Wetzel County, West Virginia

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 936 km² (361 mi²). 930 km² (359 mi²) of it is land and 6 km² (2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.59% water.

It is bounded in the north by Marshall County, West Virginia and Greene County, Pennsylvania, in the east by Monongalia County, West Virginia and Marion County, West Virginia, in the southeast by Harrison County, West Virginia, in the south by Doddridge County, West Virginia and Tyler County, West Virginia, and in the west by Monroe County, Ohio

Demographics As of the census¹ of 2000, there are 17,693 people, 7,164 households, and 5,079 families residing in the county. The population density is 19/km² (49/mi²). There are 8,313 housing units at an average density of 9/km² (23/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 98.92% White, 0.08% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.32% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.42% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 7,164 households out of which 30.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.70% are married couples living together, 9.30% have a female householder with no husband present, and 29.10% are non-families. 25.70% of all households are made up of individuals and 12.80% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.45 and the average family size is 2.92.

In the county, the population is spread out with 23.80% under the age of 18, 6.80% from 18 to 24, 26.50% from 25 to 44, 26.80% from 45 to 64, and 16.20% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 40 years. For every 100 females there are 94.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 91.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $30,935, and the median income for a family is $36,793. Males have a median income of $37,296 versus $19,339 for females. The per capita income for the county is $16,818. 19.80% of the population and 15.30% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 26.60% are under the age of 18 and 15.20% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Alvy
• Big Run
  • Named for Big Run Creek on which it is located.
• Burton
  • It was named for George Bartrug, who settled here in 1812. The name difference is from an apparent misreading of the name by railway officials.
• Coburn
• Folsom
• Hastings
• Hundred
  • It was named for Henry Church and his wife, the first settlers who lived to be 109 and 106. It is the only place in the United States with this name.
• Jacksonburg
• Knob Fork
• Lima
• Littleton
• New Martinsville
• Paden City (part)
• Pine Grove
  • It was so named because it was settled in a large pine thicket.
• Porters Falls
• Reader
  • It was named either for Benjamin Reader who "traded a bay mare and a ten gallon copper kettle for the land, or for Jacob Reader.
• Smithfield
• Wileyville