County population in 2016: 25,533 (13% urban, 87% rural); it was 26,562 in 2000County owner-occupied with a mortgage or a loan houses and condos in 2010: 3,798 County owner-occupied free and clear houses and condos in 2010: 4,976 County owner-occupied houses and condos in 2000: 8,886 Renter-occupied apartments: 2,164 (it was 1,836 in 2000)
% of renters here:
17%
State:
27%
Land area: 649 sq. mi.
Water area: 5.8 sq. mi.
Population density: 39 people per square mile (low).
Mar. 2016 cost of living index in Nicholas County: 84.7 (less than average, U.S. average is 100)
Industries providing employment: Educational, health and social services (20.1%), Retail trade (18.2%), Construction (15.2%), Professional, scientific, management, administrative, and waste management services (15.2%), Finance, insurance, real estate, and rental and leasing (14.4%).
Estimated median household income in 2016: $40,594 ($26,974 in 1999)
This county:
$40,594
West Virginia:
$43,385
Median contract rent in 2016 for apartments: $407 (lower quartile is $275, upper quartile is $516)
This county:
$407
State:
$521
Estimated median house or condo value in 2016: $95,835 (it was $52,800 in 2000)
Nicholas:
$95,835
West Virginia:
$117,900
Lower value quartile - upper value quartile: $44,887 - $168,737 Median monthly housing costs for homes and condos with a mortgage: $924 Median monthly housing costs for units without a mortgage: $305
Institutionalized population: 148
Crime in 2005 (reported by the sheriff's office or county police, not the county total):
Murders: 0
Rapes: 5
Robberies: 2
Assaults: 48
Burglaries: 101
Thefts: 347
Auto thefts: 33
Single-family new house construction building permits:
Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with mortgages in 2016: $617 (0.5%) Median real estate property taxes paid for housing units with no mortgage in 2016: $393 (0.6%)
Percentage of residents living in poverty in 2016: 17.8%
Nicholas County:
17.8%
West Virginia:
17.9%
(18.2% for White Non-Hispanic residents, 1.5% for Black residents, 14.7% for two or more races residents)
Median age of residents in 2016: 44.9 years old
(Males: 43.9 years old, Females: 45.7 years old)
(Median age for: White residents: 45.0 years old, Black residents: 39.6 years old, American Indian residents: 49.3 years old, Asian residents: 50.3 years old, Hispanic or Latino residents: 62.3 years old, Other race residents: 28.9 years old)
Fair market rent in 2006 for a 1-bedroom apartment in Nicholas County is $414 a month. Fair market rent for a 2-bedroom apartment is $459 a month. Fair market rent for a 3-bedroom apartment is $584 a month.
Current college students: 797 People 25 years of age or older with a high school degree or higher: 83.9% People 25 years of age or older with a bachelor's degree or higher: 16.3%
Number of foreign born residents: 290 (65.8% naturalized citizens)
Nicholas County:
1.1%
Whole state:
1.7%
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
882010 or later
162000 to 2009
191990 to 1999
491980 to 1989
281970 to 1979
42Before 1970
Mean travel time to work (commute): 28.9 minutes
Percentage of county residents living and working in this county: 75.3%
Housing units in structures:
One, detached: 8,610
One, attached: 12
Two: 94
3 or 4: 115
5 to 9: 212
20 to 49: 181
50 or more: 139
Mobile homes: 3,685
Boats, RVs, vans, etc.: 9
Housing units in Nicholas County with a mortgage: 3,344 (27 second mortgage, 261 home equity loan, 11 both second mortgage and home equity loan) Houses without a mortgage: 4,997
Here:
42.9% with mortgage
State:
47.9% with mortgage
Religion statistics for Nicholas County
Religion
Adherents
Congregations
Mainline Protestant
5,096
46
Evangelical Protestant
3,098
39
Catholic
440
2
Other
1
2
None
17,598
-
Nicholas County Religion Details
Source: Clifford Grammich, Kirk Hadaway, Richard Houseal, Dale E.Jones, Alexei Krindatch, Richie Stanley and Richard H.Taylor. 2012. 2010 U.S.Religion Census: Religious Congregations & Membership Study. Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies. Jones, Dale E., et al. 2002. Congregations and Membership in the United States 2000. Nashville, TN: Glenmary Research Center.
