Marion County, West Virginia

For counties with a similar name, see Marion County (disambiguation).

Marion County, West Virginia
Marion County Courthouse in Fairmont
Seal
Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded	January 14, 1842
Named for	Francis Marion
Seat	Fairmont
Largest city	Fairmont
Area
• Total	312 sq mi (808 km2)
• Land	309 sq mi (800 km2)
• Water	2.8 sq mi (7 km2), 0.9%
Population (est.)
• (2015)	56,925
• Density	184/sq mi (71/km2)
Congressional district	1st
Time zone	Eastern: UTC−5/−4
Website	www.marioncountywv.com

Marion County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 56,418.^[1] Its county seat is Fairmont.^[2] The county was named in honor of General Francis Marion (ca. 1732–1795), known to history as "The Swamp Fox".

Marion County comprises the Fairmont, WV Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is also part of the Morgantown-Fairmont, WV Combined Statistical Area.

Contents

• 
  1 History
  


• 
  2 Geography
  
  
  
  • 
    2.1 Major highways
    
  
  
  • 
    2.2 Adjacent counties
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  3 Demographics
  
  
  
  • 
    3.1 2000 census
    
  
  
  • 
    3.2 2010 census
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  4 Politics
  


• 
  5 Communities
  
  
  
  • 
    5.1 Cities
    
  
  
  • 
    5.2 Towns
    
  
  
  • 
    5.3 Census-designated places
    
  
  
  • 
    5.4 Unincorporated communities
    
  
  
  
  


• 
  6 Notable people
  


• 
  7 See also
  


• 
  8 References
  


• 
  9 External links
  

History

Although the Adena and successor Hopewell cultures had flourished in this area at one time, the region which includes the land now known as Marion County was sparsely occupied by Native Americans, if at all, in the late 18th century; like much of the Ohio Valley, it had been depopulated by the Iroquois during the later Beaver Wars (1670–1700). Only a few abortive attempts to start European settlements upon the Monongahela River or its branches (such as that which gave its name to Dunkard Creek) are known prior to the French and Indian War, and it was not until the year 1772 that any permanent settlements were made in this region.^[3]

Marion County proper was created by an act of the Virginia Assembly on January 14, 1842, from parts of Monongalia and Harrison Counties, and was named after General Francis Marion, of American Revolutionary War fame, known to history as "The Swamp Fox".^[4]

The year 1852 was an eventful time in Marion County's history, starting with the great flood on Monday, April 5th. Heavy rains the day before caused the Monongahela and West Fork Rivers to rise at rate of 5 feet per hour until Tuesday afternoon, when the water reached 43 feet above its normal level. The greatest damage was sustained on the West Fork, where over 40 houses and buildings were swept away and floated past Fairmont. The flood also damaged the railroad, which was in the final stages of being completed. By June 23rd the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was completed, connecting Fairmont to the west and to large cities in the east like Baltimore. The railroad required the building of a bridge to cross the Monongahela River about 1 mile west of Fairmont. This was achieved by building a massive iron bridge spanning 650 feet and lifted 35 feet above the water. The third major event of the year 1852 was the completion of the Fairmont and Palatine suspension bridge, connecting Fairmont to what was then the town of Palatine. The bridge was built under the direction of James L. Randolph, assistant engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad; at a cost of about thirty thousand dollars.^[5]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 312 square miles (810 km²), of which 309 square miles (800 km²) is land and 2.8 square miles (7.3 km²) (0.9%) is water.^[6]

Major highways

• 
  Interstate 79
  


• 
  U.S. Highway 19
  


• 
  U.S. Highway 250
  


• 
  West Virginia Route 218
  


• 
  West Virginia Route 273
  


• 
  West Virginia Route 310
  

Adjacent counties

• 
  Monongalia County (north)


• 
  Taylor County (southeast)


• 
  Harrison County (south)


