Editing Barbour County, West Virginia

{{Short description|County in West Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2021}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name               = Barbour County
| official_name      = 
| settlement_type    = [[County (United States)|County]]
<!-- Images -->
| image_skyline      = {{multiple image
| border      = infobox
| total_width = 300
| image_style = border:1;
| caption_align = center
| perrow      = 1/2/2
| image1      = BarbourCountyCourthouse.jpg
| caption1    = [[Barbour County Courthouse]] in [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]]
| image2      = Audra State Park-square.jpg
| caption2    = [[Audra State Park]]
| image3      = ADALAND, PHILIPPI, BARBOUR COUNTY, WV.jpg
| caption3    = [[Adaland]]
| image4      = The Philippi Covered Bridge across the Tygart Valley River in Philippi, West Virginia LCCN2015631683.tif
| caption4    = [[Philippi Covered Bridge]]
}}
| image_flag         = Flag of Barbour County, West Virginia.svg
| image_map          = Map of West Virginia highlighting Barbour County.svg
| map_caption        = Location of Barbour County in [[West Virginia]]
| image_map1         = West Virginia in United States.svg
| map_caption1       = West Virginia's location within the U.S.
| coordinates        = {{coord|39.13|-80|display=title,inline|type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990}}
| subdivision_type   = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name   = {{nowrap|{{flag|United States}}}}
| subdivision_type1  = [[U.S. state|State]]
| subdivision_name1  = {{flag|West Virginia|size=23px}}
| established_title  = Founded
| established_date   =  March 3, 1843
| named_for          = [[Philip P. Barbour]]
| seat_type          = [[Seat]]
| seat               = [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]]
| parts_type         = and largest city
| parts              = [[seatlargestcity| ]]
| leader_title       = County Administrator
| leader_name        = Shana Frey <ref>{{Cite web|title=Barbour County Commission|url=https://barbourcountywv.org/county-commission/|access-date=November 6, 2023|publisher=Barbour County}}</ref>
| leader_title1      = County Commission
| leader_name1       = David Strait ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=2020 General Election Results: Barbour County|url=https://www.wboy.com/top-stories/2020-general-election-results-barbour-county/|access-date=November 6, 2023|publisher=WBOY-TV}}</ref><br/>Jamie Carpenter ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Barbour County has a new commissioner; more results from Doddridge electon [sic]|url=https://www.wvnews.com/news/wvnews/barbour-county-has-a-new-commissioner-more-results-from-doddridge-electon/article_aac8d8c6-91fb-509a-8581-f7301ef72768.html|access-date=November 6, 2023|publisher=WVNews}}</ref><br/>Jedd Schola ([[West Virginia Republican Party|R]])<ref>{{Cite web|title=Local election results for Barbour County|url=https://www.wboy.com/news/barbour/local-election-results-for-barbour-county/|access-date=November 6, 2023|publisher=WBOY-TV}}{{link note|note=European Economic Area (EEA) including the EU 451: Unavailable for legal reasons}}</ref>
| area_total_sq_mi   = 342.85
| area_land_sq_mi    = 341.06
| area_water_sq_mi   = 1.79
| area_water_percent = 0.5
| area_rank          = [[List of counties in West Virginia|37th]]
| population_total   = 15465
| population_as_of   = [[2020 United States census|2020]]
| population_density_sq_mi = auto
| pop_est_as_of      = 2021
| population_est     = 15468 {{increase}}
| population_rank    = [[List of counties in West Virginia|36th]]
| timezone1          = [[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−5 (Eastern)]]
| timezone1_DST      = [[Eastern Time Zone|UTC−4 (EDT)]]
| area_code          = [[Area codes 304 and 681|304, 681]]
| blank_name_sec1    = Congressional district
| blank_info_sec1    = [[West Virginia's 2nd congressional district|2nd]]
<!-- State Legislative distrists -->
| blank_name_sec2    = Senate district
| blank_info_sec2    = [[West Virginia's 11th Senate district|11th]]
| blank1_name_sec2   = House of Delegates district
| blank1_info_sec2   = [[West Virginia House of Delegates#Current members|68th]]
| website            = https://barbourcountywv.org/
}}

[[File:Map of Barbour County, W.Va., 1883.jpg|thumb|278px|{{center|"Map of Barbour County, W.Va., 1883", showing its eight magisterial districts}}]]