Food Environment Statistics:
Number of grocery stores: 5
Nicholas County:
1.91 / 10,000 pop.
State:
2.41 / 10,000 pop.
Number of supercenters and club stores: 1
Here:
0.38 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:
0.28 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (no gas): 2
This county:
0.77 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:
1.09 / 10,000 pop.
Number of convenience stores (with gas): 19
Nicholas County:
7.27 / 10,000 pop.
West Virginia:
5.38 / 10,000 pop.
Number of full-service restaurants: 22
This county:
8.42 / 10,000 pop.
State:
6.22 / 10,000 pop.
Adult diabetes rate:
Nicholas County:
11.4%
West Virginia:
12.2%
Adult obesity rate:
Nicholas County:
31.7%
State:
31.1%
Low-income preschool obesity rate:
Here:
13.7%
State:
13.1%
Agriculture in Nicholas County:
Average size of farms: 132 acres Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $7,480 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $30.71 The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 88.75% Average total farm production expenses per farm: $8,413 Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 20.71% Irrigated harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 0.08% Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $24,258 The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 95.48% Average age of principal farm operators: 56 years Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 13.12 Corn for grain: 34 harvested acres Vegetables: 27 harvested acres Land in orchards: 46 acres
Earthquake activity:
Nicholas County-area historical earthquake activity is near West Virginia state average. It is 82% smaller than the overall U.S. average.
On 7/27/1980 at 18:52:21, a magnitude 5.2 (5.1 MB, 4.7 MS, 5.0 UK, 5.2 UK, Class: Moderate, Intensity: VI - VII) earthquake occurred 170.7 miles away from Nicholas County center On 9/25/1998 at 19:52:52, a magnitude 5.2 (4.8 MB, 4.3 MS, 5.2 LG, 4.5 MW, Depth: 3.1 mi) earthquake occurred 221.6 miles away from the county center On 1/31/1986 at 16:46:43, a magnitude 5.0 (5.0 MB) earthquake occurred 229.0 miles away from the county center On 11/2/2006 at 17:53:02, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, Depth: 0.6 mi, Class: Light, Intensity: IV - V) earthquake occurred 97.7 miles away from the county center On 11/23/2006 at 10:42:57, a magnitude 4.3 (4.3 MB, 4.3 LG) earthquake occurred 101.9 miles away from Nicholas County center On 9/7/1988 at 02:28:09, a magnitude 4.6 (4.5 MB, 4.6 LG) earthquake occurred 167.4 miles away from the county center Magnitude types: regional Lg-wave magnitude (LG), body-wave magnitude (MB), surface-wave magnitude (MS), moment magnitude (MW)
Most recent natural disasters:
West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, Incident Period: June 22, 2016 to June 29, 2016, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4273: June 25, 2016, FEMA Id: 4273, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Landslide, Flood
West Virginia Severe Storms, Straight-line Winds, Flooding, Landslides, and Mudslides, Incident Period: July 10, 2015 to July 14, 2015, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4236: August 07, 2015, FEMA Id: 4236, Natural disaster type: Storm, Mudslide, Landslide, Flood, Wind
West Virginia Hurricane Sandy, Incident Period: October 29, 2012 to November 08, 2012, Emergency Declared EM-3358: October 29, 2012, FEMA Id: 3358, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
West Virginia Hurricane Sandy, Incident Period: October 29, 2012 to November 08, 2012, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4093: November 27, 2012, FEMA Id: 4093, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
West Virginia Severe Storms, Incident Period: June 29, 2012 to July 10, 2012, Emergency Declared EM-3345: June 30, 2012, FEMA Id: 3345, Natural disaster type: Storm
West Virginia Severe Storms and Straight-Line Winds, Incident Period: June 29, 2012 to July 08, 2012, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-4071: July 23, 2012, FEMA Id: 4071, Natural disaster type: Storm, Wind
West Virginia Severe Winter Storm and Snowstorm, Incident Period: December 18, 2009 to December 20, 2009, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1881: March 02, 2010, FEMA Id: 1881, Natural disaster type: Snowstorm, Winter Storm
West Virginia Hurricane Katrina Evacuation, Incident Period: August 29, 2005 to October 01, 2005, Emergency Declared EM-3221: September 05, 2005, FEMA Id: 3221, Natural disaster type: Hurricane
West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding and Landslides, Incident Period: May 27, 2004 to June 28, 2004, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1522: June 07, 2004, FEMA Id: 1522, Natural disaster type: Storm, Landslide, Flood
West Virginia Severe Storms, Flooding, and Landslides, Incident Period: November 11, 2003 to November 30, 2003, Major Disaster (Presidential) Declared DR-1500: November 21, 2003, FEMA Id: 1500, Natural disaster type: Storm, Landslide, Flood
12 other natural disasters have been reported since 1953.