• 
  Wetzel County (west)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.		%±
1850	10,552		—
1860	12,722		20.6%
1870	12,107		−4.8%
1880	17,198		42.1%
1890	20,721		20.5%
1900	32,430		56.5%
1910	42,794		32.0%
1920	54,571		27.5%
1930	66,655		22.1%
1940	68,683		3.0%
1950	71,521		4.1%
1960	63,717		−10.9%
1970	61,356		−3.7%
1980	65,789		7.2%
1990	57,249		−13.0%
2000	56,598		−1.1%
2010	56,418		−0.3%
Est. 2016	56,538	[7]	0.2%
U.S. Decennial Census[8] 1790–1960[9] 1900–1990[10] 1990–2000[11] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census^[12] of 2000, there were 56,598 people, 23,652 households, and 15,515 families residing in the county. The population density was 183 people per square mile (71/km²). There were 26,660 housing units at an average density of 86 per square mile (33/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 95.10% White, 3.22% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.41% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.93% from two or more races. 0.70% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 23,652 households out of which 26.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.40% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.40% were non-families. 28.90% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.34 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.60% under the age of 18, 10.50% from 18 to 24, 26.40% from 25 to 44, 24.70% from 45 to 64, and 17.80% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,626, and the median income for a family was $37,182. Males had a median income of $29,005 versus $21,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,246. About 11.70% of families and 16.30% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 8.70% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 56,418 people, 23,786 households, and 15,271 families residing in the county.^[13] The population density was 182.7 inhabitants per square mile (70.5/km²). There were 26,463 housing units at an average density of 85.7 per square mile (33.1/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 94.3% white, 3.3% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 23.5% were German, 17.8% were Irish, 13.7% were American, 12.0% were English, and 10.3% were Italian.^[15]

Of the 23,786 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 35.8% were non-families, and 29.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 41.0 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,115 and the median income for a family was $49,046. Males had a median income of $38,948 versus $27,179 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,752. About 11.3% of families and 16.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.0% of those under age 18 and 8.6% of those age 65 or over.^[16]

Politics

Presidential elections results

Presidential elections results^[17]

Year	Republican	Democratic	Third parties
2016	62.8% 14,668	29.8% 6,964	7.4% 1,732
2012	55.9% 12,054	41.6% 8,959	2.5% 540
2008	48.5% 11,501	48.9% 11,618	2.6% 621
2004	48.2% 12,150	50.7% 12,771	1.1% 273
2000	43.6% 9,972	53.8% 12,315	2.6% 586
1996	27.9% 6,160	58.8% 12,994	13.4% 2,953
1992	25.3% 6,380	55.7% 14,042	18.9% 4,772
1988	38.9% 9,229	60.8% 14,441	0.3% 72
1984	48.5% 13,106	51.2% 13,833	0.3% 81
1980	41.4% 10,952	53.6% 14,189	5.0% 1,330
1976	36.9% 10,391	63.1% 17,800
1972	57.6% 16,095	42.4% 11,864
1968	34.8% 10,177	58.9% 17,246	6.3% 1,838
1964	25.9% 7,707	74.1% 22,047
1960	44.1% 14,138	55.9% 17,903
1956	49.9% 16,112	50.1% 16,192
1952	43.0% 14,979	57.0% 19,890
1948	35.7% 11,201	63.4% 19,866	0.9% 290
1944	39.6% 11,584	60.4% 17,640
1940	38.8% 13,349	61.2% 21,035
1936	35.2% 11,403	64.3% 20,859	0.6% 181
1932	42.9% 12,638	54.2% 15,975	2.9% 851
1928	60.3% 16,088	38.0% 10,133	1.7% 442
1924	50.6% 12,167	39.0% 9,386	10.4% 2,513
1920	55.2% 11,494	42.0% 8,734	2.8% 583
1916	42.8% 4,443	52.9% 5,493	4.3% 443
1912	17.2% 1,625	48.1% 4,535	34.7% 3,273

Communities

Cities

• 
  Fairmont (county seat)


• Mannington


• Pleasant Valley

Towns

• Fairview


• Barrackville


• Farmington


• Grant Town


• Monongah


• Rivesville


• Whitehall


• Worthington

Census-designated places

• Carolina


• Idamay


• Rachel

Unincorporated communities

• Baxter


• Basnettville


• Beverly Hills


• Big Run


• Boothsville


• Brink


• Bunner Ridge


• Catawba


• Colfax


• Flyblow


• Forksburg


• Four States


• Grays Flat


• Hebron


• Highland


• Hopewell


• Hutchinson


• Joetown


• Jordan


• Katy


• Kingmont


• Logansport


• Meadowdale


• Metz


• Montana


• Montana Mines


• Paw Paw


• Pettyjohn


• Pine Grove


• Pleasant View


• Shagtown


• Seven Pines


• Stringtown


• Viola


• Wahoo


• Watson


• Winfield

Notable people

• 
  David Carpenter, baseball player


• 
  Frank Kendall Everest, Jr., The Fastest Man Alive
  


• 
  Michael Garrison, former president of West Virginia University.


• 
  Frank Gatski, athlete in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
  


• 
  Sam Huff, Pro Football Hall of Fame


• 
  Johnnie Johnson, musician


• 
  John Knowles, author


• 
  Joe Manchin, the former governor of West Virginia and current senior United States Senator from West Virginia.


