Wayne County, West Virginia

Infobox U.S. County
county = Wayne County
state = West Virginia




map size = 225
founded = 1842
seat = Wayne | area_total_sq_mi =512
area_water_sq_mi =6
area percentage = 1.25%
census yr = 2000
pop = 42903
density_km2 =33
web =
|

Wayne County is the westernmost county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 42,903. Its county seat is WayneGR|6.

Wayne County is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 512 square miles (1,327 km²), of which, 506 square miles (1,310 km²) of it is land and 6 square miles (17 km²) of it (1.25%) is water.

Rivers and Lakes

*Ohio River
*Big Sandy River
*Twelvepole Creek
*Beech Fork Lake
*East Lynn Lake
*Tug Fork

Major highways

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Adjacent counties

*Lawrence County, Ohio (north)
*Cabell County (northeast)
*Lincoln County (east)
*Mingo County (southeast)
*Martin County, Kentucky (south)
*Lawrence County, Kentucky (west)
*Boyd County, Kentucky (northeast)

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 42,903 people, 17,239 households, and 12,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile (33/km²). There were 19,107 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile (15/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79% White, 0.13% Black or African American, 0.23% Native Americans, 0.20% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.08% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 17,239 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were married couples living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,352, and the median income for a family was $32,458. Males had a median income of $31,554 versus $20,720 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,906. About 16.20% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

History

Wayne County, West Virginia was originally Wayne County, Virginia, which was created from part of Cabell County, Virginia in 1842. Any references to Wayne County before 1842 in this article refer to the area which would become Wayne County, West Virginia. The county was named for General "Mad Anthony" Wayne.

Early History

See History of Cabell County, West Virginia for information regarding regional history before European settlement.

ettlement

There was no white settlement in the area that became Wayne County until after 1794 due to the constant threat of Indian attack, who were already present. The area was made safe for white settlement in 1794 through the defeat of the Shawnee at the Battle of Fallen Timbers by General "Mad" Anthony Wayne. To honor General Wayne, the county was later named for him.

When the first permanent settlers came to Wayne County around the year 1800, the area was part of Kanawha County, Virginia. Most of the original pioneer settlers were almost all self-sufficient farmers. They raised their own food, sheep for wool clothing, and made their buildings, furnishings and tools out of the surrounding forest. A few trading posts provided the manufactured goods the pioneers could not make for themselves. Later, grist mills at Wayne, Dickson, south of East Lynn and at Lavalette ground their corn into meal and their wheat into flour.

Wayne County Railroads

*Norfolk Southern Railway's former N&W Kenova District
*CSX Transportation's former C&O Kanawha Sub
*Kanawha River Terminal Railroad

Cities and towns

Incorporated communities

*City of Ceredo
*Town of Fort Gay
*City of Huntington (partly, most of city in Cabell County)
*City of Kenova
*Town of Wayne
*Town of East Lynn (no longer incorporated)
*Town of Dunlow (no longer incorporated)

Unincorporated communities

ee also

Beech Fork State Park

References