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Webster County, West Virginia

Coordinates: 38°29′N 80°26′W / 38.49°N 80.43°W / 38.49; -80.43
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Webster County
County
Webster County Courthouse in Webster Springs, 2007
Webster County Courthouse
in Webster Springs, 2007
Map of West Virginia highlighting Webster 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.
Coordinates: 38°29′N 80°26′W / 38.49°N 80.43°W / 38.49; -80.43
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedJanuary 10, 1860
Named forDaniel Webster
SeatWebster Springs
Largest townWebster Springs
Area
 • Total556 sq mi (1,440 km2)
 • Land553 sq mi (1,430 km2)
 • Water2.8 sq mi (7 km2)  0.5%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total8,378
 • Estimate 
(2021)
8,249 Decrease
 • Density15/sq mi (5.8/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.webstercountywv.com

Webster County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,378.[1] Its county seat is Webster Springs.[2] The county was founded in 1860 and named for Daniel Webster.[3]

History

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Webster County was formed from parts of Nicholas, Braxton, and Randolph counties in Virginia through the approval of an act of the Virginia General Assembly during its 1859-1860 session. Movement toward the formation of this county began in 1851.[4][5]

Webster became part of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. When the state was formed, each county was divided into multiple civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, so in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.[6]

Webster County's three original townships, subsequently magisterial districts, were Fork Lick, Glade, and Holly. A fourth district, Hacker Valley,[i] was formed from part of Holly District in 1876. The four historic magisterial districts remained largely unchanged until the 1990s, when they were consolidated into three new districts: Central, Northern, and Southern.[7]

Geography

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According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 556 square miles (1,440 km2), of which 553 square miles (1,430 km2) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km2) (0.5%) is water.[8]

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

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National protected area

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Streams

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Demographics

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Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18601,555—
18701,73011.3%
18803,20785.4%
18904,78349.1%
19008,86285.3%
19109,6809.2%
192011,56219.4%
193014,21623.0%
194018,08027.2%
195017,888−1.1%
196013,719−23.3%
19709,809−28.5%
198012,24524.8%
199010,729−12.4%
20009,719−9.4%
20109,154−5.8%
20208,378−8.5%
2021 (est.)8,249[9]−1.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

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As of the census of 2000, there were 9,719 people, 4,010 households, and 2,815 families living in the county. The population density was 18 people per square mile (6.9 people/km2). There were 5,273 housing units at an average density of 10 units per square mile (3.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 99.18% White, 0.01% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.06% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.01% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 4,010 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.40% were married couples living together, 10.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.80% were non-families. 26.50% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 26.70% from 25 to 44, 27.10% 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 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 94.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,055, and the median income for a family was $25,049. Males had a median income of $25,362 versus $15,381 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,284. About 26.60% of families and 31.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.40% of those under age 18 and 21.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

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As of the 2010 United States census, there were 9,154 people, 3,792 households, and 2,595 families living in the county.[14] The population density was 16.5 inhabitants per square mile (6.4/km2). There were 5,428 housing units at an average density of 9.8 units per square mile (3.8 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 98.6% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 19.8% were American, 15.7% were Irish, 12.6% were German, and 8.9% were English.[16]

Of the 3,792 households, 30.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.8% were married couples living together, 11.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 31.6% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.88. The median age was 44.1 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $28,025 and the median income for a family was $35,448. Males had a median income of $44,277 versus $19,292 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,268. About 19.9% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.4% of those under age 18 and 12.1% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Politics

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From 1864 through 2008, Webster County voted Democratic in every presidential election except 1972, when Richard Nixon carried the county by just 45 votes against George McGovern. However, in 2012 Mitt Romney carried the county handily, by a 27.52% margin. In 2016, Donald Trump won the county by a much larger landslide of 57.90%, and in 2020 by a 63.2% margin, the largest landslide victory of any candidate in the county's history.[18]

United States presidential election results for Webster County, West Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party(ies)
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 2,759 81.10% 610 17.93% 33 0.97%
2016 2,302 76.45% 556 18.47% 153 5.08%
2012 1,710 61.67% 947 34.15% 116 4.18%
2008 1,386 45.34% 1,552 50.77% 119 3.89%
2004 1,724 46.42% 1,965 52.91% 25 0.67%
2000 1,484 44.86% 1,764 53.33% 60 1.81%
1996 654 19.63% 2,292 68.81% 385 11.56%
1992 811 22.68% 2,320 64.88% 445 12.44%
1988 1,016 31.58% 2,185 67.92% 16 0.50%
1984 1,565 39.86% 2,355 59.98% 6 0.15%
1980 1,262 31.76% 2,578 64.87% 134 3.37%
1976 971 24.88% 2,931 75.12% 0 0.00%
1972 2,114 50.54% 2,069 49.46% 0 0.00%
1968 1,241 30.22% 2,582 62.87% 284 6.92%
1964 936 19.95% 3,755 80.05% 0 0.00%
1960 1,689 32.68% 3,479 67.32% 0 0.00%
1956 2,457 44.44% 3,072 55.56% 0 0.00%
1952 2,229 37.17% 3,767 62.83% 0 0.00%
1948 1,527 28.99% 3,726 70.74% 14 0.27%
1944 1,595 32.68% 3,285 67.32% 0 0.00%
1940 2,067 31.10% 4,579 68.90% 0 0.00%
1936 1,987 30.02% 4,613 69.70% 18 0.27%
1932 1,781 32.53% 3,664 66.92% 30 0.55%
1928 1,936 45.53% 2,306 54.23% 10 0.24%
1924 1,617 38.68% 2,523 60.36% 40 0.96%
1920 1,562 44.51% 1,942 55.34% 5 0.14%
1916 854 35.87% 1,513 63.54% 14 0.59%
1912 307 14.06% 1,330 60.90% 547 25.05%

Communities

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Towns

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Magisterial districts

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Current

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  • Central
  • Northern
  • Southern

Historic

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  • Fork Lick
  • Glade
  • Hacker Valley
  • Holly

Census-designated places

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Unincorporated communities

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Notable person

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See also

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Footnotes

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  1. ^ Originally "Hacker's Valley".

References

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  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Webster County history sources". Archived from the original on May 29, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  4. ^ County Reports and Maps: Webster County and Portion of Mingo District, 1920, West Virginia Geological and Economic Survey, page 8, Google Books
  5. ^ [Formation and Organization of Webster County, Ancestry.com Message Boards]
  6. ^ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  7. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 31, 2015.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 20, 2022.
  10. ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  13. ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  17. ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  18. ^ CNN 2012 Election site
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

Further reading

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  • Dodrill, William Christian (1915). Moccasin tracks and other imprints. Charleston, WV: Lovett Printing Co. Retrieved April 20, 2014. (Historical sketches of Webster County)
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Webster County, West Virginia.

38°29′N 80°26′W / 38.49°N 80.43°W / 38.49; -80.43

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