Mason, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Mason, also known as Mason City is a town in Mason County
, West Virginia
, in the United States
. The population was 1,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant
, WV–OH
Micropolitan Statistical Area
.
Mason was initially known as Waggener's Bottom. It was chartered
by the Virginia General Assembly
in 1856, and named for Mason County, which was named for George Mason
, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention
.
Mrs. Joanie S. Strode became the first female mayor
in West Virginia when she was appointed in her husband's place in 1932. She served as the mayor of Mason until the end of her husband's term in 1933.
and Shumaker-Lewis House
are listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), all land.
of 2000, there were 1,064 people, 475 households, and 317 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,900.8 inhabitants per square mile (733.6/km²). There were 535 housing units at an average density of 955.8 per square mile (368.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.71% White, 0.09% African American, 1.60% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% were married couples
living together, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,621, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $17,500 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $14,020. About 15.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.2% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.
Mason County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 25,957 people, 10,587 households, and 7,569 families residing in the county. The population density was 60 people per square mile . There were 12,056 housing units at an average density of 28 per square mile...
, 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...
, in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,064 at the 2000 census. It is part of the 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...
, WV–OH
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Micropolitan Statistical Area
Point Pleasant micropolitan area
The Point Pleasant Micropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties – one in West Virginia and one in Ohio – anchored by the city of Point Pleasant, West Virginia....
.
Mason was initially known as Waggener's Bottom. It was chartered
Municipal charter
A city charter or town charter is a legal document establishing a municipality such as a city or town. The concept developed in Europe during the middle ages....
by the Virginia General Assembly
Virginia General Assembly
The Virginia General Assembly is the legislative body of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the oldest legislative body in the Western Hemisphere, established on July 30, 1619. The General Assembly is a bicameral body consisting of a lower house, the Virginia House of Delegates, with 100 members,...
in 1856, and named for Mason County, which was named for George Mason
George Mason
George Mason IV was an American Patriot, statesman and a delegate from Virginia to the U.S. Constitutional Convention...
, a delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention
Philadelphia Convention
The Constitutional Convention took place from May 14 to September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to address problems in governing the United States of America, which had been operating under the Articles of Confederation following independence from...
.
Mrs. Joanie S. Strode became the first female mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in West Virginia when she was appointed in her husband's place in 1932. She served as the mayor of Mason until the end of her husband's term in 1933.
History
The Gold HousesThe Gold Houses
The Gold Houses, also known as the Gold Brothers' Houses, is a historic home located at Mason, Mason County, West Virginia. The two houses were built in 1908, and are 2 1/2 story, mirrored pair frame dwellings in the Queen Anne style. They feature pyramidal shaped slate roofs that curve outward...
and Shumaker-Lewis House
Shumaker-Lewis House
Shumaker-Lewis House, also known as Virgil A. Lewis House, is a historic home located at Mason, Mason County, West Virginia. It was built about 1885, and is a two story Victorian-era frame cottage. It features a two tier Eastlake Movement style porch. It was the home of Virgil A. Lewis , the...
are 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...
.
Geography
Mason is located at 39°1′11"N 82°1′51"W (39.019760, -82.030952), along the Ohio RiverOhio 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...
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
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 town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²), all land.
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 1,064 people, 475 households, and 317 families residing in the town. 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 1,900.8 inhabitants per square mile (733.6/km²). There were 535 housing units at an average density of 955.8 per square mile (368.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.71% White, 0.09% African American, 1.60% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 1.32% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.
There were 475 households out of which 26.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.3% 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, 13.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 29.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.24 and the average family size was 2.75.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.9% under the age of 18, 9.6% from 18 to 24, 24.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females there were 89.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $24,621, and the median income for a family was $30,833. Males had a median income of $31,389 versus $17,500 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 town was $14,020. About 15.6% of families and 19.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 37.2% of those under age 18 and 10.4% of those age 65 or over.