Editing Ritchie County, West Virginia

{{Short description|County in West Virginia, United States}}
{{Use American English|date=April 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox U.S. county
 | county               = Ritchie County
 | state                = West Virginia
 | seal                 = 
 | founded date         = February 18
 | founded year         = 1843
 | seat wl              = Harrisville
 | largest city wl      = Harrisville
 | city type            = town
 | area_total_sq_mi     = 454
 | area_land_sq_mi      = 452
 | area_water_sq_mi     = 1.7
 | area percentage      = 0.4%
 | population_as_of     = 2020
 | population_total     = 8444
 | pop_est_as_of        = 2021
 | population_est       = 8383 {{decrease}}
 | population_density_sq_mi = auto
 | time zone            = Eastern
 | ex image             = Ritchie County Courthouse.jpg
 | ex image cap         = [[Ritchie County Courthouse]] in Harrisville
 | web                  = www.ritchiecounty.wv.gov/
 | named for            = [[Thomas Ritchie (journalist)|Thomas Ritchie]]
 | district             = 1st
}}

'''Ritchie County''' is a [[County (United States)|county]] in the [[U.S. state]] of [[West Virginia]]. As of the [[2020 United States census|2020 census]], the population was 8,444.<ref name="QF">{{Cite web |title=State & County QuickFacts |url=https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/ritchiecountywestvirginia/PST045221 |access-date=October 20, 2022 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> Its [[county seat]] is [[Harrisville, West Virginia|Harrisville]].<ref name="GR6">{{Cite web |title=Find a County |url=http://www.naco.org/Counties/Pages/FindACounty.aspx |access-date=June 7, 2011 |publisher=National Association of Counties}}</ref> The county was created in 1843 by the [[Virginia General Assembly]] and named for [[Richmond, Virginia|Richmond]] newspaper publisher [[Thomas Ritchie (journalist)|Thomas Ritchie]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ritchie County history sources |url=http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/ritchie.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529161545/http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/ritchie.html |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |access-date=January 29, 2013}}</ref>

==History==
Ritchie was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the [[American Civil War|Civil War]]. Later that year, the new state'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>  Ritchie County was divided into four districts: Clay, Grant, Murphy, and Union.<ref>[[United States Census Bureau]], [[United States Census|U.S. Decennial Census]], Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.</ref>

In 1911, historian [[Minnie Kendall Lowther]] published "The History of Ritchie County." Her book is still regarded as one of the most comprehensive histories of any [[Counties of West Virginia|county in West Virginia]].<ref name="wvpublic">{{Cite news |date=August 26, 2015 |title=September 18, 1947: Historian Minnie Kendall Lowther Dies in Harrisville |url=http://wvpublic.org/post/september-18-1947-historian-minnie-kendall-lowther-dies-harrisville |access-date=September 20, 2015 |work=[[West Virginia Public Broadcasting]]}}</ref>

==Geography==
According to the [[United States Census Bureau]], the county has a total area of {{convert|454|sqmi}}, of which {{convert|452|sqmi}} is land and {{convert|1.7|sqmi}} (0.4%) is water.<ref name="GR1">{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2012 |title=2010 Census Gazetteer Files |url=http://www2.census.gov/geo/docs/maps-data/data/gazetteer/counties_list_54.txt |access-date=July 30, 2015 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref>

===Major highways===
*[[Image:US 50.svg|20px]] [[U.S. Route 50 in West Virginia|U.S. Route 50]]
*[[Image:WV-16.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 16]]
*[[Image:WV-31.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 31]]
*[[Image:WV-47.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 47]]
*[[Image:WV-74.svg|20px]] [[West Virginia Route 74]]

===Adjacent counties===
*[[Pleasants County, West Virginia|Pleasants County]] (north)
*[[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler County]] (northeast)
*[[Doddridge County, West Virginia|Doddridge County]] (east)
*[[Gilmer County, West Virginia|Gilmer County]] (southeast)
*[[Calhoun County, West Virginia|Calhoun County]] (south)
*[[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt County]] (southwest)
*[[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood County]] (northwest)

