Moundsville, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Moundsville is a city in Marshall County
, West Virginia
, along the Ohio River
. It is part of the Wheeling
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 9,998 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Marshall County
. The city was named for the Grave Creek Mound
. Moundsville was settled in 1771 by Samuel & James Tomlinson. (Elizabethtown, as Tomlinson's community was called, was incorporated in 1830. Nearby, the town of Mound City was incorporated in 1832. (The two towns combined in 1865.) Fostoria Glass Company (specializing in hand blown glassworks) was headquartered in Moundsville from 1891 to 1986. The retired West Virginia State Penitentiary
operated in Moundsville from 1867 to 1995.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (12.50%) is water.
of 2000, there were 9,998 people, 4,122 households, and 2,662 families residing in the city. The population density
was 3,399.0 people per square mile (1,313.0/km²). There were 4,461 housing units at an average density of 1,516.6 per square mile (585.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% White, 0.73% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 4,122 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% were married couples
living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,107, and the median income for a family was $30,534. Males had a median income of $26,242 versus $19,348 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $13,997. About 18.1% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
Marshall County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,519 people, 14,207 households, and 10,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 15,814 housing units at an average density of 52 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...
, 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...
. It is part of the Wheeling
Wheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Wheeling metropolitan area
The Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the city of Wheeling...
. The population was 9,998 at the 2000 census. 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....
of Marshall County
Marshall County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 35,519 people, 14,207 households, and 10,101 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 15,814 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
. The city was named for the Grave Creek Mound
Grave Creek Mound
At high and in diameter, the Grave Creek Mound is one of the largest conical type burial mounds in the United States. The builders of the site moved more than 60,000 tons of dirt to create it. It is located in Moundsville, West Virginia near the banks of the Ohio River. The first recorded...
. Moundsville was settled in 1771 by Samuel & James Tomlinson. (Elizabethtown, as Tomlinson's community was called, was incorporated in 1830. Nearby, the town of Mound City was incorporated in 1832. (The two towns combined in 1865.) Fostoria Glass Company (specializing in hand blown glassworks) was headquartered in Moundsville from 1891 to 1986. The retired West Virginia State Penitentiary
West Virginia State Penitentiary
The West Virginia State Penitentiary is a retired, gothic style prison located in Moundsville, West Virginia. It operated from 1876 to 1995. Currently, the site is maintained as a tourist attraction and training facility.-Design:...
operated in Moundsville from 1867 to 1995.
Geography
Moundsville is located at 39°55′17"N 80°44′22"W (39.921490, -80.739368).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 city has a total area of 3.4 square miles (8.7 km²), of which, 2.9 square miles (7.6 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (12.50%) is water.
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 9,998 people, 4,122 households, and 2,662 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 3,399.0 people per square mile (1,313.0/km²). There were 4,461 housing units at an average density of 1,516.6 per square mile (585.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.13% White, 0.73% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.30% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.10% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.16% of the population.
There were 4,122 households out of which 25.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.7% 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, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 31.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.28 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the city the population was spread out with 20.4% under the age of 18, 7.8% from 18 to 24, 26.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 92.3 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 89.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $23,107, and the median income for a family was $30,534. Males had a median income of $26,242 versus $19,348 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 $13,997. About 18.1% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 33.2% of those under age 18 and 15.5% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Davis GrubbDavis GrubbDavis Grubb was an American novelist and short story writer.-Biography:Born in Moundsville, West Virginia, Grubb wanted to combine his creative skills as a painter with writing and as such attended the Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania...
, novelist and story writer who wrote The Night of the Hunter - Arch A. Moore, Jr.Arch A. Moore, Jr.Arch Alfred Moore, Jr. was the 28th and 30th Governor of West Virginia from 1969 until 1977 and from 1985 until 1989. He was a Congressman from 1957 until entering the governor's office. He is a member of the United States Republican Party. He ran for reelection in 1988, but was defeated by...
, former governor of West Virginia - Frank De VolFrank De VolFrank Denny De Vol, also known simply as De Vol was an American arranger, composer and actor.-Early life and career:...
, actor and composer who grew up in Canton, OhioCanton, OhioCanton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
and wrote the theme song for The Brady BunchThe Brady BunchThe Brady Bunch is an American sitcom created by Sherwood Schwartz and starring Robert Reed, Florence Henderson, and Ann B. Davis. The series revolved around a large blended family... - Delf NoronaDelf NoronaDelf Norona , of West Virginia, was a student of philately who wrote on subjects of postal history, including postal history of the state of West Virginia.-Philatelic activity:...
, noted WV historian, expert on history of the US Postal Service, and authority on the Grave Creek MoundGrave Creek MoundAt high and in diameter, the Grave Creek Mound is one of the largest conical type burial mounds in the United States. The builders of the site moved more than 60,000 tons of dirt to create it. It is located in Moundsville, West Virginia near the banks of the Ohio River. The first recorded...
and the Delf Norona Museum - Steve CrabtreeSteve CrabtreeSteven Christopher Crabtree is an American journalist. He was the Republican nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State in 1995....
, former Kentucky television news anchor, Republican nominee for Kentucky Secretary of State in 1995 - Adrian MelottAdrian MelottAdrian Lewis Melott is an American physicist. He is one of the pioneers of using large-scale computing to investigate the formation of large-scale structure in a Universe dominated by dark matter...
, astrophysicist and astrobiologist who helped explain the large-scale structure of the Universe, and studied causes of mass extinctions
See also
- List of cities and towns along the Ohio River
- Grave Creek MoundGrave Creek MoundAt high and in diameter, the Grave Creek Mound is one of the largest conical type burial mounds in the United States. The builders of the site moved more than 60,000 tons of dirt to create it. It is located in Moundsville, West Virginia near the banks of the Ohio River. The first recorded...
- Moundsville BridgeMoundsville BridgeThe Moundsville Bridge carries Ohio State Route 872 and a spur of West Virginia Route 2 over the Ohio River between Moundsville, West Virginia and rural Belmont County, Ohio. It is a four-lane through arch bridge.-External links:* at Bridges & Tunnels...
- West Virginia State PenitentiaryWest Virginia State PenitentiaryThe West Virginia State Penitentiary is a retired, gothic style prison located in Moundsville, West Virginia. It operated from 1876 to 1995. Currently, the site is maintained as a tourist attraction and training facility.-Design:...
- New VrindabanNew VrindabanNew Vrindaban is an unincorporated town and ISKCON intentional community located in Marshall County near Moundsville, West Virginia. The town consists of , and several building complexes, homes, apartment buildings, and businesses including the Sri Sri Radha Vrindaban Chandra Temple and the...
- Prabhupada's Palace of Gold