'''Barbour County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in [[North-Central West Virginia|north central]] [[West Virginia]], United States. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 15,465.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/barbourcountywestvirginia/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref> The [[county seat]] is [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]],<ref name="GR6">{{cite web|url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |title=Find a County |publisher=National Association of Counties |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110531210815/http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |archive-date=May 31, 2011 }}</ref> which was [[Municipal charter#United States|chartered]] in 1844. Both county and city were named for [[Philip P. Barbour]] (1783–1841), a [[United States Congress|U.S. Congressman]] from Virginia and Associate Justice of the [[Supreme Court of the United States|U.S. Supreme Court]]. The county was formed in 1843<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |title=Archived copy |access-date=July 23, 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010923185022/http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |archive-date=September 23, 2001}}</ref> when the region was still part of the state of [[Virginia]]. In 1871, a small part of Barbour County was transferred to [[Tucker County]], West Virginia.

The [[Battle of Philippi (West Virginia)|Battle of Philippi]], also known as the "Philippi Races", was fought in Barbour County on June 3, 1861. Although a minor action, it is generally considered the first land engagement of the [[American Civil War]].

For 114 years (1909-2023), Barbour County was home to Alderson-Broaddus College (later [[Alderson Broaddus University]]), an [[American Baptist Churches USA|American Baptist]] institution. Its four-year [[Physician Assistant]] (PA) baccalaureate program was the first such anywhere.

==History==
===Settlement and formation===
The first white settlement in present-day Barbour County was established in 1780 by Richard Talbott – along with his brother Cotteral and sister Charity – about {{convert|3|mi|km|spell=in}} downriver from the future site of Philippi.<ref>The Talbotts settled at the mouth of Hacker's Creek. [[Hu Maxwell|Maxwell, Hu]] (1899), ''The History of Barbour County, From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time'', [[The Acme Publishing Company]], [[Morgantown, West Virginia|Morgantown, W.Va.]] (Reprinted, [[McClain Printing Company]], [[Parsons, West Virginia|Parsons, W.Va.]], 1968.), pg 473.</ref> At this time the region was still a part of [[Monongalia County, West Virginia|Monongalia County]], Virginia. The region had had no permanent [[Native Americans in the United States|Indian]] settlements and so conflicts with Native Americans were relatively infrequent in the early days. Nevertheless, the Talbotts were obliged to leave their homestead several times for safety and twice found it necessary to retreat back east of the Alleghenies, returning each time. No member of this eventually large family was ever killed by Indian attacks.<ref>Maxwell, ''Op. cit.'', pg 474.</ref>

Over time, parts of the future Barbour County were included in the newly created Harrison (1784), Randolph (1787), and Lewis (1816) Counties. Barbour County itself was created in 1843 and named for the late Virginia politician and [[jurist]] [[Philip P. Barbour]] (1783–1841). (Barbour had served as a [[United States Congress|U.S. Congressman]] from Virginia, Speaker of the House, and Associate Justice of the [[United States Supreme Court]].) The settlement of [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]]  – formerly "Anglin's Ford" and "Booth's Ferry" – was [[platted]], named, and made the [[county seat]] in the same year; it was chartered in 1844. By the 1850s, when a major [[Philippi Covered Bridge|covered bridge]] was constructed at Philippi to service travellers on the [[Beverly-Fairmont Turnpike]], the county's population was approaching 10,000 people.

The first newspaper in the county was the ''Barbour Jeffersonian'', published starting in August 1857 and running only to about June 1861. It was put out by Thompson Surghnor (1820-1864).<ref>Barbour County Historical Society (1979), ''Barbour County, West Virginia...Another Look''; Taylor Publishing Company, pg 30.</ref>

===Civil War===
In April 1861, an [[Ordinance of Secession|Ordinance of Secession from the United States of America]] was approved throughout the state of [[Virginia]] in a [[referendum]]. Delegates from 25 western counties, however, assembled at [[Wheeling, West Virginia|Wheeling]] on 13 May for the first of a two meetings (see [[Wheeling Convention]]) called to repeal the Ordinance. The delegates from Barbour County for the first convention were Spencer Dayton, John H. Shuttleworth, and E.H. Manafee. Barbour County had voted in favor of Virginia's secession, though, and a palmetto secession flag had been flying above the courthouse since January, 1861.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofbarbour00maxw|title=The history of Barbour County, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time|last=Maxwell|first=Hu|date=1899|publisher=Morgantown, W. Va. : Acme Publishing Company|others=West Virginia University Libraries}}</ref>

