Hancock County, West Virginia

Hancock County, West Virginia
Map of West Virginia highlighting Hancock County
Location in the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location in the U.S.
Founded January 15, 1848
Named for John Hancock
Seat New Cumberland
Largest city Weirton
Area
 • Total 88 sq mi (228 km2)
 • Land 83 sq mi (215 km2)
 • Water 5.4 sq mi (14 km2), 6.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2015) 29,815
 • Density 363/sq mi (140/km²)
Congressional district 1st
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.hancockcountywv.org

Hancock County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 30,676.[1] Its county seat is New Cumberland.[2] The county was created from Brooke County in 1848 and named for John Hancock, first signer of the Declaration of Independence.[3][4] Hancock County is the northernmost point in both West Virginia and the Southern United States, being at the tip of the state's Northern Panhandle.

Hancock County is part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.[5]

History

Hancock County was formed from Brooke County in 1848, some 15 years before West Virginia became a state. Both counties were once part of Ohio County, Virginia, which had been formed from the District of West Augusta in 1776. Hancock County has significant Revolutionary-period roots due to its location on the Ohio River south of Fort Pitt in Pittsburgh and north of Fort Henry in Wheeling.

Hancock County was the site of the infamous massacre of Iroquois leader Chief Logan's family in 1774,at Baker's Tavern across the Ohio River from the mouth of Yellow Creek. The event, known as the Yellow Creek massacre, sparked Lord Dunmore's War. Adam Poe had his famous fight with the Indian known as Big Foot at the mouth of Tomlinson Run in 1781. Historical markers commemorate both events. Significant Revolutionary War forts and blockhouses in Hancock County included Holliday's Cove Fort in downtown Weirton and Chapman's Blockhouse in New Cumberland.[6]

Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 88 square miles (230 km2), of which 83 square miles (210 km2) is land and 5.4 square miles (14 km2) (6.1%) is water.[7] It is the smallest county in West Virginia by area. The highest point of elevation in Hancock County is approximately 1363 ft. and located about 1800 ft. ESE of Emmanuel Mission Church.

Major highways

Adjacent counties

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
18504,050—
18604,4459.8%
18704,363−1.8%
18804,88211.9%
18906,41431.4%
19006,6934.3%
191010,46556.4%
192019,97590.9%
193028,51142.7%
194031,57210.7%
195034,3888.9%
196039,61515.2%
197039,7490.3%
198040,4181.7%
199035,233−12.8%
200032,667−7.3%
201030,676−6.1%
Est. 201629,590[8]−3.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2015[1]

2000 census

As of the census[13] of 2000, there were 32,667 people, 13,678 households, and 9,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile (152/km²). There were 14,728 housing units at an average density of 178 per square mile (69/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 96.42% White, 2.30% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.35% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.12% from other races, and 0.69% from two or more races. 0.74% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 13,678 households out of which 26.40% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.70% were married couples living together, 10.70% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.50% were non-families. 26.60% 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 2.36 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out with 20.80% under the age of 18, 7.20% from 18 to 24, 27.10% from 25 to 44, 26.40% from 45 to 64, and 18.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.40 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.40 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,759, and the median income for a family was $40,719. Males had a median income of $34,813 versus $19,100 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,724. About 9.00% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.10% of those under age 18 and 7.10% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 30,676 people, 13,297 households, and 8,732 families residing in the county.[14] The population density was 371.3 inhabitants per square mile (143.4/km2). There were 14,541 housing units at an average density of 176.0 per square mile (68.0/km2).[15] The racial makeup of the county was 95.7% white, 2.3% black or African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.0% of the population.[14] In terms of ancestry, 21.1% were German, 18.7% were Irish, 15.6% were Italian, 12.5% were English, 8.0% were Polish, and 6.2% were American.[16]

Of the 13,297 households, 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.9% were married couples living together, 12.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 34.3% were non-families, and 29.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 45.3 years.[14]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,565 and the median income for a family was $46,978. Males had a median income of $40,961 versus $28,915 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,118. About 11.2% of families and 14.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.2% of those under age 18 and 7.0% of those age 65 or over.[17]

Government

Hancock County is governed by a three-member County Commission who each serve in rotating six-year terms. The terms are designed such that one seat is up for election in even years. The County Commission annually chooses its own president. The Hancock County Commissioners in 2015 are Joe Barnabei, Jeff Davis and Commission President Michael Swartzmiller.[18]

Hancock County is part of the First Family Court Circuit of West Virginia, which also includes Brooke and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Family Court Judges were first elected to six-year terms beginning in 2002 and were elected to eight-year terms beginning in 2008. The current judges of the First Family Court Circuit are the Hon. Joyce Chernenko and the Hon. William Sinclair, both of whom were elected to eight-year terms in November 2008.[18]

Additionally, Hancock County is part of the First Judicial Circuit of West Virginia, which also includes Brooke and Ohio Counties. In West Virginia, Circuit Judges are elected in non-partisan elections to eight-year terms. The current judges of the First Judicial Circuit are the Hon. Jason A. Cuomo, the Hon. James Mazzone, the Hon. David J. Sims, and the Hon. Ronald E. Wilson.[18]

Magistrates are elected in partisan elections serving four-year terms. Vacancies occurring in unexpired terms can be filled by a respective Circuit Court Judge. Unlike Circuit Court judges or Family Court judges, magistrates are not required to be attorneys. Hancock County currently has three magistrates: Mike White, William S. Hicks and Michael Powell.[18]

Other elected officials are Sheriff Ralph Fletcher, Circuit Clerk Brenda Jackson, County Clerk George Foley, Assessor Joe Alongi and Prosecuting Attorney James Davis.

