White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County
, West Virginia
, United States
. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,315 people, 1,127 households, and 648 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,179.5 people per square mile (456.0/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 689.9 per square mile (266.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.55% White
, 14.95% African American
, 0.09% Native American
, 0.26% Asian
, 0.26% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,127 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples
living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.72.
The age distribution was 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,694, and the median income for a family was $35,450. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $19,868 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $14,822. About 15.7% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
, the national passenger rail service, provides service to White Sulphur Springs under the Cardinal route.
The Alleghany Subdivision of the main line of the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (now part of CSX
) runs through White Sulphur Springs. At one time in its history it was part of the limestone
flux
cargo route from Hinton, West Virginia
to Clifton Forge. Its affectionate nickname was "The Gravel Gertie" after the Dick Tracy
character.
White Sulphur Springs is serviced by Interstate 64
and U.S. 60.
White Sulphur Springs grew in the first half of the nineteenth century as the southern "Queen of the Watering Places". The springs resort first became the standard summer destination for wealthy Virginia low-country residents seeking reprieve from heat, humidity, and disease. As its popularity increased and it gained status as a socially exclusive site, the spring attracted elite guests from all areas of the South
.
The resort, now known as The Greenbrier
, remains one of the country's most luxurious and exclusive resorts. For many years, Sam Snead
was the resort's golf
pro. The resort has another significant place in golf history; in 1979
, it hosted the first Ryder Cup
to feature the current competitive setup of the United States
and Europe
an sides. Indeed golf in the United States began near White Sulphur Springs when the Montague family founded Oakhurst Links
in 1884, making it the oldest organized golf club in the country.
In 1992 the Washington Post revealed that the resort had been the site of a "bunker
", the Emergency Relocation Center, which was intended to house and protect the U.S. Congress in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War
.
, is licensed to "White Sulphur Spring", West Virginia in the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) database.
America's first golf course was opened in 1884 in White Sulphur Springs and is called Oakhurst Links. This is a Hickory Golf
course in the pre-1900 style. Visitors to Oakhurst Links play the course just as golfers did in 1884. Golf at Oakhurst is played with replica 19th-century long-nose, hickory-shafted clubs and gutta percha "guttie" balls, (made in St. Andrews Scotland exclusively for Oakhurst) hit from sand tees. The US National Hickory Championship tournament is held at Oakhurst annually in June.
In 1987 the White Sulphur Springs Library was rebuilt from the old community house. Currently the Library is returning to its roots as an educational resource and one of the hearts of the town.
The town is featured as an US Army Center of Operations in the book "Worldwar: In the Balance
", by Harry Turtledove
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 34,453 people, 14,571 households, and 9,922 families residing in the county. The population density was 34 people per square mile . There were 17,644 housing units at an average density of 17 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...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.
Geography
White Sulphur Springs is located at 37°47′38"N 80°18′13"W (37.793975, -80.303538).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 2.0 square miles (5.1 km²), all of it 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 2,315 people, 1,127 households, and 648 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 1,179.5 people per square mile (456.0/km²). There were 1,354 housing units at an average density of 689.9 per square mile (266.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 82.55% White
White American
White Americans are people of the United States who are considered or consider themselves White. The United States Census Bureau defines White people as those "having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa...
, 14.95% African American
African American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
, 0.09% Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
, 0.26% Asian
Asian American
Asian Americans are Americans of Asian descent. The U.S. Census Bureau definition of Asians as "Asian” refers to a person having origins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent, including, for example, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Japan,...
, 0.26% from other races, and 1.90% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos
Hispanic and Latino Americans
Hispanic or Latino Americans are Americans with origins in the Hispanic countries of Latin America or in Spain, and in general all persons in the United States who self-identify as Hispanic or Latino.1990 Census of Population and Housing: A self-designated classification for people whose origins...
of any race were 1.04% of the population.
There were 1,127 households out of which 21.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% 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, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.5% were non-families. 38.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.05 and the average family size was 2.72.
The age distribution was 19.0% under the age of 18, 7.0% from 18 to 24, 25.8% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 20.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.4 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,694, and the median income for a family was $35,450. Males had a median income of $28,566 versus $19,868 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 $14,822. About 15.7% of families and 17.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 23.9% of those under age 18 and 8.5% of those age 65 or over.
Transportation
AmtrakAmtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
, the national passenger rail service, provides service to White Sulphur Springs under the Cardinal route.
The Alleghany Subdivision of the main line of the former Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad (now part of CSX
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...
