Boone County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,809. Its county seat is Madison. Boone County is part of the Charleston, WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. Leading industries and chief agricultural products in Boone County include coal, lumber, natural gas, tobacco, and strawberries.

History The county was formed in 1847 with territories annexed from Kanawha, Cabell, and Logan counties. It was named for frontiersman Daniel Boone, who lived in the Great Kanawha Valley from 1789 until 1795.

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.Otis K. Rice & Stephen W. Brown, West Virginia: A History, 2nd ed., University Press of Kentucky, Lexington (1993), p. 240. Boone County was divided into five districts: Crook, Peytona, Scott, Sherman, and Washington. Between 1980 and 1990, the county was redivided into three magisterial districts: District 1, District 2, and District 3.United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.

On February 1, 2006, two fatal mining accidents occurred in the communities of Uneeda and Wharton in Boone County. These two deaths with the addition of January's Sago Mine disaster and the Aracoma Alma Mine disaster caused West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin to close all of West Virginia's mines in a "mine safety stand-down."

Geography Boone County lies in the central southwestern part of West Virginia. Its terrain consists of low wooded mountains, carved with drainages.Boone County WV Google Maps (accessed April 15, 2019) The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest point at its south corner, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.3%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 119 West Virginia Route 3 West Virginia Route 17 West Virginia Route 85 West Virginia Route 94 West Virginia Route 99

Adjacent counties

Kanawha County - northeast Raleigh County - east Wyoming County - south Logan County - west Lincoln County - northwest

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 21,809. Of the residents, 20.8% were under the age of 18 and 21.1% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 44.7 years. For every 100 females there were 100.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 98.0 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.3% White, 0.6% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.2% Asian, 0.2% from some other race, and 3.6% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.6% of the population.

There were 8,878 households in the county, of which 28.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 24.7% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 10,132 housing units, of which 12.4% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 78.0% were owner-occupied and 22.0% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.6% and the rental vacancy rate was 8.9%.

+Boone County, West Virginia – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)25,06424,22020,71298.15%98.33%94.96%Black or African American alone (NH)1641221350.64%0.49%0.61%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)2933390.11%0.13%0.17%Asian alone (NH)1821360.07%0.08%0.16%Pacific Islander alone (NH)3120.01%0.00%0.00%Other race alone (NH)75180.02%0.02%0.08%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1331307340.52%0.52%3.36%Hispanic or Latino (any race)117971330.45%0.39%0.60%Total25,53524,62921,809100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 24,629 people, 9,928 households, and 7,014 families in the county. The population density was . There were 11,070 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.5% white, 0.5% black or African American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% American Indian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.6% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.4% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 15.4% were German, 13.3% were American, 12.9% were Irish, and 8.3% were English.

Of the 9,928 households, 32.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.0% were married couples living together, 11.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 29.4% were non-families, and 25.7% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.94. The median age was 40.7 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,783 and the median income for a family was $47,981. Males had a median income of $51,740 versus $32,110 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,457. About 15.6% of families and 19.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.9% of those under age 18 and 13.4% of those age 65 or over.

2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 25,535 people, 10,291 households, and 7,460 families in the county. The population density was . There were 11,575 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.53% White, 0.65% Black or African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.07% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.54% from two or more races. 0.46% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

The largest ancestry groups in Boone County are English (13%), Irish (12%) and German (11%).

There were 10,291 households, out of which 31.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.50% were married couples living together, 10.50% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.50% were non-families. 24.60% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.00% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.47 and the average family size was 2.92.

