Pennington Gap, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Pennington Gap is the most populous town in Lee County
, Virginia
, United States
. The population was 1,781 at the 2000 census.
The Lee Regional Medical Center is in Pennington Gap, and the United States Penitentiary, Lee
is nearby.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
Pennington Gap is located at the junction of US Route 58 and US Route 421.
of 2000, there were 1,781 people, 811 households, and 480 families residing in the town. The population density
was 1,174.0 people per square mile (452.4/km²). There were 950 housing units at an average density of 626.2 per square mile (241.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.28% White, 3.43% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 811 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% were married couples
living together, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,056, and the median income for a family was $27,875. Males had a median income of $27,885 versus $18,625 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $13,742. About 28.3% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
operates the Pennington Gap Post Office.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons
United States Penitentiary, Lee
is located in the Lee County Industrial Park in unincorporated
Lee County, Virginia
, near Pennington Gap.
Pennington Elementary School was located on Morgan Avenue, consisting of three buildings built at various times, 1912, 1917, and 1937. The elementary school
was torn down in late 1989 and Lee Bank and Trust Company constructed on its site.
In 1989, with the consolidation of many of the county's high schools at the newly constructed Lee High School
, the old Pennington High School was converted into Pennington Middle School (grades 6-8). Grade 5 was moved to Dryden Primary and Elk Knob Elementary to make room for more teachers.
Lee County, Virginia
According to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people, 11,587 households, and 6,852 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,587 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 1,781 at the 2000 census.
The Lee Regional Medical Center is in Pennington Gap, and the United States Penitentiary, Lee
United States Penitentiary, Lee
United States Penitentiary, Lee is a prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is located in the Lee County Industrial Park in unincorporated Lee County, Virginia, near Pennington Gap, off U.S. Route 58 at the intersection of State Route 638. The facility is east of Jonesville...
is nearby.
Geography
Pennington Gap is located at 36°45′24"N 83°1′46"W (36.756580, -83.029375).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 1.5 square miles (3.9 km²), all of it land.
Pennington Gap is located at the junction of US Route 58 and US Route 421.
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 1,781 people, 811 households, and 480 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 1,174.0 people per square mile (452.4/km²). There were 950 housing units at an average density of 626.2 per square mile (241.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.28% White, 3.43% African American, 0.39% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.62% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 811 households out of which 22.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.4% 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, 16.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.8% were non-families. 37.5% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.15 and the average family size was 2.84.
In the town the population was spread out with 20.5% under the age of 18, 7.2% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 25.3% from 45 to 64, and 21.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females there were 81.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 74.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $18,056, and the median income for a family was $27,875. Males had a median income of $27,885 versus $18,625 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 $13,742. About 28.3% of families and 31.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 42.0% of those under age 18 and 24.7% of those age 65 or over.
Government and infrastructure
The United States Postal ServiceUnited States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
operates the Pennington Gap Post Office.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons
Federal Bureau of Prisons
The Federal Bureau of Prisons is a federal law enforcement agency subdivision of the United States Department of Justice and is responsible for the administration of the federal prison system. The system also handles prisoners who committed acts considered felonies under the District of Columbia's...
United States Penitentiary, Lee
United States Penitentiary, Lee
United States Penitentiary, Lee is a prison operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. It is located in the Lee County Industrial Park in unincorporated Lee County, Virginia, near Pennington Gap, off U.S. Route 58 at the intersection of State Route 638. The facility is east of Jonesville...
is located in the Lee County Industrial Park in unincorporated
Unincorporated area
In law, an unincorporated area is a region of land that is not a part of any municipality.To "incorporate" in this context means to form a municipal corporation, a city, town, or village with its own government. An unincorporated community is usually not subject to or taxed by a municipal government...
Lee County, Virginia
Lee County, Virginia
According to the census 2009 estimates, there were 25001 people, 11,587 households, and 6,852 families residing in the county. The population density was 54 people per square mile . There were 11,587 housing units at an average density of 25 per square mile...
, near Pennington Gap.
Education
Lee County Public Schools operates schools in the county.Pennington Elementary School was located on Morgan Avenue, consisting of three buildings built at various times, 1912, 1917, and 1937. The elementary school
Elementary school
An elementary school or primary school is an institution where children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as elementary or primary education. Elementary school is the preferred term in some countries, particularly those in North America, where the terms grade school and grammar...
was torn down in late 1989 and Lee Bank and Trust Company constructed on its site.
In 1989, with the consolidation of many of the county's high schools at the newly constructed Lee High School
Lee High School (Lee County, Virginia)
Lee High School is a public school located in unincorporated Lee County, Virginia, near Jonesville. It is a part of the Lee County School District. It is one of two high schools in Lee County, Virginia.-History:...
, the old Pennington High School was converted into Pennington Middle School (grades 6-8). Grade 5 was moved to Dryden Primary and Elk Knob Elementary to make room for more teachers.