Data / Rankings / Establishment exit rate / Counties in West Virginia

Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate

Clay County had the highest establishment exit rate of 55 counties in 2012, at 17.259%. Pendleton County had the lowest, at 3.15%. The median was 8.431% and the figure for West Virginia was 8.007%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest17.259Clay County
Lowest3.15Pendleton County
Median8.43155 counties
West Virginia8.007History

Map of counties, 2012

Barbour County: 6.378 %Berkeley County: 8.377 %Boone County: 8.865 %Braxton County: 11.623 %Brooke County: 8.623 %Cabell County: 7.419 %Calhoun County: 7.96 %Clay County: 17.259 %Doddridge County: 8.333 %Fayette County: 9.267 %Gilmer County: 8.907 %Grant County: 4.1 %Greenbrier County: 8.494 %Hampshire County: 7.358 %Hancock County: 8.381 %Hardy County: 7.069 %Harrison County: 7.068 %Jackson County: 8.185 %Jefferson County: 10.668 %Kanawha County: 7.212 %Lewis County: 10.638 %Lincoln County: 8.377 %Logan County: 9.612 %McDowell County: 8.614 %Marion County: 7.798 %Marshall County: 6.356 %Mason County: 9.553 %Mercer County: 7.055 %Mineral County: 8.511 %Mingo County: 9.929 %Monongalia County: 8.453 %Monroe County: 10.909 %Morgan County: 9.501 %Nicholas County: 7.755 %Ohio County: 6.164 %Pendleton County: 3.15 %Pleasants County: 10.879 %Pocahontas County: 9.896 %Preston County: 9.553 %Putnam County: 7.093 %Raleigh County: 8.456 %Randolph County: 8.277 %Ritchie County: 6.736 %Roane County: 7.763 %Summers County: 11.869 %Taylor County: 5.34 %Tucker County: 11.299 %Tyler County: 10.092 %Upshur County: 8.431 %Wayne County: 7.8 %Webster County: 13.734 %Wetzel County: 4.552 %Wirt County: 16.667 %Wood County: 7.406 %Wyoming County: 11.379 %
  • Under 7.1
  • 7.1 to 7.8
  • 7.8 to 8.4
  • 8.4 to 9.3
  • 9.3 to 11
  • 11 and over
%, 2012. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2012

