McDowell County, West Virginia

McDowell County is a county in West Virginia. The population of the county is 22,113.
McDowell County 	West Virginia
Founded 	February 28, 1858
Named for 	James McDowell
County seat 	Welch
Population 	22,113
Habitat 	Forest, Mountain
Cong. District 	3rd
County Guildmaster	Keith Fisher
Time Zone 	Eastern (UTC -5/-4)
== Major roads ==
US Route 52
West Virginia Route 16
West Virginia Route 80
West Virginia Route 83
West Virginia Route 103
West Virginia Route 161
West Virginia Route 635
== Geography ==
=== Adjacent counties ===
Mercer County (east)
Wyoming County (north)
Mingo County (northwest)
Tazewell County, Virginia (south)
Buchanan County, Virginia (west)
== Demographics ==
As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the racial composition of the county is:
88.77% White (19,629)
9.71% Black or African American (2,147)
1.52% Other (337)
31.1% (6,877) of McDowell County residents live below the poverty line.
== Theft rate statistics ==
Once upon a time, Team Rocket was rather active in this part of the country, but those days are long gone. Nowadays, the problem is Team Galactic. The county reported 5 Pokemon thefts in 2018, and averages 0.90 murders a year.
== Pokemon ==
Pokemon 	Location 	Rate
Bulbasaur 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-60%
Ivysaur 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-45%
Venusaur 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-30%
Charmander 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-5%
Charmeleon 	Forest 	1%
Caterpie 	Forest, Mountain	1-65%, 1-75%
Metapod 	Forest, Mountain	1-60%, 1-70%
Butterfree 	Forest, Mountain	1-55%, 1-65%
Weedle 	Forest, Mountain	1-40%, 1-40%
Kakuna 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-35%
Beedrill 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-30%
Rattata 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-20%
Raticate 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Ekans 	Forest, Mountain	1-25%, 1-15%
Arbok 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1%
Pikachu 	Forest, Mountain	1-7%, 1%
Sandshrew 	Forest, Mountain	1-7%, 1-3%
NidoranF/NidoranM 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-30%
Nidorina/Nidorino 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-15%
Nidoqueen/Nidoking	Forest, Mountain	1%, 1%
Clefairy 	Mountain 	1-36%
Clefable 	Mountain 	1-18%
Vulpix 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-2%
Jigglypuff 	Mountain 	1-25%
Wigglytuff 	Mountain 	1-10%
Oddish 	Forest, Mountain	1-43%, 1-57%
Gloom 	Forest, Mountain	1-28%, 1-42%
Vileplume 	Forest, Mountain	1-7%, 1-21%
Paras 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-15%
Parasect 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1%
Venonat 	Forest, Mountain	1-60%, 1-75%
Venomoth 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-60%
Psyduck 	Forest (Fishing)	1-20%
Poliwag 	Forest (Fishing)	1-30%
Poliwhirl 	Forest (Fishing)	1-15%
Poliwrath 	Forest (Fishing)	1%
Bellsprout 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-10%
Weepinbell 	Forest 	1%
Scyther 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-33%
Pinsir 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-10%
Magikarp 	Forest (Fishing)	1-65%
Eevee 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-15%
Vaporeon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Vaporeon 	Forest (Fishing)	1-15%
Jolteon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Flareon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Dratini 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Chikorita 	Forest, Mountain	1-50%, 1-50%
