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Parkersburg, West Virginia — Wood County Population: As of April 1, 2000, Wood County has a population of 87,986. Between 1990 and 2000, Wood County has seen a 1.2 percent increase in population. This contrasts the 13.2 percent population growth rate seen nationally. Wood County has a population density of about 240 people per square mile, significantly denser than the West Virginia average of about 75 people. Density is slightly higher than in 1990.
Unemployment/Income: The unemployment rate in Wood County has been shifting and, as of 2001, is comparable to the national average. In 2001, the county saw an unemployment rate of 4.7 percent compared to the national average of 4.8. This is down from the 1999 rate of 5.4 percent and up from the 2000 rate of 4.5 percent. As of March 2004, Wood County’s unemployment rate has risen to 6.0 percent. Wood County residents have a mean market income about $6,000 less than the national average ($19,487 compared to $25,676). Residents of Wood County are doing slightly better than in other areas of West Virginia, where the mean income level is $16,772.
Poverty: Wood County’s poverty rate is higher than the national average. Year 2000 statistics indicate a level of poverty of 13.9 percent compared to the national rate of 12.4 percent. This is down slightly from Wood County’s 1990 poverty rate of 14.1 percent and up significantly from the 1980 poverty rate of 11.1 percent.
Education: Wood County has an adult high school graduation rate of 81.4 percent in the year 2000 compared to the national average of 80.4 percent. The adult college graduate rate for Wood County (15.2 percent) is significantly lower than the national rate (24.4 percent). With the exception of high school graduation rates in 2000, Wood County has performed below the national rates in both measurements of educational attainment. In 1990, Wood County had a high school graduation rate of 73.2 percent and a college graduation rate of 13.5 percent compared to the national rates of 75.2 and 20.3 percent respectively. In 1980, the high school graduation rate was 65.1 percent and the college graduation rate was 11.4 percent compared to national rates of 66.5 and 16.2 percent respectively.
Economic Status: Wood County has an economic classification level of Transitional for fiscal year 2004. This means that Wood 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. Wood County performs under the national levels in all three categories.
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