The United States has a longstanding reputation as being a melting pot (or salad bowl), with its diversity manifesting itself across many different demographics. However, some places across the country are notably more heterogeneous than others.
Stacker compiled a list of the most diverse counties in West Virginia using data from using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest Simpson's diversity index score. Simpson's diversity index measures community diversity on a scale of 0 (least diverse) to 1 (most diverse), more on the calculation can be read here.
Think you know which counties in your home state might be the most diverse? Keep reading to see if your predictions are correct.
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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 50#50. Lincoln County
- Index: 0.034
- Total population: 20,850
- White: 98.3% (20,495)
- Black or African American: 0.2% (39)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.1% (24)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (23)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (269)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
2 / 50#49. Boone County
- Index: 0.040
- Total population: 22,368
- White: 98.0% (21,915)
- Black or African American: 1.0% (218)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (10)
- Asian: 0.1% (26)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (194)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (5)
Richie Diesterheft from Chicago, IL, USA // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 50#48. Roane County
- Index: 0.042
- Total population: 14,020
- White: 97.9% (13,723)
- Black or African American: 0.1% (9)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (15)
- Asian: 0.2% (22)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.6% (228)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (23)
#47. Wetzel County
- Index: 0.044
- Total population: 15,436
- White: 97.8% (15,093)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (164)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (138)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (41)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
5 / 50#46. Tyler County
- Index: 0.047
- Total population: 8,811
- White: 97.6% (8,602)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (32)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (18)
- Asian: 0.7% (62)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (80)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (17)
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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 50#45. Jackson County
- Index: 0.047
- Total population: 28,907
- White: 97.6% (28,219)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (109)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.8% (219)
- Asian: 0.3% (97)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.8% (243)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (20)
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 50#44. Wayne County
- Index: 0.048
- Total population: 40,303
- White: 97.6% (39,330)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (347)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (62)
- Asian: 0.3% (113)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.7% (297)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (154)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 50#43. Marshall County
- Index: 0.050
- Total population: 31,308
- White: 97.5% (30,512)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (270)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (46)
- Asian: 0.3% (79)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.3% (92)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (292)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (17)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 50#42. Ritchie County
- Index: 0.050
- Total population: 9,844
- White: 97.4% (9,592)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (27)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (163)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (62)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 50#41. Lewis County
- Index: 0.051
- Total population: 16,166
- White: 97.4% (15,744)
- Black or African American: 0.2% (29)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (87)
- Asian: 0.5% (81)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (198)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (27)
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#40. Tucker County
- Index: 0.052
- Total population: 6,982
- White: 97.4% (6,799)
- Black or African American: 0.5% (33)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.5% (38)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (88)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (24)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 50#39. Wyoming County
- Index: 0.052
- Total population: 21,281
- White: 97.3% (20,716)
- Black or African American: 1.2% (262)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.3% (54)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (224)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (25)
Bitmapped // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 50#38. Mason County
- Index: 0.053
- Total population: 26,820
- White: 97.3% (26,092)
- Black or African American: 0.4% (112)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (35)
- Asian: 0.6% (172)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (369)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (40)
Bitmapped // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 50#37. Monroe County
- Index: 0.055
- Total population: 13,401
- White: 97.2% (13,027)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (125)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (66)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (183)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 50#36. Nicholas County
- Index: 0.057
- Total population: 25,078
- White: 97.1% (24,351)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (214)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (92)
- Asian: 0.2% (56)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (244)
- Some other Race: 0.5% (121)
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Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
16 / 50#35. Hampshire County
- Index: 0.057
- Total population: 23,309
- White: 97.1% (22,627)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (258)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (71)
