Jefferson County, West Virginia
Overview
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat
is Charles Town
. Jefferson County is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area
.
Jefferson County was formed from Berkeley County
in 1801 and named for Thomas Jefferson
, author of the Declaration of Independence
and third President of the United States
. Virginia previously had a Jefferson County, which was lost to form the new state of Kentucky. Accordingly, in the State records of Virginia, there will be listings for Jefferson County from 1780-1792 and Jefferson County from 1801-1863.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
. Jefferson County is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Washington Metropolitan Area
The Washington Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The area includes all of the federal district and parts of the U.S...
.
Jefferson County was formed from Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
in 1801 and named for Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, author of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
and third President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Virginia previously had a Jefferson County, which was lost to form the new state of Kentucky. Accordingly, in the State records of Virginia, there will be listings for Jefferson County from 1780-1792 and Jefferson County from 1801-1863.
Unanswered Questions
Encyclopedia
Jefferson County is a county located in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat
is Charles Town
. Jefferson County is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area
.
in 1801 and named for Thomas Jefferson
, author of the Declaration of Independence
and third President of the United States
. Virginia previously had a Jefferson County, which was lost to form the new state of Kentucky. Accordingly, in the State records of Virginia, there will be listings for Jefferson County from 1780-1792 and Jefferson County from 1801-1863. Neither is still located in Virginia and despite naming a county after him twice, Virginia no longer has a county named for its hero Thomas Jefferson.
was the site of the trial for the abolitionist John Brown
after his October 1859 raid on the federal armory
in Harpers Ferry
. Some 90 U.S. Marines serving under then Army Colonel Robert E. Lee
and Lieutenants J.E.B. Stuart
and Israel Green put down the rebellion.
Brown was sentenced to death for murder, treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, and conspiring with slaves to rebel. On 2 December 1859 John Brown was taken from the Charles Town jail a short distance to an open field and hanged. Among those attending the Brown execution was a contingent of 1500 cadets from Virginia Military Institute
sent by the Governor of Virginia
Henry A. Wise
under the supervision of Major William Gilham
and Major Thomas J. Jackson
. In the ranks of a Richmond militia company stood John Wilkes Booth.
Jefferson County is the only part of modern-day West Virginia
not exempted from the effects of the Emancipation Proclamation
(as Berkeley County
and the 48 counties designated as West Virginia
had been). Slaves in the county were legally free as of January 1, 1863.
east of the mountains, with the consent of the Reorganized Government of Virginia supposedly voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia in 1863 in a dubious election supervised by the occupying Union Army
. Virginia tried to nullify this after the American Civil War
, but the counties were forced to remain part of West Virginia. The two counties are sometimes thus referred to as West Virginia's "stolen counties".
The question of the constitutionality of the formation of the new state was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States
in the following manner: Berkeley
and Jefferson County, West Virginia, counties lying on the Potomac east of the mountains, in 1863, with the consent of the Reorganized Government of Virginia, had supposedly voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia. However, many voters were absent in the Confederate Army when the vote was taken and they refused to accept the transfer upon their return. The Virginia General Assembly
repealed the Act of Secession and in 1866 brought suit against West Virginia, asking the Supreme Court to declare the counties still part of Virginia. The Republican controlled Congress, on March 10, 1866, passed a joint resolution recognizing the transfer. The Supreme Court, in 1871, also decided in favor of West Virginia.
service.
, the county has a total area of 212 square miles (549.1 km²), of which 210 square miles (543.9 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.96%) is water. It is the only West Virginia county where the Blue Ridge Mountains
and Shenandoah River
that John Denver
sang about in the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads
" can be found. The lowest point in the state of West Virginia is located on the Potomac River
(just east of Harpers Ferry
) in Jefferson County, where it flows out of West Virginia and into Maryland
.
of 2000, there were 42,190 people, 16,165 households, and 11,315 families residing in the county. The population density
was 201 people per square mile (78/km²). There were 17,623 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.02% White
, 6.09% Black or African American
, 0.60% Asian
, 0.28% Native American
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
, 0.60% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 16,165 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples
living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,374, and the median income for a family was $51,351. Males had a median income of $35,235 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $20,441. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. As of 2010, the population was 53,498. Its county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
is Charles Town
Charles Town, West Virginia
Charles Town is a city in and the county seat of Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,907 at the 2000 census. Due to its similar name, travelers have sometimes confused this city with the state's capital, Charleston.-History:...
. Jefferson County is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area
Washington Metropolitan Area
The Washington Metropolitan Area is the metropolitan area centered on Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States. The area includes all of the federal district and parts of the U.S...
.
