Huntington, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Huntington is a city in Cabell
and Wayne
counties in the U.S. state
of West Virginia
, along the Ohio River
. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat
. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at the 2010 census. Huntington is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
(MSA). As of 2009, the MSA's population was 285,624. Huntington is the largest city within the MSA and the second largest city in West Virginia, behind Charleston
. The city is also the home of Marshall University
.
, who founded Huntington in 1870 as the western terminus for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
(C&O) on the land west of the mouth of the Guyandotte River
at the Ohio River
. It was created as a railroad town for the C&O, when it initially stretched from Richmond, Virginia
to the Ohio River
. The city houses numerous railroad shops which expanded east to Newport News
(and coal pier
s) and west to eventually reach Cincinnati and Chicago in the years after its founding.
The first permanent settlement in what is now modern-day Huntington was founded in 1775 as "Holderby's Landing."
Huntington was incorporated in 1871 near the earlier city of Guyandotte
. Guyandotte, which became a neighborhood of Huntington in 1911, was founded in 1799 on land that was originally part of the 28628 acres (115.9 km²) French and Indian War
veteran's Savage Grant. Meriwether Lewis passed the Guyandotte and Big Sandy River peninsula on or about September 20, 1803 on his way down the Ohio River before meeting up with William Clark in Clarksville, Indiana.
Historically, the old Federal Era town of Guyandotte has homes dating back to 1820 and a graveyard containing 18th century French and Colonial-era settlers, including surnames such as LeTulle, Holderby, and Buffington. Huntington was known as Holderby's Landing prior to 1871 and the Buffington family held the tracts of land that became the Huntington Land Company. The Buffingtons were the only revolutionary-era Savage Grant claimants to continuously reside within the area, and later generations of Buffingtons were associated with Marshall College (later a university) were business partners of Collis P. Huntington. Albert Gallatin Jenkins, a Confederate Army General, had his plantation home in nearby Lesage
, which has since become a historical landmark. The James River and Kanawha Company toll road reached both Guyandotte and the Big Sandy River in 1829, bringing overland commerce to the area.
At the time of Huntington's founding, Holderby's Landing was already the home of Marshall College, a normal school
that had been founded in 1837 as Marshall Academy by John Laidley in honor of his friend, US Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall. Originally, Marshall Academy was essentially a boarding school
, under the control of the Southern Methodist Church
, for wealthy high school
students. In 1857, the school became Marshall College, which in turn became a public institution in 1867. The college later became Marshall University
in 1961 and now occupies a large portion of the city to the immediate east of the downtown CBD
.
In 1891, work constructing the first school building for African American
s was begun. Douglass High School was named for U.S. abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass
. Among the school's early graduates in 1896 was Carter G. Woodson
, who became its principal four years later. Dr. Woodson became a noted teacher, educator and historian, and was one of the first blacks to be awarded a doctorate from Harvard University
. Known as the father of Afro-American History, in 1926, he founded Negro History Week, which later became Afro-American History Month. Public school desegregation resulted in the closing of Douglass High School in 1961. The building was placed on the register of historic places in 1985.
By the 1950 census, Huntington had peaked at a high of 86,000 residents. Beginning in the early 1960s, Huntington's dense population began to spread out across the surrounding areas which can be attributed to the typicality of urban sprawl. The city of Huntington's population declined as the metropolitan area actually saw increases in population. Although still an industrial city. Huntington is also now effectively a regional medical community – the two hospitals, St. Mary's and Cabell-Huntington Hospital, are the largest employers – and a university town, thanks to the presence of Marshall University, which has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students.
As transportation has improved, residents began spreading out around Huntington in suburban settings even in Kentucky and Ohio. Huntington's population decline can be totally attributed to this as the metropolitan area population has remained the same or increased in the last 30 years. Huntington is often grouped into the "Rust Belt" syndrome list of cities at first glance (a list of U.S. industrial cities that experienced decline in the 1970s and 1980s due to shifts in the American economy). These first glances fastidiously attribute the city of Huntington's population decline to that, but in actuality, this syndrome has never occurred in Huntington. As modern highways made transportation to Huntington easier, so did the residents take advantage of this by building new communities outside the city limits. The city of Huntington failed to annex these areas which resulted in a loss of population. However, the metropolitan statistical area has not decreased. In "Rust Belt" communities, the whole region declines which is simply not the case with Huntington.
In the 1970s, federal urban renewal programs destroyed part of the downtown. However, in 2005 downtown again began to prosper with construction of the Pullman Square
, retail and entertainment lifestyle center
. The Harris Riverfront Park promenade is now well-attended along the Ohio River
downtown.
McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 jet transporting 75 Marshall University
football players, coaches, staff, and supporters crashed just short of the Tri-State Airport
in adjoining Ceredo, West Virginia
. Everyone on board was killed.
A movie titled We Are Marshall
, starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, was released locally on December 12, 2006, and nationally on December 22, 2006. The movie depicts the aftermath of the aviation disaster for the families and university.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 18 square miles (46.6 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it (11.51%) is water. The Guyandotte River
joins the Ohio River
in Huntington, about 5 mi (8 km) east of its downtown.
Due to its position in the westernmost and lowest altitude areas of the state, the city is on the northern limits of a warmer and milder Humid subtropical climate
, unlike the hilly uplands
of West Virginia which are located in the Allegheny Mountains
and the Appalachian Mountains
. Huntington is warmed by westerly winds from the Midwest, and made humid by the Ohio River, but avoids the bitter cold and high winds of the interior of West Virginia. Huntington enjoys temperate four seasons, with hot (70–90 degrees) summers and snowy (20–50 degrees) winters. Fall and spring tend to be cool and wet, but
Huntington fills the roughly three-mile wide flood plain of the south bank of the Ohio River for sixty city block
s and portions of the hills to the immediate south.
The city's primary public recreation center is Ritter Park (named for Charles L. Ritter who donated the land). The park area encompasses a walking and cycling path, tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater, a multi-terraced rose garden, and a stone-tiered reflecting pond built by the Works Progress Administration
and Civilian Conservation Corps
in the late 1930s. Four Pole Creek runs the entire length of Ritter Park and is crossed by numerous wooden and stone footbridge
s.
Huntington has, since 1985, operated under a strong mayor/city council
form of government. The mayor is elected to four-year terms in partisan elections contested at the same time as United States presidential election
s. The current mayor is former Cabell County
Sheriff
Kim Wolfe, a Republican
who is currently in his first term. Mayors in Huntington are term-limited to three terms and have the authority to veto
acts of the city council.
Huntington's city councilors are also elected to four-year terms at the same time as the mayor. There are eleven members of the council, nine of whom represent single-member districts, while the other two are elected at-large by the city as a whole. Huntington's city council has the authority to draft and debate ordinances and can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority. There are currently nine Democrats and two Republicans
on the city council.
The city also serves as the county seat
of Cabell County. The Cabell County Courthouse is located in downtown Huntington on a parcel that covers an entire city block. Within the building are the offices for all of the county's elected officials and their employees, including the sheriff
, county commission
ers, county clerk, magistrates, and Circuit Court judge
s.
of 2000, there were 51,475 people, 22,955 households, and 12,235 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,234.1 people per square mile (1,248.4/km²). There were 25,888 housing units at an average density of 1,626.5 per square mile (627.9/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city was 89.61% White, 7.49% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 22,955 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,234, and the median income for a family was $34,756. Males had a median income of $30,040 versus $21,198 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,717. About 17.5% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 and older.
Huntington is home to several medical centers. St. Mary's Medical Center
and Cabell Huntington Hospital
provide healthcare for Huntington and the surrounding metropolitan area. St. Mary's and Cabell-Huntington are jointly designated as the only trauma center in the region. St. Mary's is home to a regional heart institute, regional cancer center and regional neuroscience center. The Marshall University Medical Center is located at Cabell-Huntington. In addition, the Marshall University
Medical School, now known as the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in honor of Joan C. Edwards
, a major benefactor, has a comprehensive cancer care center. It is also a distinguished leader nationwide for rural health care delivery.
The Huntington Veteran's Administration (VA) Medical Center, located on Spring Valley Drive, is an 80-bed medical and surgical care facility that offers primary inpatient and outpatient care, along with mental health services and subspeciality outpatient options. It is also the primary teaching facility for the Marshall University School of Medicine and is also affiliated with the Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
. In 1993, the Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition expanded the hospital's surgery, radiology, laboratory, cardiology, nuclear medicine, and rehabilitation services and renovated inpatient care facilities. In 1998, a $10 million research facility was completed
The city is also home to the state's largest psychiatric hospital, Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital.
A banking and commerce
center for the area between 1880 and the present, Huntington developed along the river's shore with its 19th-century urban industry. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad had its western terminus in Huntington and railroad tracks bifurcate the city today. The railroad was historically the leading Huntington industry, along with coal, railcars, nickel, steel and glass.
while another 12.7% of adults aged 18 or older reported a diagnosis of diabetes.
An Associated Press article describes lifestyle and cultural barriers as obstacles to better public health. As examples, the article describes local eating habits (the number of pizza
shops in Huntington alone exceeding the total number of health clubs available in the entire state of West Virginia), the relatively sedentary culture, and poor education as causes for health issues described in the CDC report. In an MSNBC report published November 16, 2008, Huntington was rated as the unhealthiest city in the United States. The study took into consideration obesity rates, toothlessness and levels of healthcare.
Despite the high levels of obesity, the lack of basic dental care, and some of the highest incidents of diabetes and heart disease in the United States, Huntington city leaders have not identified the general unhealthy population as a significant problem. Former Huntington Mayor, David Felinton, has said, referring to the Huntington's public health problems, "It doesn't come up."
