Boone County, West Virginia

Coordinates: 38°01′N 81°43′W / 38.02°N 81.72°W / 38.02; -81.72
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Boone County
County
Boone County Courthouse in Madison
Boone County Courthouse in Madison
Official seal of Boone County
Seal
Map of West Virginia highlighting Boone 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°01′N 81°43′W / 38.02°N 81.72°W / 38.02; -81.72
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedMarch 11, 1847
Named forDaniel Boone
SeatMadison
Largest cityMadison
Area
 • Total503.19 sq mi (1,303.3 km2)
 • Land501.53 sq mi (1,299.0 km2)
 • Water1.66 sq mi (4.3 km2)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total21,809
 • Estimate 
(2021)
21,312 Decrease
 • Density43.48/sq mi (16.79/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.boonecountywv.org

Boone County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,809.[1] Its county seat is Madison.[2] Boone County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. Leading industries and chief agricultural products in Boone County include coal, lumber, natural gas, tobacco, and strawberries.

History[edit]

The county was formed in 1847 with territories annexed from Kanawha, Cabell, and Logan counties. It was named for frontiersman Daniel Boone, who lived in the Great Kanawha Valley from 1789 until 1795.[3]

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.[4] Boone County was divided into five districts: Crook, Peytona, Scott, Sherman, and Washington. Between 1980 and 1990, the county was redivided into three magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.[5]

On February 1, 2006, two fatal mining accidents occurred in the communities of Uneeda and Wharton in Boone County. These two deaths with the addition of January's Sago Mine disaster and the Aracoma Alma Mine disaster caused West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin to close all of West Virginia's mines in a "mine safety stand-down."

Geography[edit]

Boone County lies in the central southwestern part of West Virginia. Its terrain consists of low wooded mountains, carved with drainages.[6] The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest point at its south corner, at 3,212 ft (979 m) ASL.[7] The county has a total area of 503 square miles (1,300 km2), of which 502 square miles (1,300 km2) is land and 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) (0.3%) is water.[8]

Major highways[edit]

Adjacent counties[edit]

Demographics[edit]

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18503,237—
18604,84049.5%
18704,553−5.9%
18805,82427.9%
18906,88518.2%
19008,19419.0%
191010,33126.1%
192015,31948.3%
193024,58660.5%
194028,55616.1%
195033,17316.2%
196028,764−13.3%
197025,118−12.7%
198030,44721.2%
199025,870−15.0%
200025,535−1.3%
201024,629−3.5%
202021,809−11.4%
2021 (est.)21,312[9]−2.3%
US Decennial Census[10]
1790–1960[11] 1900–1990[12]
1990–2000[13] 2010–2020[1]

2010 census[edit]

As of the census of 2010, there were 24,629 people, 9,928 households, and 7,014 families in the county.[14] The population density was 49.1 people per square mile (19.0 people/km2). There were 11,070 housing units at an average density of 22.1 units per square mile (8.5 units/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 98.5% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 15.4% were German, 13.3% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 8.3% were English.[16]

Of the 9,928 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.7 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,783 and the median income for a family was $47,981. Males had a median income of $51,740 versus $32,110 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,457. About 15.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.[17]

2000 census[edit]

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,535 people, 10,291 households, and 7,460 families in the county. The population density was 50.9 people per square mile (19.7 people/km2). There were 11,575 housing units at an average density of 23.1 units per square mile (8.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.53% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Boone County are English (13%), Irish (12%) and German (11%).[18]

There were 10,291 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county contained 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,669, and the median income for a family was $31,999. Males had a median income of $34,931 versus $19,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,453. About 18.30% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics[edit]

With the exception of the 1972 Nixon landslide, Boone County voted Democratic in every presidential election from 1924 until 2012. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won over sixty percent of the vote in the process of becoming the first presidential candidate to sweep every county in the state. Also in 2012, in the state's Democratic primaries, Boone County was one of the West Virginia counties that voted for eccentric perennial candidate Keith Russell Judd, who at the time was still in prison on felony charges, over incumbent president Barack Obama.

United States presidential election results for Boone County, West Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No.  % No.  % No.  %
2020 6,816 75.62% 2,041 22.65% 156 1.73%
2016 6,504 74.09% 1,790 20.39% 485 5.52%
2012 5,467 64.30% 2,790 32.82% 245 2.88%
2008 3,632 43.39% 4,529 54.11% 209 2.50%
2004 4,207 41.25% 5,933 58.18% 58 0.57%
2000 3,353 36.68% 5,656 61.88% 132 1.44%
1996 1,917 21.49% 6,048 67.79% 957 10.73%
1992 2,021 20.93% 6,576 68.09% 1,061 10.99%
1988 2,786 29.81% 6,539 69.97% 20 0.21%
1984 4,656 39.39% 7,121 60.24% 44 0.37%
1980 4,164 34.70% 7,515 62.63% 321 2.68%
1976 3,072 26.48% 8,528 73.52% 0 0.00%
1972 5,985 52.84% 5,342 47.16% 0 0.00%
1968 2,970 28.87% 6,391 62.13% 926 9.00%
1964 2,467 22.27% 8,609 77.73% 0 0.00%
1960 4,104 33.74% 8,058 66.26% 0 0.00%
1956 5,196 42.17% 7,126 57.83% 0 0.00%
1952 4,100 33.31% 8,209 66.69% 0 0.00%
1948 2,909 30.00% 6,769 69.81% 19 0.20%
1944 3,449 35.14% 6,366 64.86% 0 0.00%
1940 4,128 34.31% 7,904 65.69% 0 0.00%
1936 3,477 31.12% 7,697 68.88% 0 0.00%
1932 3,555 37.06% 5,973 62.26% 65 0.68%
1928 4,000 45.27% 4,805 54.39% 30 0.34%
1924 3,010 41.32% 3,326 45.66% 948 13.01%
1920 2,674 50.31% 2,529 47.58% 112 2.11%
1916 1,504 50.03% 1,397 46.47% 105 3.49%
1912 416 16.80% 1,119 45.19% 941 38.00%

Education[edit]

Madison[edit]

  • Brookview Elementary School
  • Madison Elementary School
  • Ramage Elementary School
  • Madison Middle School
  • Scott High School

Van[edit]

  • Van Elementary School
  • Van Jr./Sr. High School

Seth[edit]

  • Ashford-Rumble Elementary School
  • Sherman Elementary School
  • Whitesville Elementary School
  • Sherman Junior High School
  • Sherman Senior High School

Communities[edit]

City[edit]

Towns[edit]

Magisterial districts[edit]

  • District 1
  • District 2
  • District 3

Census-designated places[edit]

Unincorporated communities[edit]

Notable people[edit]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  2. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 23, 2001. Retrieved July 23, 2013.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  5. ^ United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  6. ^ a b Boone County WV Google Maps (accessed April 15, 2019)
  7. ^ ""Find an Altitude/Boone County WV" Google Maps (accessed April 15, 2019)". Archived from the original on May 21, 2019. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  8. ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". US Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 23, 2015.
  9. ^ "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  10. ^ "US Decennial Census". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  11. ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 9, 2014.
  12. ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". US Census Bureau. Retrieved January 9, 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 9, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c "Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. ^ "Selected Social Characteristics in the US – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  17. ^ "Selected Economic Characteristics – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". US Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  18. ^ "Boone County WV - Ancestry & family history". www.epodunk.com. Archived from the original on October 24, 2012. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
  19. ^ Leip, David. "Atlas of US Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.

External links[edit]

38°01′N 81°43′W / 38.02°N 81.72°W / 38.02; -81.72

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