McDowell County (West Virginia)

McDowell County is a county located in the state of West Virginia in the United States. The administrative headquarters ( County Seat) is Welch.

Geography

The County is located in southern West Virginia, bordered by Virginia and has an area of 1,385 square kilometers without significant water surface. It is bordered clockwise to the following counties: Wyoming County, Mercer County, Tazewell County ( Virginia) and Buchanan County ( Virginia).

History

McDowell County was formed on February 20, 1858 from parts of Tazewell County, Virginia. It was named after James McDowell, a member of the U.S. Congress and Governor of Virginia.

Demographic data

1900-1990

According to the census in 2000 lived in McDowell County 27 329 people in 11,169 households and 7,840 families. The population density was 20 people per square kilometer. The racial the population was made ​​up of 87.06 percent White, 11.89 percent Black or African American, 0.17 percent Native American, 0.06 percent Asian, 0.01 percent of residents from the Pacific Islander, and 0.07 percent from other races groups; 0.74 percent were descended from two or more races. 0.48 percent of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Of the 11,169 households out of which 29.2 percent have children under the age of 18 living with them. 51.1 percent were married couples living together, 14.9 percent were single mothers, 29.8 percent were non-families, 27.3 percent of all households and 13.1 percent lived in people aged 65 years or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.92.

Based on the county the population was spread from 23.2 percent population under 18 years, 7.9 percent between 18 and 24 years, 26.8 percent between 25 and 44 years, 26.1 percent between 45 and 64 years and 16.1 percent were 65 years old or older. The average age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.2 men statistically.

The median income for a household was $ 16,931, and the median income for a family was $ 20,496. Males have a median income of $ 25,994, women $ 18,685. The per capita income was $ 10,174. 33.8 percent of families and 37.7 percent of the population lived below the poverty line. Of these, 52.5 percent were children or adolescents under age 18 and 21.6 percent of those 65 years.

Cities in McDowell County

• Anawalt
• Bradshaw
• Davy
• Gary
• Iaeger

• Keystone
• Kimball
• Northfork
• War
• Welch