Williamstown, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Williamstown is a city in Wood County
, West Virginia
, United States
, along the Ohio River
. It is part of the Parkersburg
-Marietta
-Vienna
, WV-OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 2,996 at the 2000 census. The Fenton Art Glass Company
is located in the city.
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974. Located near Williamstown is the Henderson Hall Historic District
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (23.86%) is water.
of 2000, there were 2,996 people, 1,251 households, and 876 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,233.5 people per square mile (863.3/km²). There were 1,330 housing units at an average density of 991.5 per square mile (383.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 0.20% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% from other races
, and 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,251 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% were married couples
living together, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 27.2% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,344, and the median income for a family was $44,189. Males had a median income of $35,806 versus $24,485 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $18,652. About 7.0% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
There are two elementary schools that feed into the town's Williamstown High School, home of the "Yellow Jackets"
ranks among the world's foremost producers of handmade art glass. Fenton is the largest manufacturer of hand made glass in the US. Fenton makes no 2 pieces of glass the same. The firm is now led by third- and fourth-generation Fenton family members, who work side by side with over 400 employees, including skilled glassworkers and decorators, to create beautiful, handmade art glass in Williamstown, West Virginia.
After officials of Fenton Art Glass announced the fifth generation family company would shut down the 100-year-old factory at the end of 2007, thousands of loyal Fenton customers reacted with an outpouring of orders, selling out the QVC show that was to be its last in just minutes instead of the scheduled 2-hour show. Fenton is now open and working to stay open; tours are run daily through the gift shop and orders are placed online, on QVC and via its decades-old collector-quality catalog.
Wood County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 87,986 people, 36,275 households, and 24,884 families residing in the county. The population density was 240 people per square mile . There were 39,785 housing units at an average density of 108 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...
, 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 Parkersburg
Parkersburg, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,099 people, 14,467 households, and 8,767 families residing in the city. In 2006 the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that Parkersburg's population had decreased 4.4% to 31,755. The population density was 2,800.5 people per square mile . There were 16,100 housing...
-Marietta
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
-Vienna
Vienna, West Virginia
Vienna is a city in Wood County, West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It is a suburb of Parkersburg. The population was 10,749 at the 2010 census. It is the third largest city by population in the Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna Metropolitan Statistical Area. Vienna was incorporated in 1935, and was...
, WV-OH
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna metropolitan area
The Parkersburg-Marietta-Vienna Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of three counties in West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the cities of Parkersburg, West Virginia, Marietta, Ohio, and Vienna, West Virginia...
. The population was 2,996 at the 2000 census. The Fenton Art Glass Company
Fenton Art Glass Company
The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton in an old glass factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Originally, they painted glass blanks from other glass makers, but started making their own glass when they were unable to buy the glass they needed. They...
is located in the city.
History
Located at Williamstown is the Tomlinson MansionTomlinson Mansion
Tomlinson Mansion is a historic home located at Williamstown, Wood County, West Virginia. It was built in 1839, and is a two-story, "L"-shaped brick building with a slate-covered gable roof. The front facade features a small, pediment-like roof above the front door that is supported by four...
, listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974. Located near Williamstown is the Henderson Hall Historic District
Henderson Hall Historic District
Henderson Hall Historic District, is a historic home and national historic district located near Williamstown, Wood County, West Virginia. It encompasses 10 contributing buildings, 4 contributing structures, 1 contributing site, and 1 contributing object. The primary building is "Henderson Hall,"...
.
Geography
Williamstown is located at 39°23′58"N 81°27′2"W (39.399574, -81.450558).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 1.8 square miles (4.6 km²), of which, 1.3 square miles (3.5 km²) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.1 km²) of it (23.86%) 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 2,996 people, 1,251 households, and 876 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 2,233.5 people per square mile (863.3/km²). There were 1,330 housing units at an average density of 991.5 per square mile (383.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.26% White, 0.20% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.47% Asian, 0.03% 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 0.73% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 1,251 households out of which 31.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.5% 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, 9.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.9% were non-families. 27.2% 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 2.39 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the city the population was spread out with 23.8% under the age of 18, 6.9% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 24.2% from 45 to 64, and 17.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 89.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.7 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $36,344, and the median income for a family was $44,189. Males had a median income of $35,806 versus $24,485 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 $18,652. About 7.0% of families and 8.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 7.6% of those under age 18 and 2.3% of those age 65 or over.
There are two elementary schools that feed into the town's Williamstown High School, home of the "Yellow Jackets"
Fenton Glass
Founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. and John W. Fenton, the Fenton Art Glass CompanyFenton Art Glass Company
The Fenton Art Glass Company was founded in 1905 by brothers Frank L. Fenton and John W. Fenton in an old glass factory in Martins Ferry, Ohio. Originally, they painted glass blanks from other glass makers, but started making their own glass when they were unable to buy the glass they needed. They...
ranks among the world's foremost producers of handmade art glass. Fenton is the largest manufacturer of hand made glass in the US. Fenton makes no 2 pieces of glass the same. The firm is now led by third- and fourth-generation Fenton family members, who work side by side with over 400 employees, including skilled glassworkers and decorators, to create beautiful, handmade art glass in Williamstown, West Virginia.
After officials of Fenton Art Glass announced the fifth generation family company would shut down the 100-year-old factory at the end of 2007, thousands of loyal Fenton customers reacted with an outpouring of orders, selling out the QVC show that was to be its last in just minutes instead of the scheduled 2-hour show. Fenton is now open and working to stay open; tours are run daily through the gift shop and orders are placed online, on QVC and via its decades-old collector-quality catalog.