==Demographics==
{{US Census population
|1850= 3902
|1860= 6847
|1870= 9055
|1880= 13474
|1890= 16621
|1900= 18901
|1910= 17875
|1920= 16506
|1930= 15594
|1940= 15389
|1950= 12535
|1960= 10877
|1970= 10145
|1980= 11442
|1990= 10233
|2000= 10343
|2010= 10449
|2020= 8444
|estyear=2021
|estimate=8383
|estref=<ref name="USCensusEst2021">{{Cite web |title=Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021 |url=https://www.census.gov/data/tables/time-series/demo/popest/2020s-counties-total.html |access-date=October 20, 2022}}</ref>
|align-fn=center
|footnote=U.S. Decennial Census<ref>{{Cite web |title=U.S. Decennial Census |url=https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/decennial-census.html |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1790–1960<ref>{{Cite web |title=Historical Census Browser |url=http://mapserver.lib.virginia.edu |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=University of Virginia Library}}</ref> 1900–1990<ref>{{Cite web |title=Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/cencounts/wv190090.txt |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref><br />1990–2000<ref>{{Cite web |title=Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000 |url=https://www.census.gov/population/www/cen2000/briefs/phc-t4/tables/tab02.pdf |url-status=live |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 |access-date=January 11, 2014 |publisher=United States Census Bureau}}</ref> 2010–2020<ref name="QF" />
}}

===2000 census===
As of the [[census]] of 2000, there were 10,343 people, 4,184 households, and 2,999 families living in the county. The [[population density]] was {{convert|23|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|people&nbsp;|people|}}. There were 5,513 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}. The racial makeup of the county was 98.68% [[Race (United States Census)|White]], 0.14% [[Race (United States Census)|Black]] or [[Race (United States Census)|African American]], 0.27% [[Race (United States Census)|Native American]], 0.13% [[Race (United States Census)|Asian]], 0.11% from [[Race (United States Census)|other races]], and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were [[Race (United States Census)|Hispanic]] or [[Race (United States Census)|Latino]] of any race.

There were 4,184 households, out of which 30.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.20% were [[Marriage|married couples]] living together, 9.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 25.00% 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 2.45 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.00% under the age of 18, 7.70% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,332, and the median income for a family was $34,809. Males had a median income of $28,147 versus $18,149 for females. The [[per capita income]] for the county was $15,175. About 14.30% of families and 19.10% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 23.60% of those under age 18 and 14.10% of those age 65 or over.

===2010 census===
As of the [[2010 United States census]], there were 10,449 people, 4,367 households, and 2,960 families living 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/DPDP1/0500000US54085 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213035545/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_DP/DPDP1/0500000US54085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The population density was {{convert|23.1|PD/sqmi}}. There were 5,843 housing units at an average density of {{convert|12.9|/mi2|/km2|disp=preunit|units&nbsp;|units|}}.<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.CY07/0500000US54085 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213193152/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/DEC/10_SF1/GCTPH1.CY07/0500000US54085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref> The racial makeup of the county was 98.7% white, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.5% of the population.<ref name="census-dp1" /> In terms of ancestry, 20.3% were [[Germans|German]], 14.6% were [[Irish people|Irish]], 13.2% were [[Americans|American]], and 11.3% 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/DP02/0500000US54085 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213011706/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP02/0500000US54085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

Of the 4,367 households, 28.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 9.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 32.2% were non-families, and 28.2% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 44.3 years.<ref name="census-dp1" />

The median income for a household in the county was $32,619 and the median income for a family was $39,919. Males had a median income of $31,807 versus $23,966 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,255. About 13.9% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the [[poverty line]], including 21.6% of those under age 18 and 15.2% 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/DP03/0500000US54085 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200213020731/http://factfinder.census.gov/bkmk/table/1.0/en/ACS/10_5YR/DP03/0500000US54085 |archive-date=February 13, 2020 |access-date=April 3, 2016 |publisher=[[United States Census Bureau]]}}</ref>

