Pocahontas County

History

When Andrew Lewis, early American pioneer, surveyor, and soldier from Virginia, came to survey one of the land grants for the Greenbrier Company in 1751, he found Jacob Marlin and Stephen Sewell living where Marlinton later developed. They had come from Frederick, Maryland, in 1749 and are considered to be the first European settlers in this region of Virginia. They built their original cabin where Marlin Run met Knapp's Creek. Lewis had found Sewell living in a large hollow sycamore tree near the cabin. This area is now between Eighth and Ninth avenues and Eighth and Ninth streets of Marlinton.

This area was reserved by the nations of the Iroquois Confederacy as a hunting ground, by right of their conquest of tribes that had been in the area. These American Indians resisted European settlement in the lands they had taken. A treaty of 1758 by Great Britain confirmed the land west of the Allegheny Mountains to the Indians and forbade his Majesty's subjects from settling or hunting here.

But the British settlers continued to move into the Indian hunting grounds, making them a target for many raids and massacres. After the Revolution, the Indians migrated west, and the settlers' land claims were made regular.

During the Civil War Pocahontas County voted to secede from the United States by a vote of 360 to 13 and supported the state government in Richmond. The county contained 907 men of military age (15–50 years old) and provided nearly 700 men to the Confederate army and levied $15,000 for armaments. Farming and harvesting crops soon became difficult due to enlistments, and many of the county's 252 slaves fled during Union troop movements through the county. Some Unionist refugees who had fled to Upshur County enlisted in the 10th West Virginia Infantry Regiment. The battles of Cheat Mountain and Camp Allegheny took place in the county in 1861, and in 1863 the battle of Droop Mountain occurred, resulting in a Union victory.

A government loyal to the United States was established in Wheeling called the Restored Government of Virginia. Under its guidance a bill was introduced to the United States Congress to create a new state from 48 counties of western Virginia to be called West Virginia. While many of these counties were generally loyal to the U.S., many were not but were taken for territorial reasons. The new state was officially recognized on June 20, 1863.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 942 square miles (2,440 km2), of which 940 square miles (2,400 km2) is land and 1.5 square miles (3.9 km2) (0.2%) is water. It is the third-largest county in West Virginia by area, and with a mean altitude of 3,219 feet or 981 metres it is the sixth-highest county east of the Mississippi River and the highest county in this region outside Western North Carolina.

The highest point is Thorny Flat on Cheat Mountain in the northwestern part of the county, elevation 4,848 feet (1,478 m).

Birthplace of rivers

The county is the site of the headwaters for eight rivers: Cherry River, Cranberry River, Elk River, Gauley River, Greenbrier River, Tygart Valley River, Williams River, and Shavers Fork of the Cheat River. The Monongahela National Forest protects much of the river headwaters, thereby helping to ensure improved downstream water quality.

National protected areas

Monongahela National Forest (part)

Cranberry Glades Botanical Area

Gaudineer Scenic Area

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 7,869. Of the residents, 17.1% were under the age of 18 and 26.3% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 50.3 years. For every 100 females there were 105.8 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 108.4 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 0.7% Black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.3% Native American, 0.5% from other races, and 3.0% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.4% of the population.

There were 3,460 households in the county, of which 23.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.1% were married couples living together, 24.5% had a male householder with no spouse present, and 23.6% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

The average household and family size was 3.48.

There were 6,795 housing units, of which 49.1% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 81.6% were owner-occupied and 18.4% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 2.4% and the rental vacancy rate was 60.0%.

The median income for a household was $37,225 and the poverty rate was 17.5%.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 8,719 people, 3,758 households, and 2,373 families living in the county. The population density was 9.3 inhabitants per square mile (3.6/km2). There were 8,847 housing units at an average density of 9.4 units per square mile (3.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 97.8% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.8% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 23.0% were German, 20.1% were Irish, 12.7% were English, 9.9% were American, 5.2% were Scottish, and 5.1% were Dutch.

