Editing Mercer County, West Virginia

{{Short description|County in West Virginia, United States}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Mercer County
 | state                = West Virginia
 | flag                 = Flag of Mercer County, West Virginia.svg
 | seal                 = Seal of Mercer County, West Virginia.png
 | founded date         = March 17
 | founded year         = 1837
 | seat wl              = Princeton
 | city type            = town
 | largest city wl      = Bluefield
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 421
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 419
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.7
 | area percentage      = 0.4%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 59664
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 59097 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | web                  = www.mercercounty.wv.gov/
 | ex image             = Mercer County Courthouse West Virginia.jpg
 | ex image cap         = The [[Mercer County Courthouse (West Virginia)|Mercer County Courthouse]] in Princeton in 2007
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Mercer County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in [[Southern West Virginia]] on the southeastern border of the [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]]. At the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 59,664.<ref name="QF">{{cite web|title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/mercercountywestvirginia/PST045221 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=July 7, 2022}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Princeton, West Virginia|Princeton]].<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}}</ref> The county was originally established in the [[Virginia|State of Virginia]] by act of its [[Virginia General Assembly|General Assembly]] on March 17, 1837,<ref name="WV Culture and History">{{cite web |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |title=West Virginia Counties |publisher=West Virginia Division of Culture and History |access-date=February 24, 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010923185022/http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |archive-date=September 23, 2001 }} (WV County Etymology)</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/wvcounties.html |title=West Virginia Counties |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> using lands taken from [[Giles County, Virginia|Giles]] and [[Tazewell County, Virginia|Tazewell]] counties.

Mercer County is part of the [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]], WV-[[Virginia|VA]] [[Bluefield micropolitan area|Micropolitan Statistical Area]].

==History==
{{expand section|date=November 2022}}
Mercer County was named for the American Revolutionary General [[Hugh Mercer]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Gannett |first1=Henry |title=The origin of Certain Place Names in the United States |date=1905 |publisher=Government Printing Office |location=Washington, D.C. |page=205 |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_9V1IAAAAMAAJ |access-date=June 18, 2023}}</ref>
*[[Battle of Clark's House]] (1862)

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|421|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|419|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.7|sqmi}} (0.4%) 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 30, 2015 |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files}}</ref>

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>  Mercer County was divided into five districts: Beaver Pond, East River, Jumping Branch, Plymouth, and Rock. In the 1970s, Mercer County's five historic districts were consolidated into three new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3. The new districts were renamed "District I", "District II" and "District III" during the 1980s.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census|U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.</ref>

===Major highways===
{|
|
*{{Jct|state=WV|I|73}} (future)
*{{Jct|state=WV|I|74}} (future)
*[[Image:I-77 (WV).svg|20px]] [[Interstate 77 in West Virginia|Interstate 77]]
*[[Image:US 19.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 19 in West Virginia|U.S. Highway 19]]
*[[Image:US 52.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 52 in West Virginia|U.S. Highway 52]]
*[[Image:US 460.svg|25px]] [[U.S. Highway 460]]
|
*[[Image:WV-10.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 10]]
*[[Image:WV-20.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 20]]
*[[Image:WV-44.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 44]]
*[[Image:WV-71.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 71]]
*[[Image:WV-112.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 112]]
|
|}

The West Virginia Turnpike, now part of [[Interstate 77]], begins in [[Princeton, West Virginia|Princeton]].

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Raleigh County, West Virginia|Raleigh County]] (north)
*[[Summers County, West Virginia|Summers County]] (northeast)
*[[Giles County, Virginia]] (east)
*[[Bland County, Virginia]] (south)
*[[Tazewell County, Virginia]] (southwest)
*[[McDowell County, West Virginia|McDowell County]] (west)
*[[Wyoming County, West Virginia|Wyoming County]] (northwest)

===National protected area===
* [[Bluestone National Scenic River]] (part)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1840= 2233
|1850= 4222
|1860= 6819
|1870= 7064
|1880= 7467
|1890= 16002
|1900= 23023
|1910= 38371
|1920= 49558
|1930= 61323
|1940= 68289
|1950= 75013
|1960= 68206
|1970= 63206
|1980= 73942
|1990= 64980
|2000= 62980
|2010= 62264
|2020= 59664
|estyear=2021
|estimate=59097
|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=July 7, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|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 10, 2014}}</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 10, 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 10, 2014}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |publisher=United States Census Bureau |access-date=January 10, 2014}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF"/>
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]]<ref name="GR8">{{cite web |url=https://www.census.gov |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |access-date=May 14, 2011 |title=U.S. Census website}}</ref> of 2000, there were 62,980 people, 26,509 households, and 17,946 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|150|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 30,143 housing units at an average density of {{convert|72|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 92.56% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 5.82% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.19% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.46% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.01% [[Race (United States Census)|Pacific Islander]], 0.10% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.85% from two or more races. 0.45% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 26,509 households, out of which 26.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.00% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 11.20% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.30% were non-families. 28.70% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.60% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 21.10% under the age of 18, 9.80% from 18 to 24, 26.20% from 25 to 44, 25.50% from 45 to 64, and 17.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.10 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,628, and the median income for a family was $33,524. Males had a median income of $29,243 versus $19,013 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,564. About 14.70% of families and 19.70% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 28.90% of those under age 18 and 12.70% of those age 65 or over.

