About Boone County
Boone County, West Virginia is located in the southwestern portion of the state, established in 1847 from portions of Kanawha, Cabell, and Logan counties. Named after frontiersman Daniel Boone, Boone County includes approximately 503 square miles of rugged Appalachian terrain characterized by steep hills, narrow valleys, and dense forests. Boone County Seat is Madison, located along the Coal River. According to recent census estimates, Boone County has a population of approximately 21,000 residents, representing a decline from its peak during the coal mining boom of the mid-20th century.
Boone County is renowned for its coal mining heritage, with vast seams of bituminous coal having shaped its economy and culture for over a century. Major communities include Madison, Danville, Whitesville, Sylvester, and Seth. The Little Coal River and Coal River are prominent waterways that wind through Boone County.
Chief Cornstalk Wildlife Management Area offers outdoor recreation opportunities. Boone County Courthouse, located at 200 State Street in Madison, houses the County Clerk, the Assessor's Office at the same address, and the County Commission. Boone County Clerk's office operates within the County Clerk's office structure.
Boone County's topography made it relatively isolated until modern transportation improvements, preserving traditional Appalachian culture while the coal industry drove economic development throughout the 20th century.
Sheriff, Police & Law Enforcement
Sheriff & Law Enforcement
Boone County Sheriff's Office is responsible for law enforcement in the unincorporated areas of Boone County. It manages Boone County jail, processes arrests, and maintains criminal records. The office is tasked with patrolling rural areas, making sure of public safety, and providing various community services.
Police Departments
In addition to Boone County Sheriff's Office, several municipal police departments operate within Boone County, including the Madison Police Department and the Danville Police Department. These agencies are responsible for law enforcement within their respective city limits, handling local crime, traffic enforcement, and community policing.
Law Enforcement & Arrests
Boone County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 200 State Street in Madison, WV 25130, provides primary law enforcement services throughout unincorporated areas of Boone County.
- Requests should be made in writing and may be subject to reasonable copying fees.
- The West Virginia State Police Detachment in Logan also provides support and investigative services to Boone County.
- Processing times for public records requests vary but agencies must respond within a reasonable timeframe as prescribed by state law.
Inmate information for Boone County jail can be obtained by calling the detention center directly or visiting the Sheriff's Office during business hours; West Virginia does not maintain a unified statewide online inmate lookup system, so inquiries are typically handled at Boone County level. Municipal police departments operate in incorporated towns including the Madison Police Department and Danville Police Department, which handle law enforcement within their respective jurisdictions. Arrest records in Boone County are considered public records under the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act (West Virginia Code §29B-1-1 et seq.), and citizens may request copies of arrest reports, incident reports, and booking records from the Sheriff's Office or local police departments.
Mugshots and booking photographs are typically available through the arresting agency, though some information may be redacted if it pertains to ongoing investigations or involves juvenile offenders.
Criminal, Arrest & Jail Records
Criminal Records
The criminal records system in Boone County includes records of felonies, misdemeanors, traffic violations, and the sex offender registry. Residents can conduct background checks through the West Virginia State Police, which provides full criminal history reports. Boone County Circuit Clerk also helps with maintaining court related criminal records, accessible to the public under state law.
Arrest Records
Arrest records in Boone County are maintained by Boone County Sheriff's Office. These records include details of the arrest, charges, and personal information of the arrestee. Residents and attorneys can request arrest records by contacting the Sheriff's Office directly. The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act governs the accessibility of these records, for public access and public access to information. Arrest records typically include the date of arrest, charges filed, and the arresting officer's name.
Jail & Inmate Records
Boone County Jail, also known as Boone County Detention Center, is where individuals arrested in Boone County are booked and held. The booking process involves fingerprinting, photographing, and recording personal information. Visitation rules are specific to the facility and typically require scheduling in advance.
- The bond and bail process in West Virginia allows for the release of individuals pending trial, with conditions set by the court.
