Hardy County, West Virginia

Hardy County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,299.[1] Its county seat is Moorefield.[2] The county was created from Hampshire County in 1786[3] and named for Samuel Hardy,[4] a distinguished Virginian.

Hardy County
County
Hardy County Courthouse
Hardy County Courthouse
Official logo of Hardy County
Logo
Map of West Virginia highlighting Hardy 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°01′N 78°52′W
Country United States
State West Virginia
FoundedOctober 17, 1786
Named forSamuel Hardy
SeatMoorefield
Largest townMoorefield
Area
 • Total584 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Land582 sq mi (1,510 km2)
 • Water2.2 sq mi (6 km2)  0.4%
Population
 (2020)
 • Total14,299
 • Estimate 
(2021)
14,160 Decrease
 • Density24/sq mi (9.5/km2)
Time zoneUTC−5 (Eastern)
 • Summer (DST)UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district2nd
Websitewww.hardycounty.com

History

The first European known to visit this area was John Van Meter in 1725. The earliest permanent European settlements were established in the 1730s.

Hardy County was formed in 1786 from Hampshire County in Virginia. It was one of fifty counties admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia in 1863.

That year, the newly independent state'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.[5] Hardy County was divided into three districts: Capon, Lost River, and Moorefield. A fourth district, South Fork, was formed in 1873 from part of Moorefield District, and a fifth district, Old Fields, was created in the 1980s.[6]

Hardy County has a rich African American history, with many free African Americans living there before the Civil War. This history is discussed in part 2 of the Henry Louis Gates television series African American Lives.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 584 square miles (1,510 km2), of which 582 square miles (1,510 km2) is land and 2.2 square miles (5.7 km2) (0.4%) is water.[7]

Through this county flows the South Branch Potomac River with its surrounding magnificent valley. Several miles wide, "the Valley," as it is commonly called, contains lands whose fertility lends itself to successful farming. Agriculture and stock raising have always been the main source of employment in this area, with corn, wheat, apples, peaches, melons, cattle and poultry having important interests. Truck-farming has a vital role, each household possessing its own small garden.

On either side of the Valley are high mountains with rough terrain and heavy timber. Throughout the area wildlife is plentiful, and hunting has always been a major diversion and source of meat supply.

The South Branch is a clear stream, quite wide, and of considerable depth in many places. Watering the Valley, the river abounds in fish and creates many picturesque settings. At times the usually calm waters surge from low banks and spread over the Valley, enveloping and ravishing the rich surrounding lands. The river has a peculiar feature in the field of geology as it flows through the Valley. At one point the river, thousands of years ago, did not cut across the mountains from one side to the other, but made a passage through them from end to end. This geological exception is now in the form of a narrow, trough-like gap, about seven miles (11 km) long, and appropriately called "The Trough". At the present day, the gorge is several hundred feet deep, and the South Branch flows in a narrow channel at the bottom, with almost perpendicular walls of rock on either side.

In the very center of the South Branch Valley, surrounded by high mountains, and located on the east side of the junction of the South Fork South Branch Potomac River and the South Branch Potomac, is Moorefield, the county seat of Hardy County. A quiet farming center in 1860, the population of the Moorefield area at that time was about 1,500. At this period there were no bridges at Moorefield, and the South Branch had to be forded some three miles (4.8 km) up the Valley, or the ferryboat, which was usually busy, had to be used. The main towns that communicated with Moorefield were Petersburg, Romney, and New Creek (presently Keyser) the latter having a stage line between the two points.

Major highways
US 48 in Hardy County

Adjacent counties

National protected areas

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
17907,336—
18006,627−9.7%
18105,525−16.6%
18205,7003.2%
18306,79819.3%
18407,62212.1%
18509,54325.2%
18609,8643.4%
18705,518−44.1%
18806,79423.1%
18907,56711.4%
19008,44911.7%
19109,1638.5%
19209,6014.8%
19309,8162.2%
194010,81310.2%
195010,032−7.2%
19609,308−7.2%
19708,855−4.9%
198010,03013.3%
199010,9779.4%
200012,66915.4%
201014,02510.7%
202014,2992.0%
2021 (est.)14,160[8]−1.0%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]
1790–1960[10] 1900–1990[11]
1990–2000[12] 2010–2020[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 12,669 people, 5,204 households, and 3,564 families living in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile (8.5 people/km2). There were 7,115 housing units at an average density of 12 units per square mile (4.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the county was 96.87% White, 1.93% Black or African American, 0.16% Native American, 0.14% Asian, 0.23% from other races, and 0.67% from two or more races. 0.66% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,204 households, out of which 29.60% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.10% were married couples living together, 8.60% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.50% were non-families. 27.00% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.20% 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 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 7.60% from 18 to 24, 28.80% from 25 to 44, 25.40% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 97.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 96.70 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $31,846, and the median income for a family was $37,003. Males had a median income of $28,032 versus $18,798 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,859. About 10.50% of families and 13.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 13.10% of those under age 18 and 20.20% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 14,025 people, 5,818 households, and 3,900 families living in the county.[13] The population density was 24.1 inhabitants per square mile (9.3/km2). There were 8,078 housing units at an average density of 13.9 units per square mile (5.4 units/km2).[14] The racial makeup of the county was 93.8% white, 2.5% black or African American, 1.0% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 1.5% from other races, and 1.0% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 3.4% of the population.[13] In terms of ancestry, 42.7% were German, 13.2% were English, 11.0% were American, and 9.9% were Irish.[15]