As a consequence of Huntington's high rates of obesity
, diabetes and coronary heart disease
, Huntington was selected by Jamie Oliver
to be the location of his television series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
.
Huntington has a central business district, located directly south of the Ohio River
, east of the Robert C. Byrd Bridge
, and west of 11th Street. It has another smaller business district, known as "Old Central City," that is well known for its antique shops. There are several heavy industrial plants that line the Ohio River and the Guyandotte River
, but the dominance of Marshall University's
research prominence and the growing service sector, especially in the medical field, is reversing the effects of the rust belt
that have plagued Huntington for two decades.
The city also has a wealth of architecture, most of it constructed at a time when Huntington was dominated by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
. The city can also lay claim to a new urban renewal stance, brought on by Heritage Village, Pullman Square, and the continued investment in numerous downtown properties. Offshoots of the Pullman Square project include the renovation of many historical structures along 3rd Avenue, a new 9th Street Plaza, and the Old Main Corridor project.
Huntington is also home to Heiner's Bakery. Founded in 1905, Heiner's employs nearly 500 people in its 130000 square feet (12,077.4 m²) facility. The company's products are sold under the Heiner's and Sara Lee names in grocery, retail, and convenience stores.
Huntington is still a base for the metal working and welding trades with the repair of rail road rolling stock, barges, and river boat equipment.
Huntington Special Metals, West Virginia Steel, Martin Steel, Huntington Plating, Richwood Industries, Hammers Industries, plus several others. These major fabricating firms serve the railroads, river transportation, steel making, coal, oil, natural gas, electrical, windpower, biofuel, and other important industries.
. It is loosely bound by 3rd Ave to the North, 5th Ave to the South, 10th St to the East, and 6th–7th Sts, to the West.
Old Main
at Marshall University, sits on Hal Greer Boulevard at 4th Avenue, in the Highlawn District, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. The Trustees of Marshall Academy purchased the land at Maple Grove for $40 in 1839. The building has been renovated several times. The 1870 renovation is the earliest section of Old Main to survive to the present.
The Huntington Museum of Art
is located in the hills above Ritter Park, featuring numerous collections and exhibitions; it is also home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory
.
The Museum of Radio and Technology
is located near the west end of the park in a renovated elementary school. The Cabell County Courthouse and the Carnegie Library
in the downtown also hold historical interests.
The Keith-Albee Theatre
, a former Vaudeville
palace in the "Art Deco" style from the 1920s, is one of the architectural masterpieces of downtown Huntington, located along 4th Avenue. It is currently being renovated to become one of the state's largest performing arts centers.
One block south, 5th Avenue is noted for its many historical church buildings. The city is also the site of an Adena
Native American
burial mound
.
Traditional "drive-in" restaurants and hot dog stand
s are popular in the city.
, an amusement park, is also adjacent to the city. Camden Park is West Virginia's only amusement park. The park has been open since 1903.
Pullman Square
features many restaurants and shops and a stage for live performances.
Huntington is in the process of building the towns first dog park. After trying for years to accrue donations to break ground, Huntington entered and won the Pet Safe Bark For Your Park contest which donated $100,000 to build a local dog park. The ground breaking ceremony was held on August 18, 2011. The dog park will be located on three acres of land connected to Ritter Park and plans to be opened in the summer of 2012.
ice-hockey team that was in existence from 1993 to 2000 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, the Huntington Heroes
indoor football team in the AIFA from 2006 to 2008, and a succession of minor league baseball
teams in the 1990s at St. Cloud Commons.
Starting in 2011, the Huntington Hammer will play at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena as a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
.
Print
Huntington has one of West Virginia's largest daily circulating newspapers, The Herald-Dispatch
, with an average weekday circulation of just over 25,000. The paper is owned by Champion Industries
.
The residents of Huntington are served by the Cabell County School System, which includes Huntington High School
, Cabell Midland High School
, Cabell County Career Technology Center, five middle schools, and 19 elementary schools. Huntington is also home to colleges and universities including Marshall University
, Mountwest Community & Technical College, the Robert C. Byrd Institute, the Huntington Junior College, and the Tri-State Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences http://www.tipswv.com.
The Cabell County Public Library system operates a main branch downtown and seven branches in neighboring towns.
Huntington is located along Interstate 64
, which skirts the city to the south. It has four interchanges that serve the city: US 52 (West Huntington Expressway), WV 152/WV 527, WV 10, and US 60
.
US 60
, part of the historic Midland Trail
, runs through the entire length of Huntington from west to east, cutting through West Huntington, downtown, East Huntington, and along the Guyandotte River
. US 52
cuts through West Huntington along the West Huntington Expressway, but its presence is brief. It has an interchange at Madison Avenue and one for US 60
.
The city is the northern terminus for WV 10, a scenic highway that follows the Guyandotte River for much of its length and connects Huntington to Princeton
. It is also the southern terminus of WV 2, which parallels the entirety of West Virginia's section of the Ohio River
, and facilitates much traffic towards Point Pleasant
and Parkersburg
.
Huntington utilizes a grid-like street pattern featuring several wide boulevard-style
avenues that run east and west. Most notable of these are 3rd and 5th Avenues. The city has a numbered street naming system, with avenues running east and west (parallel to the Ohio River) and streets running north and south.
The city has connections over the Ohio River
to Proctorville, Ohio
via the East Huntington Bridge, and to Chesapeake, Ohio
via the Robert C. Byrd Bridge
and the West Huntington Bridge
.
Since its founding as the western terminus of the C&O Railroad, Huntington has served as a major break of bulk point between rail traffic and the Ohio River/Mississippi River
watershed
. Much of the coal mined in southern West Virginia
is brought to Huntington by train to be transshipped and then transported by river barge
s to industrial centers in other parts of the United States. CSX, the successor company to C&O, continues to maintain a regional office, a rail yard, a freight car light repair shop and a locomotive heavy repair facility in the city.
The city was once a hub for passenger rail service in the region, but accounts for a significantly smaller portion of rail traffic than in the early decades of the 20th century. Huntington, however, has an Amtrak
station that lies on the Cardinal line running between New York City and Chicago via Washington, D.C.
and Cincinnati.
provides fixed-route bus service throughout Huntingon and Ironton, Ohio
.
The Port of Huntington-Tristate
is the largest inland port in the United States in both in terms of total tonnage and ton-miles. This is due in large part to the coal traffic from the railroads and the petroleum
products produced by the Marathon Petroleum Company
oil refinery
in nearby Catlettsburg, Kentucky
that use the Port of Huntington/Tri-State to load their products onto barges.
, located southwest of the city, is a public airport with two runways. Commercial air service is provided by three airlines: Allegiant Air
, Delta Connection
and US Airways Express
.
Cabell County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 96,784 people, 41,180 households, and 25,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile . There were 45,615 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile...
and Wayne
Wayne County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 42,903 people, 17,239 households, and 12,653 families residing in the county. The population density was 85 people per square mile . There were 19,107 housing units at an average density of 38 per square mile...
counties in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. Most of the city is in Cabell County, for which it is the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. A small portion of the city, mainly the neighborhood of Westmoreland, is in Wayne County. Its population was 49,138 at the 2010 census. Huntington is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area
The Huntington-Ashland-Ironton metropolitan area is a United States metropolitan area that includes five counties in West Virginia, Kentucky and Ohio. As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649. A July 1, 2009 estimate placed the population at 285,624. The MSA is nestled along the...
(MSA). As of 2009, the MSA's population was 285,624. Huntington is the largest city within the MSA and the second largest city in West Virginia, behind Charleston
Charleston, West Virginia
Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early...
. The city is also the home of Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
.
History
The city was named for Collis P. HuntingtonCollis P. Huntington
Collis Potter Huntington was one of the Big Four of western railroading who built the Central Pacific Railroad as part of the first U.S. transcontinental railroad...
, who founded Huntington in 1870 as the western terminus for the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway was a Class I railroad formed in 1869 in Virginia from several smaller Virginia railroads begun in the 19th century. Led by industrialist Collis P...
(C&O) on the land west of the mouth of the Guyandotte River
Guyandotte River
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans...
at the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. It was created as a railroad town for the C&O, when it initially stretched from Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
to the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. The city houses numerous railroad shops which expanded east to Newport News
Newport News, Virginia
Newport News is an independent city located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of Virginia. It is at the southeastern end of the Virginia Peninsula, on the north shore of the James River extending southeast from Skiffe's Creek along many miles of waterfront to the river's mouth at Newport News...
(and coal pier
Coal pier
A coal pier is a transloading facility designed for the transfer of coal between rail and ship.The typical facility for loading ships consists of a holding area and a system of conveyors for transferring the coal to dockside and loading it into the ship's cargo holds...
s) and west to eventually reach Cincinnati and Chicago in the years after its founding.
The first permanent settlement in what is now modern-day Huntington was founded in 1775 as "Holderby's Landing."
Huntington was incorporated in 1871 near the earlier city of Guyandotte
Guyandotte, West Virginia
Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River...
. Guyandotte, which became a neighborhood of Huntington in 1911, was founded in 1799 on land that was originally part of the 28628 acres (115.9 km²) French and Indian War
French and Indian War
The French and Indian War is the common American name for the war between Great Britain and France in North America from 1754 to 1763. In 1756, the war erupted into the world-wide conflict known as the Seven Years' War and thus came to be regarded as the North American theater of that war...
veteran's Savage Grant. Meriwether Lewis passed the Guyandotte and Big Sandy River peninsula on or about September 20, 1803 on his way down the Ohio River before meeting up with William Clark in Clarksville, Indiana.