Bayleef 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-35%
Meganium 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-20%
Cyndaquil 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-35%
Quilava 	Forest, Mountain	1-21%, 1-21%
Sentret 	Forest, Mountain	1-63%, 1-70%
Furret 	Forest, Mountain	1-46%, 1-53%
Ledyba 	Forest, Mountain	1-70%, 1-80%
Ledian 	Forest, Mountain	1-53%, 1-63%
Spinarak 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-50%
Ariados 	Forest, Mountain	1-17%, 1-32%
Pichu 	Forest, Mountain	1-12%, 1-7%
Cleffa 	Mountain 	1-26%
Igglybuff 	Mountain 	1-18%
Marill 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1-20%
Azumarill 	Mountain 	1-8%
Politoed 	Forest (Fishing)	1%
Hoppip 	Forest, Mountain	1-70%, 1-85%
Skiploom 	Forest, Mountain	1-55%, 1-70%
Jumpluff 	Forest, Mountain	1-40%, 1-55%
Sunkern 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-40%
Sunflora 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-25%
Wooper 	Forest (Fishing)	1-30%
Quagsire 	Forest (Fishing)	1-15%
Espeon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Umbreon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Pineco 	Mountain 	1-18%
Forretress 	Mountain 	1%
Gligar 	Forest, Mountain	1-25%, 1-40%
Scizor 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-18%
Heracross 	Forest, Mountain	1-41%, 1-56%
Sneasel 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-35%
Teddiursa 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-35%
Ursaring 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-20%
Stantler 	Forest, Mountain	1-50%, 1-60%
Elekid 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1-10%
Treecko 	Forest, Mountain	1-48%, 1-63%
Grovyle 	Forest, Mountain	1-33%, 1-48%
Sceptile 	Forest, Mountain	1-18%, 1-33%
Mudkip 	Forest (Fishing)	1-24%
Marshtomp 	Forest (Fishing)	1-8%
Zigzagoon 	Forest, Mountain	1-65%, 1-80%
Linoone 	Forest, Mountain	1-50%, 1-65%
Wurmple 	Forest, Mountain	1-75%, 1-89%
Silcoon/Cascoon 	Forest, Mountain	1-68%, 1-82%
Beautifly/Dustox 	Forest, Mountain	1-61%, 1-75%
Seedot 	Forest 	1-35%
Nuzleaf 	Forest 	1-20%
Shiftry 	Forest 	1%
Ralts 	Forest, Mountain	1-57%, 1-65%
Kirlia 	Forest, Mountain	1-42%, 1-50%
Gardevoir 	Forest, Mountain	1-27%, 1-35%
Surskit 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-45%
Masquerain 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-30%
Shroomish 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-56%
Breloom 	Forest, Mountain	1-25%, 1-36%
Nincada 	Forest, Mountain	1-32%, 1-32%
Ninjask 	Forest, Mountain	1-17%, 1-17%
Azurill 	Forest, Mountain	1-4%, 1-14%
Aron 	Mountain 	1-35%
Lairon 	Mountain 	1-10%
Electrike 	Forest, Mountain	1-6%, 1-4%
Plusle/Minun 	Forest, Mountain	1-7%, 1-5%
Volbeat/Illumise 	Forest, Mountain	1-40%, 1-40%
Swablu 	Forest, Mountain	1-7%, 1-15%
Zangoose 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-50%
Seviper 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-20%
Anorith 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1-10%
Kecleon 	Forest 	1-12%
Absol 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-15%
Snorunt 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-15%
Bagon 	Mountain 	1-23%
Shelgon 	Mountain 	1%
Beldum 	Mountain 	1-15%
Metang 	Mountain 	1%
Turtwig 	Forest, Mountain	1-40%, 1-50%
Grotle 	Forest, Mountain	1-25%, 1-35%
Torterra 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1-20%
Chimchar 	Forest, Mountain	1-22%, 1-12%
Monferno 	Forest, Mountain	1-12%, 1-2%
Infernape 	Forest 	1-2%
Piplup 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-30%
Prinplup 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-20%