Mugshots & Booking Photos
Mugshots in Boone County are taken and retained by Boone County Sheriff's Office during the booking process. These booking photos are part of the arrest records and can be accessed through the Sheriff's Office or online databases. While West Virginia does not have specific mugshot removal laws, individuals can request removal or sealing under certain circumstances, such as expungement of records. Mugshots are often used by law enforcement for identification and investigative purposes.
Courts & Case Records
Boone County's judicial system is served by the Circuit Court of Boone County, located at 200 State Street, Madison, WV 25130, which handles felony criminal cases, civil matters exceeding $10,000, domestic relations including divorce, and appeals from lower courts. The court can be contacted through the office’s website. Boone County Magistrate Court, also located in the courthouse complex, handles misdemeanor offenses, traffic violations, preliminary hearings for felonies, civil cases up to $10,000, emergency protective orders, and warrant issuance.
- Online case searching through the state system allows lookup by party name, case number, or attorney, though detailed documents typically require in-person or mail requests with payment.
West Virginia Code §51-2-1 establishes the circuit court structure, while magistrate courts operate under §50-1-1. The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals maintains case search capabilities through their website at courtswv.gov, though not all historical records have been digitized. In-person case file inspection is available during regular business hours at the Circuit Clerk's office, and certified copies of court documents can be obtained for a statutory fee of $0.50 per page plus certification fees.
The Circuit Clerk maintains records of judgments, liens, civil suits, criminal convictions, probate matters, and land-related court proceedings. West Virginia public access to court records is governed by Administrative Order and interpretations of the state Freedom of Information Act.
Property & Public Records
Property and land records for Boone County are maintained by Boone County Clerk's Office at 200 State Street, Madison, WV 25130 Boone County Clerk is the recorder of deeds and maintains all documents related to real property transfers including warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, deeds of trust, mortgages, releases, liens (mechanics' liens, judgment liens, tax liens), easements, rights-of-way, mineral deeds, surface deeds, and plat maps.
- Certified copies of recorded documents can be obtained from the County Clerk for the statutory fee of $1.00 for the first page and $0.50 for each additional page, plus a certification fee.
- Boone County Assessor may provide property record cards and assessment information upon request.
West Virginia law requires all real property conveyances to be recorded in Boone County where the property is located to provide constructive notice and establish priority. Boone County Assessor's Office, also located at 200 State Street, phone, maintains property tax assessment records, ownership information, property characteristics, valuations, and tax maps. While some West Virginia counties offer online property record searching, Boone County's records access is primarily in-person or by phone inquiry, though the West Virginia State Auditor's Property Tax Division website provides some county-level property tax information.
Land records dating back to Boone County's 1847 formation are preserved in the Clerk's vault, with indexes to help with searches by grantor, grantee, or property description.
Vital Records
Vital records for Boone County, West Virginia are handled through multiple offices depending on the record type and date. Birth and death certificates occurring in Boone County can be requested through Boone County Clerk's Office at 200 State Street, Madison, WV 25130, phone, for records filed locally, though the primary repository is the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, Vital Registration Office, 350 Capitol Street, Room 165, Charleston, WV 25301. Birth certificates cost $12 for the first copy and certified copies of death certificates are also $12.
- Marriage licenses are issued by Boone County Clerk, requiring both parties to appear in person with proper identification and payment of the license fee (approximately $56).
- Processing time for vital records from Boone County office is typically immediate to three business days if records are on file locally; requests to the state office typically take two to four weeks.
- The West Virginia Vital Registration Office offers online ordering through VitalChek with expedited processing available for additional fees.
Business & Licensing
Business and licensing records in Boone County are maintained by several offices depending on the record type. Boone County Clerk's Office at 200 State Street, Madison, WV 25130, phone, records trade names, fictitious names, and Doing Business As (DBA) filings for businesses operating in Boone County under names other than their legal entity name, as required by West Virginia Code §47-8-5. The filing fee is established by state law and these records are public.
- Building permits, zoning approvals, and land use permits are processed through Boone County Building Inspector and Zoning Office.
- Boone County Chamber of Commerce, while not a governmental body, provides business information and networking opportunities for the local business community.
