Of the total population in 1870, 424,923 persons were of native and 17,091 of foreign birth; 222,842 were males and 219,171 females. The density of population was 19.22 persons to a square mile; the number of families 78,474, with an 5.63 per sons in each; number of dwelling 78,854, with en average of 5.61 to each. Those engaged in agriculture numbered including 30.0S7 laborers and 43,702 farmers and planters; iii professional and personal services, 16,699, of whom 466 clergy men, 6,676 domestic servants, 5,815 laborers not specified, 400 lawyers, 612 physicians and surgeons, and 866 teachers; in trade and transportation, 6,897; and in manufactures and mechanical and mining industries, 17,673. By the census of 1880 the total popula tion of .the state was 618,193. Those of native birth numbered 599,970, of foreign, 18,223; the white population was 592,433, and the colored, 25,760. The gain in popula tion during ten years amounted to 156,179 persons. The capital and largest city, Wheel ing, in 1870 had 19.280 inhabitants, and by the last census, 31,266. None of the other most important cities and towns; Charleston, Clarksburg, Grafton, Martinsburg, Park Piedmont, and South Wheeling, had in 1870 over 4,000 inhabitants; but it is probable that they will be found, on the publication of their statistics in 1880, to have increased largely since then. There were in 1870, 8,528,394 acres of land in farms in the state, of which 2.580,254 acres only were improved lands. The cash value of the farms was $101,604,331; of farming implements and machinery, $2,112,937; the total estimated cattle of all farm productions, including betterments and additions to stock, $23,379,692. The principal farm products were 2,483,543 bushels of wheat, 277,746 of rye, 8,197,865 of Indian corn, 2,413,749 of oats, 82,916 of buckwheat, 2 bales of cotton, 37 tons of hemp, 82,276 lbs. of flax, 1031 lbs. of hops, 1.593,541 of wool, 224,164 tons of hay, 2,046,452 lbs. of tobacco, 1,053,507 bushels of Irish potatoes, 46,984 bushels of sweet-potatoes, 490,606 lbs. of maple-sugar. 20,209 galls. of maple-syrup, 780,829 of sorginim syrup, 376,997 lbs. of honey, 9,917 of bees-wax, and 6,093 galls. of domestic The value of live stock in 1879 was stated to be $17,175,450; the number of horses, 99,362; of mules and asses, 2,139; of neat cattle, 337,881; of sheep, 552.327; and of swine, 268,031. The manufactures are principally of leather, lumber. and tobacco products, and salt, lime, refined oil, carriages, and woolen goods.' In 1870 there were 2,411 manufacturing establishments, having $11,084,520 capital, employing 11,622 hands, and producing yearly goods valued at $24,102,201. There were also mining estab lishments, employing 1,504 hands, and having a capital of $2,040.2.... The total value of products was $2.088,531, including bituminous coal valued at $1,035,862, petroleum, $1,029,110, and stone, $23,550. The railroad facilities for trade and transportation in 1876 consisted of seven roads which had within the state about 600 miles of road. These were the Baltimore and Ohio, Chesapeake and Ohio, Laurel Fork and Sand Hill, Pen us born and Harrisville, Pittsburg, Cincinnati and St. Louis, Wheeling, Pittsburg and Baltimore, and Winchester and Potomac. Whatever foreign commerce the state has is carried on by way of New Orleans, where the imports are appraised. Altogether the business and wealth of the state in 1875 supported 15 national banks with a paid-in capi tal of $1,848,000, and an outstanding circulation of $2,065,769; 10 state banks, reporting an aggregate capital of $975,000; and 2 savings banks with a capital. of $100,000.
There were also 14 fire and marine insurance companies in the state, having a capital of $1,438.-150, and reporting assets amounting to $2,321,858.
Financially the state is in a prosperous condition. Aside from a portion of the debt of Virginia, existing at the time of the separation, which portion, it is claimed, should not be more than $1,500,000, there is no public debt. The assessed value of real estate in 1875 was $110,922,030, and the state tax amounted to $573,307. The revenue from all.sourees during the fiscal year ending in Sept., 1878, was $693,406; the disbursements on all accounts,. $572,343; and the cash balance in the treasury was $313,801.
The free-school system, though of recent origin, is in efficient operation. The super vision and management of the schools are vested in a state superintendent elected every four years. county superintendents elected every two years, and district boards and trustees. The constitution prohibits the teaching of white and colored children in the same school, and provision is made for separate schools for the colored. In 1875 the permanent school fund amounted to $325,213; the current teachers' fund, $541,358; the current building fund. $255,233; and the aggregate amount expended for school pur poses during the preceding year was $796,592. The school population enrolled at that time was 179,897 youths between the ages of 6 and 21; and the average attendance was about 49 per cent. The whole number of schools was 3,231; of schoOlhouses, 2,959: of teachers. 3,461; and the value of school property was estimated to be $1,605.627. A state normal school was established at Huntington in 1867, and branches have since been located at West Liberty, Glenville, Shepherdstown, and Concord. The colleges, uni versities, and professional schools are Bethany college (Disciples), at Bethany; Virginia college (Free-will Baptist), at Flemington ; West Virginia university (state), at Morgantown; and St. Vincent college (Roman Catholic), at Wheeling. The total nutn her of libraries iu the state in 1870 was 1728, having 372,745 vols., of which 1090 with were private. The number of newspapers and periodicals published is about 75, of which 6 are daily, 61 weekly, and 4 monthly. The religious organiza tions numbered 1529 in 1870, and possessed 1018 edifices and property valued at $1,835, 720. The denominations were: Baptist, 325; Disciples, 4; Protestant Episcopal, 21; Evangelical Association, 2; Jewish, 1; Lutheran, 22; Methodist, 879; Presbyterian, 89; Reformed Church in the United States, 2; Roman Catholic, 40; Second Advent, 3; United Brethren in Christ, 94; Universalist, 4.
The constitution of the state gives the right of suffrage to all male citizens 21 years old, with the usual exceptions, who have resided in the state one year, and the county 50 days, preceding the election; and only qualified voters are entitled to hold any state, county, or municipaloffice. The governor, secretary of state, state superintendent of free schools, auditor, treasurer, ana attorney-general are elected by the people for the term of four years. The legislature consists of a senate of 24 members, and a house of delegates of 65 members. The judicial power is vested in a supreme court of appeals, consisting of 4 judges, 9 circuit courts, and 54 county courts. The state's representation iu congress, by the apportionment of 1872, is the usual 2 senators and 3 members of the house. The number of electoral votes are 5. These have been cast as follows: 1864, Lincoln and Johnson, 5; 1868, Grant and Colfax, 5; 1872, Grant and Wilson, 5; 1876, Tilden and Hendricks, 5; 1880, Hancock and English, 5.