Historically, the old Federal Era town of Guyandotte has homes dating back to 1820 and a graveyard containing 18th century French and Colonial-era settlers, including surnames such as LeTulle, Holderby, and Buffington. Huntington was known as Holderby's Landing prior to 1871 and the Buffington family held the tracts of land that became the Huntington Land Company. The Buffingtons were the only revolutionary-era Savage Grant claimants to continuously reside within the area, and later generations of Buffingtons were associated with Marshall College (later a university) were business partners of Collis P. Huntington. Albert Gallatin Jenkins, a Confederate Army General, had his plantation home in nearby Lesage
Lesage, West Virginia
Lesage is an unincorporated census-designated place on Ohio River Road in Cabell County, West Virginia, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 1,358. It is the nearest community to Clover Site, a National Historic Landmark....
, which has since become a historical landmark. The James River and Kanawha Company toll road reached both Guyandotte and the Big Sandy River in 1829, bringing overland commerce to the area.
At the time of Huntington's founding, Holderby's Landing was already the home of Marshall College, a normal school
Normal school
A normal school is a school created to train high school graduates to be teachers. Its purpose is to establish teaching standards or norms, hence its name...
that had been founded in 1837 as Marshall Academy by John Laidley in honor of his friend, US Supreme Court Chief Justice, John Marshall. Originally, Marshall Academy was essentially a boarding school
Boarding school
A boarding school is a school where some or all pupils study and live during the school year with their fellow students and possibly teachers and/or administrators. The word 'boarding' is used in the sense of "bed and board," i.e., lodging and meals...
, under the control of the Southern Methodist Church
Southern Methodist Church
The Southern Methodist Church is a conservative Protestant Christian denomination with churches located in the southern part of the United States...
, for wealthy high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
students. In 1857, the school became Marshall College, which in turn became a public institution in 1867. The college later became Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
in 1961 and now occupies a large portion of the city to the immediate east of the downtown CBD
Central business district
A central business district is the commercial and often geographic heart of a city. In North America this part of a city is commonly referred to as "downtown" or "city center"...
.
In 1891, work constructing the first school building for African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
s was begun. Douglass High School was named for U.S. abolitionist leader Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass
Frederick Douglass was an American social reformer, orator, writer and statesman. After escaping from slavery, he became a leader of the abolitionist movement, gaining note for his dazzling oratory and incisive antislavery writing...
. Among the school's early graduates in 1896 was Carter G. Woodson
Carter G. Woodson
Carter Godwin Woodson was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African American history. A founder of Journal of Negro History , Dr...
, who became its principal four years later. Dr. Woodson became a noted teacher, educator and historian, and was one of the first blacks to be awarded a doctorate from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. Known as the father of Afro-American History, in 1926, he founded Negro History Week, which later became Afro-American History Month. Public school desegregation resulted in the closing of Douglass High School in 1961. The building was placed on the register of historic places in 1985.
By the 1950 census, Huntington had peaked at a high of 86,000 residents. Beginning in the early 1960s, Huntington's dense population began to spread out across the surrounding areas which can be attributed to the typicality of urban sprawl. The city of Huntington's population declined as the metropolitan area actually saw increases in population. Although still an industrial city. Huntington is also now effectively a regional medical community – the two hospitals, St. Mary's and Cabell-Huntington Hospital, are the largest employers – and a university town, thanks to the presence of Marshall University, which has an enrollment of approximately 16,000 students.
As transportation has improved, residents began spreading out around Huntington in suburban settings even in Kentucky and Ohio. Huntington's population decline can be totally attributed to this as the metropolitan area population has remained the same or increased in the last 30 years. Huntington is often grouped into the "Rust Belt" syndrome list of cities at first glance (a list of U.S. industrial cities that experienced decline in the 1970s and 1980s due to shifts in the American economy). These first glances fastidiously attribute the city of Huntington's population decline to that, but in actuality, this syndrome has never occurred in Huntington. As modern highways made transportation to Huntington easier, so did the residents take advantage of this by building new communities outside the city limits. The city of Huntington failed to annex these areas which resulted in a loss of population. However, the metropolitan statistical area has not decreased. In "Rust Belt" communities, the whole region declines which is simply not the case with Huntington.
In the 1970s, federal urban renewal programs destroyed part of the downtown. However, in 2005 downtown again began to prosper with construction of the Pullman Square
Pullman Square
Pullman Square is a lifestyle center in downtown Huntington, West Virginia between 8th and 10th Street and 3rd Avenue and Veteran's Memorial Boulevard. It is located on what was known as the Superblock, a large urban renewal project that saw the demolishing of four city-square-blocks in 1970...
, retail and entertainment lifestyle center
Lifestyle center (retail)
A lifestyle center is a shopping center or mixed-used commercial development that combines the traditional retail functions of a shopping mall with leisure amenities oriented towards upscale consumers...
. The Harris Riverfront Park promenade is now well-attended along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
downtown.
Southern Airways Flight 932
On November 14, 1970, a chartered Southern AirwaysSouthern Airways
Southern Airways was a regional airline operating in the United States from its founding by Frank Hulse in 1949 until 1979 when it merged with North Central Airlines to become Republic Airlines, which on October 1, 1986, became part of Northwest Airlines, which in 2008 became a part of Delta Air...
McDonnell-Douglas DC-9 jet transporting 75 Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
football players, coaches, staff, and supporters crashed just short of the Tri-State Airport
Tri-State Airport
Tri-State Airport , also known as Milton J. Ferguson Field, is a public-use airport in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. The airport is located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Huntington, West Virginia, near the cities of Ceredo and Kenova...
in adjoining Ceredo, West Virginia
Ceredo, West Virginia
Ceredo is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,675 at the 2000 census. Ceredo is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the 2000 census, the MSA had a population of 288,649.The city is also near the location of...
. Everyone on board was killed.
A movie titled We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall
We Are Marshall is a 2006 American drama film directed by Joseph McGinty Nichol about the aftermath of the 1970 plane crash that killed 37 football players on the Marshall University Thundering Herd football team as well as five coaches, two athletic trainers, the athletic director, 25 boosters and...
, starring Matthew McConaughey and Matthew Fox, was released locally on December 12, 2006, and nationally on December 22, 2006. The movie depicts the aftermath of the aviation disaster for the families and university.
Geography and climate
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 18 square miles (46.6 km²), of which, 15.9 square miles (41.2 km²) of it is land and 2.1 square miles (5.4 km²) of it (11.51%) is water. The Guyandotte River
Guyandotte River
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans...
joins the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
in Huntington, about 5 mi (8 km) east of its downtown.
Due to its position in the westernmost and lowest altitude areas of the state, the city is on the northern limits of a warmer and milder Humid subtropical climate
Humid subtropical climate
A humid subtropical climate is a climate zone characterized by hot, humid summers and mild to cool winters...
, unlike the hilly uplands
Highland (geography)
The term highland or upland is used to denote any mountainous region or elevated mountainous plateau. Generally speaking, the term upland tends to be used for ranges of hills, typically up to 500-600m, and highland for ranges of low mountains.The Scottish Highlands refers to the mountainous...
of West Virginia which are located in the Allegheny Mountains
Allegheny Mountains
The Allegheny Mountain Range , also spelled Alleghany, Allegany and, informally, the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the eastern United States and Canada...
and the Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. Huntington is warmed by westerly winds from the Midwest, and made humid by the Ohio River, but avoids the bitter cold and high winds of the interior of West Virginia. Huntington enjoys temperate four seasons, with hot (70–90 degrees) summers and snowy (20–50 degrees) winters. Fall and spring tend to be cool and wet, but
Huntington fills the roughly three-mile wide flood plain of the south bank of the Ohio River for sixty city block
City block
A city block, urban block or simply block is a central element of urban planning and urban design. A city block is the smallest area that is surrounded by streets. City blocks are the space for buildings within the street pattern of a city, they form the basic unit of a city's urban fabric...
s and portions of the hills to the immediate south.
The city's primary public recreation center is Ritter Park (named for Charles L. Ritter who donated the land). The park area encompasses a walking and cycling path, tennis courts, an outdoor amphitheater, a multi-terraced rose garden, and a stone-tiered reflecting pond built by the Works Progress Administration
Works Progress Administration
The Works Progress Administration was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency, employing millions of unskilled workers to carry out public works projects, including the construction of public buildings and roads, and operated large arts, drama, media, and literacy projects...
and Civilian Conservation Corps
Civilian Conservation Corps
The Civilian Conservation Corps was a public work relief program that operated from 1933 to 1942 in the United States for unemployed, unmarried men from relief families, ages 18–25. A part of the New Deal of President Franklin D...
in the late 1930s. Four Pole Creek runs the entire length of Ritter Park and is crossed by numerous wooden and stone footbridge
Footbridge
A footbridge or pedestrian bridge is a bridge designed for pedestrians and in some cases cyclists, animal traffic and horse riders, rather than vehicular traffic. Footbridges complement the landscape and can be used decoratively to visually link two distinct areas or to signal a transaction...
s.
Government and politics
City council
A city council or town council is the legislative body that governs a city, town, municipality or local government area.-Australia & NZ:Because of the differences in legislation between the States, the exact definition of a City Council varies...
form of government. The mayor is elected to four-year terms in partisan elections contested at the same time as United States presidential election
United States presidential election
Elections for President and Vice President of the United States are indirect elections in which voters cast ballots for a slate of electors of the U.S. Electoral College, who in turn directly elect the President and Vice President...
s. The current mayor is former Cabell County
Cabell County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 96,784 people, 41,180 households, and 25,490 families residing in the county. The population density was 344 people per square mile . There were 45,615 housing units at an average density of 162 per square mile...
Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
Kim Wolfe, a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
who is currently in his first term. Mayors in Huntington are term-limited to three terms and have the authority to veto
Veto
A veto, Latin for "I forbid", is the power of an officer of the state to unilaterally stop an official action, especially enactment of a piece of legislation...
acts of the city council.
Huntington's city councilors are also elected to four-year terms at the same time as the mayor. There are eleven members of the council, nine of whom represent single-member districts, while the other two are elected at-large by the city as a whole. Huntington's city council has the authority to draft and debate ordinances and can override a mayoral veto with a two-thirds majority. There are currently nine Democrats and two Republicans
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
on the city council.
| District | City Council | District | City Council |
|---|---|---|---|
| District 1 | Jim Ritter (D) | District 7 | Scott Caserta (D) |
| District 2 | Teresa Loudermilk (D) | District 8 | Russ Houck (D) |
| District 3 | Frances Jackson (D) | District 9 | James Insco (D) |
| District 4 | Nate Randolph (R) | At Large | Steve Williams (D) |
| District 5 | Sandra Clements (D) | At Large | Rebecca Thacker (D) |
| District 6 | Mark Bates (R) |
The city also serves as the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
of Cabell County. The Cabell County Courthouse is located in downtown Huntington on a parcel that covers an entire city block. Within the building are the offices for all of the county's elected officials and their employees, including the sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
, county commission
County commission
A county commission is a group of elected officials charged with administering the county government in local government in some states of the United States. County commissions are usually made up of three or more individuals...
ers, county clerk, magistrates, and Circuit Court judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
s.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 51,475 people, 22,955 households, and 12,235 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 3,234.1 people per square mile (1,248.4/km²). There were 25,888 housing units at an average density of 1,626.5 per square mile (627.9/km²). The ethnic makeup of the city was 89.61% White, 7.49% Black or African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.82% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.30% from other races, and 1.53% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.85% of the population.
There were 22,955 households out of which 20.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.9% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 46.7% were non-families. 37.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80.
In the city the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 17.5% from 18 to 24, 24.9% from 25 to 44, 21.8% from 45 to 64, and 18.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females there were 88.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.8 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,234, and the median income for a family was $34,756. Males had a median income of $30,040 versus $21,198 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $16,717. About 17.5% of families and 24.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.8% of those under the age of 18 and 12.5% of those 65 and older.
Institutions
St. Mary's Medical Center (Huntington)
St. Mary's Medical Center is a hospital in Huntington, West Virginia, USA. It is the largest medical facility in the tri-state region of West Virginia, Ohio, and Kentucky. The medical center is the largest private employer in Cabell County with over 2000 employees.-Academics:As a teaching...
and Cabell Huntington Hospital
Cabell Huntington Hospital
Cabell Huntington Hospital is a regional, 303-bed referral center located in Huntington, West Virginia. Cabell Huntington cares for patients from more than 29 counties throughout West Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southern Ohio. Opened in 1956, it is also a teaching hospital and is affiliated with...
provide healthcare for Huntington and the surrounding metropolitan area. St. Mary's and Cabell-Huntington are jointly designated as the only trauma center in the region. St. Mary's is home to a regional heart institute, regional cancer center and regional neuroscience center. The Marshall University Medical Center is located at Cabell-Huntington. In addition, the Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
Medical School, now known as the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine in honor of Joan C. Edwards
Joan C. Edwards
Joan C. Edwards was a New Orleans jazz singer and well-known West Virginia-based philanthropist.- Biography :Born Joan Cavill in London, England, she moved to New Orleans at the age of four...
, a major benefactor, has a comprehensive cancer care center. It is also a distinguished leader nationwide for rural health care delivery.
Pikeville College School of Osteopathic Medicine
The University of Pikeville Kentucky College of Osteopathic Medicine is an academic division of University of Pikeville, a private college located in Pikeville, Kentucky, which grants the Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree...
. In 1993, the Robert C. Byrd Clinical Addition expanded the hospital's surgery, radiology, laboratory, cardiology, nuclear medicine, and rehabilitation services and renovated inpatient care facilities. In 1998, a $10 million research facility was completed
The city is also home to the state's largest psychiatric hospital, Mildred Mitchell-Bateman Hospital.
A banking and commerce
Commerce
While business refers to the value-creating activities of an organization for profit, commerce means the whole system of an economy that constitutes an environment for business. The system includes legal, economic, political, social, cultural, and technological systems that are in operation in any...
center for the area between 1880 and the present, Huntington developed along the river's shore with its 19th-century urban industry. The Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad had its western terminus in Huntington and railroad tracks bifurcate the city today. The railroad was historically the leading Huntington industry, along with coal, railcars, nickel, steel and glass.
Public health issues
A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control August 15, 2008, using survey data from 2006, reported that Huntington is among the unhealthiest cities in America. The survey found that 24.3% of adults 18 years-of-age or older reported themselves as in poor to fair health. The survey also found that 48.1% of residents over 65 years of age in the Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio statistical area had all their natural teeth extracted. In addition, the CDC reports that 45.5% of adults over the age of 20 years are obese. 21.6% of adults over 45 years of age reported a diagnosis of coronary heart diseaseCoronary heart disease
Coronary artery disease is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes also called coronary heart disease...
while another 12.7% of adults aged 18 or older reported a diagnosis of diabetes.
An Associated Press article describes lifestyle and cultural barriers as obstacles to better public health. As examples, the article describes local eating habits (the number of pizza
Pizza
Pizza is an oven-baked, flat, disc-shaped bread typically topped with a tomato sauce, cheese and various toppings.Originating in Italy, from the Neapolitan cuisine, the dish has become popular in many parts of the world. An establishment that makes and sells pizzas is called a "pizzeria"...
shops in Huntington alone exceeding the total number of health clubs available in the entire state of West Virginia), the relatively sedentary culture, and poor education as causes for health issues described in the CDC report. In an MSNBC report published November 16, 2008, Huntington was rated as the unhealthiest city in the United States. The study took into consideration obesity rates, toothlessness and levels of healthcare.
Despite the high levels of obesity, the lack of basic dental care, and some of the highest incidents of diabetes and heart disease in the United States, Huntington city leaders have not identified the general unhealthy population as a significant problem. Former Huntington Mayor, David Felinton, has said, referring to the Huntington's public health problems, "It doesn't come up."
As a consequence of Huntington's high rates of obesity
Obesity
Obesity is a medical condition in which excess body fat has accumulated to the extent that it may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health problems...
, diabetes and coronary heart disease
Coronary heart disease
Coronary artery disease is the end result of the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the coronary arteries that supply the myocardium with oxygen and nutrients. It is sometimes also called coronary heart disease...
, Huntington was selected by Jamie Oliver
Jamie Oliver
James "Jamie" Trevor Oliver, MBE , sometimes known as The Naked Chef, is an English chef, restaurateur and media personality, known for his food-focused television shows, cookbooks and more recently his campaign against the use of processed foods in national schools...
to be the location of his television series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution
Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution is a television series which premiered on ABC on March 21, 2010...
.
Economy
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, east of the Robert C. Byrd Bridge
Robert C. Byrd Bridge
The Robert C. Byrd Bridge is a continuous truss automobile bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Huntington, West Virginia and Chesapeake, Ohio. The crossing was constructed to replace an old, narrow two lane structure that was demolished after 69 years of service in a spectacular implosion...
, and west of 11th Street. It has another smaller business district, known as "Old Central City," that is well known for its antique shops. There are several heavy industrial plants that line the Ohio River and the Guyandotte River
Guyandotte River
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans...
, but the dominance of Marshall University's
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
research prominence and the growing service sector, especially in the medical field, is reversing the effects of the rust belt
Rust Belt
The Rust Belt is a term that gained currency in the 1980s as the informal description of an area straddling the Midwestern and Northeastern United States, in which local economies traditionally garnered an increased manufacturing sector to add jobs and corporate profits...
that have plagued Huntington for two decades.
The city also has a wealth of architecture, most of it constructed at a time when Huntington was dominated by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad and the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
The Baltimore and Ohio Railroad was one of the oldest railroads in the United States and the first common carrier railroad. It came into being mostly because the city of Baltimore wanted to compete with the newly constructed Erie Canal and another canal being proposed by Pennsylvania, which...
. The city can also lay claim to a new urban renewal stance, brought on by Heritage Village, Pullman Square, and the continued investment in numerous downtown properties. Offshoots of the Pullman Square project include the renovation of many historical structures along 3rd Avenue, a new 9th Street Plaza, and the Old Main Corridor project.
Huntington is also home to Heiner's Bakery. Founded in 1905, Heiner's employs nearly 500 people in its 130000 square feet (12,077.4 m²) facility. The company's products are sold under the Heiner's and Sara Lee names in grocery, retail, and convenience stores.
Huntington is still a base for the metal working and welding trades with the repair of rail road rolling stock, barges, and river boat equipment.
Huntington Special Metals, West Virginia Steel, Martin Steel, Huntington Plating, Richwood Industries, Hammers Industries, plus several others. These major fabricating firms serve the railroads, river transportation, steel making, coal, oil, natural gas, electrical, windpower, biofuel, and other important industries.
Neighborhoods
The city is divided into several neighborhoods, including:- Altizer
- Downtown
- Fairfield
- GuyandotteGuyandotte, West VirginiaGuyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River...
