Gilmer County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 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...
of
West VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, and Pennsylvania and Maryland to the northeast...
. As of 2006, the population was 6,965. Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
GlenvilleGlenville is a town in and the county seat of Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States, along the Little Kanawha River. The population was 1,544 at the 2000 census...
. Gilmer County was formed in 1845 from parts of
LewisLewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 16,919. Its county seat is Weston.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and
KanawhaKanawha County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia taking its name from the Native term, Kanawha: "place of white stone". As of 2000, the population was 200,073. Its county seat is Charleston, the state capital...
Counties, and named for
Thomas Walker GilmerThomas Walker Gilmer was an American statesman.-Personal life:Gilmer was born to George and Eliza Gilmer at their farm, "Gilmerton", in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was taught by private tutors in Charlottesville and Staunton, and studied law in Liberty , Virginia.Gilmer practiced law in...
,
Governor of VirginiaThe Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Democrat Tim Kaine.- Qualifications :...
from 1840 to 1841. Gilmer was later a representative in the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
and Secretary of the Navy in
PresidentThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
John TylerJohn Tyler, Jr. was the tenth President of the United States and the first to succeed to the office following the death of a predecessor....
's
cabinetA Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or Executive Committee.- Overview :...
.
Cedar Creek State ParkCedar Creek State Park is sited on in Gilmer County, located about south of Glenville, West Virginia and about west of Burnsville/Glenville exit of I-79...
offers camping, hunting, fishing and hiking. The West Virginia Folk Festival is held each June.
Gilmer County is a
countyA county is a land area of local government within a country. A county may have cities and towns within its area. Originally, in continental Europe, a county was the land under the jurisdiction of a count .Counts are called earls in post-Celtic Britain, Ireland and France—the term is from Old...
located in the
U.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of 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...
of
West VirginiaWest Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, and Pennsylvania and Maryland to the northeast...
. As of 2006, the population was 6,965. Its
county seatA county seat is a term for an administrative center for a county or civil parish, primarily used in the United States. In the Northeast United States, the statutory term often is shire town, but colloquially county seat is the term in use there...
is
GlenvilleGlenville is a town in and the county seat of Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States, along the Little Kanawha River. The population was 1,544 at the 2000 census...
. Gilmer County was formed in 1845 from parts of
LewisLewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 16,919. Its county seat is Weston.-Geography:According to the U.S...
and
KanawhaKanawha County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia taking its name from the Native term, Kanawha: "place of white stone". As of 2000, the population was 200,073. Its county seat is Charleston, the state capital...
Counties, and named for
Thomas Walker GilmerThomas Walker Gilmer was an American statesman.-Personal life:Gilmer was born to George and Eliza Gilmer at their farm, "Gilmerton", in Albemarle County, Virginia. He was taught by private tutors in Charlottesville and Staunton, and studied law in Liberty , Virginia.Gilmer practiced law in...
,
Governor of VirginiaThe Governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Democrat Tim Kaine.- Qualifications :...
from 1840 to 1841. Gilmer was later a representative in the
United States CongressThe United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States of America, consisting of two houses, the Senate and the House of Representatives. Both senators and representatives are chosen through direct election....
and Secretary of the Navy in
PresidentThe President of the United States is the head of state and head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in the United States by influence and recognition...
John TylerJohn Tyler, Jr. was the tenth President of the United States and the first to succeed to the office following the death of a predecessor....
's
cabinetA Cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or Executive Committee.- Overview :...
.
Cedar Creek State ParkCedar Creek State Park is sited on in Gilmer County, located about south of Glenville, West Virginia and about west of Burnsville/Glenville exit of I-79...
offers camping, hunting, fishing and hiking. The West Virginia Folk Festival is held each June.
Glenville State CollegeGlenville State College is a public four-year college located in Glenville, a town in the rural north-central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia.-History:...
has a full community activity center, a state-of-the-art library, and a complete collection of hand-carved, West Virginia–native birds on public display. The Gilmer County Recreation Center Complex includes a small golf course, a convention / reunion hall, and bunk houses.
