Pleasants County, West Virginia

Pleasants County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. At the 2010 census, the population was 7,605,[1] making it the third-least populous county in the state. Its county seat is St. Marys.[2] The county was created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1851 and named for US Senator and Virginia Governor James Pleasants, Jr..[3]

Pleasants County
U.S. county
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°22′N 81°10′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedMarch 29, 1851
Named forJames Pleasants
SeatSt. Marys
Largest citySt. Marys
Area
 • Total135 sq mi (350 km2)
 • Land130 sq mi (300 km2)
 • Water4.4 sq mi (11 km2)  3.3%%
Population
 (2010)
 • Total7,605
 • Estimate 
(2019)
7,460
 • Density56/sq mi (22/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitepleasantscountywv.org

Pleasants County is part of the Parkersburg-Vienna, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 135 square miles (350 km2), of which 130 square miles (340 km2) is land and 4.4 square miles (11 km2) (3.3%) is water.[4] It is the fourth-smallest county in West Virginia by area.

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.[5] Pleasants County was divided into six districts: Grant, Jefferson, Lafayette, McKim, Union, and Washington. These remained largely unchanged for over a century, but in the 1980s the six historic magisterial districts were consolidated into four new districts: District A, District B, District C, and District D.[6]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.%±
18602,945—
18703,0122.3%
18806,256107.7%
18907,53920.5%
19009,34524.0%
19108,074−13.6%
19207,379−8.6%
19306,545−11.3%
19406,6922.2%
19506,369−4.8%
19607,12411.9%
19707,2742.1%
19808,23613.2%
19907,546−8.4%
20007,514−0.4%
20107,6051.2%
2019 (est.)7,460[7]−1.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[8]
1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10]
1990–2000[11] 2010–2019[1]

2000 census

As of the census[12] of 2000, there were 7,514 people, 2,887 households, and 2,136 families living in the county. The population density was 58 people per square mile (22/km2). There were 3,214 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile (9/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.30% White, 0.48% Black or African American, 0.47% Native American, 0.20% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.49% from two or more races. 0.37% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 2,887 households, out of which 32.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.10% were married couples living together, 10.40% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.00% were non-families. 22.90% 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 2.51 and the average family size was 2.93.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.80% under the age of 18, 7.80% from 18 to 24, 28.70% from 25 to 44, 24.80% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,736, and the median income for a family was $37,795. Males had a median income of $31,068 versus $18,077 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,920. About 10.90% of families and 13.70% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.80% of those under age 18 and 7.90% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 7,605 people, 2,861 households, and 2,021 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 58.5 inhabitants per square mile (22.6/km2). There were 3,390 housing units at an average density of 26.1 per square mile (10.1/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 1.3% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry,[15]

Of the 2,861 households, 31.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.1% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 24.9% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.4 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,882 and the median income for a family was $54,391. Males had a median income of $52,738 versus $23,750 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,770. About 6.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 12.6% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Education

In Pleasants County, there is a single school district including one high school, one middle school, and two elementary schools. The county is also served by the Mid Ohio Valley Technical Institute, which offers vocational education in a variety of fields.[17]

Politics

Although Pleasants County, like neighbouring rock-ribbed Unionist and Republican Ritchie, Doddridge and Tyler Counties, voted against secession at the Virginia Secession Convention,[18] during the Third Party System the county voted consistently Democratic.[19] However, from 1900 onwards the county has generally voted Republican except in strong Democratic election victories, and like all of West Virginia it has become rock-ribbed GOP in the twenty-first century as a consequence of de-unionization in the coal industry.[20]

Presidential elections results
Presidential elections results[21]
Year Republican Democratic Third parties
2016 74.2% 2,358 19.5% 621 6.3% 200
2012 64.2% 1,825 33.6% 955 2.2% 61
2008 59.6% 1,772 38.4% 1,142 2.1% 61
2004 60.0% 2,061 39.3% 1,349 0.7% 25
2000 58.7% 1,884 39.5% 1,267 1.8% 57
1996 39.9% 1,265 46.6% 1,478 13.5% 428
1992 37.0% 1,248 41.1% 1,387 22.0% 741
1988 55.3% 1,761 44.6% 1,421 0.2% 5
1984 60.5% 2,255 39.1% 1,458 0.3% 12
1980 53.7% 1,852 43.3% 1,494 2.9% 101
1976 48.6% 1,608 51.4% 1,699
1972 62.7% 2,025 37.4% 1,207
1968 47.1% 1,534 46.7% 1,522 6.3% 204
1964 36.9% 1,339 63.1% 2,287
1960 53.2% 1,982 46.8% 1,742
1956 57.6% 2,144 42.4% 1,581
1952 53.8% 1,900 46.2% 1,632
1948 50.0% 1,548 49.6% 1,536 0.5% 15
1944 51.8% 1,622 48.2% 1,507
1940 51.6% 1,896 48.4% 1,779
1936 48.7% 1,820 51.1% 1,907 0.2% 8
1932 44.8% 1,580 54.5% 1,921 0.7% 24
1928 60.1% 1,821 39.9% 1,210 0.0% 1
1924 48.7% 1,619 50.4% 1,675 0.9% 29
1920 52.9% 1,657 46.3% 1,449 0.8% 26
1916 49.2% 876 50.5% 899 0.4% 7
1912 29.4% 493 47.5% 796 23.0% 386

Communities

Cities

Current
  • District A
  • District B
  • District C
  • District D

Historic
  • Grant
  • Jefferson
  • Lafayette
  • McKim
  • Union
  • Washington

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on September 23, 2001. Retrieved February 4, 2013.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
  5. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  6. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  7. "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved March 29, 2020.
  8. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  9. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  10. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  11. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 11, 2014.
  12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  13. "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.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. "Pleasants County, West Virginia - Education". pleasantscountywv.net. Retrieved 2018-03-28.
  18. Hinkle, Harlan H.; Grayback Mountaineers: The Confederate Face Of Western Virginia, p. 198 ISBN 0595268404
  19. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 334-337 ISBN 0786422173
  20. Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  21. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

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