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 2016, at 13.836%. Grant County had the lowest, at 3.67%. The median was 7.821% and the figure for West Virginia was 7.685%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest13.836Clay County
Lowest3.67Grant County
Median7.82155 counties
West Virginia7.685History

Map of counties, 2016

Barbour County: 11.494 %Berkeley County: 7.099 %Boone County: 9.98 %Braxton County: 5.35 %Brooke County: 7.795 %Cabell County: 6.629 %Calhoun County: 12.717 %Clay County: 13.836 %Doddridge County: 8.642 %Fayette County: 8.441 %Gilmer County: 13.734 %Grant County: 3.67 %Greenbrier County: 6.77 %Hampshire County: 7.586 %Hancock County: 8.105 %Hardy County: 4.555 %Harrison County: 7.27 %Jackson County: 10.184 %Jefferson County: 8.745 %Kanawha County: 8.284 %Lewis County: 7.767 %Lincoln County: 9.945 %Logan County: 9.597 %McDowell County: 10.901 %Marion County: 6.843 %Marshall County: 7.818 %Mason County: 5.574 %Mercer County: 6.707 %Mineral County: 7.646 %Mingo County: 9.704 %Monongalia County: 7.579 %Monroe County: 9.804 %Morgan County: 8.115 %Nicholas County: 9.116 %Ohio County: 5.543 %Pendleton County: 5.49 %Pleasants County: 4 %Pocahontas County: 6.486 %Preston County: 8.384 %Putnam County: 7.78 %Raleigh County: 8.162 %Randolph County: 7.821 %Ritchie County: 6.162 %Roane County: 8.153 %Summers County: 11.111 %Taylor County: 11.705 %Tucker County: 7.285 %Tyler County: 9.852 %Upshur County: 9.939 %Wayne County: 5.094 %Webster County: 10.744 %Wetzel County: 6.325 %Wirt County: 6.383 %Wood County: 6.731 %Wyoming County: 11.417 %
  • Under 6.3
  • 6.3 to 7.3
  • 7.3 to 7.8
  • 7.8 to 8.7
  • 8.7 to 10
  • 10 and over
%, 2016. 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, 2016

Clay County: 13.836 %Clay County13.836Gilmer County: 13.734 %Gilmer County13.734Calhoun County: 12.717 %Calhoun County12.717Taylor County: 11.705 %Taylor County11.705Barbour County: 11.494 %Barbour County11.494Wyoming County: 11.417 %Wyoming County11.417Summers County: 11.111 %Summers County11.111McDowell County: 10.901 %McDowell County10.901Webster County: 10.744 %Webster County10.744Jackson County: 10.184 %Jackson County10.184Boone County: 9.98 %Boone County9.98Lincoln County: 9.945 %Lincoln County9.945Upshur County: 9.939 %Upshur County9.939Tyler County: 9.852 %Tyler County9.852Monroe County: 9.804 %Monroe County9.804Mingo County: 9.704 %Mingo County9.704Logan County: 9.597 %Logan County9.597Nicholas County: 9.116 %Nicholas County9.116Jefferson County: 8.745 %Jefferson County8.745Doddridge County: 8.642 %Doddridge County8.642Fayette County: 8.441 %Fayette County8.441Preston County: 8.384 %Preston County8.384Kanawha County: 8.284 %Kanawha County8.284Raleigh County: 8.162 %Raleigh County8.162Roane County: 8.153 %Roane County8.153Morgan County: 8.115 %Morgan County8.115Hancock County: 8.105 %Hancock County8.105Randolph County: 7.821 %Randolph County7.821Marshall County: 7.818 %Marshall County7.818Brooke County: 7.795 %Brooke County7.795Putnam County: 7.78 %Putnam County7.78Lewis County: 7.767 %Lewis County7.767Mineral County: 7.646 %Mineral County7.646Hampshire County: 7.586 %Hampshire County7.586Monongalia County: 7.579 %Monongalia County7.579Tucker County: 7.285 %Tucker County7.285Harrison County: 7.27 %Harrison County7.27Berkeley County: 7.099 %Berkeley County7.099Marion County: 6.843 %Marion County6.843Greenbrier County: 6.77 %Greenbrier County6.77Wood County: 6.731 %Wood County6.731Mercer County: 6.707 %Mercer County6.707Cabell County: 6.629 %Cabell County6.629Pocahontas County: 6.486 %Pocahontas County6.486Wirt County: 6.383 %Wirt County6.383Wetzel County: 6.325 %Wetzel County6.325Ritchie County: 6.162 %Ritchie County6.162Mason County: 5.574 %Mason County5.574Ohio County: 5.543 %Ohio County5.543Pendleton County: 5.49 %Pendleton County5.49Braxton County: 5.35 %Braxton County5.35Wayne County: 5.094 %Wayne County5.094Hardy County: 4.555 %Hardy County4.555Pleasants County: 4 %Pleasants County4Grant County: 3.67 %Grant County3.67Clay County: 13.836 %Clay County13.836Gilmer County: 13.734 %Gilmer County13.734Calhoun County: 12.717 %Calhoun County12.717Taylor County: 11.705 %Taylor County11.705Barbour County: 11.494 %Barbour County11.494Wyoming County: 11.417 %Wyoming County11.417Summers County: 11.111 %Summers County11.111McDowell County: 10.901 %McDowell County10.901Webster County: 10.744 %Webster County10.744Jackson County: 10.184 %Jackson County10.184Boone County: 9.98 %Boone County9.98Lincoln County: 9.945 %Lincoln County9.945Upshur County: 9.939 %Upshur County9.939Tyler County: 9.852 %Tyler County9.852Monroe County: 9.804 %Monroe County9.804Mingo County: 9.704 %Mingo County9.704Logan County: 9.597 %Logan County9.597Nicholas County: 9.116 %Nicholas County9.116Jefferson County: 8.745 %Jefferson County8.745Doddridge County: 8.642 %Doddridge County8.642Fayette County: 8.441 %Fayette County8.441Preston County: 8.384 %Preston County8.384Kanawha County: 8.284 %Kanawha County8.284Raleigh County: 8.162 %Raleigh County8.162Roane County: 8.153 %Roane County8.153Morgan County: 8.115 %Morgan County8.115Hancock County: 8.105 %Hancock County8.105Randolph County: 7.821 %Randolph County7.821Marshall County: 7.818 %Marshall County7.818Brooke County: 7.795 %Brooke County7.795Putnam County: 7.78 %Putnam County7.78Lewis County: 7.767 %Lewis County7.767Mineral County: 7.646 %Mineral County7.646Hampshire County: 7.586 %Hampshire County7.586Monongalia County: 7.579 %Monongalia County7.579Tucker County: 7.285 %Tucker County7.285Harrison County: 7.27 %Harrison County7.27Berkeley County: 7.099 %Berkeley County7.099Marion County: 6.843 %Marion County6.843Greenbrier County: 6.77 %Greenbrier County6.77Wood County: 6.731 %Wood County6.731Mercer County: 6.707 %Mercer County6.707Cabell County: 6.629 %Cabell County6.629Pocahontas County: 6.486 %Pocahontas County6.486Wirt County: 6.383 %Wirt County6.383Wetzel County: 6.325 %Wetzel County6.325Ritchie County: 6.162 %Ritchie County6.162Mason County: 5.574 %Mason County5.574Ohio County: 5.543 %Ohio County5.543Pendleton County: 5.49 %Pendleton County5.49Braxton County: 5.35 %Braxton County5.35Wayne County: 5.094 %Wayne County5.094Hardy County: 4.555 %Hardy County4.555Pleasants County: 4 %Pleasants County4Grant County: 3.67 %Grant County3.67
%. 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