) runs through White Sulphur Springs. At one time in its history it was part of the limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
flux
Flux
In the various subfields of physics, there exist two common usages of the term flux, both with rigorous mathematical frameworks.* In the study of transport phenomena , flux is defined as flow per unit area, where flow is the movement of some quantity per time...
cargo route from Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton, West Virginia
Hinton is a city in Summers County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,880 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Summers County. Hinton was established in 1873 and chartered in 1897. Hinton was named for John "Jack" Hinton, a prominent lawyer of Summers County and husband of...
to Clifton Forge. Its affectionate nickname was "The Gravel Gertie" after the Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy
Dick Tracy is a comic strip featuring Dick Tracy, a hard-hitting, fast-shooting and intelligent police detective. Created by Chester Gould, the strip made its debut on October 4, 1931, in the Detroit Mirror. It was distributed by the Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate...
character.
White Sulphur Springs is serviced by Interstate 64
Interstate 64 in West Virginia
The alignment of Interstate 64 was to originally parallel US 60 from Charleston to the Virginia state line. This would go through environmentally sensitive areas such as Hawk's Nest and the New River Gorge area and might have disrupted the natural beauty and the isolation of the area.In 1969,...
and U.S. 60.
History
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
.
The resort, now known as The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a Forbes four-star and AAA Five Diamond Award winning luxury resort located just outside the town of White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States....
, remains one of the country's most luxurious and exclusive resorts. For many years, Sam Snead
Sam Snead
Samuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. Snead won a record 82 PGA Tour events including seven majors. He failed to win a U.S...
was the resort's golf
Golf
Golf is a precision club and ball sport, in which competing players use many types of clubs to hit balls into a series of holes on a golf course using the fewest number of strokes....
pro. The resort has another significant place in golf history; in 1979
1979 Ryder Cup
The 23rd Ryder Cup Matches were held at the Greenbrier Course of The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. It was the beginning of a new era for the Ryder Cup...
, it hosted the first Ryder Cup
Ryder Cup
The Ryder Cup is a biennial golf competition between teams from Europe and the United States. The competition is jointly administered by the PGA of America and the PGA European Tour, and is contested every two years, the venue alternating between courses in the United States and Europe...
to feature the current competitive setup of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sides. Indeed golf in the United States began near White Sulphur Springs when the Montague family founded Oakhurst Links
Oakhurst Links
Oakhurst Links is a historic golf course located at White Sulphur Springs, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It is a nine hole course conceived in 1884. Its design is based upon traditional Scottish design elements. Located on the course is the home of course developed Russell W. Montague, that...
in 1884, making it the oldest organized golf club in the country.
In 1992 the Washington Post revealed that the resort had been the site of a "bunker
Bunker
A military bunker is a hardened shelter, often buried partly or fully underground, designed to protect the inhabitants from falling bombs or other attacks...
", the Emergency Relocation Center, which was intended to house and protect the U.S. Congress in the event of a nuclear attack during the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...
.
Trivia
White Sulphur Springs only radio station, WSLWWSLW
WSLW is an Sports formatted broadcast radio station licensed to White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, serving White Sulphur Springs and Lewisburg in West Virginia. WSLW is owned by Todd P. Robinson, Inc.-Trivia:...
, is licensed to "White Sulphur Spring", West Virginia in the Federal Communications Commission
Federal Communications Commission
The Federal Communications Commission is an independent agency of the United States government, created, Congressional statute , and with the majority of its commissioners appointed by the current President. The FCC works towards six goals in the areas of broadband, competition, the spectrum, the...
(FCC) database.
America's first golf course was opened in 1884 in White Sulphur Springs and is called Oakhurst Links. This is a Hickory Golf
Hickory Golf
Hickory golf, is a variation of golf played with hickory shafted golf clubs. In the United States the main organizing bodies are The Society of Hickory Golfers and the Golf Collectors Society ; in Canada - The Canadian Golf Historical Society; and in the UK - The British Golf Collectors Society...
course in the pre-1900 style. Visitors to Oakhurst Links play the course just as golfers did in 1884. Golf at Oakhurst is played with replica 19th-century long-nose, hickory-shafted clubs and gutta percha "guttie" balls, (made in St. Andrews Scotland exclusively for Oakhurst) hit from sand tees. The US National Hickory Championship tournament is held at Oakhurst annually in June.
In 1987 the White Sulphur Springs Library was rebuilt from the old community house. Currently the Library is returning to its roots as an educational resource and one of the hearts of the town.
The town is featured as an US Army Center of Operations in the book "Worldwar: In the Balance
Worldwar: In the Balance
Worldwar: In the Balance is an alternate history and science fiction novel by Harry Turtledove. It is the first novel of the Worldwar tetraology, as well as the first installment in the extended Worldwar series that includes the Colonization trilogy and the novel Homeward Bound. The plot begins in...
", by Harry Turtledove
Harry Turtledove
Harry Norman Turtledove is an American novelist, who has produced works in several genres including alternate history, historical fiction, fantasy and science fiction.- Life :...