The county is part of the [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]], WV-[[Virginia|VA]] [[Bluefield micropolitan area|micropolitan area]].

===2010 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2010, there were 62,264 people, 26,603 households, and 17,313 families living in the county.<ref name="census-dp1">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54055 |title=DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213031256/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The population density was {{convert|148.6|PD/sqmi}}. There were 30,115 housing units at an average density of {{convert|71.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<ref name="census-density">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54055 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |title=Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213184328/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 91.6% white, 6.1% black or African American, 0.5% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1"/> In terms of ancestry, 16.4% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 14.2% were [[Germans|German]], 12.0% were [[English people|English]], and 11.2% were [[Americans|American]].<ref name="census-dp2">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54055 |title=DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213030308/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

Of the 26,603 households, 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.6% were married couples living together, 12.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.9% were non-families, and 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83. The median age was 42.5 years.<ref name="census-dp1"/>

The median income for a household in the county was $32,131 and the median income for a family was $42,517. Males had a median income of $37,423 versus $25,778 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,431. About 16.0% of families and 22.8% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 32.5% of those under age 18 and 11.4% of those age 65 or over.<ref name="census-dp3">{{cite web |url=http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54055 |title=DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]] |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011425/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54055 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Politics==
Mercer County's political history is largely typical of West Virginia. It was supportive of remaining with [[Virginia in the American Civil War|Confederate Virginia]] when the state was created and voted Democratic in the first few post-[[American Civil War|Civil War]] elections.<ref>[https://archive.org/details/historyofmiddlen00john/page/186/mode/2up Johnston, David E., ''A History of Middle New River Settlements and Contiguous Territory'', Standard Ptg. & Pub. Co., 1908, pg. 187]</ref> However, the influence of coal industry executives turned the county towards the GOP during the [[Fourth Party System|"System of 1896"]].<ref>Drake, Richard B.; ''A History of Appalachia'' {{ISBN|0813137934}}</ref> As with most of West Virginia, extensive unionization caused the county to swing to the Democratic Party during most of the twentieth century, but an extremely rapid swing towards the Republican Party has occurred since 2000, due to declining unionization,<ref>Schwartzman, Gabe; [http://www.dailyyonder.com/how-coalfields-went-gop/2015/01/13/7668/ ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’]; ''Daily Yonder'', January 13, 2015</ref> along with regional views on environmental, social and cultural issues that are increasingly at odds with the national Democratic Party.<ref>Cohn, Nate; [https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/24/upshot/southern-whites-loyalty-to-gop-nearing-that-of-blacks-to-democrats.html "Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! colspan="2" |Political Party
!Number of registered voters (March 31, 2022)<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 31, 2022 |title=Mar2022 |url=https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/VoterRegistrationTotals/2022/Mar2022.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://sos.wv.gov/elections/Documents/VoterRegistrationTotals/2022/Mar2022.pdf |archive-date=October 9, 2022 |url-status=live |access-date=April 17, 2022 |website=sos.wv.gov}}</ref>
!%
|-
| {{party color cell|Republican Party (United States)}}
|[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|14,120
|39.57
|-
| {{party color cell|Democratic Party (United States)}}
|[[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|10,861
|30.43
|-
| {{party color cell|Independent (United States)}}
|[[Independent voter|Independent]]
|9,266
|25.96
|-
| {{party color cell|Libertarian Party (United States)}}
|[[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian]]
|222
|0.62
|-
| {{party color cell|Mountain Party}}
|[[Mountain Party|Mountain]]
|78
|0.22
|-
|
|[[Third party (United States)|Other]]
|1,141
|3.20
|-
! colspan="2" |Total
!35,688
!100.00
|}
{{PresHead|place=Mercer 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|18,372|4,851|422|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|19,237|5,556|342|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|17,404|4,704|1,089|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|15,450|5,432|431|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|13,246|7,450|393|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|13,057|9,178|144|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|10,206|8,347|322|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Democratic|7,768|8,721|2,211|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Democratic|7,888|9,511|2,876|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|10,221|10,152|57|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|13,910|9,164|81|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|12,273|11,804|664|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Democratic|10,791|14,761|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|17,846|7,826|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Democratic|9,985|12,739|3,363|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Democratic|8,905|18,298|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Democratic|11,719|17,289|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|14,648|13,236|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Democratic|14,267|16,694|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Democratic|10,065|15,201|82|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Democratic|10,034|14,861|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Democratic|11,395|18,163|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Democratic|10,762|18,391|30|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Democratic|11,088|15,900|105|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|12,887|10,273|50|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Democratic|9,159|10,058|2,153|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|8,613|7,981|56|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Democratic|4,788|4,836|55|West Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|1,507|3,497|3,116|West Virginia}}

