Monroe County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 12,376. Its county seat is Union.

Monroe County was the home of Andrew Summers Rowan, a soldier in the Spanish–American War commemorated in Elbert Hubbard's essay "A Message to Garcia."

In 1928 the Jones Diamond was found lying on the ground here by two men pitching horseshoes. It is the largest alluvial diamond ever found in North America.

History Monroe County was created from Greenbrier County on January 14, 1799, and was named for Virginia civic figure James Monroe, who would be elected fifth President of the United States in November 1816. It was one of fifty Virginia counties that were admitted to the Union as the state of West Virginia on June 20, 1863, at the height of the Civil War. Monroe County did not participate in the creation of the new state, but was included by Congressional decree. Almost all the men from Monroe who served in the Civil War enlisted in the Confederate army.Morton, Oren F., A History of Monroe County, West Virginia, Ruebush-Elkins Co., 1916, pgs. 422-460

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. Monroe County was initially divided into seven townships: Forest Hill, Red Sulphur, Second Creek, Springfield, Sweet Springs, Union, and Wolf Creek. In 1871, part of Forest Hill Township was added to the new county of Summers, and the remaining territory distributed between Red Sulphur and Springfield Townships. The following year, the six remaining townships became magisterial districts. Except for minor adjustments, the six historic magisterial districts were unchanged until the 1990s, when they were consolidated into three new districts: Central, Eastern, and Western.United States Census Bureau, U.S. Decennial Census, Tables of Minor Civil Divisions in West Virginia, 1870–2010.

Geography Monroe County lies on the southeast side of West Virginia. Its southeast border abuts the northwest border of the state of Virginia. The New River flows northward for a short distance along the county's southwest border. The county's terrain is mountainous and tree-covered, with all sufficiently level surfaces devoted to agriculture.Monroe County WV Google Maps (accessed April 12, 2019) The terrain slopes to the north and west, with its highest part the middle part of its border with Virginia, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.2%) is water.

Major highways

U.S. Highway 219 West Virginia Route 3 West Virginia Route 12 West Virginia Route 122 West Virginia Route 311

Adjacent counties

Greenbrier County (north) Alleghany County, Virginia (northeast) Craig County, Virginia (east) Giles County, Virginia (south) Summers County (west)

Watersheds Tributaries of the James River, part of the Chesapeake Bay Potts Creek Tributaries of the New River Greenbrier River Indian Creek Tributaries of the Greenbrier River Second Creek Sinks Grove

National Natural Landmark Greenville Saltpeter Cave

National protected areas George Washington National Forest Jefferson National Forest In 2018 a natural gas pipeline project entered the Jefferson National Forest.

Demographics

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, the county had a population of 12,376. Of the residents, 20.0% were under the age of 18 and 24.6% were 65 years of age or older; the median age was 47.7 years. For every 100 females there were 99.2 males, and for every 100 females age 18 and over there were 97.7 males.

The racial makeup of the county was 95.1% White, 0.9% Black or African American, 0.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.1% Asian, 0.4% from some other race, and 3.2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino residents of any race comprised 0.8% of the population.

There were 5,130 households in the county, of which 25.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them and 22.8% had a female householder with no spouse or partner present. About 27.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.

There were 6,219 housing units, of which 17.5% were vacant. Among occupied housing units, 82.5% were owner-occupied and 17.5% were renter-occupied. The homeowner vacancy rate was 1.7% and the rental vacancy rate was 6.6%.

+Monroe County, West Virginia – Racial and ethnic compositionRace / Ethnicity (NH = Non-Hispanic)Pop 2000Pop 2010% 2000% 2010White alone (NH)13,44813,11011,73992.22%97.10%94.85%Black or African American alone (NH)868891135.95%0.66%0.91%Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)3326260.23%0.19%0.21%Asian alone (NH)2315110.16%0.11%0.09%Pacific Islander alone (NH)2300.01%0.02%0.00%Other race alone (NH)410300.03%0.07%0.24%Mixed race or Multiracial (NH)1331663630.91%1.23%2.93%Hispanic or Latino (any race)7283940.49%0.61%0.76%Total14,58313,50212,376100.00%100.00%100.00%

2010 census As of the census of 2010, there were 13,502 people, 5,655 households, and 3,915 families in the county. The population density was . There were 7,601 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 97.5% white, 0.7% black or African American, 0.2% American Indian, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Those of Hispanic or Latino origin made up 0.6% of the population. In terms of ancestry, 19.5% were Irish, 16.7% were English, 16.3% were German, 10.4% were American, and 5.7% were Scotch-Irish.

Of the 5,655 households, 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 55.7% were married couples living together, 9.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 30.8% were non-families, and 26.9% 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 45.0 years.

