After the first of each new year, the President delivers a "State of the Union Address" and the Governor delivers a "State of the State Address."
What would a "State of Webster County Address" sound like? Please note that while the following "address" was not made by any county official, the facts contained in this "address" are real and the supporting data can be accessed by the links at the end of the "address."
My fellow Webster Countians, I am here to report to you on the state of Webster County. And, sadly, the report is not good.
According to the 2010 United States Census, we have 9,154 people living in the county.
Almost 40% (or 3,627) of our residents receive some form of Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Regular "old age" Social Security recipients total 1,900 persons or 20.7% of our residents. SSI recipients total 802 (or 8.8%) of our residents, and Social Security Disability recipients total another 925 (or 10.1%) of our residents residents. Our near 40% rate is well above the statewide average of 28.7% of residents that receive these types of benefits.
Of our 9,154 residents, only 2,550 are employed. These working folks make up only 27.9% of our total number of residents in the County. Another 430 residents who want to be in the workforce are unemployed. We have the second highest unemployment rate in the State at 14.4%.
The news for our children is likewise not good. According to the most recent data, we have 1,493 students in the County. Almost 72% of our school age children are considered to be "low income," qualifying for the free or reduced lunch program. Statewide, only 51.9% of students qualify as such.
Our graduation rate is 81.69%, slightly lower than the statewide average of 84.34%. Our dropout rate for 2012, however, was at 3.2% (those students in grades 7 to 12 who dropped out and did not enroll elsewhere), much higher than the 2012 statewide average of 1.7%. For the past three years, our dropout rate has been higher than the statewide average.
Let me put some of these numbers into perspective. If we subtract from our total number of 9,154 residents the 3,627 Social Security recipients, the 2,550 working folks, the 430 unemployed folks, and our 1,493 students, we have about 1,054 residents unaccounted for by the public statistics. These 1,054 folks either do not work, are not counted on the unemployment roles, do not draw Social Security, and/or are not students.
Some of the 1,054 are obviously less than school age since the latest Census reported that we have 1,974 people under age 18. Subtracting the 1,493 students from the 1,974 under age 18 category leaves us with about 481 less than school age children.
So, if we take those 481 less than school age kids out of the 1,054 unaccounted for folks, we still have a question about who are the 573 residents who just do not show up in any category.
In February, 2013, at least 210 Webster residents received TANF [temporary aid to needy families] benefits from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. More shockingly, 2,914 residents received food stamps in February, 2013. Food stamp recipients make up 31.8% of our County's residents.
In February, 2013, at least 210 Webster residents received TANF [temporary aid to needy families] benefits from the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. More shockingly, 2,914 residents received food stamps in February, 2013. Food stamp recipients make up 31.8% of our County's residents.
In any event, these numbers do not speak well for the health of our County.
While crime statistics show a decline for the 2009 through 2011 years, it certainly appears that in the latter part of 2012, and certainly thus far in 2013, crime may be increasing, particularly related to the plague of meth users, sellers, and makers.
Compounding our meth problem, high unemployment, high Social Security recipient rate, and sub-par student dropout, graduation, and low income student rates is the fiscal dilemma now faced by the County. We have operated for the past few years on budget deficits now estimated to be anywhere between $800,000.00 and $1.1 million dollars per year.
The bottom line appears to be that we have a nice place to live in Webster County, but little way to make a living to stay here, and little opportunity for our youth.
The state of our County has room for improvement and one would hope it can only go up.
Social Security data for Webster County can be accessed at these links:
The most recent unemployment data for Webster County can be accessed at this link:
The 2010 United States Census data for Webster County can be accessed at this link (chose West Virginia and areas within being counties, select Webster):
The 2012-13 school enrollment data for Webster County can be accessed at this link:
The dropout rates by County can be accessed at this link:
The graduation rates for Webster County and the State, as well as the percent of low income students in Webster County and the State, can be accessed at this link (see left column data):
More information about the crime statistics and the meth problem can be accessed at these links:
Information about our County budget dilemma can be accessed at these links:
http://webstercommentator.blogspot.com/2013/03/county-employeebenefit-cutbacks-likely.html
Webster County TANF benefit statistics can be accessed at this link:
http://wvdhhr.org/oamr/OAMRReports/SFY2013/TANF/TANF_Feb13.htm
Webster County Food Stamp benefit statistics can be accessed at this link:
http://wvdhhr.org/oamr/OAMRReports/SFY2013/FS/FS_Feb13.htm
Webster County TANF benefit statistics can be accessed at this link:
http://wvdhhr.org/oamr/OAMRReports/SFY2013/TANF/TANF_Feb13.htm
Webster County Food Stamp benefit statistics can be accessed at this link:
http://wvdhhr.org/oamr/OAMRReports/SFY2013/FS/FS_Feb13.htm
This article was not posted to tear down the County or its residents, but rather to point out that we have serious problems that need attention by our legislators, local, state, and federal.
Could that percent missing be housewives. Or are you counting them in with the working folks ? There are some housewives that do not have children .Usually if your a working family you don't need assistance, so maybe that is why they don't show anywhere .
ReplyDeleteI am among the unemployed because my husband wouldn't let me work and now will remain unemployed because when we divorced he pulled stupid stunts that will cost me my career...maybe we should drug test people who get social security and SSI along with welfare recipients! Fact is those that do draw benefits work under the table!!!
ReplyDeleteSad but true, webster has potential but noone taking advantage of it. It could be a very productive place. Im nolonger a webster county citizen because there is not much opportunity there, even though its a beautiful place and i was born and raised there.
ReplyDeleteWebster County has huge potential. It is very similar to Pocahontas County as we get a huge amount of snow. Thus a ski resort would bring jobs, boost business's etc. We also have a vast amount of privately owned timber forests in which people ride atv's for free. Why our County Commissioners havent set up a trail system like the Hatfield/McCoy system is beyond me. Our county is also not up to par with code enforcement for commercial campgrounds. We have hunting, fishing, atv'ing, camping. We border one of the largest National forests on the east coast and we dont have anything set up to capitalize on tourism. It appears our elected officials have no foresight or entrepreneurial aggressiveness to bring this county into the 21st century. I am sure w/o a doubt the biggest timber resource land owners would sign leases with the county to bring monies/jobs back to the residents. This would ensure a financial future for Webster Co. as a renewable tourist resource that is UN-tapped.
ReplyDeletePrint this and send it to Earl Ray
ReplyDeleteWish we could have had some County Commissioners in the past that actually tried to convince others to come to this Beautiful County.Instead of backing up to the Post Office Box each month and taking the paycheck out then sitting down and whining like a two year old about the jail bill . Will this ever change ?
ReplyDeleteCoal, coal, coal. The only time Webster County does well is when coal does well. Been here 60 years and that is the only industry that keeps a working class here.
ReplyDeleteAs for the ATV trail it is a great idea and I know that a few years ago the commission and the EDA looked in to it but could not even get one of the major land holders to go along with it.
to make it like the Hatfied- McCoy system takes your representatives in charleston to pull that off. Some talk was brought up that Randolph County representatives were interested in working with ours toward this but seats have changed. Might be a good idea to check into that with the new guys.
Interesting article, which gives one pause to think. Before we are going to promote any kind of tourism there needs to be a countywide cleanup of trash, delapitated buildings, junked vehicles,etc... This does not require actions of the government, but interested people. I am virtually sure that we could volunteers if it would be encouraged by the county residents.
ReplyDeleteI was curious as to how Webster compares to other counties of like population and unemployment. Another breakdown would be the number of employments by the "County" and the "State" within Webster.
ReplyDelete