Formation
Jefferson County was formed from Berkeley CountyBerkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
in 1801 and named for Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
, author of the Declaration of Independence
Declaration of independence
A declaration of independence is an assertion of the independence of an aspiring state or states. Such places are usually declared from part or all of the territory of another nation or failed nation, or are breakaway territories from within the larger state...
and third President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
. Virginia previously had a Jefferson County, which was lost to form the new state of Kentucky. Accordingly, in the State records of Virginia, there will be listings for Jefferson County from 1780-1792 and Jefferson County from 1801-1863. Neither is still located in Virginia and despite naming a county after him twice, Virginia no longer has a county named for its hero Thomas Jefferson.
John Brown Rebellion
The county's courthouseCourthouse
A courthouse is a building that is home to a local court of law and often the regional county government as well, although this is not the case in some larger cities. The term is common in North America. In most other English speaking countries, buildings which house courts of law are simply...
was the site of the trial for the abolitionist John Brown
John Brown (abolitionist)
John Brown was an American revolutionary abolitionist, who in the 1850s advocated and practiced armed insurrection as a means to abolish slavery in the United States. He led the Pottawatomie Massacre during which five men were killed, in 1856 in Bleeding Kansas, and made his name in the...
after his October 1859 raid on the federal armory
Armory (military)
An armory or armoury is a place where arms and ammunition are made, maintained and repaired, stored, issued to authorized users, or any combination of those...
in Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
. Some 90 U.S. Marines serving under then Army Colonel Robert E. Lee
Robert E. Lee
Robert Edward Lee was a career military officer who is best known for having commanded the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia in the American Civil War....
and Lieutenants J.E.B. Stuart
J.E.B. Stuart
James Ewell Brown "Jeb" Stuart was a U.S. Army officer from Virginia and a Confederate States Army general during the American Civil War. He was known to his friends as "Jeb", from the initials of his given names. Stuart was a cavalry commander known for his mastery of reconnaissance and the use...
and Israel Green put down the rebellion.
Brown was sentenced to death for murder, treason against the Commonwealth of Virginia, and conspiring with slaves to rebel. On 2 December 1859 John Brown was taken from the Charles Town jail a short distance to an open field and hanged. Among those attending the Brown execution was a contingent of 1500 cadets from Virginia Military Institute
Virginia Military Institute
The Virginia Military Institute , located in Lexington, Virginia, is the oldest state-supported military college and one of six senior military colleges in the United States. Unlike any other military college in the United States—and in keeping with its founding principles—all VMI students are...
sent by the Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
Henry A. Wise
Henry A. Wise
Henry Alexander Wise was an American politician and governor of Virginia, as well as a general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War.-Early life:...
under the supervision of Major William Gilham
William Gilham
William Henry Gilham was an American soldier, teacher, chemist, and author. A member of the faculty at Virginia Military Institute, in 1860, he wrote a military manual which was still in modern use 145 years later...
and Major Thomas J. Jackson
Stonewall Jackson
ຄຽשת״ׇׂׂׂׂ֣|birth_place= Clarksburg, Virginia |death_place=Guinea Station, Virginia|placeofburial=Stonewall Jackson Memorial CemeteryLexington, Virginia|placeofburial_label= Place of burial|image=...
. In the ranks of a Richmond militia company stood John Wilkes Booth.
Jefferson County in the Civil War
The county was a frequent site of conflict during the civil war, as Union and Confederate lines moved back and forth along the Shenandoah valley. Some towns in the county changed hands between the Union and Confederacy over a dozen times.Jefferson County is the only part of modern-day West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
not exempted from the effects of the Emancipation Proclamation
Emancipation Proclamation
The Emancipation Proclamation is an executive order issued by United States President Abraham Lincoln on January 1, 1863, during the American Civil War using his war powers. It proclaimed the freedom of 3.1 million of the nation's 4 million slaves, and immediately freed 50,000 of them, with nearly...
(as Berkeley County
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
and the 48 counties designated as West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
had been). Slaves in the county were legally free as of January 1, 1863.
Joining West Virginia
Both Berkeley and Jefferson counties had voted for secession in the vote taken on May 23, 1861. However, these counties lying on the Potomac RiverPotomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
east of the mountains, with the consent of the Reorganized Government of Virginia supposedly voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia in 1863 in a dubious election supervised by the occupying Union Army
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
. Virginia tried to nullify this after the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, but the counties were forced to remain part of West Virginia. The two counties are sometimes thus referred to as West Virginia's "stolen counties".
