Piedmont, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Piedmont is a town in Mineral County
, West Virginia
, United States
. It is part of the 'Cumberland
, MD
-WV
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856. The town is the subject of Colored People: A Memoir by Piedmont native Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
, the eastern edge of the Allegheny Mountains
or Appalachian Plateau
, on the south (West Virginia) side of the North Branch of the Potomac River.
Piedmont is located at 39°28′49"N 79°2′53"W (39.480232, -79.048086). According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all land.
reached the site of Piedmont on July 21, 1851, and in 1853 connected Baltimore, Maryland, and the Ohio River
at Wheeling
, then (like Piedmont) in Virginia
, and now in West Virginia
. The line through Piedmont is still a major segment of the B&O system, now part of CSX Transportation
.
The Town of Piedmont was chartered in 1856.
Piedmont was also known as Mount Carbon due to the persuasiveness of the officers of the New Creek Company, a corporation chartered to construct canals, build railroads
, purchase lands, and carry on manufacturing. Corporate officials convinced the Baltimore and Ohio, the Burlington and Mount Holly Railroad, the Boston and Lowell
, and the Long Island
railroads to use coal
instead of wood in the firing of their locomotives. The first coal used was mined in the mountains surrounding Piedmont.
During the American Civil War
(1861-1865), the town of Piedmont was frequently raided by the McNeill's Rangers
in an effort by the Confederates
to disrupt B&O train service.
In 1888, William Luke
established the West Virginia Paper Company (now NewPage Corporation
) on 50 acres (20.2 ha) of Maryland
land known as West Piedmont (now Luke, Maryland
, adjacent to the larger town of Westernport, Maryland
). The company remains a major economic factor in the area.
Jazz
great Don Redman
was born in Piedmont on July 29, 1900. Henry Louis Gates, a professor of African-American history at Harvard University
, was raised in Piedmont, an experience he described in his 1994 book "Colored People". Rock singer Steve Whiteman of the band Kix
, best known for their hit song 'Don't Close Your Eyes', was born in Piedmont in 1956.
of 2000, there were 1,094 people, 423 households, and 266 families residing in the town. The population density
was 2,413.4 inhabitants per square mile (932.2/km²). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 1,187.7 per square mile (458.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.36% White, 21.79% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.78% from other races
, and 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
There were 423 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% were married couples
living together, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,190, and the median income for a family was $26,964. Males had a median income of $21,938 versus $18,250 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $11,678. About 24.7% of families and 30.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 23.5% of those age 65 or over.
Mineral County, West Virginia
Mineral County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of 2010, the population was 28,212. Its county seat is Keyser.-Ancient history:...
, 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It is part of the 'Cumberland
Cumberland, Maryland
Cumberland is a city in the far western, Appalachian portion of Maryland, United States. It is the county seat of Allegany County, and the primary city of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 20,859, and the metropolitan area had a...
, MD
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
-WV
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...
Metropolitan Statistical Area'. The population was 1,014 at the 2000 census. Piedmont was chartered in 1856. The town is the subject of Colored People: A Memoir by Piedmont native Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Geography
As its name suggests, Piedmont is located at the base of a mountain, in this instance the foot of the Allegheny FrontAllegheny Front
The Allegheny Front is the major southeast- or east-facing escarpment in the Allegheny Mountains in southern Pennsylvania, western Maryland, and eastern West Virginia, USA. The Allegheny Front delineates the Ridge-and-Valley Appalachians to its east from the Appalachian Plateau to its west...
, the eastern edge of 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...
or Appalachian Plateau
Appalachian Plateau
The Appalachian Plateau is the western part of the Appalachian mountains, stretching from New York and Alabama. The plateau is a second level United States physiographic region....
, on the south (West Virginia) side of the North Branch of the Potomac River.
Piedmont is located at 39°28′49"N 79°2′53"W (39.480232, -79.048086). 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 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²), all land.
History
The original main line of the Baltimore and Ohio (B&O) RailroadBaltimore 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...
reached the site of Piedmont on July 21, 1851, and in 1853 connected Baltimore, Maryland, and 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...
at 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...
, then (like Piedmont) in 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...
, and now in 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...
. The line through Piedmont is still a major segment of the B&O system, now part of CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation
CSX Transportation operates a Class I railroad in the United States known as the CSX Railroad. It is the main subsidiary of the CSX Corporation. The company is headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, and owns approximately 21,000 route miles...