- Highlawn
- Southeast Hills
- Southside
- Walnut Hills
- West End/Old Central City
- Westmoreland
Annual events and fairs
Huntington is home to numerous unique events and fairs held throughout the year.| Name | Location | Date | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. George Greek Festival | St. George Greek Orthodox Church 701 11th Ave. Huntington, WV 25701 | September 24–26, 2010 | A festival with Greek food, music, and dancing. |
| Chilifest | Downtown district – 4th Avenue and Plaza | September 15–17 | State championship is held every year, with chili cooks coming from West Virginia and other states to compete for a berth in the national competition. |
| Tsubasacon | Big Sandy Superstore Arena | first full weekend in October; 2011 dates are October 7–9 | An anime convention featuring guests, a game room, a vendor room, panels, and special events. |
| Guyandotte Guyandotte, West Virginia Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River... Civil War American Civil War The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25... Days |
Guyandotte Guyandotte, West Virginia Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River... |
Early-November | This festival features arts and crafts, food, and entertainment. |
| Guyandotte Guyandotte, West Virginia Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River... Heritage Days |
Guyandotte Guyandotte, West Virginia Guyandotte is an historic neighborhood of Huntington, West Virginia and was formerly a small town in Virginia located at the confluence of the Guyandotte River and the Ohio River... |
November | This historic-themed festival features reenactment of the Confederate raid and the Union reprisal. It features period music, museums, 'living histories', and craft displays. |
| Hilltop Festival | Huntington Museum of Art Huntington Museum of Art The Huntington Museum of Art is an art museum located in the hills above Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia. It is the largest art museum between "Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Richmond" and contains numerous collections, exhibitions, education programs and nature trails that sprawl on a campus... |
2nd weekend in September | This event offers entertainment, children's activities, a petting zoo, book fair, arts and crafts, and concessions. |
| X-Fest | Harris Riverfront Park | Within the first 3 weeks of September | Rock/alternative music concert that allows local bands to play with bigger bands. |
| Huntington Music & Arts Festival | Ritter Park Amphitheater | Last Saturday in August | Festival centered around local and regional music and visual artists |
| Huntington Dogwood Arts and Crafts Festival | Big Sandy Superstore Arena Big Sandy Superstore Arena The Big Sandy Superstore Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center and later as the Huntington Civic Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown area of Huntington, West Virginia one block west of Pullman Square. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat... |
April | This features the demonstration and sale of traditional arts and crafts plus specialty ethnic foods. http://www.hcarena.com |
| Jazz-MU-Tazz | Marshall University Marshall University Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States.... |
June | A summer jazz festival, it is a weekend of music that features jazz cabarets, outdoor concerts, and numerous activities. |
| Lions Tri-State Arts & Crafts Festival | Big Sandy Superstore Arena Big Sandy Superstore Arena The Big Sandy Superstore Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center and later as the Huntington Civic Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown area of Huntington, West Virginia one block west of Pullman Square. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat... |
1st weekend in December | An old-fashioned arts and crafts fair that includes over 200 exhibitors featuring a variety of arts and crafts and homemade foods and sweets. |
| Old Central City Days | Central City district in West Huntington | 3rd weekend in June | This event offers numerous entertainment and shopping options in addition to the existing stock of storefronts, historic tours, and various food vendors at the new farmers market "depot." |
| Pilot Club of Huntington's Antique Show and Sale | Big Sandy Superstore Arena Big Sandy Superstore Arena The Big Sandy Superstore Arena, originally known as the Huntington Civic Center and later as the Huntington Civic Arena, is a municipal complex located in the downtown area of Huntington, West Virginia one block west of Pullman Square. The Big Sandy Superstore Arena consists of a 9,000-seat... |
Last complete weekend in September. | An antique show and sale that features more than 40 dealers representing more than 10 states and West Virginia. |
| Ritter Park Days | Ritter Park | Weekends in July and August. | Features children-based activities and programs. |
| West Virginia Day West Virginia Day West Virginia Day is a holiday celebrated every June 20 in the American state of West Virginia. The day celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the state as a result of the secession of several northwestern counties of Virginia during the height of the United States Civil War.-History:During... Celebration |
Downtown district – 9th Street Plaza | June 20 | This features live entertainment, jugglers, food, crafts, and more. |
| St. Patrick's Day Celebration | Downtown Huntington | March 14 | This features live entertainment by musical and dance groups appropriate for St. Patrick's Day. |
| West Virginia Hot Dog Hot dog A hot dog is a sausage served in a sliced bun. It is very often garnished with mustard, ketchup, onions, mayonnaise, relish and/or sauerkraut.-History:... Festival |
Pullman Square district – 3rd Avenue, downtown Huntington | Last Saturday in July | The WV Hot Dog Festival celebrates the unique variations Hot dog variations This is a listing of regional variations on the hot dog. Different areas of the world have local variations on the type of meat used, condiments and means of preparation, which are enumerated below.-Alabama:... of local/regional hot dogs |
Historical structures and museums
Huntington is home to the "Central City" historic district in downtown, and is on the National Register of Historic PlacesNational Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. It is loosely bound by 3rd Ave to the North, 5th Ave to the South, 10th St to the East, and 6th–7th Sts, to the West.
Old Main
Old Main (Marshall University)
Old Main is a collection of five buildings joined together at central campus of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia . It is located at the junction of Hal Greer Boulevard and Fourth Avenue...
at Marshall University, sits on Hal Greer Boulevard at 4th Avenue, in the Highlawn District, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. The Trustees of Marshall Academy purchased the land at Maple Grove for $40 in 1839. The building has been renovated several times. The 1870 renovation is the earliest section of Old Main to survive to the present.
Huntington Museum of Art
The Huntington Museum of Art is an art museum located in the hills above Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia. It is the largest art museum between "Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Richmond" and contains numerous collections, exhibitions, education programs and nature trails that sprawl on a campus...
is located in the hills above Ritter Park, featuring numerous collections and exhibitions; it is also home to the C. Fred Edwards Conservatory
Huntington Museum of Art
The Huntington Museum of Art is an art museum located in the hills above Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia. It is the largest art museum between "Cincinnati, Pittsburgh and Richmond" and contains numerous collections, exhibitions, education programs and nature trails that sprawl on a campus...
.
The Museum of Radio and Technology
Museum of Radio and Technology
The Museum of Radio and Technology, located on the western fringes of Ritter Park in Huntington, West Virginia, offers numerous displays and exhibits. It is the only such museum of its type within the state...
is located near the west end of the park in a renovated elementary school. The Cabell County Courthouse and the Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library
Carnegie Library, Carnegie Public Library, Carnegie Free Library, Carnegie Free Public Library, Andrew Carnegie Library, Andrew Carnegie Free Library or Carnegie Library Building may refer to any of the following Carnegie libraries:- California :*Carnegie Library , listed on the National Register...
in the downtown also hold historical interests.
The Keith-Albee Theatre
Keith-Albee Theatre
Keith-Albee is a theatre located along Fourth Avenue in downtown Huntington, West Virginia in the United States of America. The Keith-Albee was named after the Keith-Albee-Orpheum Corporation, one of the leading vaudeville performance chains at that time, to convince the directors of...
, a former Vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
palace in the "Art Deco" style from the 1920s, is one of the architectural masterpieces of downtown Huntington, located along 4th Avenue. It is currently being renovated to become one of the state's largest performing arts centers.
One block south, 5th Avenue is noted for its many historical church buildings. The city is also the site of an Adena
Adena culture
The Adena culture was a Pre-Columbian Native American culture that existed from 1000 to 200 BC, in a time known as the early Woodland Period. The Adena culture refers to what were probably a number of related Native American societies sharing a burial complex and ceremonial system...
Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
burial mound
Mound
A mound is a general term for an artificial heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. The most common use is in reference to natural earthen formation such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. The term may also be applied to any rounded area of topographically...
.
Traditional "drive-in" restaurants and hot dog stand
Hot dog stand
A hot dog stand is a food business stand that sells hot dogs, usually from an external counter on a public thoroughfare such as a road, street, ballpark, mall, or food court....
s are popular in the city.
Parks and outdoor attractions
Huntington is home to eleven parks located in the neighborhoods of Huntington, the most visible being Harris Riverfront Park in the downtown and Ritter Park. Camden ParkCamden Park (amusement park)
Camden Park is an amusement park located in Huntington, West Virginia. The park first opened in 1903 as a picnic spot along the Camden Interstate Railway street car line between Huntington and Ashland, Kentucky. It is traditional park home to over 30 rides and attractions. The park features two of...
, an amusement park, is also adjacent to the city. Camden Park is West Virginia's only amusement park. The park has been open since 1903.
Pullman Square
Pullman Square
Pullman Square is a lifestyle center in downtown Huntington, West Virginia between 8th and 10th Street and 3rd Avenue and Veteran's Memorial Boulevard. It is located on what was known as the Superblock, a large urban renewal project that saw the demolishing of four city-square-blocks in 1970...
features many restaurants and shops and a stage for live performances.
Huntington is in the process of building the towns first dog park. After trying for years to accrue donations to break ground, Huntington entered and won the Pet Safe Bark For Your Park contest which donated $100,000 to build a local dog park. The ground breaking ceremony was held on August 18, 2011. The dog park will be located on three acres of land connected to Ritter Park and plans to be opened in the summer of 2012.
Sports
Huntington's sports scene is dominated by Marshall University athletics and high school/amateur sports. It was also home to the Huntington Blizzard, an ECHLECHL
The ECHL is a mid-level professional ice hockey league based in Princeton, New Jersey with teams scattered across the United States...
ice-hockey team that was in existence from 1993 to 2000 at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena, the Huntington Heroes
Huntington Heroes
The Huntington Heroes were a professional indoor football franchise and member of the American Indoor Football Association. The Heroes played their home games during their inaugural 2006 season at the Veterans Memorial Fieldhouse in Huntington, West Virginia before moving to the larger Big Sandy...
indoor football team in the AIFA from 2006 to 2008, and a succession of minor league baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
teams in the 1990s at St. Cloud Commons.
