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Randolph County, West Virginia facts for kids

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Randolph County
U.S. county
Randolph County Courthouse in Elkins
Randolph County Courthouse in Elkins
Map of West Virginia highlighting Randolph County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Country  United States
State  West Virginia
Founded October 16, 1787
Named for Edmund Jennings Randolph
Seat Elkins
Largest city Elkins
Area
 • Total 1,040 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Land 1,040 sq mi (2,700 km2)
 • Water 0.3 sq mi (0.8 km2)  0.03%%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 27,932
 • Density 26.86/sq mi (10.37/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district 2nd

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 29,405. Its county seat is Elkins. The county was founded in 1787 and is named for Edmund Jennings Randolph.

Randolph County comprises the Elkins, West Virginia, Micropolitan Statistical Area.

Geography

RandolphCounty.wmg
Wildflowers add a splash of color to grazing fields near Osceola in July.
FallForest WV USA
Fall in the forest

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 1,040 square miles (2,700 km2), of which 1,040 square miles (2,700 km2) is land and 0.3 square miles (0.78 km2) (0.03%) is water. It is the largest county in West Virginia by area.

Rivers

Mountains

Caves and caverns

National Natural Landmarks

Major highways

  • WV-15.svg West Virginia Route 15
  • WV-32.svg West Virginia Route 32
  • WV-55.svg West Virginia Route 55
  • WV-92.svg West Virginia Route 92

Adjacent counties

National protected area

  • Monongahela National Forest (part)
  • United States National Radio Quiet Zone (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1790 951 —
1800 1,826 92.0%
1810 2,854 56.3%
1820 3,357 17.6%
1830 5,000 48.9%
1840 6,208 24.2%
1850 5,243 −15.5%
1860 4,990 −4.8%
1870 5,563 11.5%
1880 8,102 45.6%
1890 11,633 43.6%
1900 17,670 51.9%
1910 26,028 47.3%
1920 26,084 0.2%
1930 25,049 −4.0%
1940 30,259 20.8%
1950 30,558 1.0%
1960 26,349 −13.8%
1970 24,596 −6.7%
1980 28,734 16.8%
1990 27,803 −3.2%
2000 28,262 1.7%
2010 29,405 4.0%
2020 27,932 −5.0%
U.S. Decennial Census
1790–1960 1900–1990
1990–2000 2010–2020

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 29,405 people, 11,695 households, and 7,753 families living in the county. The population density was 28.3 inhabitants per square mile (10.9/km2). There were 14,189 housing units at an average density of 13.6 per square mile (5.3/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.3% white, 1.2% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 26.3% were German, 15.9% were Irish, 12.0% were English, 10.2% were American, and 5.4% were Italian.

Of the 11,695 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 10.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.7% were non-families, and 28.4% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.81. The median age was 43.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $36,176 and the median income for a family was $47,071. Males had a median income of $34,903 versus $25,988 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,472. About 12.7% of families and 17.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.1% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.

Communities

YokumKnobView
View from atop Yokum Knob, Randolph County, West Virginia

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

History

Randolph County was part of Virginia until the American Civil War, in which the county was contested in the Western Virginia Campaign. The Battle of Rich Mountain was fought in the county, as was part of the Battle of Cheat Mountain.

Registered historic places

  • Beverly Historic District
  • Blackman-Bosworth Store
  • Butcher Hill Historic District
  • Rich Mountain Battlefield
  • Tygart Valley Homesteads Historic District
  • Albert and Liberal Arts Halls
  • Baldwin-Chandlee Supply Company-Valley Supply Company
  • Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church
  • Davis and Elkins Historic District
  • Downtown Elkins Historic District
  • Dr. John C. Irons House
  • Elkins Milling Company
  • Gov. H. Guy Kump House
  • Graceland
  • Randolph County Courthouse and Jail
  • Senator Stephen Benton Elkins House
  • Taylor-Condry House
  • Warfield-Dye Residence
  • Wees Historic District
  • West Virginia Children's Home
  • Glady Presbyterian Church and Manse
  • Day-Vandevander Mill
  • Cheat Summit Fort
  • E. E. Hutton House
  • Tygarts Valley Church
  • See-Ward House
  • Middle Mountain Cabins

Notable people

  • Herman Ball, football player
  • Lemuel Chenoweth, master covered bridge builder
  • William Wallace Barron, former governor who was indicted for bribery and jury tampering.
  • Dellos Clinton "Sheriff" Gainer, major league baseball player
  • Marshall Goldberg, football player
  • Wilma Lee Cooper Grand Ole Opry and WWVA Jamboree star
  • Stoney Cooper, Grand Ole Opry and WWVA Jamboree star
  • Eldora Marie Bolyard Nuzum, American newspaper editor and interviewer of U.S. Presidents

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Condado de Randolph (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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