On 3 June 1861, Philippi was the scene of one of the [[Battle of Philippi (West Virginia)|first battles]] of the [[American Civil War]]. The battle was later lampooned as the "Philippi Races" because of the hurried retreat by the Confederate troops encamped in the town. (The skirmish is [[American Civil War reenactment|reenacted]] every June during the town's "Blue and Gray Reunion".) At daylight on June 3, two columns of Union forces under the command of Col. [[Benjamin Franklin Kelley]] and Col. [[Ebenezer Dumont]], with perhaps 3,000 men, arrived from [[Grafton, West Virginia|Grafton]] and attacked about 800 poorly armed [[Confederate States Army|Confederate]] recruits under the command of Col. [[George A. Porterfield]]. The Union troops had marched all night through a heavy rain storm to arrive just before daylight. The surprise attack awakened the sleeping Confederates. After firing a few shots at the advancing Union troops, the Southerners broke lines and began running frantically to the south, some still in their bed clothes.

The Union victory in a relatively bloodless battle propelled the young [[Major General (United States)|Major General]] [[George B. McClellan]] into the national spotlight, and he would soon be given command of all Union armies. The battle also inspired more vocal protests in the Western part of Virginia against secession. On 11 June, the second [[Wheeling Convention]] met in that city and Barbour County was again represented by Dayton and Shuttleworth, who were this time joined by N.H. Taft. The Convention nullified the Virginia Ordinance of Secession and named [[Francis H. Pierpont]] governor. These events would eventually result in the separate statehood of West Virginia.

===Later history===
The economy and infrastructure in Barbour grew steadily, but slowly, through the late 19th century. Although the first railroad had reached nearby [[Grafton, West Virginia|Grafton]] in 1852, a narrow-gauge railroad was not laid through the county until the early 1880s; a standard gauge line followed in the 1890s.

In 1990, private developers offered Barbour County citizens $4M to $6M annually in host fees to accept out-of-state garbage into a County landfill over the following three decades. Up to 200,000 tons of garbage per month would be delivered.<ref>"Landfill Controversy Divides Barbour County" (1990), ''Charleston Gazette'' (Oct 28 issue).</ref> (At the time, the county's annual budget was only about $1M.) County voters rejected the offer.<ref>"Barbour Rejecting Landfill" (1990), ''[[Charleston Gazette]]'', (Nov 7 issue).</ref>

In 2023, Barbour County lost its major employer when [[Alderson-Broaddus University]]'s board of trustees voted to close the institution some 152 years after its founding.<ref>{{cite news |url= https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/02/us/west-virginia-alderson-broaddus-university-closes-students/index.html |title= Financially struggling university in West Virginia closes down, leaving students scrambling |first= Mitchell |last= McCluskey |publisher= [[CNN]] |date= August 2, 2023 }}</ref>

===Registered Historic Places===
{{Main|List of Registered Historic Places in West Virginia}}
{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}
* '''Belington'''
** [[Bernard E. Wilmoth House]]
* '''Berryburg'''
** [[Adaland]], restored home of a 19th-century lawyer
* '''Carrollton'''
** [[Carrollton Covered Bridge]]
* '''Clemtown'''
** [[Ida L. Reed Homestead]]
{{col-break}}
* '''Elk City'''
** [[J. N. B. Crim House]]
* '''Philippi'''
** [[Barbour County Courthouse]]
** [[Peck-Crim-Chesser House]]
** [[Philippi B & O Railroad Station]]
** [[Philippi Covered Bridge]]
** [[Philippi Historic District]]
** [[Whitescarver Hall]]
{{col-end}}

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|343|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|341|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.8|sqmi}} (0.5%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{cite web|url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=July 23, 2015|date=August 22, 2012|title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

