Preston County, West Virginia

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,687 km² (651 mi²). 1,679 km² (648 mi²) of it is land and 8 km² (3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.47% water.

Preston County has a small boundary in its southeast corner with Grant County, West Virginia and is bounded in the south by Tucker County, West Virginia, in the southwest by Barbour County, West Virginia, in the west by Taylor County, West Virginia and Monongalia County, West Virginia, in the north by Fayette County, Pennsylvania and in the east by Garrett County, Maryland

Demographics As of the census¹ of 2000, there are 29,334 people, 11,544 households, and 8,357 families residing in the county. The population density is 17/km² (45/mi²). There are 13,444 housing units at an average density of 8/km² (21/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 98.84% White, 0.29% African American, 0.11% Native American, 0.15% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.05% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.57% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 11,544 households out of which 31.50% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.40% are married couples living together, 9.10% have a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% are non-families. 23.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.70% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.50 and the average family size is 2.94.

In the county, the population is spread out with 23.70% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.80% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 98.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 95.90 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $27,927, and the median income for a family is $32,904. Males have a median income of $26,440 versus $17,905 for females. The per capita income for the county is $13,596. 18.30% of the population and 14.70% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 24.40% are under the age of 18 and 14.50% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Albright
• Amboy
• Arthurdale
  • This was named for Richard Arthur, the owner of the land. It is the only place in the United States with this name.
• Aurora
  • Originally a German settlement, the name was suggested because of the town's altitude.
• Brandonville
• Bretz
• Bruceton Mills
  • An early settler, John M. Hoffman, named this community for his step-father, George Bruce, who claimed direct descendance from Robert Bruce[?], King of Scotland. The post office existed in 1870. It is the only place in the United States with this name
• Cascade
• Clifton Mills
  • The post office here existed in 1881; it was discontinued November 22, 1963
• Corinth
  • This was originally called Spencer but was changed in 1890 to avoid duplication of names in the state. It is named after the biblical city.
• Cuzzart
• Eglon
• Hazelton
• Hopemont
• Horse Shoe Run
• Independence
• Kingwood
• Manheim
• Masontown
• Newburg
• Reedsville
• Rowlesburg
• Terra Alta
• Tunnelton