The question of the constitutionality of the formation of the new state was brought before the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
in the following manner: Berkeley
Berkeley County, West Virginia
Berkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
and Jefferson County, West Virginia, counties lying on the Potomac east of the mountains, in 1863, with the consent of the Reorganized Government of Virginia, had supposedly voted in favor of annexation to West Virginia. However, many voters were absent in the Confederate Army when the vote was taken and they refused to accept the transfer upon their return. The Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
repealed the Act of Secession and in 1866 brought suit against West Virginia, asking the Supreme Court to declare the counties still part of Virginia. The Republican controlled Congress, on March 10, 1866, passed a joint resolution recognizing the transfer. The Supreme Court, in 1871, also decided in favor of West Virginia.
Rural Free Delivery
In October 1896, Jefferson became the first county in the United States to begin Rural Free DeliveryRural delivery service
Rural delivery service refers to the delivery of mail in what are traditionally considered rural areas. In the United States, rural letter carriers began service with the experiments with Rural Free Delivery in 1891...
service.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census BureauUnited States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the county has a total area of 212 square miles (549.1 km²), of which 210 square miles (543.9 km²) is land and 2 square miles (5.2 km²) (0.96%) is water. It is the only West Virginia county where the Blue Ridge Mountains
Blue Ridge Mountains
The Blue Ridge Mountains are a physiographic province of the larger Appalachian Mountains range. This province consists of northern and southern physiographic regions, which divide near the Roanoke River gap. The mountain range is located in the eastern United States, starting at its southern-most...
and Shenandoah River
Shenandoah River
The Shenandoah River is a tributary of the Potomac River, long with two forks approximately long each, in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia...
that John Denver
John Denver
Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr. , known professionally as John Denver, was an American singer/songwriter, activist, and humanitarian. After growing up in numerous locations with his military family, Denver began his music career in folk music groups in the late 1960s. His greatest commercial success...
sang about in the song "Take Me Home, Country Roads
Take Me Home, Country Roads
"Take Me Home, Country Roads" is a song written by John Denver, Taffy Nivert, and Bill Danoff and initially recorded by John Denver. It was included on his 1971 breakout album Poems, Prayers and Promises; the single went to #2 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100...
" can be found. The lowest point in the state of West Virginia is located on the Potomac River
Potomac River
The Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
(just east of Harpers Ferry
Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
Harpers Ferry is a historic town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. In many books the town is called "Harper's Ferry" with an apostrophe....
) in Jefferson County, where it flows out of West Virginia and into Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 340
West Virginia Route 9
West Virginia Route 45
West Virginia Route 51
West Virginia Route 115 (Old West Virginia Route 9)
Adjacent counties
- Washington County, MarylandWashington County, MarylandWashington County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering southern Pennsylvania to the north, northern Virginia to the south, and the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia to the south and west. As of the 2010 Census, its population is 147,430...
(north, across the Potomac RiverPotomac RiverThe Potomac River flows into the Chesapeake Bay, located along the mid-Atlantic coast of the United States. The river is approximately long, with a drainage area of about 14,700 square miles...
) - Loudoun County, VirginiaLoudoun County, VirginiaLoudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...
(east) - Clarke County, VirginiaClarke County, VirginiaClarke County is a county in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 14,034. Its county seat is Berryville.-History:Clarke County was established in 1836 by Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron who built a home, Greenway Court, on part of his 5 million acre property,...
(southwest) - Berkeley CountyBerkeley County, West VirginiaBerkeley County is a county located in the Eastern Panhandle region of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population is 104,169, making it the second-most populous county in West Virginia, behind Kanawha...
(northwest)
Magisterial districts
- Charles Town
- Harpers Ferry
- Kabletown
- Middleway
- Shepherdstown
Historic Buildings and Structures
- Middleway Historic DistrictMiddleway, West VirginiaMiddleway is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 441.-History:...
(1734) - White House Farm (1740)
- Hopewell (Millville, West Virginia)Hopewell (Millville, West Virginia)Hopewell, also known as Hopewell Mills and Hopewell Farm, was established around 1765 by William Little, Sr., who built grain and saw mills near the Shenandoah River. In 1827, William Little, Jr. sold the property to James Hite and Jacob Newcomer...
(1765) - Harewood (West Virginia)Harewood (West Virginia)Harewood is one of several houses in the vicinity of Charles Town, West Virginia built for members of the Washington family. The house was designed by John Ariss for Samuel Washington in 1770. Washington moved from his farm on Chotank creek in Stafford County, Virginia to Harewood, accumulating ...
(1770) - Mount Ellen (ca 1790)
- New Hopewell (1774)
- Happy RetreatHappy RetreatHappy Retreat is an historic property in Charles Town, West Virginia, which was originally owned and developed by Charles Washington, the youngest brother of George Washington and the founder of Charles Town.-History:Charles inherited land in the Shenandoah Valley upon the death of his older...
