Taylor County, West Virginia

Founding: 1844
Parent counties: Barbour, Harrison, and Marion

Namesake: Unclear—perhaps John Taylor or Zachary Taylor
Seat: Pruntytown (1844–1878); Grafton (1878–)

Land area: 173 square miles

Population (2020): 16,705

Population (historic): 5,367 (1850); 9,367 (1870); 14,978 (1900); 19,114 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1940; 1970s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: One city; one town

National Register listings: Six

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,746 (23.2%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 37.7%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 16.2%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 24.9%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 21.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,248
Average outbuilding value (1930): $477
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.1 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 996
Average farm size (1920): 63 acres
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Grafton

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1852 (platting); 1854 (post office); 1856 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 4,729

Population (historic): 891 (1860); 3,030 (1880); 5,650 (1900); 7,737 (1930)

Periods of population growth: 1852–1920; 1960–1980
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,037 (41.2%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. House (c. 1875). 790 Family Drive. Italianate.
2. *House (c. 1860). 3846 Middleville Road. Italianate.
3. House (c. 1880). Northwestern Pike, west of US Highway 50. Italianate.
4. House (c. 1905). 2371 State Route 76.
5. Taylor County Home Residence (c. 1900). 2006 Trap Springs Road. Shingle.
6. Farm (c. 1870). 654 Victory Valley Road. Gothic Revival.