Kanawha County, West Virginia

Kanawha County, West Virginia
Kanawha County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 180,745, making it West Virginia's most populous county. The county seat is Charleston, which is also the state capital.
Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area.
History
The county began taking formation on November 14, 1788, under the authorization of the Virginia General Assembly and was founded on October 5, 1789. The county was named for the Kanawha River, which in turn was named after a Native American tribe that lived in the area. During the American Civil War, a number of state infantry and cavalry regiments were organized in the county for both Confederate Army and Union Army service.
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. Kanawha County was divided into ten districts: Big Sandy, Cabin Creek, Charleston, Elk, Jefferson, Loudon, Malden, Poca, Union, and Washington. In the 1970s the historic districts were consolidated into five new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, and District 5. A District 6 was created in the 1980s, but in the 1990s the county was redistricted again, reducing the number of magisterial districts to four: District 1, District 2, District 3, and District 4.
Kanawha County was the site of a bloody miners' strike in 1912, and a school textbook controversy in 1974, that resulted in bombings, and received national attention.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of , of which is land and (1.0%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in West Virginia by area.
Adjacent counties
Roane County (north)
Clay County (northeast)
Nicholas County (east)
Fayette County (east)
Raleigh County (southeast)
Boone County (south)
Lincoln County (southwest)
Putnam County (west)
Jackson County (northwest)
Major highways
Interstate 64
Interstate 77
Interstate 79
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 119
West Virginia Route 4
West Virginia Route 25
West Virginia Route 34
West Virginia Route 61
West Virginia Route 62
West Virginia Route 94
West Virginia Route 114
West Virginia Route 214
West Virginia Route 501
West Virginia Route 601
West Virginia Route 622
West Virginia Route 817
Demographics
2020 census
As of the 2020 census, there were 180,745 people and 77,634 households residing in the county. There were 90,234 housing units in Kanawha. The racial makeup of the county was 85% White, 7.5% African American, 1.2% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 0.75% from other races, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.6% of the population.
Of the 23,278 households, 43% were married couples living together, 30.3% had a female householder with no spouse present, 19.8% had a male householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 2.89. The median age in the county was 43.7 years with 20.2% of the population under 18. The median income for a household was $56,112 and the poverty rate was 15.8%
2010 census
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 193,063 people, 84,201 households, and 52,172 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 92,618 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% white, 7.3% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.8% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 13.9% were English, and 13.4% were American.
Of the 84,201 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.0% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.4 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $42,669 and the median income for a family was $54,203. Males had a median income of $42,522 versus $31,754 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,439. About 9.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.
2000 census
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families living in the county. The population density was . There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 90.46% White, 6.97% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 86,226 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution was 21.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,766, and the median income for a family was $42,568. Males had a median income of $33,842 versus $24,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,354. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.
Politics
Kanawha County was dominated by the Democratic Party for much of the 20th century, albeit to a lesser extent than much of West Virginia. Since 2004 it has been won by Republicans in presidential elections, although, as an urban county, the swing to the Republicans has not been as vast as in much of the rest of the state. The county seat and state capital of Charleston is heavily Democratic.
Elected officials
Economy
According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are approximately 5,481 private sector businesses within Kanawha County. There are 89,768 people who are currently employed who live in Kanawha County.