Starting in 2011, the Huntington Hammer will play at the Big Sandy Superstore Arena as a member of the Ultimate Indoor Football League
Ultimate Indoor Football League
The Ultimate Indoor Football League is a regional professional indoor football league that began its inaugural season on February 18, 2011.-History:...
.
The Herald-Dispatch
The Herald-Dispatch is a daily newspaper serving Huntington, West Virginia, and neighboring communities in southern Ohio and eastern Kentucky. It is currently a subsidiary of Champion Publishing, Inc., based in Huntington....
, with an average weekday circulation of just over 25,000. The paper is owned by Champion Industries
Champion Industries
Champion Industries is an American commercial printing company based in Huntington, West Virginia. The company was founded in 1964 and has grown throughout the southeastern United States...
.
Television
| Call sign | Channel | Description |
|---|---|---|
| WOWK WOWK-TV WOWK-TV is the CBS-affiliated television station for the Tri-States and Kanawha Valley area of West Virginia that is licensed to Huntington which is the second largest market east of the Mississippi River. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on VHF channel 13 from a transmitter... |
13 | CBS CBS CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of... affiliate broadcasting from both Huntington/Charleston Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early... |
| WPBY West Virginia Public Broadcasting West Virginia Public Broadcasting is the Public Broadcasting Service member Non-commercial educational Public television state network in West Virginia, whose primary station is WPBY, based in Charleston, West Virginia. Its studios are located at 600 Capitol Street... |
33–34 | West Virginia Public Broadcasting |
| WSAZ WSAZ-TV WSAZ-TV is the NBC-affiliated television station for Huntington and Charleston, West Virginia. This area is the second-largest market in terms of area east of the Mississippi River consisting of 61 counties in Central West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Southeastern Ohio. It broadcasts a high... |
3 | NBC NBC The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago... affiliate broadcasting from Huntington |
| WCHS WCHS-TV WCHS-TV is the ABC-affiliated television station for Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia. This area is the second-largest market in terms of area east of the Mississippi River and consists of 61 counties in Central West Virginia, Eastern Kentucky, and Southern Ohio... |
8 | ABC American Broadcasting Company The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948... affiliated station broadcasting from Charleston Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early... . |
| WQCW WQCW WQCW is the CW affiliate for the Huntington/Charleston, West Virginia television market. It is licensed to Portsmouth, Ohio and is the one of two commercial stations in the market licensed outside of West Virginia. Its transmitter is located in West Portsmouth, Ohio... |
30 | CW The CW Television Network The CW Television Network is a television network in the United States launched at the beginning of the 2006–2007 television season. It is a joint venture between CBS Corporation, the former owners of United Paramount Network , and Time Warner's Warner Bros., former majority owner of The WB... affiliated station from Portsmouth, Ohio Portsmouth, Ohio Portsmouth is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Scioto County. The municipality is located on the northern banks of the Ohio River and east of the Scioto River in Southern Ohio. The population was 20,226 at the 2010 census.-Foundation:... . |
| WVAH WVAH-TV WVAH-TV is the Fox-affiliated television station for Charleston and Huntington, West Virginia which is the second-largest market in terms of area east of the Mississippi River. It broadcasts a high definition digital signal on UHF channel 19 from a transmitter south of Scott Depot along the Putnam... |
11 | Fox Fox Broadcasting Company Fox Broadcasting Company, commonly referred to as Fox Network or simply Fox , is an American commercial broadcasting television network owned by Fox Entertainment Group, part of Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Launched on October 9, 1986, Fox was the highest-rated broadcast network in the... affiliate broadcasted from Charleston Charleston, West Virginia Charleston is the capital and largest city of the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is located at the confluence of the Elk and Kanawha Rivers in Kanawha County. As of the 2010 census, it has a population of 51,400, and its metropolitan area 304,214. It is the county seat of Kanawha County.Early... . |
Radio
- Note: These are the only stations that are licensed to the city of Huntington.
| Call sign | Frequency | Format | Description / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| WMUL WMUL WMUL is a Variety formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, serving Metro Huntington. WMUL is owned and operated by Marshall University.-Sports Programming:... |
88.1 FM | College Radio | This is operated by Marshall University Marshall University Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States.... . |
| WVPN WVPN WVPN is the flagship radio station of West Virginia Public Broadcasting. It broadcasts a public radio format. It is licensed to Charleston, West Virginia. The station is currently owned by West Virginia Educational Broadcasting Authority.... |
89.9 FM | NPR | West Virginia Public Radio |
| WCMI-FM | 92.7 FM | Rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... 92.7 FM and 98.5 FM, The Planet "The Real Rock Station," |
Kindred Communications, Huntington, WV |
| WCMI-AM | http://www.wcmi.am | ESPN ESPN Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming.... 1340 AM, WCMI-AM, |
Kindred Communications, Catlettsburg, KY |
| WDGG | 93.7 FM | Country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... |
Kindred Communications, Huntington, WV |
| WBVB WBVB WBVB is a radio station broadcasting an oldies radio format. Licensed to Coal Grove, Ohio, USA, the station serves the Huntington-Ashland area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.-History:... |
97.1 FM | Greatest Hits Greatest Hits A Greatest hits album is a compilation album of successful, previously released songs by a particular music artist or band.Albums entitled Greatest Hits, or similar titles, listed alphabetically by band name or artist's last name, include:-0-9:... |
B97.1 "The Tri-State's Greatest Hits" |
| WMGA WMGA WMGA is a Light Adult Contemporary formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Kenova, West Virginia, serving Huntington, West Virginia, Ironton, Ohio, and Ashland, Kentucky. WMGA is owned and operated by Connoisseur Media, LLC.-External links:*... |
97.9 FM | AC | Connoisseur Media; Huntington, WV |
| WKEE WKEE-FM WKEE-FM is a Contemporary Hit Radio formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, serving Huntington, West Virginia, Ashland, Kentucky, and Ironton, Ohio. WKEE-FM is owned and operated by Clear Channel Communications.... |
100.5 FM | Top 40 | 100.5 WKEE |
| WRXV WRXV WRXV in State College, Pennsylvania is a Christian contemporary music formatted radio station owned by Invisible Allies Ministries. It serves the State College and Altoona markets. It is branded as "Central PA's own Rev FM"... |
101.5 FM | Classic rock Classic rock Classic rock is a radio format which developed from the album-oriented rock format in the early 1980s. In the United States, the classic rock format features music ranging generally from the late 1960s to the late 1980s, primarily focusing on the hard rock genre that peaked in popularity in the... |
101.5 BOB FM "BOB Plays Everything." |
| WTCR WTCR-FM WTCR-FM is a radio station broadcasting a Country format. Licensed to Huntington, West Virginia, USA, it serves the Huntington WV area. The station is currently owned by Clear Channel Communications.-External links:... |
103.3 FM | Country Country music Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music... |
WTCR (AM) WTCR (AM) WTCR is a radio station broadcasting a sports talk format. The station is an affiliate of Fox Sports Radio. For all programming other than local sporting events, it is a simulcast of WIRO in nearby Ironton, Ohio... 1420/FOX Sports is licensed to Kenova, West Virginia Kenova, West Virginia Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy Rivers. The name of the town comes from its unique position where the borders of Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia meet. Founded in 1859 but not incorporated until 1894, the town's early history and... |
| WKLC WKLC-FM WKLC-FM is an Mainstream Rock formatted broadcast radio station licensed to St. Albans, West Virginia, serving the Charleston/Huntington area. WKLC-FM is owned and operated by L.M. Communications, Inc.-External links:*... |
105.1 FM | Rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... |
Rock 105 "Everything That Rocks." |
| [WAMX-FM] | 106.3 FM | Rock Rock music Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music... |
|
| WEMM-FM | 107.9 FM | Southern Gospel Southern Gospel Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music... |
Southern Gospel/Teaching "Gospel 107.9" |
| WVHU WVHU WVHU is a talk radio station in the Huntington, West Virginia market. Its offerings are similar to other news talk stations owned by Clear Channel Communications, as it is the home for Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh and Sean Hannity... |
800 AM | News/Talk News Radio News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format.... |
News Talk 800 & 1600 (simulcast) |
| WRVC (AM) WRVC (AM) WRVC is the oldest operating radio station in West Virginia. It was originally called WSAZ Radio , the same call letters used for Channel 3-TV when it came into being in the late 1940s, and the television station still uses that long-time call. WRVC AM & FM is located in Huntington, West Virginia... |
930 AM/94.1 FM | News radio News Radio News Radio can refer to:* NewsRadio, the NBC sitcom which aired from 1995–1999.* News radio, the all-news or news/talk radio format.... Talk (6 a.m-4 p.m.) ESPN: 4 p.m.-6 a.m. M-F, All weekend |
Kindred Communications, Huntington, WV. |
| WNBL | 1200 AM | Southern Gospel Southern Gospel Southern Gospel music—at one time also known as "quartet music"—is music whose lyrics are written to express either personal or a communal faith regarding biblical teachings and Christian life, as well as to give a Christian alternative to mainstream secular music... |
Southern Gospel and Patriotic Music |
Education
Huntington High School (West Virginia)
Huntington High School is a four year high school located on top of a hill just outside of Huntington, West Virginia. It was established in 1996 through the consolidation of the old Huntington and Huntington East High Schools. The school has a student body of approximately 1600 students. Huntington...