The county contained 23.20% under the age of 18, 9.00% from 18 to 24, 28.00% from 25 to 44, 26.30% from 45 to 64, and 13.60% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 95.50 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.50 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $25,669, and the median income for a family was $31,999. Males had a median income of $34,931 versus $19,607 for females. The per capita income for the county was $14,453. About 18.30% of families and 22.00% of the population were below the poverty line, including 27.90% of those under age 18 and 13.90% of those age 65 or over. Politics With the exception of the 1972 Nixon landslide, Boone County voted Democratic in every presidential election from 1924 until 2012. In 2012, Republican Mitt Romney won over sixty percent of the vote in the process of becoming the first presidential candidate to sweep every county in the state. Also in 2012, in the state's Democratic primaries, Boone County was one of the West Virginia counties that voted for eccentric perennial candidate Keith Russell Judd, who at the time was still in prison on felony charges, over incumbent president Barack Obama.

Education

Madison Brookview Elementary School Madison Elementary School Ramage Elementary School Madison Middle School Scott High School

Van Van Elementary School Van Junior/Senior High School

Seth Ashford-Rumble Elementary School Sherman Elementary School Whitesville Elementary School Sherman Junior High School Sherman Senior High School

Communities City Madison (county seat)

Towns Danville Sylvester Whitesville

Magisterial districts District 1 District 2 District 3

Census-designated places

Comfort Greenview Racine Twilight Van

Unincorporated communities Adams is located on the east side of the Little Coal River below Julian and Horse Creek Junction.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Julian Quadrangle (1962, 1976). Altman appears to have been a settlement at or near the site of Horse Creek Junction on the Little Coal River.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Madison Quadrangle (1929). Andrew is located along Drawdy Creek above Peytona.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Peytona Quadrangle (1929).United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Williams Mountain Quadrangle (1965, 1996). Ashford is located along the Big Coal River at the mouth of Lick Creek.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Racine Quadrangle (1965, 2000). Bald Knob is located on the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Clinton and Greenwood, at the mouth of the James Branch.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Bald Knob Quadrangle (1931).United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Lorado Quadrangle (1968, 1996). Bandytown is located on the West Fork of the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Marnie and Twilight, at the mouth of the Bandy Branch.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Wharton Quadrangle (1968, 1996). Barrett is located along the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Pondco and Clinton. Bigson is located on the north side of the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Lanta and West Junction, at the mouth of the Lick Branch. Bim is located along the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Marthatown and Wharton. Bloomingrose is located on the north side of the Big Coal River above Racine, at the mouth of Toneys Branch. Blue Pennant is located along Elk Run, about a mile and a half above Janie on the Big Coal River. Bob White is located between Van and Cazy on the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River. Bradley is located along Brush Creek, near Brushton. Breece is located along Big Horse Creek, at the mouth of the Dodson Branch.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Racine Quadrangle (1962, 1976). Brushton is located along the Big Coal River at the mouth of Brush Creek. Its post office retains the traditional name of "Costa". Cabot is located along the Hopkins Fork of Laurel Creek, between Prenter and Milltown.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Sylvester Quadrangle (1965, 1996). Cameo, also known as Garner Station, is located on the Jack Smith Branch of Big Horse Creek, about a mile and a half above Dodson Junction.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Mud Quadrangle (1962, 1996). Cazy is located on the north side of the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Bob White and Kohlsaat. Clinton is located along the Pond Fork of the Little Coal River, between Barrett and Bald Knob. Clothier is located at the mouth of the Spruce Laurel Fork of the Spruce Fork of the Little Coal River, just below the Logan County line and Coal Valley.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Logan Quadrangle (1913, 1928).United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Clothier Quadrangle (1963, 1996). Coopertown is located on the east side of the Big Coal River, between Orgas and Fosterville, around the mouth of Haggie Branch. Dartmont is located on the east side of the Big Coal River below Ashford, at the mouth of Mikes Run. Dodson Junction is located on the Dodson Branch of Big Horse Creek, between Breece and Morrisvale, at the mouth of the Jack Smith Branch. Drawdy Easly is located along Brush Creek between Nellis and Bradley. Eden is located on the north side of the Big Coal River, above Sharlow and Bloomingrose. Elk Run Junction is located along the east side of the Big Coal River above the mouth of Seng Creek.United States Geological Survey map, West Virginia, Whitesville Quadrangle (1968, 1996).