Politics

Abutting free states Ohio and Pennsylvania, and with a largely German-American culture unlike any other part of antebellum Virginia,[19] Hancock County and the rest of the Northern Panhandle were central to the vanguard who made West Virginia a new state during the Civil War.[20] For the next six and a half decades the county, aided by its association with Pennsylvania’s powerful ironmonger-led Republican machines, voted solidly Republican to the point of supporting William Howard Taft during the disastrously divided 1912 election. From the New Deal until Bill Clinton, however, powerful unionization meant that Hancock County turned from solidly Republican to solidly Democratic except when the Democrats nominated the liberal George McGovern in 1972. Like all of West Virginia, since 2000 a combination of declining unionization[21] and differences with the Democratic Party’s liberal views on social issues[22] has produced a dramatic swing to the Republican Party.

Presidential Elections Results[23]
Year Republican Democratic Third Parties
2016 69.6% 8,909 25.5% 3,262 4.9% 631
2012 59.5% 7,226 38.1% 4,627 2.4% 297
2008 56.9% 7,518 41.6% 5,504 1.5% 198
2004 51.0% 7,298 48.2% 6,906 0.8% 117
2000 47.9% 6,458 46.4% 6,249 5.7% 765
1996 30.4% 4,268 53.6% 7,521 15.9% 2,231
1992 25.9% 3,897 52.1% 7,830 22.0% 3,309
1988 41.2% 5,882 58.4% 8,338 0.4% 60
1984 45.4% 7,326 54.0% 8,708 0.6% 90
1980 40.1% 6,610 53.3% 8,784 6.6% 1,081
1976 38.9% 6,771 61.1% 10,627
1972 61.3% 10,634 38.8% 6,727
1968 32.8% 6,181 54.0% 10,174 13.2% 2,476
1964 26.4% 5,009 73.7% 14,001
1960 41.8% 8,031 58.2% 11,176
1956 47.9% 8,750 52.1% 9,524
1952 40.0% 6,520 60.0% 9,772
1948 35.2% 4,561 63.5% 8,242 1.3% 170
1944 36.9% 4,285 63.1% 7,334
1940 37.0% 4,997 63.0% 8,515
1936 33.6% 3,957 65.9% 7,756 0.5% 58
1932 46.9% 4,328 49.9% 4,603 3.1% 289
1928 74.1% 5,461 25.6% 1,884 0.4% 29
1924 71.1% 3,775 22.4% 1,187 6.6% 349
1920 63.4% 2,768 32.9% 1,435 3.7% 161
1916 58.7% 1,434 36.5% 891 4.8% 117
1912 33.5% 664 32.0% 634 34.4% 682[24]

Communities

Cities

Census-designated place

Unincorporated communities

Population ranking

The population ranking of the following table is based on the 2010 census of Hancock County.[25]

† county seat

Rank City/Town/etc. Population (2010 Census) Municipal type
1 Weirton partially in Brooke County 19,746 City
2 Chester 2,585 City
3 Newell 1,376 CDP
4 † New Cumberland 1,103 City

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  2. ↑ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved 2011-06-07.
  3. ↑ http://www.wvculture.org/history/counties/hancock.html
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 148.
  5. ↑ http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/bulletins/2013/b13-01.pdf
  6. ↑ Nogay, Michael Edward (2009). Every Home a Fort, Every Man a Warrior,. Tri-State Publishing Co.
  7. ↑ "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  9. ↑ "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. ↑ "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. ↑ "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  12. ↑ "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  13. ↑ "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2011-05-14.
  14. 1 2 3 "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  15. ↑ "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  16. ↑ "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  17. ↑ "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2016-04-03.
  18. 1 2 3 4 West Virginia Secretary of State; Election Results Center
  19. ↑ MacKenzie, Scott; ‘The Fifth Border State: Slavery and the Formation of West Virginia, 1850-1868’ (thesis), Auburn University Electronic Theses and Dissertations
  20. ↑ Link, William A.; ‘This Bastard New Virginia: Slavery, West Virginia Exceptionalism, and the Secession Crisis’
  21. ↑ Schwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015
  22. ↑ Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  23. ↑ http://uselectionatlas.org/RESULTS
  24. ↑ The leading "other" candidate, Progressive Theodore Roosevelt, received 557 votes, while Socialist candidate Eugene Debs received 125 votes.
  25. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2013-12-21. Retrieved 2016-02-13.

Coordinates: 40°31′N 80°35′W / 40.52°N 80.58°W / 40.52; -80.58

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