The median income for a household in the county was $39,574 and the median income for a family was $45,106. Males had a median income of $35,709 versus $23,782 for females. The per capita income for the county was $18,927. About 10.3% of families and 13.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 18.1% of those under age 18 and 5.4% of those age 65 or over. 2000 census As of the census of 2000, there were 14,583 people, 5,447 households, and 3,883 families in the county. The population density was . There were 7,267 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 92.67% White, 5.98% Black or African American, 0.23% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 0.49% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 5,447 households, out of which 29.00% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.80% were married couples living together, 7.90% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.70% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.88.

The county population contained 20.10% under the age of 18, 8.10% from 18 to 24, 30.30% from 25 to 44, 26.10% from 45 to 64, and 15.40% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 79.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 73.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,575, and the median income for a family was $35,299. Males had a median income of $25,643 versus $22,104 for females. The per capita income for the county was $17,435. About 12.60% of families and 16.20% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.30% of those under age 18 and 12.30% of those age 65 or over.

Politics Monroe County was strongly pro-Confederate during the Virginia Secession Convention.Hinkle, Harlan H.; Grayback Mountaineers: The Confederate Face of Western Virginia, p. 194 It voted Democratic consistently up until voting for William McKinley in 1900, but since then has leaned Republican except during Democratic landslides, and like all of West Virginia has become overwhelmingly Republican in the twenty-first century due to declining unionizationSchwartzman, Gabe; ‘How Central Appalachia Went Right’; Daily Yonder, January 13, 2015 and differences with the Democratic Party's views on social issues.Cohn, Nate; ‘Demographic Shift: Southern Whites’ Loyalty to G.O.P. Nearing That of Blacks to Democrats’, New York Times, April 24, 2014

Law, Government and infrastructure Monroe County is governed by a three-person, elected county commission. Other elected officers include the sheriff, county clerk, circuit clerk, assessor, prosecuting attorney, surveyor, one circuit judge, two magistrates, and a family court judge. There is also a five-member school board and six conservation district supervisors, with at least two from each county in the district.

County Offices Board of Education Source: Position Holder Party Term expires President Dr. Scott Womack non-partisan 2028 Vice President Terry Utterback non-partisan 2026 Board Member Everett Fraley non-partisan 2026 Board Member Roho French non-partisan 2028 Board Member Candace Sabol non-partisan 2026 The Board of Education is elected through non-partisan general elections, without primaries. While West Virginia law allows for elections by sub-districts or at-large, Monroe County's board members are elected from Magisterial Districts. Each of the three Magisterial Districts (Eastern, Central, and Western) is represented by one board member.

Commissioners

District Holder Party Term expires Central Kenny Mann Republican Unknown Eastern Kevin Galford Republican Unknown Western Melvin Young Unknown Unknown There are three members in the county commission. One member resides in each magisterial district, but are elected countywide. Commissioners hold six-year terms, and one commissioner is elected every two years.

Conservation District Supervisors

Office Holder Party Term expires Supervisor (Chairperson) Gary Sawyers (Greenbrier) non-partisan 2028 Supervisor (Vice-chair) Timothy VanReenen (Pocahontas) non-partisan 2028 Supervisor (Treasurer) Gary Truex (Greenbrier) non-partisan 2026 Supervisor Donald McNeel (Pocahontas) non-partisan 2028 Supervisor Avery Atkins (Monroe) non-partisan 2026 Supervisor Carolyn Miller (Monroe) non-partisan 2028 Monroe, along with Monroe and Pocahontas counties, is represented by the Greenbrier Valley district. At least two supervisors per county are elected during primaries and serve four-year terms.

Other County Offices Office Holder Party Term Expires Assessor Sarah Martin Republican Unknown Clerk Jeremy Meadows Republican Unknown Prosecuting Attorney Justin St. Clair DemocratUnknown Sheriff Michael Heller Republican Unknown Surveyor David Holz DemocratUnknown

Judicial Source:

Monroe, along with Summers County is in the Thirtieth Judicial Circuit.

Circuit Court Office Holder Party Term expires Judge Amy Mann non-partisan 2032 Clerk Daniel Tickle Republican Unknown Circuit Court Judges are elected to eight-year terms. Clerks are elected to eight-year terms.

Family Court Office Holder Party Term expires Judge R. Grady Ford non-partisan2032 Monroe, and Greenbrier county make up the 15th Family Court Circuit. Judges are elected to eight-year terms.

Magistrate Court Division Holder Party Term expires 1 Kevin Miller non-partisan 2028 2 Frank Basile non-partisan 2028 Clerk Jeanne Gullette Magistrates are elected in non-partisan elections during primaries, and serve four-year terms.

State Legislature Source: