Ritchie County, West Virginia

Founding: 1843
Parent counties: Harrison, Lewis, and Wood

Namesake: Thomas Ritchie, Virginia journalist
Seat: Harrisville (1843–)

Land area: 452 square miles

Population (2020): 8,444

Population (historic): 3,902 (1850); 9,055 (1870); 16,621 (1890); 17,875 (1910); 15,594 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1850–1900; 1970s; 1990–2010

Subdivisions: One city; five towns

Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 1,509 (25.9%)
Pre-1940 housing survival rate: 42.3%
Pre-1860 housing survival rate (1940): 5.6%

Farm housing in disrepair (1950): 27.6%

Nonfarm housing in disrepair (1950): 14.7%

Average farmhouse value (1930): $900
Average outbuilding value (1930): $447
Average farmhouse size (1940): 5.8 rooms
Number of farms (1920): 1,844
Average farm size (1920): 82.1 acres
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Harrisville

Namesake: Unknown

Founding: 1832 (platting); 1847 (post office)

Population (2020): 1,661

Population (historic): 140 (1870); 361 (1890); 608 (1910); 1,192 (1930)

Periods of population growth: pre-1870–2010
Pre-1940 residences (estimated): 253 (23.1%)
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Outstanding Buildings

1. Farm (c. 1890). 9545 Oxford Road. Italianate.
2. Burnt House Hotel (c. 1895). 23434 Staunton Pike. Eastlake.

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