Content
Wood County is located in the Western region of West Virginia. As of 2000, the population was 87,986. The county seat is Parkersburg, West Virginia's third largest city with a population of 33,099 (2000 Census). The County is included in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna, West Virginia-Ohio (part) Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSMA). Wood County was formed in 1798 from the western part of Harrison County and it was named for James Wood, governor of Virginia from 1796 to 1799.
Wood County has a total area of 377 square miles, of which, 367 square miles is land and 10 square miles is water.
As of the 2000 Census, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. There were 39,785 housing units. The demographic makeup of the county was 97.32% White, 1.01% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.51% Asian, 0.04% Pacific Islander, 0.14% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. 0.58% of the population was Hispanic or Latino of any race.
The County had 36,275 households out of which 29.30% had children under the age of 18 living with them. The average household size was 2.39 and the average family size was 2.88. Additionally, 23.00% percent of residents were under age 18, 8.00% from 18 to 24, 27.90% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 15.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,285, and the median income for a family was $40,436. Males had a median income of $34,899 versus $22,109 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,073. About 10.60% of families and 13.90% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.50% of those under age 18 and 8.60% of that age 65 or over.
Leading industries and chief agricultural products include nylon, tools, glass, plastics, pharmaceuticals, porcelain, electrical equipment, oil field equipment, steel and metal products, petroleum, dairying, poultry, livestock, hay and grain (West Virginia Blue Book 2007).
Parkersburg, located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha Rivers, is the third largest city in the State of West Virginia. It is the county seat of Wood County and the largest city in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna Metropolitan Statistical Area.
The Bureau of the Public Debt, an agency of the U.S. Treasury Department, is headquartered in Parkersburg.
The Parkersburg News and Parkersburg Sentinel were the city's two major daily newspapers until 2009 when they combined to form one daily edition, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel. The same company also publishes the Marietta A.M. and Graffiti, West Virginia's alternative news magazine.
There are many radio stations broadcasting from Parkersburg. WTAP, the local NBC affiliate, is the main local television station.
In terms of higher education institutions, Mountain State College, a private, for-profit, two-year College, is located in the city. West Virginia University at Parkersburg, a public college, is located on the outskirts of the city, and Ohio Valley University, a private Christian School affiliated with the Restoration-Christian churches, is located nearby in Vienna.
Parkersburg is the home of the Parkersburg High School Big Reds, the Parkersburg South High School Patriots, and the Parkersburg Catholic High School Crusaders. Middle schools include Van Devender, Edison, and Hamilton.
Jackson Middle School is located in Vienna and although having a Parkersburg mailing address, Blennerhassett Middle School is located in nearby Blennerhassett Heights.
Williamstown, located in northern Wood County is, home of the Williamstown High School Yellow Jackets and home to Hino Motors.
In 2008, the city and its three high schools placed second in ESPN's TitleTown USA competition. In an essay on ESPN.com, it was pointed out that through the 2007-2008 school years, the city has 192 high school state championships between Parkersburg, Parkersburg South and Parkersburg Catholic. 183 of those championships have come after 1950.
Wood County/Parkersburg is home to several well-known personages and notable national and state figures, including Harman Blennerhassett, an ally of Aaron Burr and owner of Blennerhassett Island, who was arrested for treason by President Thomas Jefferson.
Additionally, Wood County has been home to four West Virginia governors, including Arthur I. Boreman, the state’s first governor. Among other notable residents, Peter G. Van Winkle, one of West Virginia's first U.S. senators, cast the deciding vote that prevented the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson; John F. Kennedy wrote a chapter about Van Winkle in his book Profiles in Courage.
Several radio, television and film personalities also hail from Wood County.
Among notable historical sites is Blennerhassett Island, an island on the Ohio River below the mouth of the Little Kanawha River, is located near Parkersburg in Wood County, West Virginia, USA.
Historically, Blennerhassett Island was an Indian settlement, first known as Backus Island for Elijah Backus who purchased it in 1792. Now it is named for Harman Blennerhassett, a figure in the Aaron Burr treason conspiracy, who purchased the north end of the island in 1798. The island is the site of Blennerhassett Island Historical State Park, the location of Blennerhassett House, where Burr and Blennerhassett are alleged to have plotted treason against the United States, the so-called Burr Conspiracy.
For more information regarding Wood County/Parkersburg, please visit the Chamber of Commerce for the Mid-Ohio Valley - http://www.movchamber.org/, The Mid-Ohio Valley Regional Council - http://www.movchamber.org/, Develop Wood County (Wood County Development Authority) - http://www.developwoodcounty.com/, and the Greater Parkersburg Convention and Visitors Bureau - http://www.greaterparkersburg.com
©2007 West Virginia School Boards Association. Website by Dream Catcher.