McDowell County, West Virginia

Founding: 1858
Parent counties: Tazewell and Wyoming

Namesake: James McDowell, Virginia governor
Seat: English (1858–1892); Welch (1892–)

Land area: 533 square miles

Population (2020): 19,111

Population (historic): 1,535 (1860); 3,074 (1880); 18,747 (1900); 90,479 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1860–1950

Subdivisions: Four cities; six towns; ten CDPs

National Register listings: 17

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 2,903 (25.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 20%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 3.5%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 39.8%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 19.9%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $419
Average outbuilding value (1930): $174
Average farmhouse size (1940): 3.6 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 799
Average farm size (1920): 20.9 acres
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Welch

Namesake: Isaiah Welch, surveyor

Founding: 1892 (post office); 1893 (incorporation)

Population (2020): 3,590

Population (historic): 442 (1900); 1,525 (1910); 3,232 (1920); 5,376 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1900–1950; 2010s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 355 (29.2%)
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