Wirt County, West Virginia

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 608 km² (235 mi²). 603 km² (233 mi²) of it is land and 5 km² (2 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 0.79% water.

Wirt County is bounded in the northwest by Wood County, West Virginia, in the northeast by Ritchie County, West Virginia, in the southeat by Calhoun County, West Virginia, in the south by Roane County, West Virginia, and in the southwest by Jackson County, West Virginia.

Demographics As of the census¹ of 2000, there are 5,873 people, 2,284 households, and 1,699 families residing in the county. The population density is 10/km² (25/mi²). There are 3,266 housing units at an average density of 5/km² (14/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 98.55% White, 0.29% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.00% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.75% from two or more races. 0.31% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 2,284 households out of which 35.20% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.50% are married couples living together, 8.90% have a female householder with no husband present, and 25.60% are non-families. 22.20% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.60% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.56 and the average family size is 2.97.

In the county, the population is spread out with 25.40% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 29.60% from 25 to 44, 24.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.00% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 38 years. For every 100 females there are 100.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 97.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $30,748, and the median income for a family is $33,872. Males have a median income of $29,088 versus $17,965 for females. The per capita income for the county is $14,000. 19.60% of the population and 17.00% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 25.60% are under the age of 18 and 13.90% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Brohard[?]
• Burning Springs[?]
  • It was named for a nearby spring that had a strange gas bubbling up through it.
• Creston[?]
• Elizabeth
• Munday[?]
• Palestine[?]