, Cabell Midland High School
Cabell Midland High School
Cabell Midland High School is located in Ona, West Virginia. Cabell Midland is a four year high school which serves grades 9 through 12. The school's name is derived from two sources; "Cabell" for the county in which it is located, and "Midland" for the famous Midland Trail which once extended from...
, Cabell County Career Technology Center, five middle schools, and 19 elementary schools. Huntington is also home to colleges and universities including Marshall University
Marshall University
Marshall University is a coeducational public research university in Huntington, West Virginia, United States founded in 1837, and named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States....
, Mountwest Community & Technical College, the Robert C. Byrd Institute, the Huntington Junior College, and the Tri-State Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences http://www.tipswv.com.
The Cabell County Public Library system operates a main branch downtown and seven branches in neighboring towns.
Roads
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
, which skirts the city to the south. It has four interchanges that serve the city: US 52 (West Huntington Expressway), WV 152/WV 527, WV 10, and US 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
.
US 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
, part of the historic Midland Trail
Midland Trail
For the trail's section in West Virginia see: The Midland Trail in West Virginia.The Midland Trail, also called the Roosevelt Midland Trail, was a national auto trail spanning the United States from Washington, D.C...
, runs through the entire length of Huntington from west to east, cutting through West Huntington, downtown, East Huntington, and along the Guyandotte River
Guyandotte River
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans...
. US 52
U.S. Route 52
U.S. Route 52 is a United States highway that runs across the northern, eastern and southeastern regions of the United States. Contrary to most other even-numbered U.S...
cuts through West Huntington along the West Huntington Expressway, but its presence is brief. It has an interchange at Madison Avenue and one for US 60
U.S. Route 60
U.S. Route 60 is an east–west United States highway, running from the Atlantic Ocean on the east coast in Virginia to western Arizona. Despite the final "0" in its number, indicating a transcontinental designation, the 1926 route formerly ended in Springfield, Missouri, at its intersection...
.
The city is the northern terminus for WV 10, a scenic highway that follows the Guyandotte River for much of its length and connects Huntington to Princeton
Princeton, West Virginia
Princeton is a city in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 7,652 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 111,586. It is the county seat of Mercer County...
. It is also the southern terminus of WV 2, which parallels the entirety of West Virginia's section of the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
, and facilitates much traffic towards Point Pleasant
Point Pleasant, West Virginia
Point Pleasant is a city in Mason County, West Virginia, United States, at the confluence of the Ohio and Kanawha rivers. The population was 4,637 at the 2000 census...
and Parkersburg
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
.
Huntington utilizes a grid-like street pattern featuring several wide boulevard-style
Boulevard
A Boulevard is type of road, usually a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the centre, and roadways along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery...
avenues that run east and west. Most notable of these are 3rd and 5th Avenues. The city has a numbered street naming system, with avenues running east and west (parallel to the Ohio River) and streets running north and south.
The city has connections over the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
to Proctorville, Ohio
Proctorville, Ohio
Proctorville is a village in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 620 at the 2000 census. The East End Bridge connects Proctorville to Huntington, West Virginia across the Ohio River....
via the East Huntington Bridge, and to Chesapeake, Ohio
Chesapeake, Ohio
Chesapeake is a village in Lawrence County, Ohio, United States. The population was listed as 842 in the 2000 census. It lies across the Ohio River from Huntington, West Virginia, at the mouth of Symmes Creek....
via the Robert C. Byrd Bridge
Robert C. Byrd Bridge
The Robert C. Byrd Bridge is a continuous truss automobile bridge that crosses the Ohio River between Huntington, West Virginia and Chesapeake, Ohio. The crossing was constructed to replace an old, narrow two lane structure that was demolished after 69 years of service in a spectacular implosion...
and the West Huntington Bridge
West Huntington Bridge
The West Huntington Bridge is a two-lane, cantilever bridge on the west side of Huntington, West Virginia. It crosses the Ohio River and carries U.S...
.
Rail
Since its founding as the western terminus of the C&O Railroad, Huntington has served as a major break of bulk point between rail traffic and the Ohio River/Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
watershed
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
. Much of the coal mined in southern West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
is brought to Huntington by train to be transshipped and then transported by river barge
Barge
A barge is a flat-bottomed boat, built mainly for river and canal transport of heavy goods. Some barges are not self-propelled and need to be towed by tugboats or pushed by towboats...
s to industrial centers in other parts of the United States. CSX, the successor company to C&O, continues to maintain a regional office, a rail yard, a freight car light repair shop and a locomotive heavy repair facility in the city.
The city was once a hub for passenger rail service in the region, but accounts for a significantly smaller portion of rail traffic than in the early decades of the 20th century. Huntington, however, has an Amtrak
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
station that lies on the Cardinal line running between New York City and Chicago via Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and Cincinnati.
Bus
Tri-State Transit AuthorityTri-State Transit Authority
The Tri-State Transit Authority , which markets itself as "THE Transit Authority, is the city bus system in Huntington, West Virginia and Ironton, Ohio as well as its suburbs. Its buses range, on the West Virginia side from 19th Street West in Huntington to Milton, West Virginia, about 20 miles to...
provides fixed-route bus service throughout Huntingon and Ironton, Ohio
Ironton, Ohio
Ironton is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Lawrence County. The municipality is located in southern Ohio along the Ohio River. The population was 11,211 at the 2000 census. Ironton is a part of the Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH, Metropolitan Statistical Area . As of the...
.
River
Port of Huntington-Tristate
The Port of Huntington-Tristate is the largest port in West Virginia and the 8th-largest in the United States. It is the largest inland port in the United States. Included in the port's area is 100 miles of the Ohio River from the mouth of the Scioto River in Portsmouth, Ohio the the northern...
is the largest inland port in the United States in both in terms of total tonnage and ton-miles. This is due in large part to the coal traffic from the railroads and the petroleum
Petroleum
Petroleum or crude oil is a naturally occurring, flammable liquid consisting of a complex mixture of hydrocarbons of various molecular weights and other liquid organic compounds, that are found in geologic formations beneath the Earth's surface. Petroleum is recovered mostly through oil drilling...
products produced by the Marathon Petroleum Company
Marathon Petroleum Company
Marathon Petroleum Corporation is a U.S. based oil refining, marketing, and pipeline transport company. The company was formed as a subsidiary on September 1, 2005, from the former Marathon Ashland Petroleum, LLC, and is based in Findlay, Ohio...
oil refinery
Oil refinery
An oil refinery or petroleum refinery is an industrial process plant where crude oil is processed and refined into more useful petroleum products, such as gasoline, diesel fuel, asphalt base, heating oil, kerosene, and liquefied petroleum gas...
in nearby Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Catlettsburg, Kentucky
Catlettsburg is a city in Boyd County, Kentucky, United States and is the county seat of Boyd County. The city population was 1,960 at the 2000 census. The city's postal ZIP code serves a greater population of 10,029, which is a better reflection of the community's size. Catlettsburg is a part of...
that use the Port of Huntington/Tri-State to load their products onto barges.
Air
Tri-State AirportTri-State Airport
Tri-State Airport , also known as Milton J. Ferguson Field, is a public-use airport in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States. The airport is located three nautical miles south of the central business district of Huntington, West Virginia, near the cities of Ceredo and Kenova...
, located southwest of the city, is a public airport with two runways. Commercial air service is provided by three airlines: Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air
Allegiant Air is an American low-cost airline owned by Allegiant Travel Co. that operates scheduled and charter flights. Allegiant Travel Company is a publicly traded company with 1,300 employees and one billion USD market capitalization...
, Delta Connection
Delta Connection
Delta Connection is the name under which a number of individually owned regional airlines and one wholly owned regional carrier operate short and medium haul routes in association with Delta Air Lines Inc...
and US Airways Express
US Airways Express
US Airways Express is an airline brand name, rather than a fully certified airline, and as such, the US Airways Express name is used by several individually owned airlines or airline holding companies which provide regional airline and commuter service for US Airways.Operations are conducted from...
.
Notable people
- "Big Ben" BowenBen BowenBenjamin David "Ben" Bowen , commonly called Big Ben Bowen, was a young Huntington, West Virginia boy who was diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumour in 2004. His family has used his story to raise awareness of childhood cancer and to raise almost $4,000,000 for St...
: a child who raised awareness of childhood cancer - William C. CampbellWilliam C. CampbellWilliam Cammack Campbell , often known as Bill Campbell or William C. Campbell, is an American amateur golfer and two-time President of the United States Golf Association . He was inducted to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1990.Campbell was born in Huntington, West Virginia. He served in the U.S...
: golfer & twice president of the United States Golf AssociationUnited States Golf AssociationThe United States Golf Association is the United States' national association of golf courses, clubs and facilities and the governing body of golf for the U.S. and Mexico. Together with The R&A, the USGA produces and interprets the Rules of Golf. The USGA also provides a national handicap system... - Don ChafinDon ChafinDon Chafin was the sheriff of Logan County, West Virginia and a commander in the Battle of Blair Mountain...
: The sheriff of Logan County, and a commander in the Battle of Blair MountainBattle of Blair MountainThe Battle of Blair Mountain was one of the largest civil uprisings in United States history and the largest armed insurrection since the American Civil War... - Justice M. ChambersJustice M. ChambersColonel Justice Marion Chambers was a United States Marine Corps officer who received the Medal of Honor for actions in World War II during the Iwo Jima campaign.-Biography:...
