Monongalia County, West Virginia

Monongalia County, known locally as Mon County, is located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 105,822,[1] making it West Virginia's third-most populous county. Its county seat is at Morgantown.[2] The county was founded in 1776.[3] Monongalia County is included in the Morgantown, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area, and is the largest county in North-Central West Virginia. It is part of the Pittsburgh media market.

Monongalia County
County
Monongalia County Courthouse
Monongalia County Courthouse
Flag of Monongalia County
Flag
Official seal of Monongalia County
Seal
Map of West Virginia highlighting Monongalia County
Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
Map of the United States highlighting West Virginia
West Virginia's location within the U.S.
Coordinates: 39°38′N 80°03′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedOctober 9, 1776
SeatMorgantown
Largest cityMorgantown
Area
 • Total366 sq mi (950 km2)
 • Land360 sq mi (900 km2)
 • Water5.8 sq mi (15 km2)  1.6%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total105,822
 • Estimate 
(2021)
106,387 Increase
 • Density296/sq mi (114/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district1st
Websitewww.co.monongalia.wv.us
New Monongalia County Justice Center in 2017

History
Map of Ohio, Monongalia, & Yohogania Counties circa 1776. Monongalia County is in magenta.

Monongalia County takes its name from the Monongahela River. The name Monongalia may be a misspelling of Monongahela. Alternatively, the conventional Latinate ending "-ia" (designating "land of..." or "country of..." — as in Arabia, Bolivia or Colombia) may have been added to Monongahela (i.e., "Land of the Monongahela").

Monongalia County was formed in 1776 when Virginia's remote District of West Augusta was divided into three counties: Ohio, Yohogania and Monongalia, all named for their most prominent rivers. Ohio County then encompassed most of the western region of the district bordering the Ohio River, including parts of what is now southwestern Pennsylvania. Yohogania County consisted of much of what is now southwestern Pennsylvania and the present counties of Hancock and the northern part of Brooke in West Virginia. Monongalia County also encompassed what are now the counties of Tucker, Randolph, Marion, Harrison and Barbour in north-central West Virginia, as well as parts of what are now Washington, Greene and Fayette Counties in Pennsylvania. In 1780, in his Notes on the State of Virginia, Thomas Jefferson gave the militia enrollment of what was then the vast Monongalia County at 1,000 troops.

Forks-Of-Cheat Baptist Church sign on Stewartstown Road, reflecting the region's early beginnings.

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.[4] Monongalia County was divided into seven districts: Battelle, Cass, Clay, Clinton, Grant, Morgan, and Union. After a century of relative stability, in the 1970s Monongalia's seven historic magisterial districts were consolidated into three new Districts: Central, Eastern, and Western.[5]

Geography

Adjacent counties

Major highways

Rivers, streams, and lakes

Ridges

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17904,768—
18008,54079.1%
181012,79349.8%
182011,060−13.5%
183014,05627.1%
184017,36823.6%
185012,387−28.7%
186013,0485.3%
187013,5473.8%
188014,98510.6%
189015,7054.8%
190019,04921.3%
191024,33427.7%
192033,61838.2%
193050,08349.0%
194051,2522.3%
195060,79718.6%
196055,617−8.5%
197063,71414.6%
198075,02417.8%
199075,5090.6%
200081,8668.4%
201096,18917.5%
2020105,82210.0%
2021 (est.)106,387[6]0.5%
U.S. Decennial Census[7]
1790–1960[8] 1900–1990[9]
1990–2000[10] 2010–2020[1]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 105,882 people and 42,710 households residing in the city. There were 49,881 housing units in Monongalia County. The racial makeup of the county was 85% White, 3.9% African American, 3.5% Asian, 0.2% Native American, 1.1% from other races, and 6.1% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 3.1% of the population.

There were 42,710 households, of which 41% were married couples living together, 25.4% had a male householder with no spouse present, 25.3% had a female householder with no spouse present.The average household and family size was 3.06. The median age in the county was 33 years. The median income for a household in the county was $56,374.[11]

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 96,189 people, 39,777 households, and 20,032 families living in the county.[12] The population density was 267.1 inhabitants per square mile (103.1/km2). There were 43,238 housing units at an average density of 120.1 per square mile (46.4/km2).[13] The racial makeup of the county was 91.0% white, 3.6% black or African American, 3.1% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.4% from other races, and 1.8% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 1.8% of the population.[12] In terms of ancestry, 25.7% were German, 17.1% were Irish, 13.0% were English, 11.0% were Italian, 7.5% were American, and 5.0% were Polish.[14]

Of the 39,777 households, 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 49.6% were non-families, and 31.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.87. The median age was 29.1 years.[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $39,167 and the median income for a family was $62,966. Males had a median income of $43,383 versus $32,164 for females. The per capita income for the county was $23,116. About 8.6% of families and 21.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.2% of those under age 18 and 7.6% of those age 65 or over.[15]

2000 census

As of the census[16] of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families living in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile (88 people/km2). There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile (39/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 92.22% White, 3.38% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 2.45% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.32% from other races, and 1.39% from two or more races. 1.01% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 33,446 households, out of which 24.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.80% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 44.70% were non-families. 31.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 18.20% under the age of 18, 23.40% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 20.00% from 45 to 64, and 10.70% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females, there were 101.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $28,625, and the median income for a family was $43,628. Males had a median income of $33,113 versus $23,828 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,106. About 11.30% of families and 22.80% of the population were below the poverty line, including 17.90% of those under age 18 and 8.00% of those age 65 or over.

