Monongalia County, West Virginia

Monongalia County, known locally as Mon County, is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,189,[1] making it West Virginia's fourth-most populous county. Its county seat is at Morgantown.[2] The county was founded in 1776.[3] Monongalia County is included in the Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the largest county in North-Central West Virginia. It is part of the Pittsburgh media market.

Monongalia County
U.S. county
Seal
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°38′N 80°03′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedOctober 9, 1776
SeatMorgantown
Largest cityMorgantown
Area
 • Total366 sq mi (950 km2)
 • Land360 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  1.6%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total96,189
 • Estimate 
(2019)
105,612
 • Density296/sq mi (114/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.monongalia.wv.us
New Monongalia County Justice Center in 2017

History
Map of Ohio, Monongalia, & Yohogania Counties circa 1776. Monongalia County is in magenta.

Monongalia County takes its name from the Monongahela River. The name Monongalia may be a misspelling of Monongahela. Alternatively, the conventional Latinate ending "-ia" (designating "land of..." or "country of..." — as in Arabia, Bolivia or Colombia) may have been added to Monongahela (i.e., "Land of the Monongahela").

Monongalia County was formed in 1776 when Virginia's remote District of West Augusta was divided into three counties: Ohio, Yohogania and Monongalia, all named for their most prominent rivers. Ohio County then encompassed most of the western region of the district bordering the Ohio River, including parts of what is now southwestern Pennsylvania. Yohogania County consisted of much of what is now southwestern Pennsylvania and the present counties of Hancock and the northern part of Brooke in West Virginia. Monongalia County also encompassed what are now the counties of Tucker, Randolph, Harrison and Barbour in north-central West Virginia, as well as parts of what are now Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties in Pennsylvania. In 1780, in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson gave the militia enrollment of what was then the vast Monongalia County at 1,000 troops.

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] Monongalia County was divided into seven districts: Battelle, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Grant, Morgan, and Union. After a century of relative stability, in the 1970s Monongalia's seven historic magisterial districts were consolidated into three new Districts: Central, Eastern, and Western.[5]

Geography

Adjacent counties

Major Highways

Rivers, streams, and lakes

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
17904,768—
18008,54079.1%
181012,79349.8%
182011,060−13.5%
183014,05627.1%
184017,36823.6%
185012,387−28.7%
186013,0485.3%
187013,5473.8%
188014,98510.6%
189015,7054.8%
190019,04921.3%
191024,33427.7%
192033,61838.2%
193050,08349.0%
194051,2522.3%
195060,79718.6%
196055,617−8.5%
197063,71414.6%
198075,02417.8%
199075,5090.6%
200081,8668.4%
201096,18917.5%
2019 (est.)105,612[6]9.8%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families living in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile (88/km2). There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.22% White, 3.38% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 33,446 households, out of which 24.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.80% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.70% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,625, and the median income for a family was $43,628. Males had a median income of $33,113 versus $23,828 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,106. About 11.30% of families and 22.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 96,189 people, 39,777 households, and 20,032 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 267.1 inhabitants per square mile (103.1/km2). There were 43,238 housing units at an average density of 120.1 per square mile (46.4/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 3.6% black or African American, 3.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 25.7% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 13.0% were English, 11.0% were Italian, 7.5% were American, and 5.0% were Polish.[14]

Of the 39,777 households, 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 49.6% were non-families, and 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 29.1 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,167 and the median income for a family was $62,966. Males had a median income of $43,383 versus $32,164 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,116. About 8.6% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[15]

Politics

In presidential elections since 1916, the winner of Monongalia County won West Virginia as a whole, even if the candidate in question lost the national election, such was the case in 1916, 1952, 1968, 1980, and 1988. In 2008, however, Democrat Barack Obama narrowly won the county while Republican John McCain comfortably carried West Virginia, the first time since Theodore Roosevelt in 1912 that the county failed to back the statewide winner.

While still typically favoring Republicans, the county tends to lean significantly more Democratic than the rest of West Virginia. Donald Trump carried the county with just over 500 more votes than Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, by far Biden's best county-level performance in the state.

Presidential election results
Presidential election results[16]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2020 49.5% 20,803 48.2% 20,282 2.3% 987
2016 50.1% 18,432 40.0% 14,699 9.9% 3,633
2012 53.3% 16,831 43.8% 13,826 3.0% 934
2008 47.0% 15,775 50.8% 17,060 2.2% 734
2004 51.5% 17,670 47.6% 16,313 0.9% 323
2000 49.7% 13,595 46.1% 12,603 4.3% 1,169
1996 38.0% 10,189 50.0% 13,406 12.0% 3,225
1992 34.4% 9,831 49.4% 14,142 16.3% 4,650
1988 45.9% 12,091 53.8% 14,178 0.3% 69
1984 53.0% 14,972 46.8% 13,236 0.2% 66
1980 43.0% 11,972 46.3% 12,883 10.7% 2,971
1976 42.3% 11,827 57.8% 16,163
1972 61.0% 16,758 39.0% 10,721
1968 38.7% 9,261 54.8% 13,128 6.5% 1,556
1964 27.2% 6,473 72.8% 17,358
1960 46.8% 11,523 53.2% 13,103
1956 56.1% 14,046 44.0% 11,016
1952 49.9% 13,111 50.1% 13,152
1948 43.0% 9,329 56.0% 12,138 1.0% 216
1944 48.1% 9,647 52.0% 10,429
1940 44.5% 10,367 55.5% 12,940
1936 39.0% 8,811 60.6% 13,677 0.4% 94
1932 43.8% 8,417 53.7% 10,319 2.5% 485
1928 64.1% 11,364 34.9% 6,182 1.1% 188
1924 49.6% 6,994 35.3% 4,977 15.2% 2,139
1920 64.0% 6,773 32.5% 3,442 3.5% 369
1916 57.5% 3,412 37.5% 2,227 5.0% 297
1912 23.2% 1,216 31.9% 1,673 44.9% 2,352

Education

The county's public schools are operated by Monongalia County Schools. The county is also home to West Virginia's largest university, West Virginia University, located in Morgantown.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Magisterial districts
  • Central
  • Eastern
  • Western

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Other sources
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. I: Prelude (1974), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. II: The Pioneers (1976), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. III: Discord (1979), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. IV: Industrialization (1984), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. V: Sophistication (1984), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. West Virginia Counties Archived September 23, 2001, at the Wayback Machine. Wvculture.org. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.
  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. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 26, 2020.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  12. "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.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  14. "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.
  15. "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.
  16. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

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