Recreation
Events
FestivALL
Charleston Sternwheel Regatta (Returning 2022)
Live on the Levee
Vandalia Gathering
Rib Fest
Charleston Rod Run Doo Wop
Majorette Festival - Daily Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival
Pinch Reunion
St. Albans Festival of Lights
Attractions
Clay Center (West Virginia)
West Virginia State Capitol
West Virginia Cultural Center
South Charleston Mound
Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
Charleston Civic Center
Heritage Tower Museum
Sports
Charleston Dirty Birds - Baseball team
West Virginia United - Soccer club
Communities
Cities
Charleston (county seat)
Dunbar
Marmet
Montgomery (part)
Nitro (part)
Smithers (part)
South Charleston
St. Albans
Towns
Belle
Cedar Grove
Chesapeake
Clendenin
East Bank
Glasgow
Handley
Pratt
Magisterial districts
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
Census-designated places
Alum Creek (part)
Big Chimney
Chelyan
Coal Fork
Cross Lanes
Elkview
Jefferson
Pinch
Rand
Shrewsbury
Sissonville
Tornado
Unincorporated communities
Aarons
Acme
Acup
Airport Village
Amandaville
Amelia
Annfred
Arborland Acres
Barren Creek
Blackhawk
Blakeley
Blount
Blue Creek
Blundon
Bream
Brounland
Burnwell
Cabin Creek
Carbon
Cinco
Coalburg
Coalridge
Coco
Corton
Crede
Crown Hill
Davis Creek
Dawes
Decota
Dial
Diamond
Dickinson
Donwood
Dry Branch
Dungriff
Dupont City
East Nitro
East Side
Edgewood
Elk
Elk Forest
Elk Hills
Emmons (part)
Eskdale
Etowah
Falling Rock
Ferrell
Fivemile
Forest Hills
Forks of Coal
Fort Hill
Frame
Gallagher
Giles
Green Valley
Greencastle
Grippe
Guthrie
Hansford
Hernshaw
Hicumbottom
Highlawn
Hillsdale
Hitop
Holly
Hollygrove
Hollyhurst
Hugheston
Institute
Island Branch
Ivydale
Jarrett
Jarretts Ford
Joplin
Kanawha Estates
Kayford
Kelly Hill
Kendalia
Laing
Leewood
Loudendale
Lower Falls
Malden
Mammoth
Meadowbrook
Mink Shoals
Pocatalico
Pond Gap
Port Amherst
Putney
Quick
Quincy
River Bend
Rocky Fork
Rock Lake Village
Rutledge
Sanderson
Tyler Heights
Tyler Mountain
Notable people
Robert Alexander, NFL football player
Anthony Bass, NFL football player
George Crumb, composer
Aaron Dobson, Super Bowl champion football player
Ryan Dorsey, actor
Jon Elmore, NBA basketball player
Conchata Ferrell, actress and three-time Primetime Emmy Award nominee, best known for her role as Berta on Two and a Half Men
Jennifer Garner, actress and Golden Globe and SAG award winner
Elizabeth Harden Gilmore, business leader and civil rights advocate
Gary Gregor, NBA basketball player
Alex Hawkins, two-time NFL champion football player
Alexis Hornbuckle, two-time WNBA champion basketball player
T. D. Jakes, megachurch pastor
Carl Lee, NFL football player
Earl Lloyd, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and the first African-American basketball player to play in an NBA game
Kathy Mattea, country music and bluegrass singer
Renee Montgomery, two-time WNBA champion basketball player
Randy Moss, Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee and holder of the NFL record for receiving touchdowns in a season
Lou Myers, actor, best known for his role as Vernon Gaines on A Different World
Les Palmer, NFL champion football player
Phil Pfister, strongman competitor and winner of the 2006 World's Strongest Man competition
Kristen Ruhlin, actress
Ryan Switzer, NFL football player
Booker T. Washington, highly influential educator, author, orator, presidential advisor, and co-founder of the Tuskegee Institute
Jerry West, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, nine-time NBA champion as both a player and an executive, and the basis for the silhouette on the NBA logo since 1971
Jason Williams, an American former professional basketball player who was a point guard in the National Basketball Association (NBA) for twelve seasons
See also
National Register of Historic Places listings in Kanawha County, West Virginia
Kanawha County textbook controversy
Footnotes
References
Further reading
Scott A. MacKenzie. "The Slaveholders' War: The Secession Crisis in Kanawha County, Western Virginia, 1860-1861," West Virginia History: A Journal of Regional Studies - New Series, Volume 4, Number 1, Spring 2010, pp. 33–57 in Project MUSE
External links
Kanawha County Commission
Kanawha County Public Library
Kanawha County Schools
WVGenWeb Kanawha County
Kanawha County Obituary Archive
Convention & Visitors Bureau
Charleston, WV - http://www.charlestonwv.com/
Dunbar, WV - http://www.wvcommerce.org/travel/travelplanner/attraction/Dunbar-Convention-and-Visitors-Bureau-CVB/3843/default.aspx
Nitro, WV - https://web.archive.org/web/20130727150319/http://nitrowvcvb.org/
South Charleston, WV - https://web.archive.org/web/20121019071540/http://www.southcharlestonwv.org/SCCVB/Welcome.html
1789 establishments in Virginia
Populated places established in 1789
Charleston, West Virginia metropolitan area
Counties of Appalachia