Empoleon 	Forest, Mountain	1-3%, 1-3%
Kricketot 	Forest, Mountain	1-75%, 1-88%
Kricketune 	Forest, Mountain	1-62%, 1-75%
Shinx 	Forest, Mountain	1-9%, 1-7%
Cranidos 	Mountain 	1-20%
Rampardos 	Mountain 	1%
Shieldon 	Mountain 	1-15%
Burmy 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%
Wormadan/Mothim 	Forest, Mountain	1-25%, 1-25%
Buizel 	Forest (Fishing)	1-25%
Floatzel 	Forest (Fishing)	1-7%
Riolu 	Forest 	1-30%
Lucario 	Forest 	1-13%
Snover 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-15%
Weavile 	Mountain 	1-10%
Leafeon 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-15%
Glaceon 	Forest, Mountain	1-10%, 1-10%
Gliscor 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-20%
Gallade 	Forest, Mountain	1-27%, 1-35%
Snivy 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-58%
Servine 	Forest, Mountain	1-32%, 1-45%
Serperior 	Forest, Mountain	1-19%, 1-32%
Patrat 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-50%
Watchog 	Forest, Mountain	1-22%, 1-37%
Roggenrola 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-40%
Boldore 	Forest, Mountain	1%, 1-20%
Gigalith 	Mountain 	1%
Drilbur 	Forest, Mountain	1-40%, 1-60%
Excadrill 	Forest, Mountain	1-22%, 1-42%
Tympole 	Forest (Fishing)	1-35%
Palpitoad 	Forest (Fishing)	1-5%, 1-15%
Sewaddle 	Forest, Mountain	1-75%, 1-92%
Swadloon 	Forest, Mountain	1-57%, 1-75%
Leavanny 	Forest, Mountain	1-37%, 1-55%
Venipede 	Forest, Mountain	1-60%, 1-65%
Whirlipede 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-50%
Scolipede 	Forest, Mountain	1-22%, 1-27%
Zorua 	Forest, Mountain	1-38%, 1-52%
Zoroark 	Forest, Mountain	1-18%, 1-30%
Minccino 	Forest, Mountain	1-65%, 1-65%
Cinccino 	Forest, Mountain	1-50%, 1-50%
Deerling 	Forest, Mountain	1-80%, 1-93%
Sawsbuck 	Forest, Mountain	1-60%, 1-75%
Emolga 	Forest, Mountain	1-6%, 1%
Joltik 	Forest, Mountain	1-57%, 1-72%
Galvantula 	Forest, Mountain	1-42%, 1-57%
Axew 	Mountain 	1-10%
Chespin 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-48%
Quilladin 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-33%
Chesnaught 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-18%
Fennekin 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-15%
Braixen 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Scatterbug 	Forest, Mountain	1-85%, 1-92%
Spewpa 	Forest, Mountain	1-80%, 1-86%
Vivillon 	Forest, Mountain	1-72%, 1-77%
Skiddo 	Mountain 	1-20%
Helioptile 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1%
Tyrunt 	Mountain 	1-15%
Sylveon 	Forest, Mountain	1-5%, 1-5%
Dedenne 	Forest, Mountain	1-4%, 1%
Rowlet 	Forest, Mountain	1-45%, 1-65%
Dartrix 	Forest, Mountain	1-30%, 1-50%
Decidueye 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-35%
Yungoos 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-50%
Gumshoos 	Forest, Mountain	1-20%, 1-35%
Grubbin 	Mountain 	1-60%
Charjabug 	Mountain 	1-45%
Vikavolt 	Mountain 	1-10%
Stufful 	Forest, Mountain	1-15%, 1-45%
Bewear 	Mountain 	1-24%
Bounsweet 	Forest, Mountain	1-65%, 1-75%
Steenee 	Forest, Mountain	1-50%, 1-60%
Tsareena 	Forest, Mountain	1-35%, 1-45%
Togedemaru 	Forest, Mountain	1-8%, 1-2%
== Communities ==
=== Cities ===
Gary - 968
Keystone - 282
War - 862
Welch - 2,406
=== Towns ===
Anawalt - 226
Bradshaw - 337
Davy - 420
Iaeger - 302
Kimball - 194
Northfork - 429
=== CDPs ===
Bartley - 224
Berwind - 278
Big Sandy - 168
Crumpler - 204
Cucumber - 94
Maybeury - 234
Pageton - 187
Raysal - 465
Roderfield - 188
Vivian - 82
=== Unincorporated communities ===
Algoma
Alpheus
Antler
Apple Grove
Asco
Ashland
Atwell
Avondale
Beartown
Big Four
Bishop
Black Wolf