(1780) - Blakeley (West Virginia)Blakeley (West Virginia)Blakeley, near Charles Town, West Virginia is also known as the Washington - Chew - Funkhouser House, and was built in 1820 by John Augustine Washington II, great-nephew of George Washington and son of John Augustine Washington. It is a contemporary of its neighbor, Claymont Court, built across...
(1820) - Claymont CourtClaymont CourtClaymont Court or simply Claymont is a Georgian style brick mansion, the grandest of several built near Charles Town, West Virginia for members of the Washington family. The current house was built in 1840 by Bushrod Corbin Washington, grand-nephew of George Washington, to replace a house that was...
(1820) - Cedar LawnCedar LawnCedar Lawn, also known as Berry Hill and Poplar Hill, is one of several houses built near Charles Town, West Virginia for members of the Washington family. Cedar Lawn was built in 1825 for John Thornton Augustine Washington, George Washington's grand-nephew. The property was originally part of...
(1825) - Barleywood Manor (1846)
- Grace Episcopal Church (1851)
- Kabletown Church (1861)
- Brown Shugart House (1885)
Google Earth Placemarks
- Middleway Historic District
- White House Farm
- Mount Ellen
- Blakeley
- Claymont Court
- Grace Episcopal Church
- Kabletown Church
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 42,190 people, 16,165 households, and 11,315 families residing in the county. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 201 people per square mile (78/km²). There were 17,623 housing units at an average density of 84 per square mile (32/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 91.02% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 6.09% Black or African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.60% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.28% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.04% Pacific Islander
Pacific Islander American
Pacific Islander Americans, also known as Oceanian Americans, are residents of the United States with original ancestry from Oceania. They represent the smallest racial group counted in the United States census of 2000. They numbered 874,000 people or 0.3 percent of the United States population...
, 0.60% from other races, and 1.37% from two or more races. 1.74% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
| Historical populations | |
|---|---|
| Census year | Population |
| 1810 | 11,851 |
| 1820 | 13,087 |
| 1830 | 12,927 |
| 1840 | 14,082 |
| 1850 | 15,357 |
| 1860 | 14,535 |
| 1870 | 13,219 |
| 1880 | 15,005 |
| 1890 | 15,553 |
| 1900 | 15,935 |
| 1910 | 15,889 |
| 1920 | 15,729 |
| 1930 | 15,780 |
| 1940 | 16,762 |
| 1950 | 17,184 |
| 1960 | 18,665 |
| 1970 | 21,280 |
| 1980 | 30,311 |
| 1990 | 35,926 |
| 2000 | 42,190 |
| 2010 | 53,498 |
There were 16,165 households out of which 31.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.90% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.00% were non-families. 23.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 8.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 2.99.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.90% under the age of 18, 10.00% from 18 to 24, 29.90% from 25 to 44, 25.10% from 45 to 64, and 11.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 97.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $44,374, and the median income for a family was $51,351. Males had a median income of $35,235 versus $26,531 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the county was $20,441. About 7.20% of families and 10.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.40% of those under age 18 and 9.40% of those age 65 or over.
Incorporated towns & cities
|
Corporation of Ranson, West Virginia Ranson is a city in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,951 at the 2000 census... Shepherdstown, West Virginia Shepherdstown is a town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States, located along the Potomac River. It is the oldest town in the state, having been chartered in 1762 by Colonial Virginia's General Assembly. Since 1863, Shepherdstown has been in West Virginia, and is the oldest town in... |
Unincorporated communities
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Engle, West Virginia Engle is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA, originally known by the names of Millers Mill, Striders Crossing, Keller, and Engles Switch before its post office's name changed to Engle in 1910.... Franklintown, West Virginia Franklintown is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Franklintown is located near the Clarke County, Virginia border on County Route 340/1.... Halltown, West Virginia Halltown is an unincorporated community along Flowing Springs Run in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Halltown is located off of US 340 on West Virginia Route 230 between Charles Town and Bolivar. A few houses, a fork in the road, a tiny post office, and the large Halltown Paper Plant are the... Jamestown, West Virginia Jamestown is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Jamestown lies near the Clarke County, Virginia border on County Route 2 southwest of Summit Point.... Johnsontown, Jefferson County, West Virginia Johnsontown is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia. It lies between the communities of Browns Corner and Bardane on Wiltshire Road at its junction with County Route 14.... Kabletown, West Virginia Kabletown is an unincorporated town in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. The town lies along a spring-fed stream called Bullskin Run near the Shenandoah River on Kabletown Road . Kabletown's population was 10,073 in 2000.... Kearneysville, West Virginia Kearneysville is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. According to the 2000 census, Kearneysville and its surrounding community has a population of 6,716... Keyes Ferry Acres, West Virginia Keyes Ferry Acres is an unincorporated planned community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Keyes Ferry Acres lies to the south of Blue Ridge Acres on the Loudoun Heights of the Blue Ridge Mountains. The entrances to this community are off of County Route 32, titled "Chestnut Hill Road"... Leetown, West Virginia Leetown is an unincorporated town in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It lies along West Virginia Secondary Route 1 at its junction with Leetown Pike.... |
