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%
Year of entry for the foreign-born population
2010 or later: 88
2000 to 2009: 16
1990 to 1999: 19
1980 to 1989: 49
1970 to 1979: 28
Before 1970: 42
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
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%)
Most common places of birth for the foreign-born residents (%):
India (38%)
Philippines (17%)
Ethiopia (13%)
Austria (11%)
Scotland (7%)
Poland (6%)
Mexico (5%)
Most common first ancestries reported in Nicholas County (%):
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%)
Owners and renters by unit type in %
Breakdown of mean house values by ages of householders ($)
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%
Percentage of residents relocating from other counties or countries
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%
Percentage of residents relocating to other counties or countries
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
Births per 1000 population in Nicholas County
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
Deaths per 1000 population in Nicholas County
Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 1990 to 1999: 7.8 Infant deaths per 1000 live births from 2000 to 2006: 6.0
Infant deaths per 1000 live births in Nicholas County
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
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%)
Persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Aged persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
Disabled persons enrolled in hospital insurance and/or supplemental medical insurance (Medicare)
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.
Mechanisms of suicide:
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
Population growth in Nicholas County
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
Year house built
2014 or later: 12
2010 to 2013: 427
2000 to 2009: 2,100
1990 to 1999: 2,063
1980 to 1989: 2,325
1970 to 1979: 2,159
1960 to 1969: 991
1950 to 1959: 924
1940 to 1949: 625
1939 or earlier: 1,407
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas population
Rooms in houses/apartments in Nicholas County, West Virginia
Note: State values scaled to Nicholas County population
no vehicle: 502
1 vehicle: 1,987
2 vehicles: 3,342
3 vehicles: 1,752
4 vehicles: 571
5+ vehicles: 233
no vehicle: 445
1 vehicle: 940
2 vehicles: 655
3 vehicles: 111
4 vehicles: 0
5+ vehicles: 0
91% 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
Year Householders Moved Into Unit
Most commonly used house heating fuel in Nicholas County
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44.9 years
42.3 years
(48.5%)
(51.5%)
, Caroline County, Virginia 
, Gibson County, Indiana 