Barbour County is situated on the [[Allegheny Plateau]] at the western edge of the [[Allegheny Mountains]] (represented by [[Laurel Mountain (West Virginia)|Laurel Mountain]] at the county's eastern boundary). Most of the county is drained by the [[Tygart Valley River]] which traverses it from south to north and on which its three largest settlements – Philippi, [[Belington, West Virginia|Belington]], and [[Junior, West Virginia|Junior]] – are sited. Tributaries of the Tygart in the County include Teter Creek, Laurel Creek, Hacker's Creek, the [[Buckhannon River]] and the [[West Fork River]]. A portion of the County in the west drains into the [[Middle Fork River]], principally through [[Elk Creek (West Virginia)|Elk Creek]]. [[Audra State Park]] – the county's only state park – is situated on the Middle Fork in the southwest corner. [[Teter Creek Lake Wildlife Management Area]] – the county's only WMA – is located on that stream and lake in the eastern portion. All of the mentioned streams are part of the greater [[Monongahela River]] watershed.

{{col-begin}}
{{col-break}}

===Major highways===
* [[Image:US 119.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 119#West Virginia|U.S. Highway 119]]
* [[Image:US 250.svg|23px]] [[U.S. Route 250 in West Virginia|U.S. Highway 250]]
* [[Image:WV-20.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 20]]
* [[Image:WV-38.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 38]]
* [[Image:WV-57.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 57]]
* [[Image:WV-76.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 76]]
* [[Image:WV-92.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 92]]
{{col-break}}

===Adjacent counties===
* [[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]] (north)
* [[Tucker County, West Virginia|Tucker County]] (east)
* [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph County]] (southeast)
* [[Upshur County, West Virginia|Upshur County]] (southwest)
* [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]] (west)
* [[Preston County, West Virginia|Preston County]] (northeast)
{{col-end}}

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 9005
|1860= 8958
|1870= 10312
|1880= 11870
|1890= 12702
|1900= 14198
|1910= 15858
|1920= 18028
|1930= 18628
|1940= 19869
|1950= 19745
|1960= 15474
|1970= 14030
|1980= 16639
|1990= 15699
|2000= 15557
|2010= 16589
|2020= 15465
|estyear=2021
|estimate=15468
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html|title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021|access-date=August 14, 2022}}</ref>
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |title=U.S. Decennial Census |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 9, 2014 |df=mdy }}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{cite web|url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu|title=Historical Census Browser|publisher=University of Virginia Library|access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt|title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf|title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000|publisher=United States Census Bureau|access-date=January 9, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

=== 2020 census ===
As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], there were 15,465 people and 5,813 households residing in the county. There were 7,114 housing units in Barbour. The racial makeup of the county was 93.5% [[White American|White]], 1.8% [[African American]], 0.2% [[Asian American|Asian]], 0.2% [[Native Americans in the United States|Native American]], 0.3% from [[Race and ethnicity in the United States Census#Race|other races]], and 4% from [[Multiracial American|two or more races]]. [[Hispanic and Latino Americans|Hispanics or Latinos]] of any race were 1.2% of the population.

Of the 5,813 households, 47.5% were married couples living together, 25.5% had a female householder with no spouse present, 18.4% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.22. The median age in the county was 42.7 years with 20.5% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $42,260 and the poverty rate was 20.8%.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Explore Census Data |url=https://data.census.gov/profile/Barbour_County,_West_Virginia?g=050XX00US54001 |access-date=2023-04-11 |website=data.census.gov}}</ref>

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 16,589 people, 6,548 households, and 4,643 families residing in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213010205/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54001 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|48.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 7,849 housing units at an average density of {{convert|23.0|/sqmi}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213162459/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54001 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 96.8% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.6% American Indian, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 23.4% were [[Germans|German]], 22.3% were [[Americans|American]], 13.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], and 11.0% were [[English people|English]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213021240/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54001 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 6,548 households, 30.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.8% were married couples living together, 10.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.1% were non-families, and 24.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.89. The median age was 41.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $31,212 and the median income for a family was $39,434. Males had a median income of $34,573 versus $21,797 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,304. About 14.3% of families and 18.4% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 27.5% of those under age 18 and 13.6% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54001 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213033028/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54001 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 15,557 people, 6,123 households, and 4,365 families residing in the county. The population density was {{convert|46|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people}}. There were 7,348 housing units at an average density of {{convert|22|/mi2|/km2}}. The racial makeup of the county was 97.36% [[Race (U.S. census)|White]], 0.49% [[Race (U.S. census)|Black]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|African American]], 0.71% [[Race (U.S. census)|Native American]], 0.26% [[Race (U.S. census)|Asian]], 0.02% [[Race (U.S. census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.12% from [[race (U.S. census)|other races]], and 1.03% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were [[Race (U.S. census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (U.S. census)|Latino]] of any race. In addition, the area has a significant population of racially mixed (though often light-skinned and blue-eyed) people, known locally as 'the [[Chestnut Ridge people]]', whose specific origins are uncertain. They are categorized by many scholars among the [[Melungeon]]s found scattered throughout [[Appalachia]].

