Calhoun County, West Virginia

Calhoun County
Calhoun County
County
	The Calhoun County Courthouse in Grantsville
	Flag
	Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
	West Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°50′N 81°07′W / 38.84°N 81.12°W
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Founded	March 5, 1856
Named for	John C. Calhoun
Seat	Grantsville
Largest town	Grantsville
Area
• Total	281 sq mi (730 km2)
• Land	279 sq mi (720 km2)
• Water	1.4 sq mi (4 km2) 0.5%
Population (2020)
• Total	6,229
• Estimate (2021)	6,176
• Density	22/sq mi (8.6/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.calhouncounty.wv.gov

Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,229,^[1] making it the third-least populous county in West Virginia. Its county seat is Grantsville.^[2] The county was founded in 1856 and named for South Carolina politician John C. Calhoun.^[3]^[4]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 281 square miles (730 km²), of which 279 square miles (720 km²) is land and 1.4 square miles (3.6 km²) (0.5%) is water.^[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] Calhoun County was divided into five districts: Centre, Lee, Sheridan, Sherman, and Washington. Between 1980 and 1990, the county was reorganized into five new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, and District 5.^[7]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Ritchie County (north)
Gilmer County (east)
Braxton County (southeast)
Clay County (south)
Roane County (west)
Wirt County (northwest)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	2,502		—
1870	2,939		17.5%
1880	6,072		106.6%
1890	8,155		34.3%
1900	10,266		25.9%
1910	11,258		9.7%
1920	10,268		−8.8%
1930	10,866		5.8%
1940	12,455		14.6%
1950	10,259		−17.6%
1960	7,948		−22.5%
1970	7,046		−11.3%
1980	8,250		17.1%
1990	7,885		−4.4%
2000	7,582		−3.8%
2010	7,627		0.6%
2020	6,229		−18.3%
2021 (est.)	6,176	^[8]	−0.9%
U.S. Decennial Census^[9] 1790–1960^[10] 1900–1990^[11] 1990–2000^[12] 2010–2020^[1]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,627 people, 3,268 households, and 2,178 families living in the county.^[13] The population density was 27.3 inhabitants per square mile (10.5/km²). There were 3,963 housing units at an average density of 14.2 per square mile (5.5/km²).^[14] The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population.^[13] In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 21.3% were Irish, 7.7% were American, 7.3% were English, and 5.7% were Dutch.^[15]

Of the 3,268 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 45.1 years.^[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $26,922 and the median income for a family was $34,897. Males had a median income of $32,229 versus $20,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 13.2% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.^[16]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,582 people, 3,071 households, and 2,201 families living in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10 people/km²). There were 3,848 housing units at an average density of 14 per square mile (5.4/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.91% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,071 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $21,578, and the median income for a family was $26,701. Males had a median income of $25,609 versus $14,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,491. About 19.10% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.40% of those under age 18 and 24.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Calhoun County is a historically secessionist and Democratic county, which never voted Republican between the first Reconstruction election and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s landslide win in 1956.^[17] Since then it has consistently followed the statewide results of West Virginia, from Democratic-leaning to Republican bastion in the twenty-first century.

United States presidential election results for Calhoun County, West Virginia^[18]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2020	2,364	79.57%	568	19.12%	39	1.31%
2016	2,035	77.14%	456	17.29%	147	5.57%
2012	1,319	59.68%	818	37.01%	73	3.30%
2008	1,366	56.24%	993	40.88%	70	2.88%
2004	1,588	54.97%	1,266	43.82%	35	1.21%
2000	1,425	54.49%	1,112	42.52%	78	2.98%
1996	1,000	36.70%	1,402	51.45%	323	11.85%
1992	1,095	33.51%	1,627	49.79%	546	16.71%
1988	1,395	45.63%	1,644	53.78%	18	0.59%
1984	1,765	53.88%	1,473	44.96%	38	1.16%
1980	1,606	46.67%	1,717	49.90%	118	3.43%
1976	1,283	37.12%	2,173	62.88%	0	0.00%
1972	1,992	56.59%	1,528	43.41%	0	0.00%
1968	1,612	44.63%	1,682	46.57%	318	8.80%
1964	1,275	32.68%	2,626	67.32%	0	0.00%
1960	1,946	49.63%	1,975	50.37%	0	0.00%
1956	2,094	52.06%	1,928	47.94%	0	0.00%
1952	2,101	49.56%	2,138	50.44%	0	0.00%
1948	1,549	42.08%	2,126	57.76%	6	0.16%
1944	1,687	42.81%	2,254	57.19%	0	0.00%
1940	1,891	39.70%	2,872	60.30%	0	0.00%
1936	1,733	33.88%	3,369	65.87%	13	0.25%
1932	1,564	33.11%	3,139	66.45%	21	0.44%
1928	1,745	44.27%	2,179	55.28%	18	0.46%
1924	1,399	38.51%	2,231	61.41%	3	0.08%
1920	1,671	48.48%	1,773	51.44%	3	0.09%
1916	936	41.31%	1,317	58.12%	13	0.57%
1912	575	23.84%	1,349	55.93%	488	20.23%

Attractions

Calhoun County is home to four public parks: The Upper West Fork Park in Chloe on West Virginia Route 16, the West Fork Park in Arnoldsburg on U.S. Route 33, Mt. Zion Park on West Virginia Route 16, and Calhoun County Park on West Virginia Route 16.

Calhoun is home to the annual West Virginia Wood Festival, the West Virginia Molasses Festival in September.

Calhoun County was home to one of the last 500 drive-in theaters in the nation, now closed. Calhoun also has one of the largest genealogy collections in the state, housed at Calhoun County Library. The library is also home to the "West Virginia Room" which includes books on West Virginia and by West Virginians.