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Weirton, West Virginia — Brooke County Population: As of April 1, 2000, Brooke County has a population of 25,447. Between 1990 and 2000, Brooke County has seen a 5.7 percent decrease in population. This contrasts the 13.2 percent population growth rate seen nationally. Brooke County has a population density of about 286 people per square mile, significantly denser than the West Virginia average of about 75 people. Density is down from 1990 figures.
Unemployment/Income: Brooke County has an unemployment rate comparable to the national average. In 2001, the county saw an unemployment rate of 4.5 percent compared to the national average of 4.8. This is down from the 1999 rate of 6.2 percent and up from the 2000 rate of 3.8 percent. The most recent unemployment statistics, from March 2004, indicate Brooke County has a current unemployment rate of 10.3 percent. Brooke County residents have a mean market income about $8,500 less than the national average ($17,086 compared to $25,676). Residents of Brooke County are doing slightly better than in other areas of West Virginia, where the mean income level is $16,772.
Poverty: Brooke County’s poverty rate is slightly below the national average. Year 2000 statistics indicate a level of poverty at 11.7 percent compared to the national rate of 12.4 percent. This is down slightly from Brooke County’s 1990 poverty rate of 12.1 percent and up significantly from the 1980 poverty rate of 9 percent. Throughout the time period covered, Brooke County has had a poverty rate below the national average.
Education: Brooke County has an adult high school graduation rate of 79.7 percent in the year 2000 compared to the national average of 80.4 percent. While these rates are comparable, the adult college graduate rate for Brooke County (13.4 percent) is significantly lower than the national rate (24.4 percent). Historically, Brooke County has performed below the national rates in both measurements of educational attainment. In 1990, Brooke County had a high school graduation rate of 71.6 and a college graduation rate of 12.2 compared to the national rates of 75.2 and 20.3 percent respectively. In 1980, the high school graduation rate was 62.7 percent and the college graduation rate was 9.6 percent compared to national rates of 66.5 and 16.2 percent respectively.
Economic Status: Brooke County has an economic classification level of Transitional for fiscal year 2004. This means that Brooke County is below the national average on one or more of the three economic indicators (three-year average unemployment, per capita market income, and poverty) but does not fall into the Distressed category. Brooke County performs under the national levels in the categories of three-year average unemployment and per capita market income.
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