Ritchie County, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
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 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 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 23 people per square mile (9/km²). There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of 12 per square mile (5/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% 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...
, 0.14% 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...
, 0.27% 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...
, 0.13% 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...
, 0.11% 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 0.69% from two or more races. 0.47% 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 4,184 households out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% 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, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $27,332, and the median income for a family was $34,809. Males had a median income of $28,147 versus $18,149 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 $15,175. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.
Notable sights
- Historic Berdine's Five and DimeBerdine's Five and DimeBerdine's Five and Dime is a 103 year old store in Harrisville, West Virginia. The "five and dime" store in Ritchie County sells novelty and historic items including tin toys, handmade glass Christmas ornaments from the Czech Republic, gag items, penny candies and other oddities. The store...
- North Bend State ParkNorth Bend State ParkNorth Bend State Park sits on along the North Fork of the Hughes River in Ritchie County near Cairo, West Virginia. The park is named after the sharp bend in the river that the formed three sides of the original park boundary. The North Bend Rail Trail, a 72-mile hiking and biking corridor, is...
- North Bend Rail TrailNorth Bend Rail TrailThe North Bend Rail Trail is a rail trail in north-central and western West Virginia in the United States. It is operated by West Virginia State Parks and is part of the American Discovery Trail....
- The Double Scoop Ice Cream Parlor Cairo, WV
- Pine Hill Pottery
- Sunny Hollow Farms
- Old Stone House Museum
Towns
- AuburnAuburn, West VirginiaAuburn is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 103 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Auburn is located at , in the east south-east corner of Ritchie County....
- CairoCairo, West VirginiaCairo is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States, along West Virginia Route 31, the North Fork of the Hughes River, and the North Bend Rail Trail...
- EllenboroEllenboro, West VirginiaEllenboro is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 373 at the 2000 census. The town is located at the junction of U.S. Route 50 and West Virginia Route 16; the North Bend Rail Trail also passes through the town...
- HarrisvilleHarrisville, West VirginiaHarrisville is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,842 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Ritchie County...
- PennsboroPennsboro, West VirginiaPennsboro is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 1,199. The city is located at the junction of U.S...
- PullmanPullman, West VirginiaPullman is a town in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 169 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pullman is located at ....
Other places
- BereaBerea, West VirginiaBerea is an unincorporated community in southeastern Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 74 southeast of the town of Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County. Its elevation is 751 feet...
- BrohardBrohard, West VirginiaBrohard is an unincorporated community in Ritchie and Wirt counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Its elevation is 965 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office, with the ZIP code of 26138.-References:...
- FonzoFonzo, West VirginiaFonzo is an unincorporated community in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. Fonzo was established in 1901....
- MacfarlanMacfarlan, West VirginiaMacfarlan is an unincorporated community in southwestern Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 47 southwest of the town of Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County. Its elevation is 653 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post...
- PetroleumPetroleum, West VirginiaPetroleum is an unincorporated community in Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. Its elevation is 699 feet . It has no post office but still has a ZIP code of 26161. The North Bend Rail Trail passes through the community....
- SmithvilleSmithville, West VirginiaSmithville is an unincorporated community in southern Ritchie County, West Virginia, United States. It lies along West Virginia Route 47 south of the town of Harrisville, the county seat of Ritchie County. Its elevation is 686 feet . Although it is unincorporated, it has a post office,...
See also
- Hughes River Wildlife Management AreaHughes River Wildlife Management AreaHughes River Wildlife Management Area is located in Wirt County and Ritchie County near Parkersburg, West Virginia. Located on that border both the Little Kanawha River and the Hughes River...
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Ritchie County, West Virginia
- North Bend State ParkNorth Bend State ParkNorth Bend State Park sits on along the North Fork of the Hughes River in Ritchie County near Cairo, West Virginia. The park is named after the sharp bend in the river that the formed three sides of the original park boundary. The North Bend Rail Trail, a 72-mile hiking and biking corridor, is...
- North Bend Rail TrailNorth Bend Rail TrailThe North Bend Rail Trail is a rail trail in north-central and western West Virginia in the United States. It is operated by West Virginia State Parks and is part of the American Discovery Trail....
- Ritchie Mines Wildlife Management AreaRitchie Mines Wildlife Management AreaRitchie Mines Wildlife Management Area, is located near Smithville, West Virginia in Ritchie County. Ritchie Mines WMA is located on of rugged, hilly woodlands.To access the WMA from the south, follow Route 47 west 8 miles from Smithville to Macfarlan Creek Road...