The title of the poorest county in West Virginia belongs to McDowell County. As of the latest data, McDowell County has a median annual household income of approximately $28,235 and a poverty rate estimated at 37.6%, which is significantly higher than the national average of 11.4%.
The county’s struggles are largely attributed to the decline of the coal industry, which was once a major source of employment and economic stability in the region.
Key Facts about McDowell County:
Location:
Southernmost county in West Virginia, part of the Appalachian region.
Population:
Approximately 19,111 as of the 2020 census, down from nearly 100,000 in 1950.
County Seat:
Welch, which was historically prosperous but now faces significant economic challenges.
Social Issues:
High rates of drug abuse and limited access to healthcare contribute to a life expectancy that is well below the national average.
The economic hardships faced by McDowell County reflect broader trends in West Virginia, where many areas are grappling with high poverty rates and declining populations due to job losses in traditional industries like coal mining.
Sources:
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/McDowell_County,_West_Virginia
- https://www.reddit.com/r/AskHistorians/comments/10y0352/west_virginia_is_one_of_the_poorest_states_in_the/?rdt=39305
- https://www.perplexity.ai/search/this-town-has-been-named-the-p-bqr4c0djTEm1Cv2DybjzoA
- https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/entries/1850