Monroe County, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
As of the census
of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families residing in the county. The population density
was 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.67% White
, 5.98% Black
or African American
, 0.23% Native American
, 0.16% Asian
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic
or Latino
of any race.
There were 5,447 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples
living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out with 20.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,575, and the median income for a family was $35,299. Males had a median income of $25,643 versus $22,104 for females. The per capita income
for the county was $17,435. About 12.60% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
' Federal Prison Camp, Alderson was the first women's federal prison in the country. It is located in Monroe and Summers
counties just west of Alderson
.
, a former saltpeter
mine. Strange bones were discovered by the miners at the end of the 18th Century, and mailed to Thomas Jefferson
. Jefferson's study of the animal, the Megalonyx jeffersonii
was arguably the birth of American paleontology
. It is now the official West Virginia
state fossil
.
Census
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 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 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 31 people per square mile (12/km²). There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile (6/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.67% White
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 5.98% Black
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or African American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.23% Native American
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.16% Asian
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.01% Pacific Islander
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, 0.03% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
or Latino
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
of any race.
There were 5,447 households out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% 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, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.
In the county, the population was spread out with 20.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.80 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,575, and the median income for a family was $35,299. Males had a median income of $25,643 versus $22,104 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 $17,435. About 12.60% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.
FPC Alderson
The Federal Bureau of PrisonsFederal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
' Federal Prison Camp, Alderson was the first women's federal prison in the country. It is located in Monroe and Summers
Summers County, West Virginia
Summers County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 13,927. Its county seat is Hinton. Summers County was created by an act of the West Virginia General Assembly on February 27, 1871 from parts of Fayette, Greenbrier, Mercer and Monroe...
counties just west of Alderson
Alderson, West Virginia
Alderson, a town in the US State of West Virginia, is split geographically by the Greenbrier River, with portions in both Greenbrier and Monroe Counties. Although split physically by the river, the town functions as one entity, including that of town government...
.
Natural Landmarks
One of Monroe County's geological features is Haynes CaveHaynes Cave
Haynes Cave is a cave within the Greenbrier River watershed in West Virginia. It sits within the complex hydrology of the historic Second Creek watershed in Monroe County....
, a former saltpeter
Potassium nitrate
Potassium nitrate is a chemical compound with the formula KNO3. It is an ionic salt of potassium ions K+ and nitrate ions NO3−.It occurs as a mineral niter and is a natural solid source of nitrogen. Its common names include saltpetre , from medieval Latin sal petræ: "stone salt" or possibly "Salt...
mine. Strange bones were discovered by the miners at the end of the 18th Century, and mailed to 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...
. Jefferson's study of the animal, the Megalonyx jeffersonii
Megalonyx jeffersonii
Megalonyx jeffersonii, or Jefferson's ground sloth, is an extinct species of giant ground sloth that lived from the Illinoian Stage during the Middle Pleistocene through to the Rancholabrean of the Late Pleistocene . Its closest living relatives are the two-toed tree sloths of the genus...
was arguably the birth of American paleontology
Paleontology
Paleontology "old, ancient", ὄν, ὀντ- "being, creature", and λόγος "speech, thought") is the study of prehistoric life. It includes the study of fossils to determine organisms' evolution and interactions with each other and their environments...
. It is now the official 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...
state fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
.
Historic Landmarks
- Indian Creek Covered BridgeIndian Creek Covered BridgeThe Indian Creek Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge near US 219, about 4 miles away from Salt Sulphur Springs, in Monroe County, West Virginia, U.S.A.. It is owned by the Monroe County Historical Society, and was originally built in 1898 by Ray and Oscar Weikel...
- Rehoboth ChurchRehoboth ChurchRehoboth Church is a historic log cabin-style Methodist church in the countryside of Monroe County, West Virginia, United States, 2 miles east of the town of Union...
- Laurel Creek Covered Bridge
Incorporated towns & cities
- AldersonAlderson, West VirginiaAlderson, a town in the US State of West Virginia, is split geographically by the Greenbrier River, with portions in both Greenbrier and Monroe Counties. Although split physically by the river, the town functions as one entity, including that of town government...
(partially) - PeterstownPeterstown, West VirginiaPeterstown is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 499 at the 2000 census.The town is the site of the 1928 discovery of the 34.48 carat Jones Diamond by Grover C...
- UnionUnion, West VirginiaUnion is a town in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 548 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Monroe County.-History:...
Unincorporated communities
- BallardBallard, West VirginiaBallard is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Ballard is located on West Virginia Route 12 north of Peterstown. Ballard has a post office with ZIP code 24918....
- BallengeeBallengee, West VirginiaBallengee is an unincorporated community in Monroe and Summers counties, West Virginia, United States. Ballengee is about southwest of Alderson....
- BozooBozoo, West VirginiaBozoo is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Bozoo is north of Peterstown....
- CashmereCashmere, West VirginiaCashmere is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Cashmere is located on West Virginia Route 12 north of Peterstown....
