| County: | Calhoun County |
| State: | West Virginia |
| Flag: | Flag of Calhoun County, West Virginia.svg |
| Founded Date: | March 5 |
| Founded Year: | 1856 |
| Seat Wl: | Grantsville |
| Largest City Wl: | Grantsville |
| City Type: | town |
| Area Total Sq Mi: | 281 |
| Area Land Sq Mi: | 279 |
| Area Water Sq Mi: | 1.4 |
| Area Percentage: | 0.5% |
| Population As Of: | 2020 |
| Population Total: | 6229 |
| Pop Est As Of: | 2021 |
| Population Est: | 6176 |
| Population Density Sq Mi: | auto |
| Web: | www.calhouncounty.wv.gov/ |
| Ex Image: | Calhoun County Courthouse WV.jpg |
| Ex Image Cap: | The Calhoun County Courthouse in Grantsville |
| Time Zone: | Eastern |
| District: | 1st |
Calhoun County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 6,229,[1] making it the third-least populous county in West Virginia. Its county seat is Grantsville.[2] The county was founded in 1856 and named for South Carolina politician John C. Calhoun.[3] [4]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of, of which is land and (0.5%) is water.[5]
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.[6] Calhoun County was divided into five districts: Centre, Lee, Sheridan, Sherman, and Washington. Between 1980 and 1990, the county was reorganized into five new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, and District 5.[7]
As of the 2010 United States census, there were 7,627 people, 3,268 households, and 2,178 families living in the county.[8] The population density was . There were 3,963 housing units at an average density of .[9] The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.7% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 22.4% were German, 21.3% were Irish, 7.7% were American, 7.3% were English, and 5.7% were Dutch.[10]
Of the 3,268 households, 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.7% were married couples living together, 9.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.4% were non-families, and 28.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.80. The median age was 45.1 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $26,922 and the median income for a family was $34,897. Males had a median income of $32,229 versus $20,707 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,121. About 13.2% of families and 20.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 6.6% of those age 65 or over.[11]
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,582 people, 3,071 households, and 2,201 families living in the county. The population density was 27/mi2. There were 3,848 housing units at an average density of 14/mi2. The racial makeup of the county was 98.91% White, 0.11% Black or African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.11% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.13% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. 0.55% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,071 households, out of which 28.90% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.00% were married couples living together, 10.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.30% were non-families. 24.90% 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 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.
In the county, the population was spread out, with 22.40% under the age of 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 25.90% from 25 to 44, 27.10% from 45 to 64, and 16.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 99.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.30 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $21,578, and the median income for a family was $26,701. Males had a median income of $25,609 versus $14,304 for females. The per capita income for the county was $11,491. About 19.10% of families and 25.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.40% of those under age 18 and 24.90% of those age 65 or over.
Calhoun County is a historically secessionist and Democratic county, which never voted Republican between the first Reconstruction election and Dwight D. Eisenhower’s landslide win in 1956.[12] Since then it has consistently followed the statewide results of West Virginia, from Democratic-leaning to Republican bastion in the twenty-first century.
Calhoun County is home to four public parks: The Upper West Fork Park in Chloe on West Virginia Route 16, the West Fork Park in Arnoldsburg on U.S. Route 33, Mt. Zion Park on West Virginia Route 16, and Calhoun County Park on West Virginia Route 16.
Calhoun is home to the annual West Virginia Wood Festival, the West Virginia Molasses Festival in September.
Calhoun County was home to one of the last 500 drive-in theaters in the nation, now closed. Calhoun also has one of the largest genealogy collections in the state, housed at Calhoun County Library. The library is also home to the "West Virginia Room" which includes books on West Virginia and by West Virginians.