Bottom Creek
Brewsterdale
Canebrake
Capels
Caretta
Carlos
Carswell
Cherokee
Clark
Clear Fork Junction
Coalwood
Dan
Eckman
Eight
Elkhorn
English
Ennis
Erin
Faraday
Garland
Gilliam
Havaco
Hemphill
Hensley
Hull
Isaban (partly in Mingo County)
Jackson Flats
Jacobs Fork
Jed
Jenkinjones
Johnnycake
Jolo
Krollitz
Kyle
Landgraff
Leckie
Lex
Lila
Litwar
Longpole
Maitland
Marine
Marytown
McDowell
Mohawk
Mohegan
Monson
Newhall
Panther
Paynesville
Peapatch (partly in Buchanan County, Virginia)
Powhatan
Premier
Ream
Rift
Rockridge
Rolfe
Sandy Huff
Six
Skygusty
Squire
Superior
Switchback
Twin Branch
Union City
Upland
Vallscreek
Venus
Warriormine
Wilmore
Worth
Wyoming City
Yerba
Yukon
=== Ghost towns ===
Hix
== Climate ==
Stats 	Amount
Average yearly rainfall 	43 inches
Average yearly snowfall 	21 inches
Average yearly sunny days	158
Severe storm risk 	5 (Moderate)
Tornado risk 	2 (Low)
Blizzard risk 	6 (Moderate)
== Fun facts ==
* Keystone, Kimball and Northfork are the remaining three incorporated towns in West Virginia with a majority black population.
* Kimball is the site of the first war memorial building erected in memory of the African-American veterans of World War I.
* The only Walmart in McDowell County was located near Kimball, however, it closed in 2015.
* War is the only place in the United States with this name, however, it was formerly known as Miner's City.
* War is also known for being a setting in the movie October Sky; as writer Homer Hickam's Big Creek High School.
* Larry Scott Deaner wrote about the historical geography of the African-American population of Keystone in his 2004 Master's thesis. Deaner calls Keystone the cultural capital of the "Free State of McDowell" - a term coined by Matthew Thomas Whittico, a local newspaper editor and community leader from Keystone in the early 20th century. Keystone possessed a unique combination of political, social, and economic characteristics that made it an attractive place for African-Americans to migrate to in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
* McDowell County, while still a part of Virginia, voted in favor of secession from the United States. It, along with Greenbrier, Logan, Mercer, Monroe, Pocahontas, Webster, and Wyoming; did not participate in voting for the secession of West Virginia from Virginia. These 8 counties would be discussed in the Supreme Court case Virginia v. West Virginia.
* McDowell County's population peaked at 98,887 in 1950. Over the last 70 years, there have been very few counties that have fallen as hard as McDowell County has. 
* Politically, from 1936 to 2010, McDowell was one of the most powerfully rural Democrat voting counties in the United States. From 2012 on, however, it has turned sharply Republican.
* In 2015, McDowell County had the highest rate of drug-induced deaths of any county in the United States, with 141 deaths per 100,000 people. (The rate for the United States as a whole was 14.7 per 100,000 people.) Neighboring Wyoming County had the second highest rate.
* Increasing rates of poverty in McDowell County led U.S. President John F. Kennedy to remark in a speech in the city of Welch in May 1963: "I don't think any American can be satisfied to find in McDowell County, in West Virginia, 20 or 25 percent of the people of that county out of work, not for 6 weeks or 12 weeks, but for a year, 2, 3, or 4 years."
* The county is popularly referred to as the "Free State of McDowell," a name originally coined by a local newspaper editor to refer to the unusual politics and demographics of the area.
Category:West Virginia Counties