: Medal of Honor recipient - Larry CoyerLarry CoyerLarry Coyer is the former defensive coordinator for the National Football League's Indianapolis Colts. Prior to holding this position, he was the Assistant head coach for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Defensive Coordinator for the Denver Broncos.-Private life:Coyer was born in Huntington, West...
: NFL and college football coach, currently Defensive CoordinatorDefensive coordinatorA defensive coordinator typically refers to a coach on a gridiron football team who is in charge of the defense. Generally, along with his offensive counterpart, he represents the second level of command structure after the head coach...
with the Indianapolis ColtsIndianapolis ColtsThe Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League .... - Dagmar: 1950s television personality
- Brad DourifBrad DourifBradford Claude "Brad" Dourif is an American film and television actor who gained early fame for his portrayal of Billy Bibbit in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, and has since appeared in a number of memorable roles, including the voice of Chucky in the Child's Play franchise, Younger Brother in...
: Academy Award-nominated actor - Joan C. EdwardsJoan C. EdwardsJoan C. Edwards was a New Orleans jazz singer and well-known West Virginia-based philanthropist.- Biography :Born Joan Cavill in London, England, she moved to New Orleans at the age of four...
: singer, entrepreneur - Delos Carleton EmmonsDelos Carleton Emmons-Biography:He was born on January 17, 1889 in Huntington, West Virginia. He graduated from the United States Military Academy in June 1909 and was commissioned an infantry second lieutenant. Emmons was assigned as commanding officer of Company B, 30th Infantry Regiment at the Presidio of San...
: Lieutenant General, US Army Air Force - Robert E. Femoyer: Medal of Honor recipient
- David GinsburgDavid Ginsburg (lawyer)Charles David Ginsburg was an American political advisor and lawyer who was among the founders of Americans for Democratic Action and served as executive director of the Kerner Commission, which warned that the U.S...
: (1912–2010), presidential adviser and executive director of the Kerner CommissionKerner CommissionThe National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorders, known as the Kerner Commission after its chair, Governor Otto Kerner, Jr. of Illinois, was an 11-member commission established by President Lyndon B. Johnson to investigate the causes of the 1967 race riots in the United States and to provide...
. - Hal GreerHal GreerHarold Everett Greer is a retired American professional basketball player.He attended Douglass Junior and Senior High School in Huntington. He played college basketball at Marshall University and was drafted by the Syracuse Nationals of the NBA in 1958...
: former professional basketball player - Jim GrobeJim GrobeJim Grobe is an American football coach and former player. He is currently the head coach at Wake Forest University, a position he has held since the 2001 season. From 1995 to 2000, Grobe served as the head coach at Ohio University...
: college football coach, currently with Wake Forest UniversityWake Forest UniversityWake Forest University is a private, coeducational university in the U.S. state of North Carolina, founded in 1834. The university received its name from its original location in Wake Forest, north of Raleigh, North Carolina, the state capital. The Reynolda Campus, the university's main campus, is... - Chase HarrisonChase HarrisonChase Harrison is an American soccer player who currently plays for the Philadelphia Union in Major League Soccer.-College and Amateur:...
: professional soccer player - Henry D. HatfieldHenry D. HatfieldHenry Drury Hatfield was a Republican politician from Logan County, West Virginia. He served a term as the 14th Governor of the state, in addition to one term in the United States Senate...
: former governor of West Virginia - Hawkshaw HawkinsHawkshaw HawkinsHarold Franklin Hawkins , better known as Hawkshaw Hawkins, was an American country music singer popular from the 1950s into the early 60s known for his rich, smooth vocals and music drawn from blues, boogie and honky tonk...
: Country music singer - Eloise Hughes SmithEloise Hughes SmithMary Eloise Hughes Smith , also referred to as Eloise Smith or Mrs. Lucien P. Smith, was a survivor of the 1912 RMS Titanic disaster. Her first husband, Lucien P. Smith, died in the sinking; she later married a fellow survivor. Mrs...
: survivor of the RMS Titanic - Jackie HuntJackie HuntJohn Seva "Jackie" Hunt was an American football fullback/halfback. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 2004. He played professionally with the Chicago Bears of the National Football League in 1945....
: College Football Hall of FameCollege Football Hall of FameThe College Football Hall of Fame is a hall of fame and museum devoted to college football. Located in South Bend, Indiana, it is connected to a convention center and situated in the city's renovated downtown district, two miles south of the University of Notre Dame campus. It is slated to move...
member - Albert G. JenkinsAlbert G. JenkinsAlbert Gallatin Jenkins was an attorney, planter, representative to the United States Congress and First Confederate Congress, and a Confederate brigadier general during the American Civil War...
: Confederate Brigadier General - Katie Lee JoelKatie Lee JoelKatie Lee is a television food critic and chef.-Biography:Lee is from Milton, West Virginia. She is a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, with a Bachelor's degree in English and Journalism. While there she was a member of Kappa Alpha Theta...
: celebrity and television personality - Craig JohnsonCraig Johnson (author)Craig Allen Johnson is an American novelist and playwright. He has written seven novels. His Sheriff Walt Longmire novels include The Cold Dish, Death Without Company, Kindness Goes Unpunished, Another Man's Moccasins, Junkyard Dogs, and The Dark Horse, which received starred reviews from Kirkus,...
: novelist - Carwood LiptonCarwood LiptonSecond Lieutenant Clifford Carwood Lipton was a commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Lipton was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Donnie Wahlberg...
: WW2 military officer, prominently featured in the book and television series Band of Brothers - Peter Marshall: actor, singer, television personality and game show host
- O. J. MayoO. J. MayoOvinton J'Anthony "O. J." Mayo , is an American basketball player currently playing with the Memphis Grizzlies of the NBA. He signed with the team on July 8, 2008. He played college basketball for the University of Southern California...
: Memphis GrizzliesMemphis GrizzliesThe Memphis Grizzlies are a professional basketball team based in Memphis, Tennessee, USA. The team is part of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . Along with the Toronto Raptors, the Grizzlies were established in 1995 as part of the NBA's...
basketball player - Jeff MorrisonJeff MorrisonJeffrey Alan "Jeff" Morrison is an American professional tennis player.Morrison is perhaps best known for being the last American male left standing in the singles draw at Wimbledon in 2002....
: professional tennis player - Dwight MorrowDwight MorrowDwight Whitney Morrow was an American businessman, politician, and diplomat.-Life:Born in Huntington, West Virginia, he moved with his parents, James E. and Clara Morrow to Allegheny, Pennsylvania in 1875. His father James, was principal of Marshall College, which is now Marshall University...
: businessman, politician and diplomat - Patrick PattersonPatrick Patterson (basketball)Patrick Davell Patterson is an American basketball player with the Houston Rockets. He played collegiately for the University of Kentucky. He is a 6'9", 235-pound power forward who grew up in Huntington, West Virginia...
: Former University of KentuckyUniversity of KentuckyThe University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
and current Houston RocketsHouston RocketsThe Houston Rockets are an American professional basketball team based in Houston, Texas. The team plays in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was established in 1967, and played in San Diego, California for four years, before being...
basketball player - Rick ReedRick Reed (pitcher)Richard Allen Reed is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Kansas City Royals , Texas Rangers , Cincinnati Reds , New York Mets and Minnesota Twins...
: former major league baseball pitcher - Soupy SalesSoupy SalesSoupy Sales was an American comedian, actor, radio-TV personality and host, and jazz aficionado. He was best known for his local and network children's television show, Lunch with Soupy Sales; a series of comedy sketches frequently ending with Sales receiving a pie in the face, which became his...
: comedian - Michael W. SmithMichael W. SmithMichael Whitaker Smith is a Billboard top ten Billboard Hot 100 recording artist and Grammy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, composer, and actor. He is one of the best-selling and most influential artists in Contemporary Christian music. Smith also has achieved a considerable amount of...
: singer - Ruth C. SullivanRuth C. SullivanRuth Christ Sullivan, Ph.D. , is a pioneer in the field of autism, one of the first parents to be active, an organizer and lifelong crusader for education for people with autism.In 1965, Dr. Ruth Sullivan was one of the founders, with Dr...
: co-founder of Autism Society of America, founder of the Autism Services Center in Huntington - Jim Thornton: current Wheel of FortuneWheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
announcer - Bill WalkerBill Walker (basketball)William "Bill" Henry Walker is an American professional basketball player with the New York Knicks of the National Basketball Association...
: New York KnicksNew York KnicksThe New York Knickerbockers, prominently known as the Knicks, are a professional basketball team based in New York City. They are part of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association...
basketball player. - Kayla WilliamsKayla Williams (gymnast)Kayla Williams is an American artistic gymnast. She is the 2009 Vault World Champion and 2009 Vault National Champion.Williams began 2009 as a Level 10 gymnast, which is below elite level in USA Gymnastics...
: US gymnast, World Vault Gold Medalist - Carter G. WoodsonCarter G. WoodsonCarter Godwin Woodson was an African-American historian, author, journalist and the founder of the Association for the Study of African American Life and History. Woodson was one of the first scholars to study African American history. A founder of Journal of Negro History , Dr...
: founder of Black History Month - Steve YeagerSteve YeagerStephen Wayne "Steve" Yeager is an American right-handed former major league baseball catcher. Yeager spent 14 of the 15 seasons of his Major League Baseball career, from through , with the Los Angeles Dodgers. His last year, , he played for the Seattle Mariners...
: former major league baseball catcher
See also
- List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
- List of ports in the United States
External links
- City of Huntington
- http://www.cityofhuntington.com/pages/history.html
- Cabell-Huntington Convention and Visitors Bureau
- Marshall University
- The Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – Huntington District
- Huntington during the 1937 flood
- Huntington Data
- Huntington Junior College