Mannings, West Virginia Mannings is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Mannings lies along West Virginia Route 9 on the western flanks of the Blue Ridge Mountains near the Virginia state line.... Mechanicstown, West Virginia Mechanicstown is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Mechanicstown lies on West Virginia Route 9 at its intersection with County Routes 25 and 9/3.... Mechlenberg Heights, West Virginia Mechlenberg Heights is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Mechlenberg Heights lies to the west of Shepherdstown along West Virginia Route 45.- External links :* - Discussion Forums... Meyerstown, West Virginia Meyerstown is an unincorporated community near the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Myerstown is a small community south of Kabletown, at the intersection of Kabletown Road and Myerstown Road. It apparently was named for Joseph Myers, a prosperous farmer, who owned several... Middleway, West Virginia Middleway is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. As of the 2010 census, its population was 441.-History:... Millville, West Virginia Millville is an unincorporated town on the Shenandoah River in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. According to the Geographic Names Information System, Millville has also been known as Keye's Switch, Keyes Switch, and Milville.... Moler Crossroads, West Virginia Molers Crossroads is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA.- External links :* - Discussion Forums... Mountain Mission, West Virginia Mountain Mission is an unincorporated community on West Virginia Route 9 in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Mountain Mission lies between the Shenandoah River and the community of Mannings.... Reedson, West Virginia Reedson is an unincorporated community on West Virginia Route 230 in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA.- External links :* - Discussion Forums... |
Rippon, West Virginia Rippon is an unincorporated hamlet in Jefferson County, West Virginia south of Charles Town. The village of Rippon developed in the mid-19th century at the crossroads of the Berryville and Charles Town Turnpike , Withers-LaRue Road, and Myerstown Road. The town was named after nearby Ripon Lodge,... Riverside, Jefferson County, West Virginia Riverside is an unincorporated community on the eastern banks of the Shenandoah River in southern Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA.... Shannondale, West Virginia Shannondale is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 3,358.-History:... Shenandoah Junction, West Virginia Shenandoah Junction is an unincorporated census-designated place in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of West Virginia's Eastern Panhandle. As of the 2010 census, Shenandoah Junction had a population of 703. It is located between Kearneysville and Charles Town off WV 9... Silver Grove, West Virginia Silver Grove is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Silver Grove lies between the Harpers Ferry National Historical Park along the Shenandoah River and the Loudoun Heights of the Blue Ridge.... Skeetersville, West Virginia Skeetersville is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. It is located one mile east of Duffields on the Uvilla-Duffields Road. The small historic community of Skeetersville was originally established by black residents of the county. It was named Skeetersville,... Summit Point, West Virginia Summit Point is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It lies along the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad at the intersection of West Virginia Secondary Route 1 and Summit Point Pike. According to the 2000 census, the Summit Point community has a population... Uvilla, West Virginia Uvilla is an unincorporated community on West Virginia Route 230 in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Morgan Academy of West Virginia used to be located here, before moving to Gosling Marsh Road in Berkeley County, West Virginia... Wheatland, West Virginia Wheatland is an unincorporated community in Jefferson County, West Virginia, USA. Wheatland lies along Bullskin Run on the Berryville Pike at its junction with County Route 340/2.... |
See also
- Jefferson County Schools
- List of routes in Jefferson County, West Virginia
- Jefferson County Sheriff's DepartmentJefferson County Sheriff's Department (West Virginia)The Jefferson County Sheriff's Department is the primary law enforcement agency servicing 50,443 within of jurisdiction in Jefferson County, WV....
Jefferson County links
- Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce
- Jefferson County Commission
- Jefferson County Convention & Visitors Bureau
- Jefferson County Development Authority
- Jefferson County Historic Landmarks Commission
- Jefferson County Local Emergency Planning Committee
- Jefferson County Public Service District
- Jefferson County Schools
- Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
- Jefferson County Fair
- Mountain Heritage Arts and Crafts Festival
- Jefferson County Citizens for Economic Preservation
- Virtual tour of Jefferson County
- Citizens Fire Company