Of the 3,758 households, 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.1% were married couples living together, 9.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 36.9% were non-families, and 31.3% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.75. The median age was 47.1 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $32,161 and the median income for a family was $40,906. Males had a median income of $32,411 versus $25,321 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,763. About 11.8% of families and 15.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 11.7% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 9,131 people, 3,835 households, and 527 families living in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile (3.9 people/km2). There were 7,594 housing units at an average density of 8 units per square mile (3.1 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 98.38% White, 0.78% Black or African American, 0.07% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. 0.43% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,835 households, out of which 25.80% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.90% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.10% were non-families. 29.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.40% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.30 and the average family size was 2.83.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 20.90% under the age of 18, 7.00% from 18 to 24, 27.50% from 25 to 44, 27.40% from 45 to 64, and 17.30% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 106.20 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 103.60 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,401, and the median income for a family was $32,511. Males had a median income of $26,173 versus $16,780 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,384. About 12.70% of families and 17.10% of individuals were below the poverty line, including 20.20% of those under age 18 and 14.60% of those age 65 or over.

Politics

Pocahontas County has voted Republican in every election since 2000. Donald Trump solidified the party's grip on the county in 2024, winning the largest vote share in the county's history with over 74% of the vote.

Law and government

Pocahontas County is governed by a three-person, elected county commission. Other elected officers include the sheriff, county clerk, circuit clerk, assessor, prosecuting attorney, surveyor, two circuit judges, two magistrates, and a family court judge. There is also a five-member school board and six conservation district supervisors, with at least two from each county in the district.

County Offices

Commissioners are elected to six-year terms, with one of the three commission offices up for election every two years. The entire county votes for a candidate.

Pocahontas, along with Greenbrier and Monroe counties, is represented by the Greenbrier Valley district. At least two supervisors per county are elected during primaries and serve four-year terms.

Judicial

Source:

Pocahontas along with Greenbrier county is in the 29th Judicial Circuit.

Circuit Court Judges are elected to eight-year terms. Clerks are elected to six-year terms.

Pocahontas, along with, Braxton, and Webster counties make up the 27th Family Court Circuit. Judges are elected to eight-year terms.

Magistrates are elected in non-partisan elections during primaries, and serve four-year terms.

State Legislature

Source:

Each county in West Virginia is represented by one or more House of Delegates members and state senators.

Pocahontas County is represented by the 46th, and 66th District in the West Virginia House of Delegates. Delegates serve two-year terms with all of the seats up for election every two years.

Pocahontas County is currently represented by West Virginia's 11th Senate district. Senators serve four-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every two years.

Federal Representatives

Source:

Pocahontas County is represented in congress by the 1st congressional district of West Virginia.

Economy

Tourism

As of 2008, there were approximately 30,000 out-of-towners who own property in Pocahontas County. The tourism industry has continued to be one of the county's largest economic industries. The main attraction is Snowshoe Mountain that is popular with tourists in the summer and winter.

Communities

Towns

Durbin

Hillsboro

Marlinton (county seat)

Magisterial districts

Edray

Greenbank

Huntersville

Little Levels

Census-designated places

Arbovale

Bartow

Cass

Frank

Green Bank

Huntersville

Notable people

Pearl S. Buck, author, was born in Hillsboro.

W. E. Blackhurst, author

Louise McNeill, poet and historian

William Luther Pierce, leader of the National Alliance lived on property near Mill Point.

Patch Adams, the clown physician, established his Gesundheit! Institute in Hillsboro and has been raising money since 1980 toward opening a long-promised rural hospital. Some locals have called it "a big scam."

Wulf Zendik, founder of the Zendik Farm, is buried on his commune's former property in central Pocahontas County.

In popular culture

The Amnesty campaign of actual play podcast The Adventure Zone takes place in a fictional town within Pocahontas County.

Tyler Childers' song "Universal Sound" is set in Pocahontas County at the Cranberry Glades.