Barbour County

As of the 2020 Census, Barbour County, WV, has a population of approximately 15,465. The racial composition is predominantly White at around 96.0%, African American 1.5%, Native American 0.3%, Asian 0.3%, and other races 0.5%, with 1.4% identifying as two or more races. The Hispanic or Latino population is about 1.0%. The median household income is around $39,700, and approximately 20.9% of the population lives below the poverty line. The county covers an area of 343 square miles.

Barbour County, WV, has a median home value of approximately $88,800. The homeownership rate is around 75%, with roughly 7,917 housing units. Median rent is about $595 per month. Housing costs account for about 21.8% of household income. Homes constructed before 1940 make up 22.5% of units, highlighting older housing stock. The region sees moderate housing market activity with a vacancy rate near 13.5%. These figures are reflective of 2023 data and may vary.

Barbour County, WV conducts elections for local, state, and federal offices. Key recent election results are from the 2022 general election:

• U.S. House (District 2): Alex Mooney (R) received 12,167 votes (72%), while Barry Wendell (D) received 4,702 votes (28%).
• State Senate (District 14): Randy Smith (R) had 23,982 votes (82%), proving dominant over Stephanie Zucker (D) with 5,338 votes (18%).
• House of Delegates (District 47): Adam Burkhammer (R) secured 3,366 votes (65%), ahead of Robert "Bob" Thompson (D) who garnered 1,797 votes (35%).

Local offices featured races like the County Commission and Sheriff. These elections determine pivotal leadership roles impacting the county’s administration and community policies. For updated information, always check the Barbour County Clerk’s official website or the WV Secretary of State’s office.

As of recent data, Barbour County, WV has educational attainment levels that reflect some challenges compared to state and national averages. Approximately 82.4% of residents aged 25 and older have a high school diploma or higher, which is slightly below the national average of around 88% and the West Virginia average of about 85.6%. Furthermore, about 11.8% hold a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to the national average of approximately 33% and the state average of about 20.3%. These numbers suggest that Barbour County lags behind both state and national figures in higher education attainment. Local efforts continue to focus on improving educational outcomes to bridge this gap.

As of the most recent data, Barbour County, WV, has an employment rate that reflects largely on its primary industries. The county has an approximate unemployment rate of 4.5%, which is slightly higher than the national average of around 4.0% and comparable to the West Virginia state average of 4.6%.

Key industries in Barbour County include Education and Health Services, Manufacturing, and Retail Trade. Employment in Education and Health Services makes up about 25% of the workforce, significantly higher than the national average of roughly 13%. Manufacturing employs around 18%, also above the national average of 8.5%. Retail Trade involves about 13% of employees, in line with the national average of 13.6%.

The focus on education and health services, due to local institutions such as Alderson Broaddus University and various healthcare providers, highlights a divergence from primarily manufacturing-centric employment seen in other parts of the country.

As of the latest data, the median household income in Barbour County, WV is approximately $40,000. This is significantly lower than the national median household income, which stands around $68,700. Additionally, Barbour County's median income is also lower than the state of West Virginia's median household income, which is about $48,850.

The disparity highlights the economic challenges within Barbour County compared to broader benchmarks.

As of the latest available data, Barbour County, WV, has a relatively low crime rate compared to national averages. The overall crime rate is 17.09 per 1,000 residents annually, with property crimes being more prevalent than violent crimes.

Crime Statistics Table (per 1,000 residents annually)

These figures indicate that Barbour County's crime rates are predominantly driven by property crimes, with a notably low incidence of violent offenses, contributing to its overall safety.