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Nicholas County
Nicholas County
County
	The Nicholas County Courthouse in Summersville in 2007
	Seal
	Location within the U.S. state of West Virginia
	West Virginia's location within the U.S.
	Coordinates: 38°17′N 80°48′W / 38.29°N 80.8°W
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
Founded	January 30, 1818
Named for	Wilson Cary Nicholas
Seat	Summersville
Largest city	Summersville
Area
• Total	654 sq mi (1,690 km2)
• Land	647 sq mi (1,680 km2)
• Water	7.6 sq mi (20 km2) 1.2%
Population (2020)
• Total	24,604
• Estimate (2021)	24,300
• Density	38/sq mi (15/km2)
Time zone	UTC−5 (Eastern)
• Summer (DST)	UTC−4 (EDT)
Congressional district	1st
Website	www.nicholascountywv.org

One of several markers designating the border between Nicholas and Greenbrier counties along Greenbrier Road near Richwood. Older stone survey markers are located a few feet behind the modern highway sign.

Nicholas County is a county located in the central region of U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 24,604.^[1] Its county seat is Summersville.^[2] The county was created in 1818 by the Virginia General Assembly and named for Virginia Governor Wilson Cary Nicholas.^[3]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 654 square miles (1,690 km²), of which 647 square miles (1,680 km²) is land and 7.6 square miles (20 km²) (1.2%) is water.^[4]

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.^[5] Nicholas County was divided into six districts: Grant, Jefferson, Kentucky, Mumble-the-peg, Summersville, and Wilderness. In 1873, Mumble-the-peg became Hamilton District. A seventh district, Beaver, was created in the 1880s.^[6]

Major highways

Battlefields

Carnifex Ferry Battlefield, Keslers Cross Lanes

Adjacent counties

Braxton County (north)
Webster County (northeast)
Greenbrier County (southeast)
Fayette County (southwest)
Clay County (northwest)
Kanawha County (west)

National protected areas

Gauley River National Recreation Area (part)
Monongahela National Forest (part)

Demographics

Historical population
Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1820	1,853		—
1830	3,346		80.6%
1840	2,515		−24.8%
1850	3,963		57.6%
1860	4,627		16.8%
1870	4,458		−3.7%
1880	7,223		62.0%
1890	9,309		28.9%
1900	11,403		22.5%
1910	17,699		55.2%
1920	20,717		17.1%
1930	20,686		−0.1%
1940	24,070		16.4%
1950	27,696		15.1%
1960	25,414		−8.2%
1970	22,552		−11.3%
1980	28,126		24.7%
1990	26,775		−4.8%
2000	26,562		−0.8%
2010	26,233		−1.2%
2020	24,604		−6.2%
2021 (est.)	24,300	^[7]	−1.2%
U.S. Decennial Census^[8] 1790–1960^[9] 1900–1990^[10] 1990–2000^[11] 2010–2020^[1]

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 26,562 people, 10,722 households, and 7,762 families living in the county. The population density was 41 people per square mile (16 people/km²). There were 12,406 housing units at an average density of 19 units per square mile (7.3 units/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 98.84% White, 0.05% Black or African American, 0.24% Native American, 0.19% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races, and 0.55% from two or more races. 0.48% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 10,722 households, out of which 30.70% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.70% were married couples living together, 10.00% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.60% were non-families. 24.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 11.80% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.46 and the average family size was 2.91.

In the county, the population was spread out, with 23.30% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 27.60% from 25 to 44, 26.00% from 45 to 64, and 15.00% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 95.60 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.20 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $26,974, and the median income for a family was $32,074. Males had a median income of $30,508 versus $17,964 for females. The per capita income for the county was $15,207. About 15.00% of families and 19.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.40% of those under age 18 and 13.80% of those age 65 or over.

2010 census

As of the 2010 United States census, there were 26,233 people, 10,938 households, and 7,591 families living in the county.^[12] The population density was 40.6 inhabitants per square mile (15.7/km²). There were 13,064 housing units at an average density of 20.2 units per square mile (7.8 units/km²).^[13] The racial makeup of the county was 98.4% white, 0.3% Asian, 0.2% American Indian, 0.2% black or African American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.9% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population.^[12] In terms of ancestry, 21.7% were Irish, 19.0% were German, 12.9% were English, and 10.1% were American.^[14]

Of the 10,938 households, 28.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.8% were married couples living together, 10.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.6% were non-families, and 26.5% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 2.38 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age was 43.3 years.^[12]

The median income for a household in the county was $38,457 and the median income for a family was $45,127. Males had a median income of $42,302 versus $25,859 for females. The per capita income for the county was $19,359. About 14.3% of families and 18.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.5% of those under age 18 and 12.3% of those age 65 or over.^[15]

Politics

United States presidential election results for Nicholas County, West Virginia^[16]
Year	Republican		Democratic		Third party(ies)
Year	No.	%	No.	%	No.	%
2024	7,960	79.31%	1,919	19.12%	158	1.57%
2020	8,279	77.86%	2,226	20.93%	128	1.20%
2016	7,251	75.70%	1,840	19.21%	488	5.09%
2012	5,898	67.09%	2,664	30.30%	229	2.60%
2008	4,804	51.32%	4,357	46.54%	200	2.14%
2004	5,485	52.99%	4,788	46.26%	78	0.75%
2000	4,359	50.81%	4,059	47.31%	161	1.88%
1996	2,649	31.03%	4,769	55.87%	1,118	13.10%
1992	2,959	31.05%	5,042	52.91%	1,528	16.04%
1988	3,731	41.75%	5,173	57.89%	32	0.36%
1984	4,656	50.21%	4,588	49.48%	29	0.31%
1980	3,885	40.83%	5,265	55.33%	366	3.85%
1976	3,462	35.70%	6,235	64.30%	0	0.00%
1972	5,907	61.95%	3,628	38.05%	0	0.00%
1968	3,678	39.22%	4,858	51.81%	841	8.97%
1964	2,628	27.65%	6,878	72.35%	0	0.00%
1960	4,297	42.67%	5,774	57.33%	0	0.00%
1956	5,263	51.89%	4,880	48.11%	0	0.00%
1952	4,386	43.86%	5,615	56.14%	0	0.00%
1948	3,391	40.22%	5,018	59.51%	23	0.27%
1944	3,259	43.09%	4,305	56.91%	0	0.00%
1940	4,299	44.73%	5,312	55.27%	0	0.00%
1936	3,964	40.02%	5,872	59.28%	70	0.71%
1932	3,684	40.50%	5,327	58.56%	86	0.95%
1928	3,917	52.36%	3,495	46.72%	69	0.92%
1924	3,347	45.02%	3,956	53.21%	131	1.76%
1920	3,691	50.53%	3,564	48.79%	50	0.68%
1916	2,056	44.77%	2,467	53.72%	69	1.50%
1912	584	14.40%	2,018	49.75%	1,454	35.85%

Elected officials

^[17]

Position	Elected Official
Nicholas County Commission	Garrett Cole, President Lloyd Adkins D. Craig Chapman
Nicholas County Assessor	Ernie Dennison
Nicholas County Circuit Clerk	Debbie Facemire
Nicholas County Clerk	Robert Painter
Nicholas County Prosecutor	Jonathan Sweeney
Nicholas County Sheriff	William Nunley