==Education==
The [[Mercer County Schools (West Virginia)|Mercer County Public School System]] has nineteen elementary schools, including Athens, Bluefield Intermediate, Bluewell, Brushfork, Ceres, Glenwood Elementary, Lashmeet-Matoaka, Melrose, Memorial, Mercer County Early Learning - Bluefield and Princeton sites, Mercer, Montcalm, Oakvale (funding for constructing a new Oakvale school has been approved), Princeton Primary, Spanishburg, Straley, Sun Valley and Whitethorn. There are six middle school facilities including Princeton Middle, Bluefield Middle, Montcalm Middle, PikeView Middle, and Glenwood Middle. There are also four high school facilities, including Princeton Senior (AAA), Bluefield High (AA), Montcalm High (A) and PikeView High (AA). The Mercer County Technical Education Center, which is being transitioned into a comprehensive technical high school. Mercer County Schools educates approximately 9200 students. The professional and service staff number about 1200.

Higher educational institutions include [[Bluefield State College]], located in [[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]]; [[Concord University]], located in [[Athens, West Virginia|Athens]]; and New River Community and Technical College, located in Princeton, West Virginia.

==Law enforcement==
Mercer County is protected by seven agencies. Five agencies protect the incorporated areas of the county, but the non-incorporated area is the primary responsibility of the Mercer County Sheriff's Department. The Mercer County Sheriff's Department consists of 30 sworn law enforcement officers and a number of civilian employees. Within the Mercer County Sheriff's Department are several specialized units to better serve the citizens.

K-9 Unit: Deputy Ballard (Quando), Deputy Parks (Arrow), Deputy Rose (Mitis), & Deputy Ellsion (Max).

Detective Bureau: Cpl. Murphy, Detective Sparks, & Detective Combs.

SWAT: Sgt. G. W. Woods, Cpl. J. J. Ruble, Cpl. S. A. Sommers, & Detective Combs. The rest of the team consists of other agencies within the county, excluding the State Police.

The Sheriff's Department has one dedicated Deputy who serves on the Southern Regional Drug and Violent Crime Task Force.

Mercer County is also home to the Princeton Detachment of the [[West Virginia State Police]] and a Turnpike Detachment (Highway Patrol).

==Communities==
===Cities===
*[[Bluefield, West Virginia|Bluefield]] (largest city)
*[[Princeton, West Virginia|Princeton]] (county seat)

===Towns===
*[[Athens, West Virginia|Athens]]
*[[Bramwell, West Virginia|Bramwell]]
*[[Oakvale, West Virginia|Oakvale]]

===Magisterial districts===
*District I
*District II
*District III

===Census-designated places===
*[[Bluewell, West Virginia|Bluewell]]
*[[Brush Fork, West Virginia|Brush Fork]]
*[[Lashmeet, West Virginia|Lashmeet]]
*[[Montcalm, West Virginia|Montcalm]]
*[[Matoaka, West Virginia|Matoaka]]
*[[Rock, West Virginia|Rock]]

==See also==
* [[Camp Creek State Park]]
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Mercer County, West Virginia]]
* [[Pinnacle Rock State Park]]
* [[Pipestem Resort State Park]]
* [[Pocahontas coalfield]]
* [[Tate Lohr Wildlife Management Area]]

==References==
<references />

==External links==
*[http://www.mercercountywv.org County website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051019000719/http://www.mccvb.com/ Mercer County Convention and Visitors Bureau]
*[http://boe.merc.k12.wv.us/ Mercer County Public Schools]

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Mercer County, West Virginia
|North     = [[Raleigh County, West Virginia|Raleigh County]]
|Northeast = [[Summers County, West Virginia|Summers County]]
|East      = [[Giles County, Virginia]]
|Southeast = 
|South     = [[Bland County, Virginia]]
|Southwest = [[Tazewell County, Virginia]]
|West      = [[McDowell County, West Virginia|McDowell County]]
|Northwest = [[Wyoming County, West Virginia|Wyoming County]]
}}

{{Mercer County, West Virginia}}
{{West_Virginia}}

{{coord|37.41|-81.11|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Mercer County, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1837 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1837]]
[[Category:Bluefield micropolitan area]]
[[Category:Former counties of Virginia]]