Randolph County, West Virginia

Randolph County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,932. 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.

History

The first attempt by Europeans to settle in present-day Randolph County came in 1752 or '53 when David Tygart — for whom the Tygart Valley River was named — and Robert Foyle (later called Files) located (separately) with their families in the vicinity of present-day Beverly. Although there had been no recent history of conflicts between Europeans and Native Americans in that immediate area, that summer a party of Native Americans traveling the Shawnee Trail discovered the Foyle cabin and killed seven members of the family. One son escaped and alerted the Tygart family, allowing all to escape. (The Tygart-Foyle settlements were the first European settlements attempted anywhere within the Monongahela River watershed in present-day West Virginia.) No other European settlement was attempted in present Randolph County until 1772.

Thomas Skidmore (ca. 1733–1807), born in Maryland, obtained a title to 400 acres of land (“by virtue of a settlement”) in the future Elkins area before 1778. This land, on the east side of the Tygart Valley River, was surveyed by John Poage in 1780 and included the land that is now most of downtown Elkins. Thus, Skidmore was probably the first European settler in what became Elkins.

When Randolph County, Virginia (now West Virginia) was created out of the vast Harrison County on October 16, 1787, it included not only present-day Randolph County, but parts of what are now eight other counties. It took its name from the surname of the then Governor of Virginia. The name of the new county seat, originally Randolph Court House, or Edmundton (the latter from the Governor's given name), was changed to Beverly by 1790. Beverly remained the county seat until 1890 when county government was moved to Elkins.

Minor actions of the American Civil War which took place in Randolph County include the Battle of Rich Mountain and a part of the Battle of Cheat Mountain, both in 1861. These operations came in the course of the Western Virginia Campaign.

Randolph was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863. Later that year, the new state'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. Randolph County was divided into nine districts: Beverly, Clarke, Clay, Dry Fork, Green, Mingo Flats, Reynolds, Scott, and Union. Several of these were renamed during the 1870s: Clark became Valley Bend, Clay became New Interest, Green became Leadsville, Mingo Flats was abbreviated to Mingo, Reynolds became Huttonsville, Scott became Roaring Creek, and Union became Middle Fork.

Geography

According to the United States 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

• Tygart Valley River
• Shavers Fork
• Laurel Fork

Mountains

• Point Mountain
• Cheat Mountain
  • White Top, a knob of Cheat Mountain
• Laurel Mountain
• Rich Mountain
• Shavers Mountain
  • Gaudineer Knob, a knob of Shavers Mountain

Caves and caverns

• Bowden Cave
• Sinks of Gandy

National Natural Landmarks

• Blister Run Swamp
• Gaudineer Scenic Area
• Shavers Mountain Spruce-Hemlock Stand

Major highways

Adjacent counties

• Tucker County (northeast)
• Pendleton County (east)
• Pocahontas County (south)
• Webster County (southwest)
• Upshur County (west)
• Barbour County (northwest)

National protected area

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

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 27,932 people and 10,065 households residing in the county. There were 13,035 housing units in Randolph county. The racial makeup of the county was 93.6% White, 1.6% African American, 0.4% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 3.8% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.1% of the population.

There were 10,065 households, of which 44.8% were married couples living together, 30.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 19% had a male householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 3.36. The median age in the county was 44.7 years with 19% of the population being under 18. The median income for a household in the city was $47,343 and the poverty rate was 15.2%

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.

2000 census

As of the 2000 census, there were 28,262 people, 11,072 households, and 7,661 families living in the county. The population density was 27 people per square mile (10 people/km²). There were 13,478 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile (5.0/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 97.69% White, 1.07% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.16% from other races, and 0.53% from two or more races. 0.68% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 11,072 households, out of which 29.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 9.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.80% were non-families. 26.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.90% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.30% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 28.50% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 15.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 101.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 99.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,299, and the median income for a family was $32,632. Males had a median income of $24,751 versus $17,819 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,918. About 13.40% of families and 18.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.30% of those under age 18 and 12.90% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Communities

City

• Elkins (county seat)

Towns

• Beverly
• Harman
• Huttonsville
• Mill Creek
• Montrose
• Womelsdorf (Coalton)

Magisterial districts

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

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

• Becky Creek Wildlife Management Area
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Randolph County, West Virginia

References