RankCounties2016 (%)Change on 2015
1Clay County13.836+3.31 pts
2Gilmer County13.734+7.04 pts
3Calhoun County12.717+0.83 pts
4Taylor County11.705+2.73 pts
5Barbour County11.494+0.9 pts
6Wyoming County11.417-0.64 pts
7Summers County11.111+2.02 pts
8McDowell County10.901+4.07 pts
9Webster County10.744+2.48 pts
10Jackson County10.184+2.54 pts
11Boone County9.98+1.45 pts
12Lincoln County9.945+1.86 pts
13Upshur County9.939+2.19 pts
14Tyler County9.852-1.26 pts
15Monroe County9.804+0.53 pts
16Mingo County9.704-2.37 pts
17Logan County9.597+1.75 pts
18Nicholas County9.116+1.66 pts
19Jefferson County8.745+1.32 pts
20Doddridge County8.642n/a
21Fayette County8.441+0.72 pts
22Preston County8.384-0.46 pts
23Kanawha County8.284+0.48 pts
24Raleigh County8.162-0.82 pts
25Roane County8.153+2.92 pts
26Morgan County8.115+2.3 pts
27Hancock County8.105-0.43 pts
28Randolph County7.821+0.51 pts
29Marshall County7.818-0.84 pts
30Brooke County7.795+1.51 pts
31Putnam County7.78-0.17 pts
32Lewis County7.767+1.93 pts
33Mineral County7.646-0.83 pts
34Hampshire County7.5860 pts
35Monongalia County7.579-0.86 pts
36Tucker County7.285-14.39 pts
37Harrison County7.27+0.62 pts
38Berkeley County7.099-1.62 pts
39Marion County6.843-2.36 pts
40Greenbrier County6.77-2.06 pts
41Wood County6.731-0.32 pts
42Mercer County6.707-1.01 pts
43Cabell County6.629-0.73 pts
44Pocahontas County6.486-0.02 pts
45Wirt County6.383-8.2 pts
46Wetzel County6.325-2.32 pts
47Ritchie County6.162-4.42 pts
48Mason County5.574+1.23 pts
49Ohio County5.543-0 pts
50Pendleton County5.49-0.15 pts
51Braxton County5.35-0.47 pts
52Wayne County5.094-1.14 pts
53Hardy County4.555-4.77 pts
54Pleasants County4-4.94 pts
55Grant County3.67-4.68 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, 2016) [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, 2016. 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=2016. 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, 2016. 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=2016.

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, 2016 [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=2016 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_west_virginia_2016,
  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, 2016}},
  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=2016. 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, 2016
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=2016
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/establishment-exit-rate/west-virginia-counties?period=2016.
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 13.836% in 2016, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest establishment exit rate?

Grant County, with 3.67% in 2016.

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