Gilmer County, West Virginia

Gilmer County, West Virginia

The Gilmer County Courthouse in Glenville
Map of West Virginia highlighting Gilmer County
Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded February 3, 1845
Named for Thomas Walker Gilmer
Seat Glenville
Largest town Glenville
Area
 • Total 340 sq mi (881 km2)
 • Land 339 sq mi (878 km2)
 • Water 1.6 sq mi (4 km2), 0.5%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 8,518
 • Density 25/sq mi (10/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.gilmercounty.wv.gov

Gilmer County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 8,693.[1] Its county seat is Glenville.[2] The county was formed in 1845 from parts of Lewis and Kanawha Counties, and named for Thomas Walker Gilmer, Governor of Virginia from 1840 to 1841.[3][4] Gilmer was later a representative in the United States Congress and Secretary of the Navy in President John Tyler's cabinet.

Cedar Creek State Park offers camping, hunting, fishing and hiking. The West Virginia State Folk Festival is held each June. Glenville State College has a full community activity center, a state-of-the-art library, and a complete collection of hand-carved, West Virginia–native birds on public display. The Gilmer County Recreation Center Complex includes a small golf course, a convention / reunion hall, and bunk houses. Gilmer County is home to ten nationally registered historic landmarks, the Cedar Creek Backway, and the annual West Virginia Folk Festival. Media outlets for the community include The Glenville Democrat and The Glenville Pathfinder, the county's two newspapers, and Two-Lane Livin', a regional magazine.

Gilmer County is also the site of Federal Correctional Institution, Gilmer, a federal medium security prison for men and the county's largest employer.

As of 2014, Gilmer County still has only one traffic light. It is located in the city of Glenville.[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 340 square miles (880 km2), of which 339 square miles (880 km2) is land and 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2) (0.5%) is water.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18503,475—
18603,7598.2%
18704,33815.4%
18807,10863.9%
18909,74637.1%
190011,76220.7%
191011,379−3.3%
192010,668−6.2%
193010,641−0.3%
194012,04613.2%
19509,746−19.1%
19608,050−17.4%
19707,782−3.3%
19808,3347.1%
19907,669−8.0%
20007,160−6.6%
20108,69321.4%
Est. 20158,518[7]−2.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 7,160 people, 2,768 households, and 1,862 families residing in the county. The population density was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33% White, 0.91% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.57% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.88% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,768 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 25.50% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 16.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $22,857, and the median income for a family was $28,685. Males had a median income of $25,497 versus $15,353 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,498. About 20.20% of families and 25.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 8,693 people, 2,753 households, and 1,806 families residing in the county.[13] The population density was 25.7 inhabitants per square mile (9.9/km2). There were 3,448 housing units at an average density of 10.2 per square mile (3.9/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 82.5% white, 12.3% black or African American, 0.5% American Indian, 0.4% Asian, 0.1% Pacific islander, 2.4% from other races, and 1.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 5.7% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 23.1% were German, 14.9% were Irish, 9.6% were American, and 6.1% were English.[15]

Of the 2,753 households, 25.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.8% were married couples living together, 10.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.4% were non-families, and 27.6% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 38.0 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $29,706 and the median income for a family was $38,044. Males had a median income of $30,654 versus $16,834 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,899. About 25.1% of families and 30.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.4% of those under age 18 and 13.1% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

Presidential election results[17]
Year Republican Democrat
2016 73.67% 1,889 20.94% 537
2012 63.24% 1,595 33.31% 840
2008 57.32% 1,445 39.83% 1,004
2004 58.38% 1,665 40.64% 1,159
2000 56.93% 1,560 39.85% 1,092

Communities

Towns

Unincorporated communities

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/gilmer.html
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 137.
  5. ↑ http://gnv.stparchive.com/Archive/GNV/GNV07052012p01.php
  6. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ "County Totals Dataset: Population, Population Change and Estimated Components of Population Change: April 1, 2010 to July 1, 2015". Retrieved July 2, 2016.
  8. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  13. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  14. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. ↑ "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". Retrieved 2016-11-18.
 Ritchie County Doddridge County
Calhoun County Lewis County
   Gilmer County, West Virginia  
Braxton County

Coordinates: 38°55′N 80°51′W / 38.92°N 80.85°W / 38.92; -80.85

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