Mason County, West Virginia

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Mason County, West Virginia
Map of West Virginia highlighting Mason 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 2, 1804
Seat Point Pleasant
Largest city Point Pleasant
Area
 • Total 445 sq mi (1,153 km2)
 • Land 431 sq mi (1,116 km2)
 • Water 14 sq mi (36 km2), 3.1%
Population (est.)
 • (2014) 27,016
 • Density 63/sq mi (24/km²)
Congressional district 3rd
Time zone Eastern: UTC-5/-4
Website www.masoncounty.wv.gov

Mason County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 27,324.[1] Its county seat is Point Pleasant.[2] The county was founded in 1804 and was named for George Mason,[3] delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Before the Civil War, the county was located in the State of Virginia.

Mason County is part of the Point Pleasant, WV-OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

History

In the second half of 1749, the French explorer, Pierre Joseph Céloron de Blainville, claimed French sovereignty over the Ohio Valley, burying a lead plaque at the meeting point of the Ohio and Kanawha Rivers, naming the place Point Pleasant.

In the Battle of Point Pleasant (October 10, 1774), fought on the future site of the town, over one thousand Virginia militiamen, led by Colonel Andrew Lewis (1720–1781), defeated a roughly equal force of an Algonquin confederation of Shawnee and Mingo warriors led by Shawnee Chief Cornstalk (ca. 1720-1777). The event is celebrated locally as the "First Battle of the American Revolutionary War" and in 1908 the U.S. Senate authorized erection of a local monument to commemorate it as such. Most historians, however, regard it not as a battle of the Revolution (1775–1783), but as a part of Lord Dunmore's War (1774). "Camp Point Pleasant" was established by Col. Lewis at the time of the Battle and the settlement that followed also took that name. Although not certain, Point Pleasant may have been permanently settled by whites as early as 1774.

According to Hardesty's West Virginia Counties (1883), regarding the first white settlers in Mason County south of Point Pleasant:

All that part of the district lying on the Ohio river bottoms above Eighteen-mile Creek, was included in the grant made by Congress to the heirs of General Mercer, who was killed at the battle of Princeton, New Jersey, January 3, 1777, while fighting by the side of Washington; hence the name Mercer Bottom. Who located and surveyed the lands cannot now be learned, but his grandson, Charles Fenton Mercer, of Virginia, afterward put the lands in market and sold them in quantities to suit purchasers. Thomas Hannan, whose name is preserved in that of the district, was the first actual settler - locating in the year 1790. Andrew Fleming and a Mr. Mercer, two hunters, had previously erected a cabin on the land which he purchased, and this was occupied by him until he could build a better one. Soon Jesse George purchased seventy acres of land at the mouth of Flatfoot Creek ... and became the second actual settler. Then came John Hereford, Robert Hereford, Thomas Powell, Edward S. Menager, John Morris — who discovered the first salt water on Kanawha river — George Withers, Robert Cremeans, James George, Rev. John Canterbury ...

The settlement at Point Pleasant did not receive an official charter until 1794. Mason County was officially created, from Kanawha County, on January 2, 1804. It was named for George Mason IV (1725–1792), known as the "Father of the United States Bill of Rights" and a Founding Father of the United States. By 1810, the total county population stood at almost two thousand people.

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Geography

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 445 square miles (1,150 km2), of which 431 square miles (1,120 km2) is land and 14 square miles (36 km2) (3.1%) is water.[4]

Major highways

Adjacent counties

National protected area

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
1810 1,991 —
1820 4,868 144.5%
1830 6,534 34.2%
1840 6,777 3.7%
1850 7,539 11.2%
1860 9,173 21.7%
1870 15,978 74.2%
1880 22,293 39.5%
1890 22,863 2.6%
1900 24,142 5.6%
1910 23,019 −4.7%
1920 21,459 −6.8%
1930 20,788 −3.1%
1940 22,270 7.1%
1950 23,537 5.7%
1960 24,459 3.9%
1970 24,306 −0.6%
1980 27,045 11.3%
1990 25,178 −6.9%
2000 25,957 3.1%
2010 27,324 5.3%
Est. 2014 27,016 [5] −1.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[6]
1790–1960[7] 1900–1990[8]
1990–2000[9] 2010–2014[1]

As of the census[10] of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile (23/km²). There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile (11/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.37% White, 0.50% Black or African American, 0.18% Native American, 0.27% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.11% from other races, and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,587 households out of which 30.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.60% were married couples living together, 10.10% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.50% were non-families. 25.50% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the county, the population was spread out with 22.70% under the age of 18, 8.30% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.20% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 96.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,134, and the median income for a family was $32,953. Males had a median income of $32,382 versus $17,074 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,804. About 16.60% of families and 19.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.30% of those under age 18 and 14.50% of those age 65 or over.

Education

File:Ppsteamboatvisit.JPG
Steamboat visit at county seat.

There are 3 junior/senior high schools, 7 elementary schools and 1 primary school in Mason County.

The superintendent of Mason County schools is Suzanne Dickens.

Mason County Fair

The Mason County Fair, held at the Mason County Fair Grounds in Point Pleasant, is the largest county fair in West Virginia (in terms of attendance). It is held every year during the first week of August.

Communities

City

Towns

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

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Notable natives and residents

See also

References

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External links

 Meigs County, Ohio
Gallia County, Ohio Jackson County
  Mason County, West Virginia  
Cabell County Putnam County

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