Gilmer County is home to ten nationally registered historic landmarks, the Cedar Creek Backway, and the annual West Virginia Folk Festival. Media outlets for the community include The Glenville Democrat/Pathfinder, the county newspaper, and Two-Lane Livin, a regional magazine. The Federal Correction Institution - Gilmer, located on Route 5, is a medium security prison.
As of 2007, Gilmer County has only one traffic light. It is located in the city of Glenville.
Geography
According to the
U.S. Census BureauThe 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. As part of the United States Department of Commerce, the Census Bureau serves as the leading source of quality data about...
, the county has a total area of 340 square miles (881 km²), of which, 340 square miles (881 km²) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 km²) of it (0.01%) is water.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 33/U.S. Highway 119
West Virginia Route 5
West Virginia Route 18
West Virginia Route 47
West Virginia Route 74
Adjacent counties
- Doddridge County
Doddridge County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 7,403. Its county seat is West Union. Doddridge County was created in 1845 from parts of Harrison, Tyler, Ritchie, and Lewis Counties, and named for Philip Doddridge, a distinguished statesman of...
(north)
- Lewis County
Lewis County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 16,919. Its county seat is Weston.-Geography:According to the U.S...
(east)
- Braxton County
Braxton County is a county located in the central part of the U.S. state of West Virginia. By the 2000 census its population reached 14,702. Braxton County was formed in 1836 from parts of Lewis, Kanawha, and Nicholas counties and named for Carter Braxton, a Virginia statesman and signer of the...
(south)
- Calhoun County
Calhoun County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 7,582. Its county seat is Grantsville. Calhoun County is named for South Carolina politician John C...
(west)
- Ritchie County
Ritchie County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 10,343. Its county seat is Harrisville. It was created in 1843 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Richmond newspaper publisher Thomas Ritchie....
(northwest)
Demographics
As of the
censusA "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.In other words every 10 years...next one would be in 2010 The term is used mostly in connection with...
of 2000, there were 7,160 people, 2,768 households, and 1,862 families residing in the county. The
population densityPopulation density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans. It is a key term used in geography....
was 21 people per square mile (8/km²). There were 3,621 housing units at an average density of 11 per square mile (4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.33%
WhiteRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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...
, 0.91%
BlackRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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...
, 0.20%
Native AmericanRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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...
, 0.57%
AsianRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 IslanderRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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...
, 0.10% from
other racesRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 0.88% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were
HispanicRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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
LatinoRace and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the United States Census Bureau and the Federal Office of Management and Budget , 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 2,768 households out of which 28.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.40% were
married couplesMarriage is a social union or legal contract between individuals that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged by a variety of ways, depending on the culture or demographic...
living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.70% were non-families. 25.50% 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 2.43 and the average family size was 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 20.30% under the age of 18, 16.40% from 18 to 24, 24.50% from 25 to 44, 23.50% from 45 to 64, and 15.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 101.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $22,857, and the median income for a family was $28,685. Males had a median income of $25,497 versus $15,353 for females. The
per capita incomePer capita income means how much each individual receives, in monetary terms, of the yearly income generated in the country. This is what each citizen is to receive if the yearly national income is divided equally among everyone. Per capita income is usually reported in units of currency per year...
for the county was $12,498. About 20.20% of families and 25.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.70% of those under age 18 and 8.90% of those age 65 or over.
Other communities
- Baldwin
- Cedarville
- Coxs Mills
- Gilmer
- Lettergap
- Linn
- Normantown
Normantown is an unincorporated community in Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 741 feet .-References:...
- Rosedale
Rosedale is an unincorporated community in Braxton and Gilmer counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It lies at an elevation of 778 feet . The town throughout the 1950's and 1960's was very large due to a boom in natural gas and was heavily populated. However, the boom ended around the...
- Shock
- Stouts Mills
- Stumptown
Stumptown is an unincorporated community in Gilmer County, West Virginia, United States. It lies at an elevation of 725 feet .-References:...
- Tanner
- Troy
External links