Matewan, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Matewan is a town in Mingo County
, West Virginia
, USA at the confluence
of the Tug Fork River
and Mate Creek. The population was 498 at the 2000 census. The Norfolk Southern Railway
's Pocahontas District runs through the town.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all land
As of the census
of 2000, there were 498 people, 253 households, and 124 families residing in the town. The population density
was 989.2 inhabitants per square mile (384.6/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 550.2 per square mile (213.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.78% White, 3.61% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 253 households out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% were married couples
living together, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 48.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $13,529, and the median income for a family was $27,188. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $21,875 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $12,586. About 16.8% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
The town was named after Matteawan (now called Beacon
), a town in Dutchess County, Upstate New York
. Matteawan was the home town of Erskine Hazard, a civil engineer from the Norfolk and Western Railway
who laid out the town in 1890 and drew up the first map of the new community. Local residents, however, changed the spelling and pronunciation.
Attempts to unionize by coal miners
in 1920 led to the Battle of Matewan
between miners and Baldwin-Felts
detectives, which was the inspiration for the 1987 movie
Matewan
. The town's history is on display at the town's Web site, which has a small museum.
), the center of the town was designated the Matewan Historic District
, a National Historic Landmark. Interesting sights and tours can be had while visiting the town.
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails opened a trail head in Matewan. Trail Riders can now easily access the trail system while staying in town.
Mingo County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 28,253 people, 11,303 households, and 8,217 families residing in the county. The population density was 67 people per square mile . There were 12,898 housing units at an average density of 30 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...
, USA at the confluence
Confluence (geography)
In geography, a confluence is the meeting of two or more bodies of water. It usually refers to the point where two streams flow together, merging into a single stream...
of the Tug Fork River
Tug Fork River
The Tug Fork is a tributary of the Big Sandy River, long, in southwestern West Virginia, southwestern Virginia, and eastern Kentucky in the United States. Via the Big Sandy and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River....
and Mate Creek. The population was 498 at the 2000 census. The Norfolk Southern Railway
Norfolk Southern Railway
The Norfolk Southern Railway is a Class I railroad in the United States, owned by the Norfolk Southern Corporation. With headquarters in Norfolk, Virginia, the company operates 21,500 route miles in 22 eastern states, the District of Columbia and the province of Ontario, Canada...
's Pocahontas District runs through the town.
Geography
Matewan is located at 37°37′23"N 82°9′59"W (37.623034, -82.166416).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 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²), all land
Demographics
Census
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 498 people, 253 households, and 124 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 989.2 inhabitants per square mile (384.6/km²). There were 277 housing units at an average density of 550.2 per square mile (213.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.78% White, 3.61% African American, 1.00% Native American, 0.20% Asian, and 0.40% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.00% of the population.
There were 253 households out of which 18.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 36.4% 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, 8.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 50.6% were non-families. 48.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.87.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.7% under the age of 18, 6.8% from 18 to 24, 26.1% from 25 to 44, 28.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.0 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $13,529, and the median income for a family was $27,188. Males had a median income of $25,500 versus $21,875 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 $12,586. About 16.8% of families and 31.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.0% of those under age 18 and 20.2% of those age 65 or over.
History and culture
Beacon, New York
Beacon is a city located in Dutchess County, New York, United States. The 2010 census placed the city total population at 15,541. Beacon is part of the Poughkeepsie–Newburgh–Middletown, NY Metropolitan Statistical Area as well as the larger New York–Newark–Bridgeport,...
), a town in Dutchess County, Upstate New York
Upstate New York
Upstate New York is the region of the U.S. state of New York that is located north of the core of the New York metropolitan area.-Definition:There is no clear or official boundary between Upstate New York and Downstate New York...
. Matteawan was the home town of Erskine Hazard, a civil engineer from the Norfolk and Western Railway
Norfolk and Western Railway
The Norfolk and Western Railway , a US class I railroad, was formed by more than 200 railroad mergers between 1838 and 1982. It had headquarters in Roanoke, Virginia for most of its 150 year existence....
who laid out the town in 1890 and drew up the first map of the new community. Local residents, however, changed the spelling and pronunciation.
Attempts to unionize by coal miners
Coal mining
The goal of coal mining is to obtain coal from the ground. Coal is valued for its energy content, and since the 1880s has been widely used to generate electricity. Steel and cement industries use coal as a fuel for extraction of iron from iron ore and for cement production. In the United States,...
in 1920 led to the Battle of Matewan
Battle of Matewan
The Battle of Matewan was a shootout in the town of Matewan, West Virginia in Mingo County on May 19, 1920 between local miners and the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency....
between miners and Baldwin-Felts
Baldwin-Felts
The Baldwin–Felts Detective Agency was a private detective agency in the United States.-Formation of the agency:The agency was founded in the early 1890s by William Gibbony Baldwin as the Baldwin Detective Agency....
detectives, which was the inspiration for the 1987 movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
Matewan
Matewan
Matewan is an American drama film written and directed by John Sayles, illustrating the events of a coal mine-workers' strike and attempt to unionize in 1920 in Matewan, a small town in the hills of West Virginia....
. The town's history is on display at the town's Web site, which has a small museum.
Notable residents and natives
- Sam ChurchSam ChurchSamuel Morgan Church, Jr. was a coal miner and president of the United Mine Workers of America from 1979 to 1982.-Early life:...
, labor union leader - John HendricksJohn HendricksJohn Hendricks is the founder and chairman of Discovery Communications, a broadcasting and film production company which owns the Discovery Channel, TLC and Animal Planet cable tv networks, among other ventures.-Early life:...
, founder and chairman of Discovery CommunicationsDiscovery CommunicationsDiscovery Communications, Inc. is an American global media and entertainment company. The company started as a single channel in 1985, The Discovery Channel. Today, DCI has global operations offering 28 network entertainment brands on more than 100 channels in more than 180 countries in 39... - Sid HatfieldSid HatfieldWilliam Sidney "Sid" Hatfield , was Police Chief of Matewan, West Virginia during the Battle of Matewan, a shootout that followed a series of evictions carried out by detectives from the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency....
, police chief, famous for the Matewan Massacre
Attractions
Because of its rich history (Hatfield–McCoy feud and Matewan MassacreBattle of Matewan
The Battle of Matewan was a shootout in the town of Matewan, West Virginia in Mingo County on May 19, 1920 between local miners and the Baldwin-Felts Detective Agency....
), the center of the town was designated the Matewan Historic District
Matewan Historic District
Matewan Historic District was the scene of the Battle of Matewan on May 19, 1920, during a coal miners' strike. It led to the Battle of Blair Mountain, the largest insurrection ever associated with the labor movement in the United States....
, a National Historic Landmark. Interesting sights and tours can be had while visiting the town.
The Hatfield–McCoy Trails opened a trail head in Matewan. Trail Riders can now easily access the trail system while staying in town.
External links
- Official Matewan, WV Website at Matewan.com
- Matewan, WV Visiter Website at Matewan.org
- Official Matewan, WV Tourism Website at VisitMatewan.com
- Matewan High School