- Cloverdale
- Crimson SpringsCrimson Springs, West VirginiaCrimson Springs is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Crimson Springs is south of Union....
- ElmhurstElmhurst, West VirginiaElmhurst is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia. It is located along County Route 10....
- Gap MillsGap Mills, West VirginiaGap Mills is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Gap Mills is located on West Virginia Route 3 east of Union. The community was established in 1775. Gap Mills has a post office with ZIP code 24941....
- GatesGates, West VirginiaGates is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Gates is southeast of Union....
- GlaceGlace, West VirginiaGlace is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Glace is northeast of Union.-History:Glace was named after the blanket of snow, la glace in French, which the founders saw when they arrived at the community....
- Greenville
- HillsdaleHillsdale, Monroe County, West VirginiaHillsdale is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Hillsdale is northeast of Union....
- HollywoodHollywood, West VirginiaHollywood is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Hollywood is northeast of Union....
- KeenanKeenan, West VirginiaKeenan is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Keenan is located on West Virginia Route 3 east of Union....
- KnobsKnobs, West VirginiaKnobs is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Knobs is northwest of Union....
- Laurel BranchLaurel Branch, West VirginiaLaurel Branch is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Laurel Branch is located near the Virginia border southeast of Union....
- Lillydale
- LindsideLindside, West VirginiaLindside is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Lindside is located on U.S. Route 219 northwest of Peterstown. Lindside has a post office with ZIP code 24951....
- Monitor
- PickawayPickaway, West VirginiaPickaway is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Pickaway is located on U.S. Route 219 northeast of Union.The Pickaway Rural Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1999....
- Raines CornerRaines Corner, West VirginiaRaines Corner is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Raines Corner is located at the intersection of U.S. Route 219 and West Virginia Route 122 southwest of Union....
- Red Sulphur SpringsRed Sulphur Springs, West VirginiaRed Sulphur Springs is a small unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, USA. It once boasted the Red Sulphur Springs Hotel. It is located on West Virginia Route 12, close to Indian Creek.-History:...
- Rock CampRock Camp, West VirginiaRock Camp is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Rock Camp is located on U.S. Route 219 northeast of Peterstown and southwest of Union....
- Salt Sulphur SpringsSalt Sulphur Springs, West VirginiaSalt Sulphur Springs is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Salt Sulphur Springs is located on U.S. Route 219 southwest of Union....
- SartonSarton, West VirginiaSarton is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Sarton is west of Union....
- SecondcreekSecondcreek, West VirginiaSecondcreek is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Secondcreek is northeast of Union. Secondcreek has a post office with ZIP code 24974. Post office was closed in 2010. -Naming of Second Creek:...
- Sinks GroveSinks Grove, West VirginiaSinks Grove is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Sinks Grove is located on West Virginia Route 3 north of Union. Sinks Grove has a post office with ZIP code 24976....
- Sweet SpringsSweet Springs, West VirginiaSweet Springs is an unincorporated town in Monroe County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Sweet Springs lies at the intersection of West Virginia Route 3 and West Virginia Route 311. The community is known for its Old Sweet Springs resort and spa, listed on the National Register of Historic Places...
- WaitevilleWaiteville, West VirginiaWaiteville is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Waiteville is located near the Virginia border southeast of Union. Waiteville had a post office, which closed on July 11, 2009....
- WaysideWayside, West VirginiaWayside is an unincorporated community in Monroe County in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located along County Route 7 near its juncture with County Route 9. Wayside is the birthplace of Ettie Mae Greene, the oldest person ever in that state....
- WikelWikel, West VirginiaWikel is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Wikel is southwest of Union....
- WolfcreekWolfcreek, West VirginiaWolfcreek is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Wolfcreek is located on West Virginia Route 3 south of Alderson. Wolfcreek has a post office with ZIP code 24993....
- ZenithZenith, West VirginiaZenith is an unincorporated community in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States. Zenith is located near the Virginia border south of Union....
Education
- James Monroe High School
- Mountain View Middle School
- Peterstown Middle School
- Peterstown Elementary School
See also
- Moncove Lake State ParkMoncove Lake State ParkMoncove Lake State Park was created in 1990 by setting aside of the Moncove Lake Wildlife Management Area to be operated as a state park. The park is located near Union in Monroe County, West Virginia...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, West VirginiaNational Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, West VirginiaThis is a list of the National Register of Historic Places listings in Monroe County, West Virginia.This is intended to be a complete list of the properties and districts on the National Register of Historic Places in Monroe County, West Virginia, United States...
- Bluestone Lake Wildlife Management AreaBluestone Lake Wildlife Management AreaBluestone Wildlife Management Area is located in southern West Virginia surrounding Bluestone Lake and the New River. The section of the lake from just upstream of the Bluestone River to Bluestone Dam is in Bluestone State Park; the rest of the lake in West Virginia basin comprises Bluestone WMA...