There were 6,123 households, out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.20% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.10% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 9.40% from 18 to 24, 26.80% from 25 to 44, 25.20% from 45 to 64, and 15.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 96.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.00 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $24,729, and the median income for a family was $29,722. Males had a median income of $24,861 versus $17,433 for females. The per capita income for the county was $12,440. 22.60% of the population and 18.40% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 32.00% of those under the age of 18 and 16.70% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

==Politics==
===Federal politics===
Barbour County lies within [[West Virginia's 2nd congressional district]]. The current representative of the district is [[Alex Mooney]] (R).

Barbour County was generally split for most of the twentieth century, though it tended to vote more for Democrats rather than Republicans. This is due to the county's split position in the American Civil War between [[Southern Unionist|Unionists]] and Secessionists.<ref>Denton, Lawrence M.; ''Unionists in Virginia: Politics, Secession and Their Plan to Prevent Civil War'', {{ISBN|1625852797}}</ref> Since the 2000 presidential election, Barbour County has followed the trend with the rest of the state towards the Republicans.

{{PresHead|place=Barbour County, West Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS|title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections|last=Leip|first=David|website=uselectionatlas.org|access-date=March 27, 2018}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|5,071|1,199|125|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|5,116|1,457|104|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|4,527|1,222|367|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|3,824|1,768|185|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|3,685|2,419|128|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|4,004|2,610|41|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|3,411|2,503|137|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|2,155|3,076|816|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|2,322|3,467|1,165|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Democratic|3,023|3,221|17|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,877|3,108|10|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Democratic|3,311|3,451|324|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|3,235|3,647|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|4,432|2,258|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|3,206|3,210|365|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|2,533|4,758|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|4,006|3,818|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,460|3,707|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,504|4,489|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|3,834|4,238|28|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,993|3,718|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|4,576|5,025|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|3,875|5,284|39|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|3,652|4,228|142|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,023|3,491|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|3,347|3,188|836|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|3,763|2,777|111|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,083|1,848|57|West Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|607|1,561|1,523|West Virginia}}

==Economy==
Major employment in Barbour County is provided by health care and social service sectors, retail, education, accommodation and food services, logging and wood product manufacturing, trucking and construction. The largest employers are Alderson Broaddus University and Broaddus Hospital.

[[Bituminous coal]] mining has been significant in Barbour; seven times as much tonnage has been produced from underground as by [[surface mining]]. Natural gas and oil wells provide a modest amount of employment. Wholesale [[lumber]] production (wood and wood products) is also present. (The county is a member of the West Virginia Hardwood Alliance Zone.) There is notable production of eggs and horse raising, but the major agricultural products are livestock, forage, dairy foods and orchard fruits.

==Communities==
[[Image:PhilippiWV3.jpg|thumb|upright=1.25|View of [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]], county seat of Barbour County. Visible are the historic [[Philippi Covered Bridge]] spanning the [[Tygart Valley River]] and the main administrative building and chapel of [[Alderson Broaddus University]] atop "Battle Hill" (upper left) overlooking the town.]]

===City===
* [[Philippi, West Virginia|Philippi]] (county seat)

===Towns===
* [[Belington, West Virginia|Belington]]
* [[Junior, West Virginia|Junior]]

===Census-designated places===
* [[Century, West Virginia|Century]]
* [[Galloway, West Virginia|Galloway]]

