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Current West Virginia Data

WVU Extension is committed to providing knowledge, expertise and programs to improve the lives and livelihoods of all West Virginians. In order to achieve our goals, we collect information and data about our counties to help us address the most critical issues facing our communities.

The selected indicators help West Virginia Extension faculty and stakeholders identify challenges and assets; document and monitor change over time; improve program outcomes; and communicate the impact of our work.

This data-driven approach is being used by Extension educators to identify community priorities that can be addressed through our evidence-based programs. We hope these data raise awareness and stimulate discussions on how we can work collectively to enhance education, health, and prosperity for the people of the state of West Virginia.

West Virginia Needs Assessment Survey of Stakeholders

West Virginia University Extension delivers relevant, research-based educational programs to individuals and communities across the state. These educational programs address critical issues that affect society. In 2021, the WVU Extension Dean’s Office initiated a study to gauge stakeholders’ opinions on priority issues in their communities.

The purpose of this needs assessment was to gain insight on the needs of communities to develop WVUE statewide and local program priorities and allocate resources to address the needs identified. The specific objectives were to:

  • Identify public issues that are perceived to be important by key decisionmakers across the state of West Virginia.
  • Identify programmatic/intervention gaps that could be filled by our existing personnel and resources.
  • Identify cross-cutting issues among the needs prioritized by decisionmakers and our previously determined critical issues in the state.

Nearly 800 participants received the survey, with a 35% response rate, which will provide us, as well as our local communities, with critical information to guide us moving forward. A copy of the full report has been shared with community and state leaders, policymakers and others throughout the state.

Download 2021 Needs Assessment Report

West Virginia County Indicators

Navigate the spreadsheet using the Asset Measures, Education, Health, and Prosperity tabs, or launch the source file to browse in a new window and print.

<p>View and print the WV by the Numbers Spreadsheet at: </p> <ul> <li> <a href="https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSjKEX8C_7gp_yijWfbpb3ZRp6jtE6eidFDHCUnLY_Ap3A5AdghSQgMuJjzFh9TCfsvogcH2Lpspww_/pubhtml?widget=true" target=" _blank">https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/e/2PACX-1vSjKEX8C_7gp_yijWfbpb3ZRp6jtE6eidFDHCUnLY_Ap3A5AdghSQgMuJjzFh9TCfsvogcH2Lpspww_/pubhtml?widget=true</a> </li> </ul>

Sources

Asset Measures

Number of Hospitals

  • Proxy measure for healthcare access; community anchor institution
  • This measure serves as a proxy for healthcare access. Community hospitals provide a range of higher order medical services. Additionally, hospitals also serve as anchor institutions, providing a stable source of employment and leadership capacity for community development efforts.
  • West Virginia Hospital Association: https://www.wvha.org/About-WVHA/West-Virginia-Hospitals.aspx

Access to Parks

  • Percentage of living within 0.5 mile of a park.
  • People who have more access to green environments, such as parks and trails, tend to walk and be more physically active than those with limited access. The closer people live to a park and the safer they feel in the park, the more likely they are to walk or bike to those places and use the park for physical activity.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Community Design Initiative and Geospatial Research Analysis and Services Program: https://ephtracking.cdc.gov/

Public Land Ownership

Number of 2 Year Institutions / Community & Technical College

  • West Virginia’s higher education institutions reach every region of the state. These institutions provide education and workforce training, opportunities for student service involvement, and serve as a stable source of employment and community leadership capacity.
  • West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission: https://www.wvhepc.edu/institutions/

Number of 4 Year Institutions Public

  • West Virginia’s higher education institutions reach every region of the state. These institutions provide education and workforce training, opportunities for student service involvement, and serve as a stable source of employment and community leadership capacity.
  • West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission: https://www.wvhepc.edu/institutions/

Number of 4 Year Institutions Public

  • West Virginia’s higher education institutions reach every region of the state. These institutions provide education and workforce training, opportunities for student service involvement, and serve as a stable source of employment and community leadership capacity.
  • West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission: https://www.wvhepc.edu/institutions/

Prime Farmland

  • Prime farmland is of major importance in meeting the Nation's short- and long-range needs for food and fiber. Because the supply of high-quality farmland is limited, the U.S. Department of Agriculture recognizes that responsible levels of government, and individuals, should encourage and facilitate the wise use of this agricultural resource.
  • United States Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service.
    Soil Data Access (SDA) Prime and other Important Farmlands.
  • USDA-NRCS; Personal communication with Lily Byars and Brian Nester:
    https://efotg.sc.egov.usda.gov/references/public/LA/Prime_and_other_Important_Farmland.html

