. It was formed from Monongalia County in 1818 and named for Virginia Governor James Patton Preston.[1] As of the 2010 census, the population was 33,520.[2] Its county seat is Kingwood.Template:GR It is the home of "The Buckwheat Festival." For media market purposes the county is defined entirely as part of the Pittsburgh market.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 651 square miles (1,687 km²), of which 648 square miles (1,679 km²) is land and 3 square miles (8 km²) (0.47%) is water.
Major highways
Adjacent counties
- Fayette County, Pennsylvania (north)
- Garrett County, Maryland (east)
- Grant County (southeast)
- Tucker County (south)
- Barbour County (southwest)
- Taylor County (west)
- Monongalia County (Northwest)
National protected area
- Monongahela National Forest (part)
State parks
- Cathedral State Park (also a Registered National Natural Landmark)
- Fairfax Stone State Park
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1820 | 3,422 | — | |
1830 | 5,144 | 50.3% | |
1840 | 6,866 | 33.5% | |
1850 | 11,708 | 70.5% | |
1860 | 13,312 | 13.7% | |
1870 | 14,555 | 9.3% | |
1880 | 19,091 | 31.2% | |
1890 | 20,355 | 6.6% | |
1900 | 22,727 | 11.7% | |
1910 | 26,341 | 15.9% | |
1920 | 27,996 | 6.3% | |
1930 | 29,043 | 3.7% | |
1940 | 30,416 | 4.7% | |
1950 | 31,399 | 3.2% | |
1960 | 27,233 | −13.3% | |
1970 | 25,455 | −6.5% | |
1980 | 30,460 | 19.7% | |
1990 | 29,037 | −4.7% | |
2000 | 29,334 | 1.0% | |
2010 | 33,520 | 14.3% |
As of the census of 2010,[3] there were 33,520 people, 12,895 households, and 9,038 families residing in the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 15,097 housing units at an average density of 23 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.63% White (97.13% non-Hispanic), 1.08% Black or African American, 0.19% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.84% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 12,895 households out of which 29.03% included children under the age of 18, 56.10% were married couples living together, 9.07% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.92% had a male householder with no wife present, and 29.91% were non-families. 24.63% of all households were made up of individuals and 10.70% 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 2.84.
The age distribution was 19.55% under the age of 18, 7.36% from 18 to 24, 27.58% from 25 to 44, 29.83% from 45 to 64, and 15.68% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42.0 years. For every 100 females, there were 106.63 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 106.48 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,866, and the median income for a family was $48,942. Full-time male workers had a median income of $41,073 versus $25,911 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,796. About 8.3% of families and 11.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 15.2% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities and towns
Unincorporated communities
See also
- Briery Mountain Wildlife Management Area
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Preston County, West Virginia
- Maryland v. West Virginia
- Snake Hill Wildlife Management Area
- Upper Deckers Creek Wildlife Management Area
References
- ^ http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html
- ^ "US Census Bureau Quick Facts Preston County, WV". Retrieved 20 June 2012.
- ^ Template:GR
Further reading
- Cox, Connie Loraine, Our Place In History: Southwestern Preston County, West Virginia, Headline Books, Terra Alta, WV, 2005. (Written and oral histories, photographs)