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 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 _________________________________________________________________________________ Welch Namesake: ...