In 1974, Kanawha County gained national media attention for a school textbook controversy that erupted when conservatives complained that material in some of the textbooks was morally offensive. Journalist John D. Maurice won a Pulitzer Prize for his editorials covering the controversy.
Kanawha County is part of the Charleston, WV metropolitan area, with a 2006 Census population estimate of 305,526 people.
2006 192,479 2000 200,073 1990 207,619 1980 231,414 1970 229,515 1960 252,925 1950 236,629 1940 195,619 1930 157,667 1920 119,650 1910 81,457 1900 54,596 1890 42,756 1880 32,466 1870 22,349 1860 16,966 1850 15,353 1840 13,567 1830 9,326 1820 6,399 1810 3,866 1800 3,239
As of the census of 2000, there were 200,073 people, 86,226 households, and 55,960 families residing in the county. The population density was 222 people per square mile (86/km²). There were 93,788 housing units at an average density of 104 per square mile (40/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 90.46% White, 6.97% Black or African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.85% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.27% from two or more races. 0.59% of the population were Hispanics or Latinos of any race.
There were 86,226 households out of which 26.50% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.00% were married couples living together, 12.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.10% were non-families. 30.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.50% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.
The age distribution was 21.30% under the age of 18, 8.40% from 18 to 24, 28.10% from 25 to 44, 25.60% from 45 to 64, and 16.50% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 90.70 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.10 males.
The median income for a household in the county was $33,766, and the median income for a family was $42,568. Males had a median income of $33,842 versus $24,188 for females. The per capita income for the county was $20,354. About 11.20% of families and 14.40% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.60% of those under age 18 and 10.50% of those age 65 or over.