Government and politics

The county government consists of a county commission with three members. Currently, these members are: Thomas Bloom (D),[17] Sean Sikora (R) and Jeffery Arnett (D).[18]

In the 20th century, Monongalia County had been a bellwether for West Virginia, voting the same as the state in every election from 1916 to 2020, even as the candidate lost the national election, with the sole exception of 2008 when Barack Obama won the county and lost the state. While still typically favoring Republicans, the county tends to lean significantly more Democratic than the rest of West Virginia. Donald Trump carried the county with just over 500 more votes than Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, by far Biden's best county-level performance in the state.

Its competitiveness is due to its seat, Morgantown, home of the University of West Virginia, being solidly Democratic and the county's rural precincts being solidly Republican. The rural precincts are slightly more populous, resulting in the county's Republican tilt.

United States presidential election results for Monongalia County, West Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 20,803 49.44% 20,282 48.20% 994 2.36%
2016 18,432 50.13% 14,699 39.97% 3,641 9.90%
2012 16,831 53.28% 13,826 43.77% 934 2.96%
2008 15,775 46.99% 17,060 50.82% 734 2.19%
2004 17,670 51.51% 16,313 47.55% 323 0.94%
2000 13,595 49.68% 12,603 46.05% 1,169 4.27%
1996 10,189 37.99% 13,406 49.99% 3,225 12.02%
1992 9,831 34.35% 14,142 49.41% 4,650 16.25%
1988 12,091 45.91% 14,178 53.83% 69 0.26%
1984 14,972 52.95% 13,236 46.81% 66 0.23%
1980 11,972 43.02% 12,883 46.30% 2,971 10.68%
1976 11,827 42.25% 16,163 57.75% 0 0.00%
1972 16,758 60.98% 10,721 39.02% 0 0.00%
1968 9,261 38.68% 13,128 54.83% 1,556 6.50%
1964 6,473 27.16% 17,358 72.84% 0 0.00%
1960 11,523 46.79% 13,103 53.21% 0 0.00%
1956 14,046 56.05% 11,016 43.95% 0 0.00%
1952 13,111 49.92% 13,152 50.08% 0 0.00%
1948 9,329 43.02% 12,138 55.98% 216 1.00%
1944 9,647 48.05% 10,429 51.95% 0 0.00%
1940 10,367 44.48% 12,940 55.52% 0 0.00%
1936 8,811 39.02% 13,677 60.57% 94 0.42%
1932 8,417 43.79% 10,319 53.69% 485 2.52%
1928 11,364 64.08% 6,182 34.86% 188 1.06%
1924 6,994 49.57% 4,977 35.27% 2,139 15.16%
1920 6,773 63.99% 3,442 32.52% 369 3.49%
1916 3,412 57.48% 2,227 37.52% 297 5.00%
1912 1,216 23.20% 1,673 31.92% 2,352 44.88%

Education

The county's public schools are operated by Monongalia County Schools. The county is also home to West Virginia's largest university, West Virginia University, located in Morgantown.

Communities

Cities

Towns

Magisterial districts
  • Central
  • Eastern
  • Western

Census-designated places

Unincorporated communities

See also

Other sources
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. I: Prelude (1974), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. II: The Pioneers (1976), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. III: Discord (1979), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. IV: Industrialization (1984), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.
  • Core, Earl Lemley, The Monongalia Story: A Bicentennial History, Vol. V: Sophistication (1984), Parsons, W.Va.: McClain Printing Co.

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 11, 2021.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. West Virginia Counties Archived September 23, 2001, at the Wayback Machine. Wvculture.org. Retrieved on July 24, 2013.
  4. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  5. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  6. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved July 6, 2022.
  7. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  8. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  9. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. "Census 2000 PHC-T-4. Ranking Tables for Counties: 1990 and 2000" (PDF). United States Census Bureau. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 9, 2022. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 24, 2023.
  12. "DP-1 Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010 Demographic Profile Data". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  13. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  14. "DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. "DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS – 2006-2010 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved May 14, 2011.
  17. "WV SOS - Elections - Election Results - Online Data Services". apps.sos.wv.gov. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  18. "Historical Election Results". www.monongaliacountyclerk.com. Retrieved August 22, 2021.
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 28, 2018.

39.63°N 80.05°W / 39.63; -80.05

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