Lost Creek, West Virginia

Lost Creek, West Virginia
Town
Lost Creek West Virginia Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Depot
Location of Lost Creek in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°9′30″N80°20′53″W / 39.15833°N 80.34806°W / 39.15833; -80.34806
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Harrison
Area [1]
• Total	0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2)
• Land	0.97 sq mi (2.51 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,020 ft (311 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	359
• Estimate  (2021) [2]	357
• Density	477.86/sq mi (184.51/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	26385
Area code	304
FIPS code	54-48748 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1554998 [4]
Website	https://local.wv.gov/lostcreek/Pages/default.aspx

Lost Creek is a town in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 359 at the 2020 census. ^[2]

History

Lost Creek was incorporated in 1946, and was named after nearby Lost Creek. ^{[5] [6]} The creek itself was named after messages carved on nearby trees during early European exploration of the area. ^[7]

The Daniel Bassel House and Lost Creek Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Depot are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ^[8]

Geography

Lost Creek is located at 39°9′30″N80°20′53″W / 39.15833°N 80.34806°W / 39.15833; -80.34806 (39.158451, -80.348165) in southern Harrison County. ^[9]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.97 square miles (2.51 km²), all of it land. ^[10]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1950	798		—
1960	678		−15.0%
1970	571		−15.8%
1980	604		5.8%
1990	413		−31.6%
2000	467		13.1%
2010	496		6.2%
2020	359		−27.6%
2021 (est.)	357	[2]	−0.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [11]

2020 Census

Lost Creek, West Virginia - Demographic Profile(NH = Non-Hispanic)

Race / Ethnicity	Pop 2020	% 2020
White alone (NH)	329	91.64%
Black or African American alone (NH)	1	0.28%
Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Asian alone (NH)	1	0.28%
Pacific Islander alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Some Other Race alone (NH)	0	0.00%
Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH)	7	1.95%
Hispanic or Latino (any race)	21	5.85%
Total	359	100.00%

Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.

2010 Census

As of the census ^[12] of 2010, there were 496 people, 185 households, and 139 families living in the town. The population density was 511.3 inhabitants per square mile (197.4/km²). There were 205 housing units at an average density of 211.3 per square mile (81.6/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 95.8% White, 0.8% African American, 0.4% Native American, 0.6% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 185 households, of which 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.7% were married couples living together, 20.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 24.9% were non-families. 18.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 8.1% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.68 and the average family size was 2.97.

The median age in the town was 38.2 years. 27.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 3.6% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.3% were from 25 to 44; 28.5% were from 45 to 64; and 14.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.2% male and 51.8% female.

2000 Census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 467 people, 184 households, and 133 families living in the town. The population density was 461.4 inhabitants per square mile (178.5/km²). There were 207 housing units at an average density of 204.5 per square mile (79.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.29% White, 0.21% Asian, and 1.50% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.43% of the population.

There were 184 households, out of which 27.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 52.7% were married couples living together, 15.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 27.7% were non-families. 24.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.00.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.8% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 30.0% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 15.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 97.3 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $26,563, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $32,292 versus $19,500 for females. The per capita income for the town was $15,711. About 22.6% of families and 26.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 36.8% of those under age 18 and 20.5% of those age 65 or over.

Education

Lost Creek is home to Lost Creek Elementary School, South Harrison Middle School, and South Harrison High School. The three schools are part of the Harrison County School District. In 2021, a new Lost Creek Elementary School was constructed adjacent to the South Harrison campus. ^[13]

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
3. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
4. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 387.
6. "About Us". local.wv.gov. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
7. "About Us". local.wv.gov. Retrieved August 9, 2023.
8. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
9. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on July 2, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
11. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
12. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2013.
13. WRITER, Kailee E. Gallahan STAFF. "New Lost Creek Elementary School floor plan, details discussed Thursday". WV News. Retrieved September 15, 2021.