Kanawha County, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Kanawha County
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Kanawha County Courthouse in Charleston
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Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
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West Virginia's location within the U.S. |
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Country | United States | |
State | West Virginia | |
Founded | October 5, 1789 | |
Named for | Kanawha River | |
Seat | Charleston | |
Largest city | Charleston | |
Area | ||
• Total | 911 sq mi (2,360 km2) | |
• Land | 902 sq mi (2,340 km2) | |
• Water | 9.3 sq mi (24 km2) 1.0%% | |
Population
(2010)
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• Total | 193,063 | |
• Estimate
(2019)
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178,124 | |
• Density | 211.92/sq mi (81.82/km2) | |
Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern) | |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) | |
Congressional district | 2nd |
Kanawha County ( kə-NAW-ə) is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2019 American Community Survey, the population was 183,279. This was a decrease of 9,784 since the 2010 Census; nevertheless, it is West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital. Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
Contents
History
The county began taking formation on November 14, 1788 under authorization of the Virginia General Assembly, and was founded on October 5, 1789. The county was named for the Kanawha River, which in turn was named after the Indian tribe that lived in the area. The county was the site of a major Textbook controversy in 1974 that included bombings and received national attention.
Geography
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 911 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 902 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (1.0%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in West Virginia by area.
Adjacent counties
- Roane County (north)
- Clay County (northeast)
- Nicholas County (east)
- Fayette County (east)
- Raleigh County (southeast)
- Boone County (south)
- Lincoln County (southwest)
- Putnam County (west)
- Jackson County (northwest)
Major highways
- Interstate 64
- Interstate 77
- Interstate 79
- U.S. Route 60
- U.S. Route 119
- West Virginia Route 4
- West Virginia Route 25
- West Virginia Route 34
- West Virginia Route 61
- West Virginia Route 62
- West Virginia Route 94
- West Virginia Route 114
- West Virginia Route 214
- West Virginia Route 501
- West Virginia Route 601
- West Virginia Route 622
- West Virginia Route 817
Demographics
Historical population | |||
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Census | Pop. | %± | |
1800 | 3,239 | — | |
1810 | 3,866 | 19.4% | |
1820 | 6,399 | 65.5% | |
1830 | 9,326 | 45.7% | |
1840 | 13,567 | 45.5% | |
1850 | 15,353 | 13.2% | |
1860 | 16,150 | 5.2% | |
1870 | 22,349 | 38.4% | |
1880 | 32,466 | 45.3% | |
1890 | 42,756 | 31.7% | |
1900 | 54,696 | 27.9% | |
1910 | 81,457 | 48.9% | |
1920 | 119,650 | 46.9% | |
1930 | 157,667 | 31.8% | |
1940 | 195,619 | 24.1% | |
1950 | 239,629 | 22.5% | |
1960 | 252,925 | 5.5% | |
1970 | 229,515 | −9.3% | |
1980 | 231,414 | 0.8% | |
1990 | 207,619 | −10.3% | |
2000 | 200,073 | −3.6% | |
2010 | 193,063 | −3.5% | |
2020 | 180,745 | −6.4% | |
U.S. Decennial Census 1790–1960 1900–1990 1990–2000 2010–2019 |
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 193,063 people, 84,201 households, and 52,172 families living in the county. The population density was 214.1 inhabitants per square mile (82.7/km2). There were 92,618 housing units at an average density of 102.7 per square mile (39.7/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% white, 7.3% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.8% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 13.9% were English, and 13.4% were American.