Clay County: 17.259 %Clay County17.259Wirt County: 16.667 %Wirt County16.667Webster County: 13.734 %Webster County13.734Summers County: 11.869 %Summers County11.869Braxton County: 11.623 %Braxton County11.623Wyoming County: 11.379 %Wyoming County11.379Tucker County: 11.299 %Tucker County11.299Monroe County: 10.909 %Monroe County10.909Pleasants County: 10.879 %Pleasants County10.879Jefferson County: 10.668 %Jefferson County10.668Lewis County: 10.638 %Lewis County10.638Tyler County: 10.092 %Tyler County10.092Mingo County: 9.929 %Mingo County9.929Pocahontas County: 9.896 %Pocahontas County9.896Logan County: 9.612 %Logan County9.612Mason County: 9.553 %Mason County9.553Preston County: 9.553 %Preston County9.553Morgan County: 9.501 %Morgan County9.501Fayette County: 9.267 %Fayette County9.267Gilmer County: 8.907 %Gilmer County8.907Boone County: 8.865 %Boone County8.865Brooke County: 8.623 %Brooke County8.623McDowell County: 8.614 %McDowell County8.614Mineral County: 8.511 %Mineral County8.511Greenbrier County: 8.494 %Greenbrier County8.494Raleigh County: 8.456 %Raleigh County8.456Monongalia County: 8.453 %Monongalia County8.453Upshur County: 8.431 %Upshur County8.431Hancock County: 8.381 %Hancock County8.381Berkeley County: 8.377 %Berkeley County8.377Lincoln County: 8.377 %Lincoln County8.377Doddridge County: 8.333 %Doddridge County8.333Randolph County: 8.277 %Randolph County8.277Jackson County: 8.185 %Jackson County8.185Calhoun County: 7.96 %Calhoun County7.96Wayne County: 7.8 %Wayne County7.8Marion County: 7.798 %Marion County7.798Roane County: 7.763 %Roane County7.763Nicholas County: 7.755 %Nicholas County7.755Cabell County: 7.419 %Cabell County7.419Wood County: 7.406 %Wood County7.406Hampshire County: 7.358 %Hampshire County7.358Kanawha County: 7.212 %Kanawha County7.212Putnam County: 7.093 %Putnam County7.093Hardy County: 7.069 %Hardy County7.069Harrison County: 7.068 %Harrison County7.068Mercer County: 7.055 %Mercer County7.055Ritchie County: 6.736 %Ritchie County6.736Barbour County: 6.378 %Barbour County6.378Marshall County: 6.356 %Marshall County6.356Ohio County: 6.164 %Ohio County6.164Taylor County: 5.34 %Taylor County5.34Wetzel County: 4.552 %Wetzel County4.552Grant County: 4.1 %Grant County4.1Pendleton County: 3.15 %Pendleton County3.15Clay County: 17.259 %Clay County17.259Wirt County: 16.667 %Wirt County16.667Webster County: 13.734 %Webster County13.734Summers County: 11.869 %Summers County11.869Braxton County: 11.623 %Braxton County11.623Wyoming County: 11.379 %Wyoming County11.379Tucker County: 11.299 %Tucker County11.299Monroe County: 10.909 %Monroe County10.909Pleasants County: 10.879 %Pleasants County10.879Jefferson County: 10.668 %Jefferson County10.668Lewis County: 10.638 %Lewis County10.638Tyler County: 10.092 %Tyler County10.092Mingo County: 9.929 %Mingo County9.929Pocahontas County: 9.896 %Pocahontas County9.896Logan County: 9.612 %Logan County9.612Mason County: 9.553 %Mason County9.553Preston County: 9.553 %Preston County9.553Morgan County: 9.501 %Morgan County9.501Fayette County: 9.267 %Fayette County9.267Gilmer County: 8.907 %Gilmer County8.907Boone County: 8.865 %Boone County8.865Brooke County: 8.623 %Brooke County8.623McDowell County: 8.614 %McDowell County8.614Mineral County: 8.511 %Mineral County8.511Greenbrier County: 8.494 %Greenbrier County8.494Raleigh County: 8.456 %Raleigh County8.456Monongalia County: 8.453 %Monongalia County8.453Upshur County: 8.431 %Upshur County8.431Hancock County: 8.381 %Hancock County8.381Berkeley County: 8.377 %Berkeley County8.377Lincoln County: 8.377 %Lincoln County8.377Doddridge County: 8.333 %Doddridge County8.333Randolph County: 8.277 %Randolph County8.277Jackson County: 8.185 %Jackson County8.185Calhoun County: 7.96 %Calhoun County7.96Wayne County: 7.8 %Wayne County7.8Marion County: 7.798 %Marion County7.798Roane County: 7.763 %Roane County7.763Nicholas County: 7.755 %Nicholas County7.755Cabell County: 7.419 %Cabell County7.419Wood County: 7.406 %Wood County7.406Hampshire County: 7.358 %Hampshire County7.358Kanawha County: 7.212 %Kanawha County7.212Putnam County: 7.093 %Putnam County7.093Hardy County: 7.069 %Hardy County7.069Harrison County: 7.068 %Harrison County7.068Mercer County: 7.055 %Mercer County7.055Ritchie County: 6.736 %Ritchie County6.736Barbour County: 6.378 %Barbour County6.378Marshall County: 6.356 %Marshall County6.356Ohio County: 6.164 %Ohio County6.164Taylor County: 5.34 %Taylor County5.34Wetzel County: 4.552 %Wetzel County4.552Grant County: 4.1 %Grant County4.1Pendleton County: 3.15 %Pendleton County3.15
%. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2012 (%)Change on 2011
1Clay County17.259+5.67 pts
2Wirt County16.667+11.79 pts
3Webster County13.734-0.84 pts
4Summers County11.869+4.22 pts
5Braxton County11.623+3.06 pts
6Wyoming County11.379+0.7 pts
7Tucker County11.299+1.8 pts
8Monroe County10.909-0.68 pts
9Pleasants County10.879+2.81 pts
10Jefferson County10.668+2.13 pts
11Lewis County10.638+0.36 pts
12Tyler County10.092+2.85 pts
13Mingo County9.929-1.09 pts
14Pocahontas County9.896+3.07 pts
15Logan County9.612+2.6 pts
16Mason County9.553+1.04 pts
16Preston County9.553-1.47 pts
18Morgan County9.501-0.66 pts
19Fayette County9.267+1.06 pts
20Gilmer County8.907-4.32 pts
21Boone County8.865+1.85 pts
22Brooke County8.623+1.7 pts
23McDowell County8.614+2.25 pts
24Mineral County8.511-2.19 pts
25Greenbrier County8.494-0.79 pts
26Raleigh County8.456-0.26 pts
27Monongalia County8.453+1.33 pts
28Upshur County8.431-0.46 pts
29Hancock County8.381+0.51 pts
30Berkeley County8.377-2.33 pts
30Lincoln County8.377+0.54 pts
32Doddridge County8.333-3.67 pts
33Randolph County8.277+0.1 pts
34Jackson County8.185-3.48 pts
35Calhoun County7.96-4.6 pts
36Wayne County7.8-1.44 pts
37Marion County7.798+0.68 pts
38Roane County7.763-0.66 pts
39Nicholas County7.755-0.92 pts
40Cabell County7.419-0.32 pts
41Wood County7.406-0.08 pts
42Hampshire County7.358-4.91 pts
43Kanawha County7.212-1.39 pts
44Putnam County7.093-1.62 pts
45Hardy County7.069-0.34 pts
46Harrison County7.068-0.51 pts
47Mercer County7.055+0.28 pts
48Ritchie County6.736-0.54 pts
49Barbour County6.378-2.78 pts
50Marshall County6.356-0.05 pts
51Ohio County6.164+0.19 pts
52Taylor County5.34-2.09 pts
53Wetzel County4.552-2.56 pts
54Grant County4.1-5.83 pts
55Pendleton County3.15-4.63 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

Establishments that closed during the year (employees a year earlier and none in March of the year), as a percentage of the average number of establishments in the two years. United States: Census Bureau Business Dynamics Statistics.

Counts closed locations, including branches of firms that keep operating elsewhere, so it is not a firm failure rate. Not comparable with enterprise_death_rate, which counts enterprise deaths in Europe. The year is the twelve months to March: 2023 compares March 2022 with March 2023.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2025). Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010 (Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv

MLA 9

Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012. U.S. Census Bureau, 25 Sept. 2025, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010, Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2012,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012}},
  year = {2025},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023\_st\_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010: Counties in West Virginia by establishment exit rate, 2012
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/09/25
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2012.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/bds/tables/time-series/2023/bds2023_st_cty.csv. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest establishment exit rate?

Clay County, with 17.259% in 2012, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest establishment exit rate?

Pendleton County, with 3.15% in 2012.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Business Dynamics Statistics: establishment exit rate, all covered industries, nation and states from 1978, counties from 2010. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Establishment exit rate: other rankings

Counties in West Virginia: more rankings