Education Indicators

Child Poverty

  • Census Bureau poverty estimate for the population under 18.
  • The Census Bureau provides poverty data based on several household surveys and programs. Current (2020) thresholds are included in this workbook.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Math, Reading, & Science Proficiency

Four‐Year Graduation Rate

  • Percentage of students completing graduation requirements in four years, 2019‐2020.
  • West Virginia Department of Education, ZoomWV database: https://zoomwv.k12.wv.us/Dashboard/dashboard/28117
  • National Data from National Center for Education Statistics

College Going Rate

Educational Attainment

(Percentage of population 25+ with High School degree or higher; with Bachelors Degree or higher)
  • Educational attainment, population 25 years and over, average over the 5‐year period 2015-2019.
  • Table DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Voter Turnout

Language Diversity

  • Share of population (5 years and over) that speaks a language other than English, average over the 5‐year period 2015‐2019.
  • Table DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Broadband Internet

  • Share of households with a broadband internet subscription. The American Community Survey uses a broad definition that includes: cable, fiber optic or DSL; cellular data plan for a smartphone or other mobile device; satellite; or fixed wireless.
  • Table DP02 SELECTED SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Health

Population aged 65+

  • Share of the population aged 65 years and over, average over the 5‐year period 2015-2019.
  • Table DP05 ACS DEMOGRAPHIC AND HOUSING ESTIMATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Food Insecurity Rate & Number

Diagnosed Diabetes

Obesity

SNAP Participation

  • Percentage of households receiving food stamps/SNAP benefits in the past 12 months, average over the 5‐year period 2017‐2021.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Cardiovascular Deaths

  • Total Cardiovascular Disease Death Rate per 100,000, 35+, All Races/Ethnicities, Both Genders, 2018‐2020.
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Interactive Atlas of Heart Disease and Stroke Tables: https://nccd.cdc.gov/DHDSPAtlas/

Opioid Prescribing Rates per 100

Sexually Transmitted Infections (Chlamydia per 100,000)

HIV (per 100,000)

Child Abuse & Neglect (per 1,000)

Juvenile Delinquency (Ages 10-17 per 1,000 Youths)

Suicides per 100,000 (Age Adjusted)

Prosperity

Population Change from 2010

Labor Force Participation

  • Labor force / Pop 16+
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Median HHI

  • The median is the value at the midpoint of a frequency distribution of observed values; half of the county's households report income above this value and half of the households report income below this value. Because it is less influenced by outliers it is generally regarded as a better measure of prosperity. The reported value is an average over the 5‐year period 2015-2019.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Per Capita Income

  • The average income earned per person in a given area, calculated as total income in the region divided by total population. The reported value is an average over the 5‐year period 2015‐2019.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Poverty Rate

  • Census Bureau poverty estimate for all individuals. The Census Bureau provides poverty data based on several household surveys and programs. Current (2022) thresholds are included in this workbook.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

"Entrepreneurs" (share of non-farm proprietor employment)

Average Non-farm Proprietors' Income (dollars)

Share of Employment in Arts, Entertainment, Recreation, & Accommodations

  • North American Industry Classification System NAICS 70 ‐ Leisure and Hospitality, includes NAICS 71 ‐ Arts, Entertainment, and Recreation and NAICS 72 ‐ Accommodation and Food Services.
  • Table DP03 SELECTED ECONOMIC CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES , U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Housing Burden

  • HUD defines cost-burdened families as those “who pay more than 30 percent of their income for housing” and “may have difficulty affording necessities such as food, clothing, transportation, and medical care.
  • Table DP04 SELECTED HOUSING CHARACTERISTICS IN THE UNITED STATES, U.S. Census Bureau, 2017‐2021 American Community Survey 5‐Year Estimates: https://data.census.gov

Market Value of Farm Products Sold

  • Gross market value before taxes and production expenses of all agricultural products sold or removed from the place in 2017 regardless of who received the payment. It is equivalent to total sales and it includes sales by the producers as well as the value of any shares received by partners, landlords, contractors, or others associated with the operation. Market value does not include payments received for participation in other Federal farm programs, from sources such as custom work, etc.
  • Table 2. Market Value of Agricultural Products Sold Including Food Marketing Practices and Value-Added Products: 2017 and 2012 
    https://www.nass.usda.gov/Publications/AgCensus/2017/Full_Report/Volume_1,_Chapter_2_County_Level/West_Virginia/st54_2_0002_0002.pdf

Farm Profitability