West Virginia

Ritchie

8,444
2020 population
1850
first census record
18
census records

About Ritchie

Ritchie, West Virginia, first appears in the United States federal census in 1850, when it recorded a population of 3,902. At the most recent census, in 2020, its population stood at 8,444.

Its recorded population peaked at 18,901 in 1900, and has since declined by roughly 55 percent.

On the ground today, 4 documented military engagements have been recorded within the county, among them Skirmish at Harrisville (1861), Skirmish at Harrisville (Ritchie County), Guerrilla Action near Harrisville (1863), and 6 places are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Population by decade

Census YearPopulationChart
20208,444
201010,449
200010,343
199010,233
198011,442
197010,145
196010,877
195012,535
194015,389
193015,594
192016,506
191017,875
190018,901
189016,621
188013,474
18709,055
18606,847
18503,902
Source

Population data from the United States decennial census, U.S. Census Bureau (public domain).

Battles & engagements in Ritchie

Military engagements that took place in Ritchie, West Virginia.

Skirmish at Harrisville (1861)
1861
Skirmish at Harrisville (Ritchie County)
1863
Guerrilla Action near Harrisville (1863)
1863
Jones-Imboden Raid — Skirmish at Oiltown/Volcano
1863

Historic places in Ritchie

National Register of Historic Places listings in Ritchie, West Virginia.

Bank of Cairo
Cairo
Harrisville Grade School
Harrisville
Harrisville Historic District
Harrisville
Old Stone House
Pennsburo
Pennsboro B&O Depot
Pennsboro
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Other counties in West Virginia

Explore census history and historic records for more West Virginia counties.

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Everything a full report reveals about Ritchie County, West Virginia

This page charts the census history of Ritchie County, West Virginia. A full Aubrey report for an address here pulls together everything the historical record holds about the ground, from the earliest settlement to the twentieth century:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
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Frequently asked about Ritchie

When does Ritchie first appear in the US census?
Ritchie, West Virginia first appears in the federal census in 1850, with a recorded population of 3,902.
What is the population of Ritchie?
At the most recent federal census (2020), Ritchie had a recorded population of 8,444.
When did Ritchie's population peak?
Ritchie's recorded population peaked at 18,901 in 1900.
Were any battles fought in Ritchie?
4 documented military engagements took place in Ritchie, including Skirmish at Harrisville (1861), Skirmish at Harrisville (Ritchie County), Guerrilla Action near Harrisville (1863).
How many historic places are in Ritchie?
6 sites are listed on the National Register of Historic Places in Ritchie, West Virginia.
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