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Upshur County, West Virginia
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Upshur County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 23,404. Its county seat is the City of Buckhannon. Upshur County was formed in 1851 from Randolph, Barbour, and Lewis Counties and named for Abel Parker Upshur, a distinguished statesman and jurist of Virginia. Upshur served as United States Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy under President John Tyler.
rding to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles (919 kmē), of which, 355 square miles (919 kmē) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 kmē) of it (0.03%) is water.
ur County's six districts were formed on July 31, 1863:
f the census of 2000, there were 23,404 people, 8,972 households, and 6,352 families residing in the county.
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Encyclopedia
Upshur County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 23,404. Its county seat is the City of Buckhannon. Upshur County was formed in 1851 from Randolph, Barbour, and Lewis Counties and named for Abel Parker Upshur, a distinguished statesman and jurist of Virginia. Upshur served as United States Secretary of State and Secretary of the Navy under President John Tyler.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 355 square miles (919 kmē), of which, 355 square miles (919 kmē) of it is land and 0 square miles (0 kmē) of it (0.03%) is water.
Major highways
- U.S. Highway 33
- U.S. Highway 119
- West Virginia Route 4
- West Virginia Route 20
Magisterial districts
Upshur County's six districts were formed on July 31, 1863:
- Banks District, named for Nathaniel Prentiss Banks.
- Buckhannon District, named for the county seat, the City of Buckhannon.
- Meade District, named for General George Gordon Meade.
- Union District, named for military soldiers serving the Union cause.
- Warren District, named for Gouverneur Kemble Warren.
- Washington District, named for President George Washington.
Adjacent counties
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 23,404 people, 8,972 households, and 6,352 families residing in the county. The population density was 66 people per square mile (25/kmē). There were 10,751 housing units at an average density of 30 per square mile (12/kmē). The racial makeup of the county was 98.19% White, 0.62% Black or African American, 0.17% Native American, 0.31% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,972 households out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were married couples living together, 9.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.20% were non-families. 25.20% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.80% 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 2.92.
In the county, the population was spread out with 22.60% under the age of 18, 12.60% from 18 to 24, 25.70% from 25 to 44, 24.50% from 45 to 64, and 14.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 94.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.40 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,973, and the median income for a family was $32,399. Males had a median income of $29,020 versus $18,087 for females. The per capita income for the county was $13,559. About 16.00% of families and 20.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Economy includes coal mining and timber, as well as higher education - the Upshur County seat of Buckhannon is home to the small, private, liberal arts institution West Virginia Wesleyan College. Upshur County also unintentionally gained some international notoriety during the Sago Mine disaster coal mine explosion on January 2, 2006, in the Sago Mine in Sago, near the Upshur County seat of Buckhannon. The blast and ensuing aftermath trapped 13 miners for nearly two days, only one of whom survived. It was the worst mining disaster in the US since a 2001 disaster in Alabama killed 13 people, and the worst disaster in West Virginia since a 1968 incident that killed 78 people.
Cities and towns
Incorporated communities
Unincorporated communities
Notable natives
- Professor Maurice Brooks (1900-1993), noted biologist, naturalist and educator; born in, and long-time resident of, French Creek
- Jayne Anne Phillips, (b. July 1952), novelist and short story writer, born in Buckhannon
- Stephen Coonts (born July 19 , 1946) novelist. American thriller and suspense novelist; born and grew up in Buckhannon
See also
External links
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