Kanawha County

History

The word Kanawha (pronounced "Ka-NAH-wah"), Ka(h)nawha, derives from the region's Iroquoian dialects, meaning "water way" or "Canoe Way", implying the metaphor "transport way". Kanawha County was named in honor of the Kanawha River that runs through the county. The spelling varied at the time from Conoys to Conois to Kanawha. The phrase has been a matter of register. A two-story jail was the first county structure to be built, with the first floor dug into the bank of the Kanawha River.

The county began taking shape on November 14, 1788, under the authorization of the Virginia General Assembly, and was founded on October 5, 1789. The county was named for the Kanawha River. During the American Civil War, a number of state infantry and cavalry regiments were organized in the county for both Confederate Army and Union Army service.

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. Kanawha County was divided into ten districts: Big Sandy, Cabin Creek, Charleston, Elk, Jefferson, Loudon, Malden, Poca, Union, and Washington. In the 1970s, the historic districts were consolidated into five new magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, District 3, District 4, and District 5. A District 6 was created in the 1980s, but in the 1990s the county was redistricted again, reducing the number of magisterial districts to four: District 1, District 2, District 3, and District 4.

Kanawha County was the site of a bloody miners' strike in 1912, and a school textbook controversy in 1974, that resulted in bombings, and received national attention.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 911 square miles (2,360 km2), of which 902 square miles (2,340 km2) is land and 9.3 square miles (24 km2) (1.0%) is water. It is the fourth-largest county in West Virginia by area.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 180,745. Of the residents, 19.6% were under the age of 18 and 21.4% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.1 years. For every 100 females there were 93.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 90.8 males.

There were 79,365 households in the county, of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 31.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 34.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 90,294 housing units, of which 12.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 67.7% were owner-occupied and 32.3% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.5% and the rental vacancy rate was 11.1%.

The racial makeup of the county was 85.0% White, 7.5% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2% Asian, 0.7% from some other race, and 5.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 1.5% of the population.

The average household and family size was 2.89.

The median income for a household was $56,112 and the poverty rate was 15.8%

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 193,063 people, 84,201 households, and 52,172 families living in the county. The population density was 214.1 inhabitants per square mile (82.7/km2). There were 92,618 housing units at an average density of 102.7 units per square mile (39.7 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 89.1% white, 7.3% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.3% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.9% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 14.8% were German, 14.2% were Irish, 13.9% were English, and 13.4% were American.

Of the 84,201 households, 27.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 38.0% were non-families, and 32.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.84. The median age was 42.4 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $42,669 and the median income for a family was $54,203. Males had a median income of $42,522 versus $31,754 for females. The per capita income for the county was $25,439. About 9.7% of families and 13.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.5% of those under age 18 and 8.3% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families living in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile (86 people/km2). There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 units per square mile (40 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 90.46% White, 6.97% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.

There were 86,226 households, out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.80% 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 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.

The age distribution was 21.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $33,766, and the median income for a family was $42,568. Males had a median income of $33,842 versus $24,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,354. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Kanawha County was dominated by the Democratic Party for much of the 20th century, albeit to a lesser extent than much of West Virginia. Since 2004 it has been won by Republicans in presidential elections, although, as an urban county, the swing to the Republicans has not been as vast as in much of the rest of the state. The county seat and state capital of Charleston was once heavily Democratic, but now leans Republican as a whole.

Economy

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, there are approximately 5,481 private sector businesses within Kanawha County. There are 89,768 people who are currently employed who live in Kanawha County.

Events

FestivALL

Charleston Sternwheel Regatta (Returning 2022)

Live on the Levee

Vandalia Gathering

Rib Fest

Charleston Rod Run Doo Wop

Majorette Festival - Daily Mail Kanawha County Majorette and Band Festival

Pinch Reunion

St. Albans Festival of Lights

Attractions

Clay Center (West Virginia)

West Virginia State Capitol

West Virginia Cultural Center

South Charleston Mound

Mardi Gras Casino and Resort

Charleston Civic Center

Heritage Tower Museum

Sports

Charleston Dirty Birds - Baseball team

West Virginia United - Soccer club

Communities

Notable people

Robert Alexander, NFL football player

Anthony Bass, NFL football player

George Crumb, composer

Aaron Dobson, Super Bowl champion football player

Ryan Dorsey, actor

Jon Elmore, NBA basketball player

Conchata Ferrell, actress best known for her role as Berta on Two and a Half Men

Jennifer Garner, actress and Golden Globe and SAG award winner

Elizabeth Harden Gilmore, business leader and civil rights advocate

Gary Gregor, NBA basketball player

Alex Hawkins, two-time NFL champion football player

Alexis Hornbuckle, two-time WNBA champion basketball player

T. D. Jakes, megachurch pastor

Carl Lee, NFL football player

Earl Lloyd, Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and the first African-American basketball player to play in an NBA game

Kathy Mattea, country music and bluegrass singer

Ann Magnuson is an American actress, performance artist, and nightclub performer.

Renee Montgomery, two-time WNBA champion basketball player