The number of natural disasters in Nicholas County (22) is a lot greater than the US average (13). Major Disasters (Presidential) Declared: 18 Emergencies Declared: 4
Causes of natural disasters: Floods: 13, Storms: 12, Landslides: 5, Hurricanes: 3, Mudslides: 3, Winter Storms: 3, Winds: 2, Blizzard: 1, Heavy Rain: 1, Snowfall: 1, Snowstorm: 1 (Note: Some incidents may be assigned to more than one category).
Installation, maintenance, and repair occupations (7%)
Material moving occupations (6%)
Office and administrative support occupations (23%)
Sales and related occupations (14%)
Healthcare support occupations (10%)
Health diagnosing and treating practitioners and other technical occupations (8%)
Management occupations (8%)
Food preparation and serving related occupations (6%)
Personal care and service occupations (6%)
India (38%)
Philippines (17%)
Ethiopia (13%)
Austria (11%)
Scotland (7%)
Poland (6%)
Mexico (5%)
American (20%)
English (19%)
Irish (15%)
German (8%)
Scotch-Irish (4%)
Scottish (2%)
Italian (2%)
Means of transportation to work:
Drove a car alone: 7,684 (88.6%)
Carpooled: 397 (4.6%)
Bus or trolley bus: 44 (0.5%)
Taxicab, motorcycle, or other means: 156 (1.8%)
Bicycle: 3 (0.0%)
Walked: 86 (1.0%)
Worked at home: 269 (3.1%)
People in group quarters in Nicholas County, West Virginia in 2000:
176 people in nursing homes
8 people in other noninstitutional group quarters
6 people in homes for the mentally retarded
3 people in religious group quarters
People in group quarters in Nicholas County, West Virginia in 2010:
139 people in nursing facilities/skilled-nursing facilities
11 people in group homes intended for adults
9 people in group homes for juveniles (non-correctional)
2 people in other noninstitutional facilities
Average gross adjusted income of non-migrant taxpayers in this county in 2010 was $46,506.
4.42% of this county's 2011 resident taxpayers lived in other counties in 2010 ($32,361 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.42%
West Virginia average:
5.16%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved from foreign countries.
2.68% relocated from other counties in West Virginia ($19,744 average AGI)
1.74% relocated from other states ($12,614 average AGI)
Nicholas County:
1.74%
West Virginia average:
2.69%
Top counties from which taxpayers relocated into this county between 2010 and 2011:
4.47% of this county's 2010 resident taxpayers moved to other counties in 2011 ($26,592 average adjusted gross income)
Here:
4.47%
West Virginia average:
5.13%
10 or fewer of this county's residents moved to foreign countries.
2.72% relocated to other counties in West Virginia ($17,081 average AGI)
1.74% relocated to other states ($9,514 average AGI)
Nicholas County:
1.74%
West Virginia average:
2.66%
Top counties to which taxpayers relocated from this county between 2010 and 2011:
Births per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 11.1 Births per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 10.8
Deaths per 1000 population from 1990 to 1999: 10.8 Deaths per 1000 population from 2000 to 2006: 11.5 Deaths per 1000 population from 2007 to 2014: 12.6
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.0
Population without health insurance coverage in 2013: 18.2% Persons under 19 years old without health insurance coverage in 2013: 6.3%
Percentage of population without health insurance coverage in Nicholas County
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare) in July 1, 2007: 5,958 (4,128 aged, 1,830 disabled) Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2007: 397 (7%)
Most common underlying causes of death in Nicholas County, West Virginia in 1999 - 2014:
Acute myocardial infarction, unspecified (405)
Bronchus or lung, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (359)
Stroke, not specified as haemorrhage or infarction (192)
Unspecified dementia (122)
Colon, unspecified - Malignant neoplasms (98)
Alzheimer's disease, unspecified (91)
Pneumonia, unspecified (91)
Cardiac arrest, unspecified (85)
Population without health insurance coverage in 2000: 16% Children under 18 without health insurance coverage in 2000: 11%
Short term general hospitals per 100,000 population in 2004: 7.61 Short term general hospital admissions per 100,000 population in 2004: 9,811 Short term general hospital beds per 100,000 population in 2004: 544 Emergency room visits per 100,000 population in 2004: 79,673
General practice office based MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,001 Medical specialist MDs per 100,000 population in 2005: 1,149
Total births per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006 : 18 Total deaths per 100,000 population, July 2005 - July 2006: 72
Limited-service eating places per 100,000 population in 2005 : 8
Suicides per 1,000,000 population from 2000 to 2006: 196.7. This is more than state average.