- Asian: 0.4% (104)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (239)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (10)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 50#34. Grant County
- Index: 0.060
- Total population: 11,616
- White: 97.0% (11,262)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (181)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.2% (23)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (22)
- 2 or more races: 0.8% (89)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (39)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 50#33. Braxton County
- Index: 0.060
- Total population: 14,190
- White: 96.9% (13,757)
- Black or African American: 0.7% (106)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (48)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (19)
- 2 or more races: 1.8% (250)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (10)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 50#32. Upshur County
- Index: 0.061
- Total population: 24,502
- White: 96.9% (23,741)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (500)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (22)
- Asian: 0.2% (43)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.7% (164)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (32)
Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons
20 / 50#31. Logan County
- Index: 0.065
- Total population: 33,154
- White: 96.7% (32,050)
- Black or African American: 1.8% (584)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (56)
- Asian: 0.1% (29)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (3)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (402)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (30)
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Roger B Wise // Wikimedia Commons
21 / 50#30. Putnam County
- Index: 0.070
- Total population: 56,610
- White: 96.4% (54,592)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (801)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (42)
- Asian: 0.8% (438)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (58)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (611)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (68)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 50#29. Randolph County
- Index: 0.071
- Total population: 28,930
- White: 96.4% (27,883)
- Black or African American: 2.1% (620)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (67)
- Asian: 0.6% (160)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.4% (103)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (97)
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 50#28. Taylor County
- Index: 0.072
- Total population: 16,864
- White: 96.3% (16,245)
- Black or African American: 1.3% (218)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.3% (52)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (232)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (117)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
24 / 50#27. Brooke County
- Index: 0.073
- Total population: 22,459
- White: 96.3% (21,620)
- Black or African American: 1.7% (392)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (22)
- Asian: 0.5% (108)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.2% (52)
- 2 or more races: 1.0% (224)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (41)
#26. Pleasants County
- Index: 0.074
- Total population: 7,482
- White: 96.2% (7,196)
- Black or African American: 0.3% (21)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.9% (70)
- Some other Race: 2.6% (195)
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#25. Wood County
- Index: 0.074
- Total population: 84,960
- White: 96.2% (81,720)
- Black or African American: 1.4% (1,208)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (378)
- Asian: 0.5% (445)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (51)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (1,063)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (95)
Valerius Tygart // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 50#24. Barbour County
- Index: 0.081
- Total population: 16,633
- White: 95.8% (15,939)
- Black or African American: 0.9% (146)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (48)
- Asian: 0.8% (128)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (324)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (48)
#23. Mingo County
- Index: 0.082
- Total population: 24,290
- White: 95.8% (23,258)
- Black or African American: 2.3% (568)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (21)
- Asian: 0.1% (19)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.1% (266)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (158)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 50#22. Pendleton County
- Index: 0.086
- Total population: 7,001
- White: 95.5% (6,689)
- Black or African American: 3.3% (233)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (6)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.7% (49)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (24)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 50#21. Doddridge County
- Index: 0.087
- Total population: 8,560
- White: 95.5% (8,178)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (137)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.5% (45)
- Asian: 0.5% (45)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.7% (147)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (8)
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Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons
31 / 50#20. Morgan County
- Index: 0.087
- Total population: 17,709
- White: 95.5% (16,914)
- Black or African American: 1.1% (193)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (120)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.4% (418)
- Some other Race: 0.4% (64)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
32 / 50#19. Harrison County
- Index: 0.091
- Total population: 67,908
- White: 95.3% (64,720)
- Black or African American: 1.6% (1,069)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.6% (396)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (22)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (1,494)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (207)
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
33 / 50#18. Hancock County
- Index: 0.097
- Total population: 29,383
- White: 95.0% (27,901)
- Black or African American: 2.0% (578)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (13)
