Wayne County, West Virginia

Wayne County is the westernmost located in the  of. As of 2000, the population was 42,903. Its is.

Wayne County is a part of the (MSA). As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.

Geography
According to the, the county has a total area of 1,327 (512 ). 1,310 km² (506 sq mi) of it is land and 17 km² (6 sq mi) of it (1.25%) is water.

Major Highways

 * [[Image:I-64.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:US 52.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:WV-37.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:WV-152.svg|20px]]
 * [[Image:WV-75.svg|20px]]

Adjacent Counties

 * (north)
 * (northeast)
 * (east)
 * (southeast)
 * (south)
 * (west)
 * (northeast)

Demographics
As of the of 2000, there were 42,903 people, 17,239 households, and 12,653 families residing in the county. The was 33/km² (85/sq mi). There were 19,107 housing units at an average density of 15/km² (38/sq mi). The racial makeup of the county was 98.79%, 0.13% or , 0.23% , 0.20% , 0.02% , 0.08% from , and 0.56% from two or more races. 0.47% of the population were or  of any race.

There were 17,239 households out of which 31.20% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.20% were living together, 10.80% had a female householder with no husband present, and 26.60% were non-families. 24.10% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.10% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.48 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the county, the population was spread out with 23.40% under the age of 18, 8.70% from 18 to 24, 27.70% from 25 to 44, 25.30% from 45 to 64, and 14.90% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females there were 95.80 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.80 males.

The median income for a household in the county was $27,352, and the median income for a family was $32,458. Males had a median income of $31,554 versus $20,720 for females. The for the county was $14,906. About 16.20% of families and 19.60% of the population were below the, including 25.50% of those under age 18 and 15.20% of those age 65 or over.

History
Wayne County, West Virginia was originally, which was created from part of in 1842. Any references to Wayne County before 1842 in this article refer to the area which would become Wayne County, West Virginia. The county was named for General "Mad Anthony" Wayne.

Early History
See for information regarding regional history before an settlement.

Settlement
There was no white settlement in the area that became Wayne County until after due to the constant threat of  attack, who were already present. The area was made safe for white settlement in 1794 through the defeat of the at the  by. To honor General Wayne, the county was later named for him.

When the first permanent settlers came to Wayne County around the year 1800, the area was part of. Most of the original settlers were almost all self-sufficient. They raised their own food, for  clothing, and made their buildings, furnishings and tools out of the surrounding forest. A few s provided the manufactured goods the pioneers could not make for themselves. Later, at, , south of  and at  ground their  into  and their  into.

Wayne County Railroads
,, ,

Incorporated communities

 * (partly, most of city in )
 * (no longer incorporated)
 * (no longer incorporated)
 * (no longer incorporated)
 * (no longer incorporated)
 * (no longer incorporated)
 * (no longer incorporated)