===Unincorporated communities===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
* [[Adaland, West Virginia|Adaland]]
* [[Adma, West Virginia|Adma]]
* [[Arden, Barbour County, West Virginia|Arden]]
* [[Audra, West Virginia|Audra]]
* [[Bear Mountain, West Virginia|Bear Mountain]]
* [[Berryburg, West Virginia|Berryburg]]
* [[Boulder, West Virginia|Boulder]] (Rangoon)
* [[Brownton, West Virginia|Brownton]]
* [[Calhoun, West Virginia|Calhoun]]
* [[Carrollton, West Virginia|Carrollton]]
* [[Century Junction, West Virginia|Century Junction]]
* [[Claude, West Virginia|Claude]]
* [[Clemtown, West Virginia|Clemtown]]
* [[Corley, Barbour County, West Virginia|Corley]]
* [[Cove Run, West Virginia|Cove Run]]
* [[Dartmoor, West Virginia|Dartmoor]]
* [[Dent, West Virginia|Dent]]
* [[Elk City, West Virginia|Elk City]]
* [[Finegan Ford, West Virginia|Finegan Ford]]
* [[Gage, West Virginia|Gage]]
* [[Hall, West Virginia|Hall]]
* [[Hopewell, Barbour County, West Virginia|Hopewell]]
* [[Independence, Barbour County, West Virginia|Independence]]
* [[Jones, West Virginia|Jones]]
* [[Kalamazoo, West Virginia|Kalamazoo]]
* [[Kasson, West Virginia|Kasson]]
* [[Kirt, West Virginia|Kirt]]
* [[Lantz, West Virginia|Lantz]]
* [[Longview, West Virginia|Longview]]
* [[Mansfield, West Virginia|Mansfield]]
* [[Meadowville, West Virginia|Meadowville]]
* [[Meriden, West Virginia|Meriden]]
* [[Middle Fork, West Virginia|Middle Fork]]
* [[Moatsville, West Virginia|Moatsville]]
* [[Mount Liberty, West Virginia|Mount Liberty]]
* [[Murphy, West Virginia|Murphy]]
* [[Nestorville, West Virginia|Nestorville]]
* [[Overfield, West Virginia|Overfield]]
* [[Peeltree, West Virginia|Peeltree]]
* [[Pepper, West Virginia|Pepper]]
* [[Pleasure Valley, West Virginia|Pleasure Valley]]
* [[Stringtown, Barbour County, West Virginia|Stringtown]]
* [[Tacy, West Virginia|Tacy]]
* [[Talbott, West Virginia|Talbott]]
* [[Tygart Junction, West Virginia|Tygart Junction]]
* [[Union, Barbour County, West Virginia|Union]]
* [[Valley Bend, Barbour County, West Virginia|Valley Bend]]
* [[Valley Furnace, West Virginia|Valley Furnace]]
* [[Vannoys Mill, West Virginia|Vannoys Mill]]
* [[Volga, West Virginia|Volga]]
* [[Wellington Heights, West Virginia|Wellington Heights]]
* [[Werner, West Virginia|Werner]]
* [[West Junior, West Virginia|West Junior]]
{{div col end}}

===Minor civil divisions===
In 1863, West Virginia's counties were divided into [[civil township]]s, with the intention of encouraging local government. This proved impractical in the heavily rural state, and in 1872 the townships were converted into [[minor civil division|magisterial districts]].<ref>Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, ''West Virginia: A History'', 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.</ref>  Barbour County's original magisterial districts were Barker, Cove, Elk, Glade, Philippi, Pleasant, and Union. Between 1880 and 1890, part of Barker District was split off to form Valley District. These eight districts continued until the 1970s, when they were consolidated into three districts: North, South, and West.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census|U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.</ref>

The names and boundaries of Barbour county's historic magisterial districts were preserved as assessment and tax districts, alongside the corporations of Belington, Junior, and Philippi. The City of Philippi is divided into four [[Ward (United States)|wards]], all of which are in Philippi District. The first and second wards of Belington are in Valley District, while the second and third ward are in Barker District.