For formal business entity formation and registration (corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships), the West Virginia Secretary of State Business & Licensing Division maintains the official registry, accessible online at business4.wv.gov or sos.wv.gov, where users can search by business name, officer name, or registered agent. The Secretary of State's office is located at Building 1, Suite 157-K, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard East, Charleston, WV 25305. Business licenses and permits in Boone County may require approval from Boone County Commission depending on business type and location.
Professional and occupational licensing is handled by respective West Virginia boards and commissions. The West Virginia State Tax Department, located in Charleston, issues business registration certificates and sales tax permits.
Elections & Voter Records
Elections in Boone County, West Virginia are administered by Boone County Clerk, who is the chief election official for Boone County. Boone County Clerk's Office is located at 200 State Street, Madison, WV 25130, and can be contacted through the office’s website. election related inquiries. Voter registration in West Virginia can be completed online through the Secretary of State's website at GoVoteWV.com, by mail using a National Mail Voter Registration Form, or in person at the County Clerk's office. The registration deadline is 21 days before any election.
- West Virginia requires voters to provide their date of birth and West Virginia driver's license number or the last four digits of their Social Security number when registering.
- West Virginia election records are subject to public inspection under the state's Freedom of Information Act, promoting transparency in the electoral process.
- Boone County Clerk's office provides election results, voter statistics, and candidate information upon request.
Voters can verify their registration status and find their assigned polling location through the GoVoteWV.com portal by entering their name and date of birth, or by contacting the County Clerk directly. Public election records in Boone County include voter registration lists (available for purchase by authorized parties under West Virginia Code §3-2-30), candidate filing documents maintained by the Clerk, campaign finance reports filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office, and precinct-level election results published after certification. The November 2024 general election saw voter turnout in Boone County consistent with historical patterns for Boone County, typically ranging between 45% and 60% in presidential election years.
The next major election is scheduled for November 3, 2026, featuring U.S. House of Representatives races, potential U.S. Senate contests, West Virginia state legislative seats, and various county offices.
Absentee voting is available to any registered West Virginia voter without requiring an excuse; applications for absentee ballots can be submitted online through GoVoteWV.com, downloaded from the Secretary of State's website, or obtained from the County Clerk. Absentee ballot applications must be received by the County Clerk no later than six days before Election Day, and completed ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted.
Economy & Demographics
Boone County's economy has historically been dominated by coal mining, with bituminous coal extraction serving as the primary economic driver throughout the 20th century and into the 21st. Major employers have included coal companies operating numerous underground and mountaintop removal mines throughout Boone County's coal seams, though the industry has faced significant decline since 2010 due to market forces, environmental regulations, and competition from natural gas. According to recent U.S.
- Census data, the median household income in Boone County is approximately $38,000 to $42,000, significantly below the national median, reflecting the economic challenges following coal's decline.
The unemployment rate has fluctuated above state and national averages, particularly as mining employment decreased from thousands of jobs to hundreds. Key economic sectors now include healthcare (with local clinics and hospitals), education, retail trade, government services, and timber. Boone County has sought economic diversification through initiatives promoting outdoor recreation and tourism given its proximity to the Hatfield-McCoy Trail System, one of the nation's premier off-road vehicle trail networks that brings thousands of visitors annually.
Other employers include Boone County Board of Education, county government, small manufacturers, and service businesses. Economic development efforts focus on infrastructure improvements, broadband expansion, workforce retraining, and attraction of light manufacturing. Boone County faces challenges including population decline, aging infrastructure, and limited economic diversity, though community organizations and state programs work to attract new investment and support entrepreneurship.
Transparency Score
Court Records: Yes: Online (State Portal) | Property: Limited: Online, In-Person Preferred | Arrest/Jail: Limited: Phone/In-Person | Vital Records: Limited: In-Person or Mail | Business: Yes: Online (State Level) | Elections: Yes: Online (State Portal) | Overall Score: 6/10, Boone County provides access to public records primarily through in-person requests and state-level online systems, with room for improved county-level digital accessibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Cities & Towns in Boone County
Explore public records for 29 cities and communities in Boone County, West Virginia.