Economic Profile

Economic Profile of Wyoming County

Located in the heart of southern West Virginia, Wyoming County has historically relied upon extractive industries, such as coal mining, timbering, and natural gas extraction, as a major part of its local economy. With periodic cycles of boom and bust as well as the general advancement of mechanization and lower labor requirements, the local economy is garnering fewer benefits from these economic sectors.

Wyoming County suffers a family poverty rate of 20.2 percent (compared to state-wide level of 13.9 percent), and the median household income is $23,932 (compared to $29,696 statewide). Wyoming County has been designed as a distressed county by the Appalachian Regional Commission.

Like many other rural counties, Wyoming County has undergone significant population loss in recent decades. The estimated population in 2006 was 23,674, an 8 percent decline since 2000 and an 18 percent decline since 1990.

Wyoming County has three small municipalities (Mullens, Oceana, and Pineville) that each have their own local government. These three constitute 17 percent of the total population for Wyoming County, and each of their respective populations has declined in recent decades. Pineville serves as the county seat.

Currently, small businesses comprise a very significant amount of the commercial activity in Wyoming County. According to the U.S. Census, there are an estimated 368 businesses in Wyoming County. Of these businesses, 50 percent hire between one and four employees. An additional 24 percent hire five to nine, and only 2 percent of firms hire more than fifty employees.

The retail sector is the largest in Wyoming County as 25 percent of individual firms are a retail business. All other economic sectors (transportation, healthcare, construction, mining, and other services) are between 6 and 8 percent each.