==Notable people==
* [[Ted Cassidy]] (1932–1979), actor who played [[Lurch (The Addams Family)|Lurch]] and "[[Thing (Addams Family)|Thing]]" on the 1960s TV show ''[[The Addams Family (1964 TV series)|The Addams Family]]''
* [[Larry Groce]] (b. 1948), noted singer and songwriter, lived near [[Galloway, West Virginia|Galloway]] in the late 1980s
* [[Ann Jarvis|Ann Maria Reeves Jarvis]] (1832–1905), social activist; with her daughter [[Anna Jarvis|Anna Marie Jarvis]] (1864–1948), is credited with founding [[Mother's Day (United States)|Mother's Day]]; lived in the county for several years
* [[William S. O'Brien (American politician)|William Smith O'Brien]] (1862–1948), born in [[Audra, West Virginia|Audra]]
* [[Ida Lilliard Reed]] (1865–1951), hymn writer

==See also==
* [[Chestnut Ridge people]]
* [[Barbour County Schools]]
* [[USS Barbour County (LST-1195)]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Barbour County, West Virginia]]
*[[West Virginia]]
**[[List of municipalities in West Virginia]]
**[[List of counties in West Virginia]]
**[[West Virginia statistical areas]]

==References==

===Citations===
{{Reflist|30em}}

===Other sources===
* ''Barbour County West Virginia...Another Look'' (1979), Compiled by [[The Barbour County Historical Society]], [[Taylor Publishing Company]], [[Dallas, Texas|Dallas, TX]] and [[Paoli, Pennsylvania|Paoli, PA]].
* Coonts, Violet Gadd (2nd ed, May 1991), ''The Western Waters: Early Settlers of Eastern Barbour County, West Virginia'', Assisted by Gilbert Gray Coonts and Harold Cart Gadd, Published by Stephen P. Coonts, [[Denver, Colorado|Denver, CO]].
* Coffman, Mary Stemple and Ethel Park Stemple (1978), ''Footsteps of Our Fathers: Early Settlers of Tacy (Barbour County) W. Va.''; Baltimore.
* ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=iVqoPQAACAAJ Hardesty's Historical and Geographical Encyclopedia, Illustrated]: Containing large scale copper plate Maps of Each State and Territory of the United States, and the Provinces of Canada ... Special History of the Virginias, Maps and Histories of Lewis, Upshur and Barbour Counties, West Virginia ...'' Volume 4 of the series published by H.H. Hardesty, 1883, 391 pages. (Reprint edition edited by [[Jim Comstock]]; Subsequent reprint by Wes Cochran. Contains a brief history of Barbour County and biographical sketches of its citizens.)
* Mattaliano, Jane K. and Lois G. Omonde (1994), ''Milestones: A Pictorial History of Philippi, West Virginia, 1844–1994'', [[Virginia Beach, Virginia]]: [[The Donning Company Publishers]].
* Myers, Karl or Elmer (''ca.'' 1935), ''One-Room Schoolhouses'', 1 min. home movie of one-room Barbour County schoolhouses; [[West Virginia State Archives]] (Available on DVD set ''[[Treasures from American Film Archives: 50 Preserved Films]]'', 2000).
* Shaffer, John W. (2003), ''Clash of Loyalties: A Border County in the Civil War'', [[Morgantown, West Virginia]]: [[West Virginia University Press]].
* Shingleton, George A. (1976), ''History of Mt. Morris School, Church and Cove District'', [[Parsons, West Virginia]]: [[McClain Printing Company]].
* Smith, Barbara and Carl Briggs (2000), ''Barbour County'' (Series: Images of America), [[Arcadia Publishing]], [[Charleston, South Carolina|Charleston, SC]].
* Zinn, W.D. (1931), ''The Story of Woodbine Farm'', [[Buckhannon, West Virginia]]: Kent Reger, Job Printer. (A detailed account of life and work on a Barbour County [Shooks Run] farm in the late-19th/early-20th centuries.)

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110629143235/http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/barbour.html Barbour County history sources at the West Virginia Division of Culture and History]
* [http://www.barbourcountywveda.org/ Barbour County Economic Development Authority]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070925041326/http://www.bc-net.org/barbour/Barbour+Schools.nsf?OpenDatabase Barbour County Schools]
* [http://www.wvgenweb.org/barbour/ WVGenWeb Barbour County]

{{Geographic location
|Centre    = Barbour County, West Virginia
|North     = [[Taylor County, West Virginia|Taylor County]]
|Northeast = [[Preston County, West Virginia|Preston County]]
|East      = [[Tucker County, West Virginia|Tucker County]]
|Southeast = [[Randolph County, West Virginia|Randolph County]]
|South     =
|Southwest = [[Upshur County, West Virginia|Upshur County]]
|West      = [[Harrison County, West Virginia|Harrison County]]
|Northwest =
}}

{{Barbour County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Barbour County, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]
[[Category:West Virginia counties]]