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

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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