.
The Town of Piedmont was chartered in 1856.
Piedmont was also known as Mount Carbon due to the persuasiveness of the officers of the New Creek Company, a corporation chartered to construct canals, build railroads
Rail transport
Rail transport is a means of conveyance of passengers and goods by way of wheeled vehicles running on rail tracks. In contrast to road transport, where vehicles merely run on a prepared surface, rail vehicles are also directionally guided by the tracks they run on...
, purchase lands, and carry on manufacturing. Corporate officials convinced the Baltimore and Ohio, the Burlington and Mount Holly Railroad, the Boston and Lowell
Boston and Lowell Railroad
The Boston and Lowell Railroad is a historic railroad that operated in Massachusetts. It was one of the first railroads in North America and the first major one in the state...
, and the Long Island
Long Island Rail Road
The Long Island Rail Road or LIRR is a commuter rail system serving the length of Long Island, New York. It is the busiest commuter railroad in North America, serving about 81.5 million passengers each year. Established in 1834 and having operated continuously since then, it is the oldest US...
railroads to use coal
Coal
Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers or veins called coal beds or coal seams. The harder forms, such as anthracite coal, can be regarded as metamorphic rock because of later exposure to elevated temperature and pressure...
instead of wood in the firing of their locomotives. The first coal used was mined in the mountains surrounding Piedmont.
During the American 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...
(1861-1865), the town of Piedmont was frequently raided by the McNeill's Rangers
McNeill's Rangers
McNeill's Rangers was an independent Confederate military force commissioned under the Partisan Ranger Act by the Confederate Congress during the American Civil War. The 210 man battalion-size unit was formed from Company E of the 18th Virginia Cavalry and the First Virginia Partisan Rangers...
in an effort by the Confederates
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
to disrupt B&O train service.
In 1888, William Luke
William Luke
William Luke was the founder of the Westvaco Corporation in 1888 at Piedmont, West Virginia and West Piedmont, Maryland, USA.Luke came to America from Scotland in 1852. He was a pioneer of the modern art of papermaking....
established the West Virginia Paper Company (now NewPage Corporation
NewPage Corporation
NewPage Corporation, based in Miamisburg, Ohio, is a leading producer of coated paper in North America.The company produces coated papers in sheets and rolls with many finishes and weights to offer design flexibility for a wide array of end uses...
) on 50 acres (20.2 ha) of Maryland
Maryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
land known as West Piedmont (now Luke, Maryland
Luke, Maryland
Luke is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States located along the Georges Creek Valley. Known originally as West Piedmont, the town is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 80 at the 2000 census....
, adjacent to the larger town of Westernport, Maryland
Westernport, Maryland
Westernport is a town in Allegany County, Maryland, United States, located along the Georges Creek Valley. It is part of the Cumberland, MD-WV Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,104 at the 2000 census.-History:...
). The company remains a major economic factor in the area.
Jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
great Don Redman
Don Redman
Donald Matthew Redman was an American jazz musician, arranger, bandleader and composer.Redman was announced as a member of the West Virginia Music Hall of Fame on May 6, 2009....
was born in Piedmont on July 29, 1900. Henry Louis Gates, a professor of African-American history at 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...
, was raised in Piedmont, an experience he described in his 1994 book "Colored People". Rock singer Steve Whiteman of the band Kix
Kix
Kix may refer to:* Kix , a breakfast cereal* Kix , American band who achieved popularity in the 1980s** Kix , 1981 debut album by Kix* KiXtart, a Windows scripting language* Kix 96.2 FM, British radio station...
, best known for their hit song 'Don't Close Your Eyes', was born in Piedmont in 1956.
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 1,094 people, 423 households, and 266 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 2,413.4 inhabitants per square mile (932.2/km²). There were 499 housing units at an average density of 1,187.7 per square mile (458.7/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 74.36% White, 21.79% African American, 0.20% Native American, 1.78% 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 1.87% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.07% of the population.
There were 423 households out of which 29.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.1% 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, 20.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 3.00.
In the town the population was spread out with 26.8% under the age of 18, 8.9% from 18 to 24, 28.6% from 25 to 44, 20.8% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 89.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.8 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $21,190, and the median income for a family was $26,964. Males had a median income of $21,938 versus $18,250 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 $11,678. About 24.7% of families and 30.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.3% of those under age 18 and 23.5% of those age 65 or over.