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Weirton, West Virginia — Hancock County Population: As of April 1, 2000, Hancock County has a population of 32,667. Between 1990 and 2000, Hancock County has seen a 7.3 percent decrease in population. This contrasts the 13.2 percent population growth rate seen nationally. Hancock County has a population density of about 394 people per square mile, significantly denser than the West Virginia average of about 75 people. Density is down from 1990 figures.
Unemployment/Income: The unemployment rate in Hancock County has been decreasing and, as of 2001, is lower than the national average. In 2001, the county saw an unemployment rate of 3.7 percent compared to the national average of 4.8. This is down from the 1999 rate of 6.3 percent and from the 2000 rate of 4.0 percent. March 2004 statistics indicate Hancock County now has an unemployment rate of 9.6 percent. Hancock County residents have a mean market income about $7,000 less than the national average ($18,734 compared to $25,676). Residents of Hancock County are doing slightly better than in other areas of West Virginia, where the mean income level is $16,772.
Poverty: Hancock County’s poverty rate is slightly below the national average. Year 2000 statistics indicate a level of poverty at 11.1 percent compared to the national rate of 12.4 percent. This is down slightly from Hancock County’s 1990 poverty rate of 11.9 percent and up significantly from the 1980 poverty rate of 7.7 percent. Throughout the time period covered, Hancock County has had a poverty rate below the national average.
Education: Hancock County has an adult high school graduation rate of 82.9 percent in the year 2000 compared to the national average of 80.4 percent. The adult college graduate rate for Hancock County (11.5 percent) is significantly lower than the national rate (24.4 percent). With the exception of high school graduation rates in 2000, Hancock County has performed below the national rates in both measurements of educational attainment. In 1990, Hancock County had a high school graduation rate of 72.5 and a college graduation rate of 8.9 compared to the national rates of 75.2 and 20.3 percent respectively. In 1980, the high school graduation rate was 62.1 percent and the college graduation rate was 7.6 percent compared to national rates of 66.5 and 16.2 percent respectively.
Economic Status: Hancock County has an economic classification level of Transitional for fiscal year 2004. This means that Hancock 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. Hancock County performs under the national levels in the categories of three-year average unemployment and per capita market income.
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