- Asian: 0.5% (136)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (6)
- 2 or more races: 2.5% (749)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (0)
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
34 / 50#17. Mineral County
- Index: 0.101
- Total population: 27,167
- White: 94.8% (25,742)
- Black or African American: 3.4% (925)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (4)
- Asian: 0.4% (116)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (315)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (65)
Taber Andrew Bain // Wikimedia Commons
35 / 50#16. Greenbrier County
- Index: 0.117
- Total population: 35,155
- White: 93.9% (33,010)
- Black or African American: 2.8% (996)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (10)
- Asian: 0.6% (217)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (703)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (219)
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w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
36 / 50#15. Marion County
- Index: 0.122
- Total population: 56,355
- White: 93.6% (52,748)
- Black or African American: 3.5% (1,975)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.4% (203)
- Asian: 0.5% (268)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.4% (803)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (358)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
37 / 50#14. Fayette County
- Index: 0.124
- Total population: 43,576
- White: 93.5% (40,722)
- Black or African American: 5.2% (2,274)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (146)
- Asian: 0.1% (24)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.1% (25)
- 2 or more races: 0.8% (343)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (42)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
38 / 50#13. Summers County
- Index: 0.130
- Total population: 12,848
- White: 93.1% (11,967)
- Black or African American: 4.6% (586)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.0% (0)
- Asian: 0.0% (0)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.2% (284)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (11)
Brandon W. Holmes // Wikicommons
39 / 50#12. Ohio County
- Index: 0.134
- Total population: 42,143
- White: 92.9% (39,166)
- Black or African American: 3.9% (1,641)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (94)
- Asian: 0.7% (300)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (806)
- Some other Race: 0.3% (136)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
40 / 50#11. Preston County
- Index: 0.148
- Total population: 33,683
- White: 92.2% (31,044)
- Black or African American: 5.1% (1,717)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.7% (240)
- Asian: 0.3% (85)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (8)
- 2 or more races: 1.2% (399)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (190)
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Antony-22 // Wikimedia Commons
41 / 50#10. Hardy County
- Index: 0.161
- Total population: 13,805
- White: 91.4% (12,618)
- Black or African American: 5.6% (768)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.6% (84)
- Asian: 1.6% (227)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 0.8% (106)
- Some other Race: 0.0% (2)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
42 / 50#9. Mercer County
- Index: 0.163
- Total population: 59,919
- White: 91.2% (54,664)
- Black or African American: 6.4% (3,838)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (102)
- Asian: 0.6% (362)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.5% (921)
- Some other Race: 0.1% (32)
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons
43 / 50#8. Cabell County
- Index: 0.175
- Total population: 94,339
- White: 90.6% (85,501)
- Black or African American: 4.9% (4,587)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (170)
- Asian: 1.4% (1,283)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (16)
- 2 or more races: 2.3% (2,216)
- Some other Race: 0.6% (566)
Zverzver // Wikimedia Commons
44 / 50#7. Monongalia County
- Index: 0.196
- Total population: 105,474
- White: 89.5% (94,397)
- Black or African American: 3.6% (3,781)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (80)
- Asian: 3.5% (3,644)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (2,831)
- Some other Race: 0.7% (741)
Coal town guy // Wikimedia Commons
45 / 50#6. McDowell County
- Index: 0.199
- Total population: 18,661
- White: 89.1% (16,628)
- Black or African American: 8.3% (1,551)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (47)
- Asian: 0.1% (13)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.3% (241)
- Some other Race: 1.0% (181)
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O Palsson // Flickr
46 / 50#5. Kanawha County
- Index: 0.211
- Total population: 183,279
- White: 88.5% (162,196)
- Black or African American: 7.2% (13,154)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (370)
- Asian: 1.2% (2,208)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 2.7% (5,032)
- Some other Race: 0.2% (319)
Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons
47 / 50#4. Raleigh County
- Index: 0.217
- Total population: 75,252
- White: 88.1% (66,312)
- Black or African American: 7.7% (5,816)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (220)
- Asian: 1.0% (731)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (10)
- 2 or more races: 2.0% (1,532)
- Some other Race: 0.8% (631)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
48 / 50#3. Jefferson County
- Index: 0.235
- Total population: 56,506
- White: 87.2% (49,263)
- Black or African American: 6.2% (3,504)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.3% (147)
- Asian: 1.4% (769)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.1% (1,740)
- Some other Race: 1.9% (1,083)
Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons
49 / 50#2. Berkeley County
- Index: 0.239
- Total population: 115,329
- White: 86.8% (100,097)
- Black or African American: 7.8% (9,039)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.1% (89)
- Asian: 1.1% (1,242)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 3.0% (3,458)
- Some other Race: 1.2% (1,404)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
50 / 50#1. Gilmer County
- Index: 0.292
- Total population: 8,041
- White: 83.2% (6,694)
- Black or African American: 12.0% (966)
- American Indian and Alaska Native: 0.2% (20)
- Asian: 0.9% (75)
- Native Hawaiian and other Pacific Islander: 0.0% (0)
- 2 or more races: 1.9% (155)
- Some other Race: 1.6% (131)
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