Wyoming County, West Virginia

Wyoming County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,382.^[1] Its county seat is Pineville.^[2] The county was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Lenape word meaning "large plains".^[3]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 502 square miles (1,300 km²), of which 499 square miles (1,290 km²) is land and 2.4 square miles (6.2 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[4] The county is drained by the branches of Sandy and Guyandotte rivers. The land surface is mountainous.^[5]

In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into civil townships, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into magisterial districts.^[6] Wyoming County was divided into six districts: Barkers Ridge,^[i] Center,^[ii] Clear Fork, Huff Creek,^[iii] Oceana, and Slab Fork. A seventh district, Baileysville, was created from portions of Clear Fork and Huff Creek in 1881. Except for minor adjustments, the seven historic magisterial districts remained largely unchanged for over a century. In the 1990s, they were consolidated into three new districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.^[7]

• Boone County (north)
• Raleigh County (northeast)
• Mercer County (southeast)
• McDowell County (south)
• Mingo County (west)
• Logan County (northwest)

Wyoming County’s census counts show long-term population growth through the mid-twentieth century, followed by persistent decline.^[5] The population peaked at 37,540 residents in 1950 and has fallen to 21,382 in 2020, a drop of more than 40 percent over seven decades.^[5] This decline has been gradual but continuous across most decades since 1960, with only a brief rebound around 1980.^[5] Demographers and journalists writing about southern West Virginia’s coalfield counties have linked this long-term population loss to the contraction of coal mining employment, limited diversification of the local economy, and sustained out-migration of younger adults seeking work elsewhere.^[13][14] More recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau continue to show small declines year-to-year in the county’s population, suggesting that both net out-migration and natural decrease (more deaths than births) are contributing to the ongoing reduction in population size.^[8][15]

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,382. Of the residents, 20.9% were under the age of 18 and 21.7% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 45.0 years. For every 100 females there were 98.0 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.2 males.^[16][17]

The racial makeup of the county was 96.3% White, 0.5% Black or African American, 0.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from some other race, and 2.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.8% of the population.^[17]

There were 8,545 households in the county, of which 28.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.2% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.^[16]

There were 9,949 housing units, of which 14.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 80.5% were owner-occupied and 19.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 7.2%.^[16]

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 23,796 people, 9,687 households, and 6,947 families living in the county.^[18] The population density was 47.6 inhabitants per square mile (18.4/km²). There were 10,958 housing units at an average density of 21.9 units per square mile (8.5 units/km²).^[19] The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population.^[18] The largest ancestry groups were: 13.8% Irish, 13.2% English, 13.2% American, 12.6% German, 2.1% Italian, 1.2% Scotch-Irish, 1.2% Dutch, and 1.1% Scottish.^[20]

Of the 9,687 households, 30.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.3% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 28.3% were non-families, and 25.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.90. The median age was 42.6 years.^[18]

The median income for a household in the county was $36,343 and the median income for a family was $46,221. Males had a median income of $43,942 versus $26,428 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,662. About 13.4% of families and 17.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.4% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.^[21]

As of the census of 2000, there were 25,709 people, 10,454 households, and 7,704 families living in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile (20 people/km²). There were 11,698 housing units at an average density of 23 units per square mile (8.9 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.59% White, 0.63% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.07% from other races, and 0.51% from two or more races. 0.53% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,454 households, out of which 31.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.30% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.30% were non-families. 24.40% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.45 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 13.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.90 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 93.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $23,932, and the median income for a family was $29,709. Males had a median income of $32,493 versus $18,812 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,220. About 20.20% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.90% of those under age 18 and 13.50% of those age 65 or over.

• Mullens

• Oceana
• Pineville (county seat)

• District 1
• District 2
• District 3

• Bernie Casey, football player and actor^[23]
• Mike D'Antoni, NBA coach^[24]
• William C. Marland, West Virginia Governor^[25]
• Christy Martin, professional boxer^[26][27]
• Jamie Noble, professional wrestler^[28]
• Joe Pendry, NFL coach^[29][30]
• Heath Slater, professional wrestler^[31]
• Curt Warner, football player^[32]
• Greg White, college basketball coach and motivational speaker^[33]

• Horse Creek Wildlife Management Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Wyoming County West Virginia
• Twin Falls Resort State Park

• Cook, Samuel R. "The Great Depression, Subsistence, and Views of Poverty in Wyoming County, West Virginia" Journal of Appalachian Studies 4#2 (1998), pp. 271-283 online

• Rural Appalachian Improvement League

37°37′N 81°32′W / 37.61°N 81.54°W / 37.61; -81.54