Wood County, West Virginia

Geography According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 976 km² (377 mi²). 951 km² (367 mi²) of it is land and 25 km² (10 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 2.56% water.

The county is bounded in the northeast by Pleasants County, West Virginia, in the east by Ritchie County, West Virginia, in the southeast by Wirt County, West Virginia, in the south by Jackson County, West Virginia, in the west by Meigs County, Ohio and Athens County, Ohio, and in the northwest by Washington County, Ohio.

Demographics As of the census¹ of 2000, there are 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density is 92/km² (240/mi²). There are 39,785 housing units at an average density of 42/km² (108/mi²). The racial makeup of the county is 97.32% White, 1.01% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 36,275 households out of which 29.30% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.30% are married couples living together, 10.80% have a female householder with no husband present, and 31.40% are non-families. 27.10% of all households are made up of individuals and 11.50% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.39 and the average family size is 2.88.

In the county, the population is spread out with 23.00% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 39 years. For every 100 females there are 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 89.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county is $33,285, and the median income for a family is $40,436. Males have a median income of $34,899 versus $22,109 for females. The per capita income for the county is $18,073. 13.90% of the population and 10.60% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total people living in poverty, 20.50% are under the age of 18 and 8.60% are 65 or older.

Cities and Towns

• Belleville
• Blennerhassett
• Boaz
• Davisville
• Fort Neal
• Lubeck
• Mineralwells
• New England
• North Hills
• Parkersburg
• Rockport
• Vienna
• Walker
• Washington
  • It was named for president George Washington.
• Waverly
• Williamstown