Mercer County, West Virginia

Founding: 1837
Parent counties: Giles and Tazewell

Namesake: Hugh Mercer, Continental Army general
Seat: Princeton (1838–)

Land area: 419 square miles

Population (2020): 59,664

Population (historic): 2,233 (1840); 6,819 (1860); 7,467 (1880); 23,023 (1900); 61,323 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1840–1950; 1970s

Subdivisions: Two cities; four towns; seven CDPs

National Register listings: 18

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 4,791 (16%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 34.9%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 4.3%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 22%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 13.5%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $1,132
Average outbuilding value (1930): $451
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,927
Average farm size (1920): 52 acres
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Princeton

Namesake: Princeton, New Jersey

Founding: 1838 (platting); 1838 (post office)

Population (2020): 5,872

Population (historic): 320 (1890); 3,027 (1910); 6,955 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1890–1960; 1970s; 2000s
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 937 (30%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. *William French Farm (c. 1855). 453 Athens Road. Italianate.