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Raleigh County
countyRaleigh County, West Virginia
Overview
- Classification
- County
- FIPS Code
- 54081
- Country
- United States
- County
- Raleigh County
Geography
- Region
- Southern West Virginia
- Elevation
- 3,524 ft
- Total Area
- 609 sq mi
- Land Area
- 605 sq mi
- Water Area
- 4 sq mi
- Latitude
- 37.78
- Longitude
- -81.26
- Climate
- The area is likely to experience lake effect snow bands starting as a mix of rain and snow changing to pure snow later in the morning and continuing through the rest of the day.
- Notable Features
- New River · Wooded hills · Bituminous coal seams
- Neighboring Areas
- Kanawha County · Fayette County · Summers County · Mercer County · Wyoming County · Boone County
Demographics
- Population (2020)
- 74,591
- Est. Population (2026)
- 72,085
- Median Age
- 42.8
- Median Income
- $52,055
- Poverty Rate
- 22.82%
- Owner-Occupied
- 74.6%
- Racial & Ethnic Composition
- 87.1% White (Non-Hispanic), 6.74% Black or African American (Non-Hispanic), 3% Two Races Excluding Other, & Three or More Races (Non-Hispanic), 0.801% Asian (Non-Hispanic), and 0.608% White (Hispanic).
Governance
- Government Type
- County Commission
- Governing Body
- Raleigh County Commission
- Body Size
- 3 members
- School District
- Raleigh County Schools
- Municipal Services
- County Clerk (records management, elections) · Law enforcement · Emergency services
Economy
- Unemployment Rate
- 4.6%
- Economic Profile
- Trading center · Government · Tourism · Medical center
- Employment Sectors
- Health Care & Social Assistance · Retail Trade · Educational Services
- Major Employers
- Not specified in search results.
Education
- Schools
- 27
- Students
- 10,604
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13:1
- School Districts
- Raleigh County Schools
- Colleges & Universities
- New River Community and Technical College · West Virginia University Institute of Technology
Infrastructure
- Transportation
- Interstate 64 · Interstate 77 · U.S. Highway 19 · Various WV Routes
- Utilities
- Municipal water · Electric power · Broadband internet
- Major Facilities
- Raleigh County Courthouse · Hospitals
Recreation
- Outdoor Access
- Yes
- Major Recreation Areas
- Little Beaver State Park · New River Gorge National Park and Preserve
- Parks & Trails
- County parks · Hiking trails
History
- Founded
- 1850
- Named After
- Sir Walter Raleigh
- Historical Significance
- Raleigh County played a significant role in the coal mining industry of West Virginia and was a strategic location during the Civil War.
- Key Events
- Formed from Fayette County in 1850 · Civil War activity · Coal mining boom in late 19th/early 20th century · Eccles Mine Disaster (1914)