• 
  Luella Mundel, professor and McCarthyism victim


• 
  Francis H. Pierpont, father of West Virginia


• 
  Mary Lou Retton, all-around gymnastics Olympic gold medal winner (1984 Olympic Games).


• 
  Rich Rodriguez, former college football coach (West Virginia, Michigan, Arizona)


• 
  Nick Saban, current University of Alabama head football coach


• 
  Harrison C. Summers, WWII hero


• 
  Natalie Tennant, Secretary of State of West Virginia and 2014 U.S. Senate candidate.


• 
  Robert Tinnell, Director, Writer, Producer


• 
  Hershel W. Williams, Medal of Honor recipient for the Battle of Iwo Jima
  


• 
  Tom Wilson, creator of the comic strip Ziggy.


• 
  Fielding H. Yost, Football Coach

See also

• Prickett's Fort State Park


• Fairmont Marion County Transit Authority


• National Register of Historic Places listings in Marion County, West Virginia

References

1. 
   ^ ^ab "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved January 10, 2014..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
   


2. 
   ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
   


3. 
   ^ Dunnington, George A. History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia Fairmont, West Virginia: George A. Dunnington, Publisher, 1880; Chap. II: First Settlements
   


4. 
   ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-06-21. Retrieved 2013-01-29.CS1 maint: Archived copy as title (link)
   


5. 
   ^ Dunnington, George (1880). History and Progress of the County of Marion, West Virginia. Fairmont, WV: George A. Dunnington. pp. 87–92.
   


6. 
   ^ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2015.
   


7. 
   ^ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
   


8. 
   ^ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
   


9. 
   ^ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
   


10. 
    ^ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
    


11. 
    ^ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
    


12. 
    ^ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
    


13. 
    ^ ^abc "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
    


14. 
    ^ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
    


15. 
    ^ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
    


16. 
    ^ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
    


17. 
    ^ Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved 2018-03-27.
    

External links

• Marion County Government

Places adjacent to Marion County, West Virginia
Monongalia County Wetzel County Marion County, West Virginia Harrison County Taylor County

v t e Municipalities and communities of Marion County, West Virginia, United States
County seat: Fairmont
Cities	Fairmont Mannington Pleasant Valley
Towns	Barrackville Fairview Farmington Grant Town Monongah Rivesville White Hall Worthington
CDPs	Carolina Idamay Rachel
Unincorporated communities	Basnettville Baxter Beverly Hills Big Run Bingamon Boothsville Brink‡ Catawba Colfax Flyblow Forksburg Four States Grays Flat Hebron Highland Hopewell Hutchinson Joetown Jordan Katy Kingmont Logansport Meadowdale Metz Montana Montana Mines Paw Paw Pettyjohn Pine Grove Pleasant View Shagtown Seven Pines Stringtown Viola Wahoo Watson
Fictional places	Grantville (1632 series)
Footnotes	‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties

v t e  State of West Virginia
Charleston (capital)
Topics	Cities Towns Villages Census-designated places History Environment People Government Governors Delegations Colleges and universities Tourist attractions	Seal of West Virginia
Society	Culture Crime Demographics Economy Education Elections Media Newspapers Radio TV
Insignia	Coat of arms Flag Motto Seal
Regions	Allegheny Mountains Allegheny Plateau Baltimore-Washington Metropolitan Area Blue Ridge Charleston Metropolitan Area Cumberland Plateau Cumberland Mountains Eastern Panhandle Huntington Metropolitan Area North-Central West Virginia Northern Panhandle Potomac Highlands Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians Shenandoah Valley Southern West Virginia
Metro areas	Charleston Huntington Morgantown Martinsburg Parkersburg-Vienna Wheeling Winchester Weirton
Largest cities	Beckley Charleston Fairmont Huntington Martinsburg Morgantown Parkersburg Wheeling Weirton
Counties	Barbour Berkeley Boone Braxton Brooke Cabell Calhoun Clay Doddridge Fayette Gilmer Grant Greenbrier Hampshire Hancock Hardy Harrison Jackson Jefferson Kanawha Lewis Lincoln Logan Marion Marshall Mason McDowell Mercer Mineral Mingo Monongalia Monroe Morgan Nicholas Ohio Pendleton Pleasants Pocahontas Preston Putnam Raleigh Randolph Ritchie Roane Summers Taylor Tucker Tyler Upshur Wayne Webster Wetzel Wirt Wood Wyoming

Coordinates: 39°31′N 80°14′W / 39.51°N 80.24°W / 39.51; -80.24

This page is only for reference, If you need detailed information, please check here