Williamson, West Virginia

Not to be confused with Williamstown, West Virginia.
Williamson, West Virginia
City

Williamson, West Virginia; view looking down East 2nd Ave.

Location of Williamson, West Virginia
Coordinates: 37°40′26″N 82°16′47″W / 37.67389°N 82.27972°W / 37.67389; -82.27972Coordinates: 37°40′26″N 82°16′47″W / 37.67389°N 82.27972°W / 37.67389; -82.27972
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Mingo
Government
 • Mayor Robert Carlton
Area[1]
 • Total 3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2)
 • Land 3.26 sq mi (8.44 km2)
 • Water 0 sq mi (0 km2)
Elevation 653 ft (199 m)
Population (2010)[2]
 • Total 3,191
 • Estimate (2012[3]) 3,098
 • Density 978.8/sq mi (377.9/km2)
Time zone Eastern (EST) (UTC-5)
 • Summer (DST) EDT (UTC-4)
ZIP code 25661
Area code(s) 304 Exchanges: 235,236
FIPS code 54-87508[4]
GNIS feature ID 1549185[5]

Williamson is a city in Mingo County, West Virginia, United States, along the Tug Fork River. The population was 3,191 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Mingo County,[6] and is the county's largest and most populous city. Williamson is home to Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. The Tug Fork River separates Williamson from South Williamson, Kentucky.

Williamson is the site of a large rail yard built by the former Norfolk and Western Railroad (now Norfolk Southern Railway), which was built to service the many coal mines of the region. The city is protected by a floodwall, completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1991 in response to devastating floods along the Tug Fork River in 1977 and again in 1984. The wall incorporates floodgates along major access points which, when locked, form a solid barrier against floodwaters. There have only been two uses of the gates thus far: the first occurring in 2002 during a major flood in the region, and the second occurring in 2003, when only two lower lying gates were closed in anticipation of rising water levels.

The local economy is largely fueled by coal mining, transportation, health care and retail.

History

The Coal House in Williamson, West Virginia

Williamson was incorporated in 1892. Most historians believe that Williamson was named in honor of Wallace J. Williamson.[7] He owned the land where Williamson now stands,[8] earned a fortune in real estate investments in the area, and founded the city's first bank and its first hotel. Others claim that the city was named for Wallace's father, Benjamin F. Williamson. He owned most of the land in the region before dividing it among his sons.

Williamson grew rapidly once the railroad connected into the town. Its population, just 688 in 1900, jumped to 6,819 in 1920 and 9,410 in 1930.

Aerial view of Williamson, West Virginia, during construction of its current floodwall, completed in 1991. The Tug Fork river is the border between West Virginia and Kentucky; the highway on the left (US-119) is in Kentucky.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop. %±
19103,561—
19206,81991.5%
19309,41038.0%
19408,366−11.1%
19508,6243.1%
19606,746−21.8%
19705,831−13.6%
19805,219−10.5%
19904,154−20.4%
20003,414−17.8%
20103,191−6.5%
Est. 20153,003[9]−5.9%
U.S. Decennial Census[10]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 3,191 people, 1,524 households, and 835 families residing in the city. The population density was 978.8 inhabitants per square mile (377.9/km2). There were 1,885 housing units at an average density of 578.2 per square mile (223.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 87.3% White, 9.4% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.8% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 2.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.8% of the population.

There were 1,524 households of which 22.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples living together, 14.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.1% had a male householder with no wife present, and 45.2% were non-families. 42.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.76.

The median age in the city was 47.1 years. 18.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 31.2% were from 45 to 64; and 21.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 45.2% male and 54.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 3,414 people, 1,566 households, and 903 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,022.6 people per square mile (394.7/km²). There were 1,892 housing units at an average density of 566.7 per square mile (218.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.51% White, 13.65% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 1,566 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,635, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $20,291 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,303. About 22.1% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.5% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Geography

The Tug Fork River at Williamson

Williamson is located at 37°40′26″N 82°16′47″W / 37.67389°N 82.27972°W / 37.67389; -82.27972 (37.673936, −82.279613).[11] According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.26 square miles (8.44 km2), all land.[1]

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Williamson has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[12]

Attractions

Brass plaque on The Coal House in Williamson, West Virginia

The Coal House, whose walls are constructed from 65 tons of bituminous coal from the nearby Winifrede Seam, serves as the headquarters of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce. It was built in 1933 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. In October 2010, the interior of the Coal House was destroyed in a fire. The Coal House interior has since been restored while preserving the historical integrity of the building.

The Williamson Field House is a 6,000 capacity facility which was once home to the Williamson High School Boys' basketball team.

The Hatfield–McCoy Trails, a popular network of ATV trails, run through the mountains surrounding the city, with numerous trailheads in and around the Williamson area. One of Hatfield-McCoy Trails has a community connector in Williamson area, Buffalo Trail which can be found on the W 4th Ave (coordinates: 37°40′39.0″N 82°16′57.1″W / 37.677500°N 82.282528°W / 37.677500; -82.282528).[13]

Each year, in June, as many as 500 distance runners from around the United States and several foreign countries descend upon Williamson for the Hatfield-McCoy Marathon.[14] Beginning in South Williamson, Kentucky, the race ends in the midst of the annual Hatfield-McCoy Reunion Festival in downtown Williamson.

Notable people

Media

Major highways

Rail yard in Williamson
Rail yard in Williamson

References

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