Deaths per 1,000,000 population:
Firearm - 125.6
Other - 71.0
Household type by relationship:
Households: 25,533
In family households: 21,673 (3,551 male householders, 3,889 female householders)
5,827 spouses, 6,284 children (5,829 natural, 196 adopted, 254 stepchildren), 947 grandchildren, 93 brothers or sisters, 181 parents, 325 other relatives, 555 non-relatives
In nonfamily households: 3,714 (1,397 male householders (1,072 living alone)), 1,672 female householders (1,493 living alone)), 635 nonrelatives
In group quarters: 148
Size of family households: 3,943 2-persons, 1,566 3-persons, 1,010 4-persons, 653 5-persons, 191 6-persons, 43 7-or-more-persons.
3,043 married couples with children.
1,079 single-parent households (241 men, 838 women).
99.0% of residents of Nicholas speak English at home.
0.6% of residents speak Spanish at home (83% speak English very well, 8% speak English well, 9% speak English not well).
0.7% of residents speak other Indo-European language at home (23% speak English very well, 77% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak Asian or Pacific Island language at home (100% speak English well).
0.1% of residents speak other language at home (100% speak English well).
In fiscal year 2004:
Federal Government expenditure: $190,442,000 ($7,248 per capita) Department of Defense expenditure: $14,111,000 Federal direct payments to individuals for retirement and disability: $89,931,000 Federal other direct payments to individuals: $37,120,000 Federal direct payments not to individuals: $2,508,000 Federal grants: $41,569,000 Federal procurement contracts: $11,815,000 ($9,585,000 Department of Defense) Federal salaries and wages: $7,500,000 ($2,063,000 Department of Defense) Federal Government direct loans: $892,000 Federal guaranteed/insured loans: $2,741,000 Federal Government insurance: $20,039,000
Population change from April 1, 2000 to July 1, 2005:
Births: 1,473
Here:
56 per 1000 residents
State:
60 per 1000 residents
Deaths: 1,553
Here:
59 per 1000 residents
State:
61 per 1000 residents
Net international migration: +5
Here:
+0 per 1000 residents
State:
+2 per 1000 residents
Net internal migration: +8
Here:
+0 per 1000 residents
State:
+6 per 1000 residents
Total withdrawal of fresh water for public supply: 2.53 millions of gallons per day (0% from ground, 100% from surface)
Median number of rooms in houses and condos:
Here:
6.2
State:
6.3
Median number of rooms in apartments:
Here:
4.7
State:
4.6
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
122014 or later
4272010 to 2013
2,1002000 to 2009
2,0631990 to 1999
2,3251980 to 1989
2,1591970 to 1979
9911960 to 1969
9241950 to 1959
6251940 to 1949
1,4071939 or earlier
Rooms in houses/apartments in Nicholas County, West Virginia
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
502no vehicle
1,9871 vehicle
3,3422 vehicles
1,7523 vehicles
5714 vehicles
2335+ vehicles
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
445no vehicle
9401 vehicle
6552 vehicles
1113 vehicles
04 vehicles
05+ vehicles
91.1% of Nicholas County residents lived in the same house 1 years ago. Out of people who lived in different houses, 41% lived in this county. Out of people who lived in different counties, 49% lived in West Virginia.
Nicholas County:
91.1%
State average:
87.4%
Place of birth for U.S.-born residents:
This state: 20,897
Other state: 4,137
Northeast: 687
Midwest: 1,496
South: 1,738
West: 192
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Nicholas County
Click here to upload your Nicholas County photos (outside city limits)
44.9 years
42.3 years
(48.5%)
(51.5%)
, Caroline County, Virginia 
, Gibson County, Indiana 
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