Of the 5,818 households, 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.0% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 33.0% were non-families, and 27.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.86. The median age was 42.8 years.[13]

The median income for a household in the county was $31,347 and the median income for a family was $41,401. Males had a median income of $37,506 versus $23,865 for females. The per capita income for the county was $16,944. About 11.1% of families and 14.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.9% of those under age 18 and 14.0% of those age 65 or over.[16]

Politics

During the Virginia Secession Convention, Hardy County voted against secession from the United States, but much of this vote was within fiercely Unionist and overwhelmingly Republican Grant County, which was detached from it after the war. Following the detachment of Grant – which was frequently to be among the nation's most Republican counties in the subsequent century and a half – Hardy County became solidly Democratic, not voting for any Republican candidate between 1868 and 1964 inclusive.[17] However, since 1968, Hardy County has voted for the Republican presidential candidate in every election with the exceptions of Jimmy Carter in 1976 and Bill Clinton in 1996. Since 2000, it has seen the same significant increase in Republican support as the rest of socially conservative West Virginia.[18]

United States presidential election results for Hardy County, West Virginia[19]
Year Republican Democratic Third party
No. %No. %No. %
2020 4,859 76.73% 1,381 21.81% 93 1.47%
2016 4,274 75.33% 1,155 20.36% 245 4.32%
2012 3,536 68.25% 1,482 28.60% 163 3.15%
2008 3,376 62.44% 1,901 35.16% 130 2.40%
2004 3,635 68.90% 1,617 30.65% 24 0.45%
2000 2,816 62.38% 1,621 35.91% 77 1.71%
1996 1,895 44.49% 1,911 44.87% 453 10.64%
1992 2,144 45.90% 1,917 41.04% 610 13.06%
1988 2,581 60.19% 1,689 39.39% 18 0.42%
1984 2,938 64.05% 1,641 35.78% 8 0.17%
1980 2,329 51.77% 2,050 45.57% 120 2.67%
1976 1,858 38.30% 2,993 61.70% 0 0.00%
1972 2,609 63.34% 1,510 36.66% 0 0.00%
1968 1,768 43.93% 1,767 43.90% 490 12.17%
1964 1,308 30.39% 2,996 69.61% 0 0.00%
1960 2,042 45.31% 2,465 54.69% 0 0.00%
1956 2,202 49.36% 2,259 50.64% 0 0.00%
1952 2,037 45.80% 2,411 54.20% 0 0.00%
1948 1,433 36.95% 2,435 62.79% 10 0.26%
1944 1,489 41.36% 2,111 58.64% 0 0.00%
1940 1,674 38.36% 2,690 61.64% 0 0.00%
1936 1,581 34.81% 2,956 65.08% 5 0.11%
1932 1,267 30.78% 2,824 68.61% 25 0.61%
1928 1,611 44.97% 1,965 54.86% 6 0.17%
1924 1,272 33.92% 2,442 65.12% 36 0.96%
1920 1,354 40.12% 2,014 59.67% 7 0.21%
1916 701 32.88% 1,425 66.84% 6 0.28%
1912 344 18.36% 1,209 64.51% 321 17.13%

Communities

Towns

Magisterial Districts
  • Capon
  • Lost River
  • Moorefield
  • Old Fields
  • South Fork

Unincorporated communities

See also

References
  1. "State & County QuickFacts". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  2. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  3. "West Virginia: Individual County Chronologies". West Virginia Atlas of Historical County Boundaries. The Newberry Library. 2003. Archived from the original on November 20, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2015.
  4. "Hardy County history sources". Archived from the original on January 21, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  5. Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240.
  6. United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.
  7. "2010 Census Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. August 22, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  8. "Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for Counties: April 1, 2020 to July 1, 2021". Retrieved October 19, 2022.
  9. "U.S. Decennial Census". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  10. "Historical Census Browser". University of Virginia Library. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  11. "Population of Counties by Decennial Census: 1900 to 1990". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 10, 2014.
  12. "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.
  13. "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.
  14. "Population, Housing Units, Area, and Density: 2010 - County". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on February 13, 2020. Retrieved April 3, 2016.
  15. "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.
  16. "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.
  17. Menendez, Albert J.; The Geography of Presidential Elections in the United States, 1868-2004, pp. 334-335 ISBN 0786422173
  18. Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014
  19. Leip, David. "Dave Leip's Atlas of U.S. Presidential Elections". uselectionatlas.org. Retrieved March 27, 2018.
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