Mason County, West Virginia

Mason County, West Virginia
Location in the state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	1804
Seat	Point Pleasant
Area  - Total  - Land  - Water	445 sq mi (1,153 km²) 432 sq mi (1,119 km²) 13 sq mi (34 km²), 2.91%
Population  - (2010)  - Density	27,324

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of 2010, the population was 27,324. [1] Its county seat is Point Pleasant^[1]. The county was named for George Mason,^[2] one of the principal architects of the 1776 Virginia Constitution.

Mason County is part of the Point Pleasant, WV-OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 445 square miles (1,152 km²), of which 432 square miles (1,118 km²) is land and 13 square miles (34 km²) (2.91%) is water.

Major highways

• U.S. Highway 35
• West Virginia Route 2
• West Virginia Route 62
• West Virginia Route 87

Adjacent counties

• Meigs County, Ohio (north)
• Jackson County (east)
• Putnam County (southeast)
• Cabell County (southwest)
• Gallia County, Ohio (west)

National protected area

• Ohio River Islands National Wildlife Refuge (part)

Demographics

Historical populations
Census	Pop.		%±
1810	1,991		—
1820	4,868		144.5%
1830	6,534		34.2%
1840	6,777		3.7%
1850	7,539		11.2%
1860	9,173		21.7%
1870	15,978		74.2%
1880	22,293		39.5%
1890	22,863		2.6%
1900	24,142		5.6%
1910	23,019		−4.7%
1920	21,459		−6.8%
1930	20,788		−3.1%
1940	22,270		7.1%
1950	23,537		5.7%
1960	24,459		3.9%
1970	24,306		−0.6%
1980	27,045		11.3%
1990	25,178		−6.9%
2000	25,957		3.1%
2010	27,324		5.3%

As of the census^[3] of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.37% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Steamboat visit at county seat.

There were 10,587 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% 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 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,134, and the median income for a family was $32,953. Males had a median income of $32,382 versus $17,074 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,804. About 16.60% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Mason County Fair

The Mason County Fair, held at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Point Pleasant, is the largest county fair in West Virginia (in terms of attendance). It is held every year during the first week of August.

Mason County Fair Queens
1963 - Linda Lathey
1964 - Jo Thompson
1965 - Barbara Adkins
1966 - Francis Ball
1967 - Dianne Barss
1968 - Jamie Wellman
1969 - Angela Campbell
1970 - Becky Gilmore
1971 - Debi Sturgeon
1972 - Karen Froendt
1973 - Rita Garland
1974 - Erma Fridley (Went on to win State Fair Queen)
1975 - Lou Ellen Roush
1976 - Denise McDaniels
1977 - Carolyn Rickard
1978 - Tammy Simpson
1979 - Jennifer McCallister
1980 - Dee Ann Pickens
1981 - Chris Sayre
1982 - Angela Barton
1983 - Lori Sayre
1984 - Kristen Campbell
1985 - Kyla Lee
1986 - Karla Click
1987 - Sherri Hughart
1988 - Kerri Brown
1989 - Kelly Safford
1990 - Annette Gibbs
1991 - Amy Lewis
1992 - Kari Anne Safford (sister of 1989 Queen Kelly Safford)
1993 - Carrie Ann Handley
1994 - Heather "Noel" Nichols
1995 - Jami Jo Tucker
1996 - Jennifer Nichole "Nicki" Huffman
1997 - Monica Jean Zurcher
1998 - Aimee Stover
1999 - Jessica Leann Ord
2000 - Brigette Lambert (daughter of 1977 Queen Carolyn Rickard)
2001 - Ashley Dawn Morrison
2002 - Heidi Jo Sturgeon
2003 - Tebaliah Casto
2004 - Laura Casto (sister of Tebaliah Casto 2003 Queen)
2005 - Michelle Huffman
2006 - Ashley Roush
2007 - Rachel Workman
2008 - Katrina Keefer
2009 - Hannah Workman
2010 - Kalee Edmonds
2011 - Jordan Cullen

Schools

There are 3 junior/senior high schools, 7 elementary schools and 1 primary school in Mason County.

• Point Pleasant Primary School
• Ashton Elemenrary School
• Beale Elementary School
• Leon Elementary School
• Mason Elementary School
• Point Pleasant Intermediate School
• Roosevelt Elementary School
• Hannan Junior/Senior High School
• Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School
• Wahama Junior/Senior High School
• New Haven Elementary School

The superintendent of Mason County schools is William Capehart.

Communities

Incorporated cities and towns

• Hartford City (Town)
• Henderson (Town)
• Leon (Town)
• Mason (Town)
• New Haven (Town)
• Point Pleasant (City)

Unincorporated communities

Ambrosia Apple Grove Arbuckle Arlee Ashton Beech Hill Capehart

Clifton Couch Elmwood Gallipolis Ferry Glenwood Greer Grimms Landing

Hogsett Letart Mercers Bottom Sassafras West Columbia Wyoma

See also

• Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area
• County (United States)
• Green Bottom Wildlife Management Area
• Kanawha River
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Mason County, West Virginia
• Ohio River
• Tu-Endie-Wei State Park

References

1. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx. Retrieved 2011-06-07. 
2. ^ Jeff Miller (2007-11-20). "Origins of West Virginia Place Names". Jeff Miller. http://jeff560.tripod.com/places.html. Retrieved 2008-08-23. 
3. ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. http://factfinder.census.gov. Retrieved 2008-01-31. 

External links

• Mason County Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Mason County Area Chamber of Commerce
• City of Point Pleasant
• Point Pleasant Internet Directory
• The Point Pleasant Register
• Mason County Fair

Coordinates: 38°46′N 82°01′W / 38.77°N 82.02°W / 38.77; -82.02