==Politics==
After having leaned strongly towards the Democratic Party between the New Deal and [[presidency of Bill Clinton|Bill Clinton's presidency]], most of West Virginia has since 2000 seen an extremely rapid swing towards the Republican Party 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 views on environmental, social and cultural issues 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’], ''[[New York Times]]'', April 24, 2014</ref> In contrast, Ritchie County along with neighbouring [[Doddridge County, West Virginia|Doddridge County]] and [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler County]] were historically powerfully Unionist and have always been solidly Republican since the Civil War. Only one Democratic presidential nominee has carried Ritchie County since West Virginia's statehood: [[Woodrow Wilson]] in 1912, and he won by a mere six votes with only 34.22 percent of all votes against a Republican Party mortally divided between conservative incumbent [[William Howard Taft|Taft]] and progressive [[Theodore Roosevelt]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Presidential Election of 1912 – Map by Counties (.xlsx file for €15) |url=http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1912.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180613185010/http://geoelections.free.fr/USA/elec_comtes/1912.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2018 |access-date=June 6, 2017 |publisher=Géoelections}}</ref>
{{PresHead|place=Ritchie County, West Virginia|source=<ref>{{Cite web |last=Leip |first=David |title=Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections |url=http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS |access-date=March 28, 2018 |website=uselectionatlas.org}}</ref>}}
<!-- PresRow should be {{PresRow|Year|Winning party|GOP vote #|Dem vote #|3rd party vote #|State}} -->
{{PresRow|2024|Republican|3,473|517|60|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2020|Republican|3,649|586|48|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2016|Republican|3,405|496|204|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2012|Republican|2,921|768|101|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2008|Republican|2,781|998|67|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2004|Republican|3,086|1,070|40|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|2000|Republican|2,717|1,024|71|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1996|Republican|1,906|1,385|540|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1992|Republican|2,184|1,474|758|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1988|Republican|2,874|1,446|18|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1984|Republican|3,355|1,231|23|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1980|Republican|3,081|1,450|160|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1976|Republican|2,874|1,941|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1972|Republican|3,635|990|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1968|Republican|3,106|1,281|284|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1964|Republican|2,717|2,244|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1960|Republican|3,972|1,591|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1956|Republican|4,140|1,471|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1952|Republican|4,238|1,665|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1948|Republican|3,619|1,712|14|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1944|Republican|3,963|1,650|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1940|Republican|4,982|2,439|0|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1936|Republican|4,639|2,825|22|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1932|Republican|4,055|3,179|83|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1928|Republican|4,195|1,711|53|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1924|Republican|4,152|2,403|77|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1920|Republican|4,377|2,050|68|West Virginia}}
{{PresRow|1916|Republican|2,225|1,657|89|West Virginia}}
{{PresFoot|1912|Democratic|937|1,270|1,355|West Virginia}}

==Notable sights==
* Historic [[Berdine's Five and Dime]]
*[[North Bend State Park]]
*[[North Bend Rail Trail]]
* The Double Scoop Ice Cream Parlor Cairo, WV
*Pine Hill Pottery
*Sunny Hollow Farms
*Old Stone House Museum

==Communities==

===City===
*[[Pennsboro, West Virginia|Pennsboro]]

===Towns===
*[[Auburn, West Virginia|Auburn]]
*[[Cairo, West Virginia|Cairo]]
*[[Ellenboro, West Virginia|Ellenboro]]
*[[Harrisville, West Virginia|Harrisville]] (county seat)
*[[Pullman, West Virginia|Pullman]]

===Magisterial districts===
*Clay
*Grant
*Murphy
*Union

===Unincorporated communities===
*[[Berea, West Virginia|Berea]]
*[[Brohard, West Virginia|Brohard]]
*[[Burnt House, West Virginia|Burnt House]]
*[[Fonzo, West Virginia|Fonzo]]
*[[Macfarlan, West Virginia|Macfarlan]]
*[[Petroleum, West Virginia|Petroleum]]
*[[Smithville, West Virginia|Smithville]]

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Geographic Location
|Centre    = Ritchie County, West Virginia
|North     = [[Pleasants County, West Virginia|Pleasants County]]
|Northeast = [[Tyler County, West Virginia|Tyler County]]
|East      = [[Doddridge County, West Virginia|Doddridge County]]
|Southeast = [[Gilmer County, West Virginia|Gilmer County]]
|South     = [[Calhoun County, West Virginia|Calhoun County]]
|Southwest = 
|West      = [[Wirt County, West Virginia|Wirt County]]
|Northwest = [[Wood County, West Virginia|Wood County]]
}}

{{Ritchie County, West Virginia}}
{{West Virginia}}

{{coord|39.18|-81.07|display=title|type:adm2nd_region:US-WV_source:UScensus1990}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:Ritchie County, West Virginia| ]]
[[Category:1843 establishments in Virginia]]
[[Category:Populated places established in 1843]]
[[Category:Northwestern Turnpike]]