Of the 84,201 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.0% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,669 and the median income for a family was $54,203. Males had a median income of $42,522 versus $31,754 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,439. About 9.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
Recreation
Parks | Golf |
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Coonskin Park | Coonskin Golf Course |
Shawnee Park | Shawnee Golf Course |
Meadowood Park | Edgewood Country Club |
Pioneer Park | Little Creek Golf Course |
Wallace Hartman Nature Preserve | Sleepy Hollow Golf Club |
Cato Park | Sandy Brae Golf Course |
Ridenour Park | Berry Hills Country Club |
Big Bend Park | Big Bend Golf Course |
Kanawha State Forest | |
Saint Albans City Park |
Events
- FestivALL - http://www.festivallcharleston.com/
- Vandalia Gathering - http://www.wvculture.org/vandalia/index.html
- Rib Fest - http://www.charlestonwvribfest.com/
- Charleston Rod Run Doo Wop - http://www.charlestonwvcarshow.com/
- Majorette Festival - Daily Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival
- Pinch Reunion - http://wvmetronews.com/pinch-lays-claim-to-oldest-reunion/
- St. Albans Festival of Lights - http://www.salights.com/index.cfm
Attractions
- Clay Center (West Virginia)
- West Virginia State Capitol
- West Virginia Cultural Center
- South Charleston Mound
- Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
- Charleston Civic Center
- Heritage Tower Museum
Communities
Cities
- Charleston (county seat)
- Dunbar
- Marmet
- Montgomery (part)
- Nitro (part)
- Smithers (part)
- South Charleston
- St. Albans
Towns
Census-designated places
Unincorporated communities
- Aarons
- Acme
- Acup
- Airport Village
- Amandaville
- Amelia
- Annfred
- Barren Creek
- Blackhawk
- Blakeley
- Blount
- Blue Creek
- Blundon
- Bream
- Brounland
- Burnwell
- Cabin Creek
- Carbon
- Cinco
- Coalburg
- Coalridge
- Coco
- Corton
- Crede
- Crown Hill
- Davis Creek
- Dawes
- Decota
- Dial
- Diamond
- Dickinson
- Donwood
- Dry Branch
- Dungriff
- Dupont City
- East Nitro
- East Side
- Edgewood
- Elk
- Elk Forest
- Elk Hills
- Emmons (part)
- Eskdale
- Etowah
- Falling Rock
- Ferrell
- Fivemile
- Forest Hills
- Forks of Coal
- Fort Hill
- Frame
- Gallagher
- Giles
- Green Valley
- Greencastle
- Grippe
- Guthrie
- Hansford
- Hernshaw
- Hicumbottom
- Highlawn
- Hillsdale
- Hitop
- Holly
- Hollygrove
- Hollyhurst
- Hugheston
- Institute
- Island Branch
- Ivydale
- Jarrett
- Jarretts Ford
- Joplin
- Kanawha City
- Kanawha Estates
- Kayford
- Kelly Hill
- Kendalia
- Laing
- Leewood
- Loudendale
- Lower Falls
- Mammoth
- Meadowbrook
- Mink Shoals
- Pocatalico
- Pond Gap
- Port Amherst
- Putney
- Quick
- Quincy
- River Bend
- Rocky Fork
- Rock Lake Village
- Rutledge
- Sanderson
- Tyler Heights
- Tyler Mountain
Economy
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are approximately 5,481 private sector businesses within Kanawha County. There are 89,768 people that are currently employed that live in Kanawha County.
Sports
- Charleston Dirty Birds - Baseball team
- West Virginia United - Soccer club
Notable people
- Robert Alexander, NFL football player
- Anthony Bass, NFL football player
- George Crumb, composer
- Aaron Dobson, Super Bowl champion football player
- Ryan Dorsey, actor
- Jon Elmore, NBA basketball player
- Conchata Ferrell, actress and three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, best known for her role as Berta on Two and a Half Men
- Jennifer Garner, actress and Golden Globe and SAG award winner
- Elizabeth Harden Gilmore, business leader and civil rights advocate
- Gary Gregor, NBA basketball player
- Alex Hawkins, two-time NFL champion football player
- Alexis Hornbuckle, two-time WNBA champion basketball player
- T. D. Jakes, megachurch pastor
- Carl Lee, NFL football player
- Earl Lloyd, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and the first African-American basketball player to play in an NBA game
- Kathy Mattea, country music and bluegrass singer
- Renee Montgomery, two-time WNBA champion basketball player
- Randy Moss, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and holder of the NFL record for receiving touchdowns in a season
- Lou Myers, actor, best known for his role as Vernon Gaines on A Different World
- Les Palmer, NFL champion football player
- Phil Pfister, strongman competitor and winner of the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition
- Kristen Ruhlin, actress
- Ryan Switzer, NFL football player
- Booker T. Washington, highly influential educator, author, orator, presidential advisor, and co-founder of the Tuskegee Institute
- Jerry West, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, nine-time NBA champion as both a player and an executive, and the basis for the silhouette on the NBA logo since 1971
See also
In Spanish: Condado de Kanawha para niños