West Liberty is a

town A town is a human settlement. Towns are generally larger than villages and smaller than cities, though the criteria to distinguish between them vary considerably in different parts of the world. Origin and use The word "town" shares an ori ...

in Ohio County,

West Virginia West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian, Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern regions of the United States.The Census Bureau and the Association of American Geographers classify West Virginia as part of the Southern United States while the Bur ...

, United States. The population was 1,557 at the 2020 census. It is part of the

Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and also contains a tiny portion extending ...

Metropolitan Statistical Area In the United States, a metropolitan statistical area (MSA) is a geographical region with a relatively high population density at its core and close economic ties throughout the area. Such regions are neither legally Incorporated town, incorporate ...

History

West Liberty was given its patriotic name during the time of the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. It served as the

county seat A county seat is an administrative center, seat of government, or capital city of a county or civil parish. The term is in use in Canada, China, Hungary, Romania, Taiwan, and the United States. The equivalent term shire town is used in the US st ...

of Ohio County, Virginia from 1777 to 1797.

Geography

West Liberty is located at (40.165495, −80.594656). According to the

United States Census Bureau The United States Census Bureau (USCB), officially the Bureau of the Census, is a principal agency of the U.S. Federal Statistical System, responsible for producing data about the American people and economy. The Census Bureau is part of the ...

, the town has a total area of , all land.

Demographics

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 1,542 people, 243 households, and 119 families living in the town. The population density was . There were 263 housing units at an average density of . The

racial makeup A race is a categorization of humans based on shared physical or social qualities into groups generally viewed as distinct within a given society. The term came into common usage during the 1500s, when it was used to refer to groups of variou ...

of the town was 94.3% White, 3.2% African American, 0.3% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.0% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2%. Of the 243 households 18.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 34.6% were married couples living together, 7.4% had a female householder with no husband present, 7.0% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.0% were non-families. 27.2% of households were one person and 9.5% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85. The median age in the town was 20.9 years. 5% of residents were under the age of 18; 73.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 8.2% were from 25 to 44; 9.2% were from 45 to 64; and 4.2% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 43.3% male and 56.7% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 1,220 people, 241 households, and 120 families living in the town. The population density was 1,865.9 inhabitants per square mile (724.7/km²). There were 285 housing units at an average density of 435.9 per square mile (169.3/km²). The

of the town was 96.64% White, 1.89% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.33% Asian, 0.33% from other races, and 0.74% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.74%. Of the 241 households 15.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.4% were married couples living together, 5.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.2% were non-families. 26.1% of households were one person and 5.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.93. The age distribution was 6.7% under the age of 18, 70.0% from 18 to 24, 10.9% from 25 to 44, 8.2% from 45 to 64, and 4.2% 65 or older. The median age was 21 years. For every 100 females there were 103.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 101.4 males. The median household income was $28,393 and the median family income was $38,125. Males had a median income of $18,750 versus $19,375 for females. The per capita income for the town was $7,573. About 13.3% of families and 29.0% of the population were below the

poverty line The poverty threshold, poverty limit, poverty line or breadline is the minimum level of income deemed adequate in a particular country. The poverty line is usually calculated by estimating the total cost of one year's worth of necessities for t ...

, including 8.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Education

West Liberty is the site of

West Liberty University West Liberty University (WLU) is a public university in West Liberty, West Virginia. It is West Virginia's oldest institution of higher education. It offers more than 70 undergraduate majors plus graduate programs, including a master's degree ...

Notable person

Thomas Ewing Thomas Ewing Sr. (December 28, 1789October 26, 1871) was a National Republican and Whig politician from Ohio. He served in the U.S. Senate as well as serving as the secretary of the treasury and the first secretary of the interior. He is also ...

(1789–1871), served in the

U.S. Senate The United States Senate is the upper chamber of the United States Congress, with the House of Representatives being the lower chamber. Together they compose the national bicameral legislature of the United States. The composition and powe ...

as well as serving as the

Secretary of the Treasury The United States secretary of the treasury is the head of the United States Department of the Treasury, and is the chief financial officer of the federal government of the United States. The secretary of the treasury serves as the principal a ...

and the first

Secretary of the Interior Secretary of the Interior may refer to: * Secretary of the Interior (Mexico) * Interior Secretary of Pakistan * Secretary of the Interior and Local Government (Philippines) * United States Secretary of the Interior See also

*Interior ministry ...

References

{{Authority control Former county seats in West Virginia Towns in Ohio County, West Virginia