Nutter Fort, West Virginia

Nutter Fort, West Virginia
Town
Flag
Motto:  Progress With a Small Town Atmosphere
Location of Nutter Fort in Harrison County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°15′44″N80°19′21″W / 39.26222°N 80.32250°W / 39.26222; -80.32250
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Harrison
Government
• Mayor	Sam Maxson
• Police Chief	R.W. Godwin
Area [1]
• Total	6.89 sq mi (2.30 km2)
• Land	6.89 sq mi (2.30 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	1,056 ft (322 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	1,497
• Estimate  (2021) [2]	1,478
• Density	1,700.79/sq mi (656.40/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	26301
Area code	304
FIPS code	54-59836 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1555248 [4]
Website	townofnutterfort.com

Nutter Fort is a town in Harrison County, West Virginia, United States, incorporated in 1923. The town is a southeastern suburb of Clarksburg.

History

In the 1770s, brothers Thomas, Matthew, John, and Christopher Nutter arrived, securing a 1,400-acre land grant along the Elk Creek in what was known as Monongalia County. Seeking refuge from the conflicts, they hewed logs and erected a fort in 1772 with the help of settlers Obadiah and Daniel Davisson. This bastion, later known as Nutter's Fort, offered sanctuary to settlers fleeing Native American raids. The original fort is no longer standing; only its foundation remains. ^[5]

The construction of the West Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railroad in the 1880s facilitated the transportation of Nutter Fort's newly discovered coal resources to Clarksburg. The town is now more focused on education and community development.

West Virginia Blackberry Festival

The West Virginia Blackberry Festival, held annually from 1996 to 2019, showcased the region's agricultural heritage and the preservation of its historical landmarks, including the old Roosevelt-Wilson High School. The festival was cancelled in 2020 due to COVID-19, with the mayor announcing in 2022 that it would not be returning. ^[6]

Geography

Nutter Fort is located at 39°15′44″N80°19′21″W / 39.26222°N 80.32250°W / 39.26222; -80.32250 (39.262163, −80.322389), ^[7] along Elk Creek. ^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, Nutter Fort has a total area of 0.85 square miles (2.20 km²), all of which is land. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1930	1,825		—
1940	1,803		−1.2%
1950	2,285		26.7%
1960	2,440		6.8%
1970	2,379		−2.5%
1980	2,078		−12.7%
1990	1,819		−12.5%
2000	1,686		−7.3%
2010	1,593		−5.5%
2020	1,497		−6.0%
2021 (est.)	1,478	[2]	−1.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2010 census

As of the 2010 census ^[11] there were 1,593 people, 743 households, and 436 families living in the town. The population density was 1,874.1 inhabitants per square mile (723.6/km²). There were 826 housing units at an average density of 971.8 per square mile (375.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 96.4% White, 0.8% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 1.9% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino individuals of any race made up 1.3% of the population.

There were 743 households, of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 14.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 41.3% were non-families. 36.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 15.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.13 and the average family size was 2.74.

The median age in the town was 41.8 years. 19.1% of residents were under the age of 18; 6.8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.4% were from 45 to 64; and 19.3% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.5% male and 52.5% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 1,686 people, 793 households, and 470 families living in the town. The population density was 1,902.9 inhabitants per square mile (731.4/km²). There were 860 housing units at an average density of 970.6 per square mile (373.1/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 97.75% White, 0.89% African American, 0.06% Native American, 0.30% Asian, and 1.01% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.01% of the population.

There were 793 households, out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples living together, 11.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 40.7% were non-families. 35.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 16.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.72.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 18.2% under the age of 18, 8.1% from 18 to 24, 27.5% from 25 to 44, 26.3% from 45 to 64, and 20.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $30,163, and the median income for a family was $39,318. Males had a median income of $26,855 versus $18,816 for females. The per capita income for the town was $18,431. About 11.6% of families and 14.3% of the population were below the poverty line, including 24.5% of those under age 18 and 1.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable locations

• Roosevelt-Wilson High School: This former school is undergoing renovations. Constructed in 1924, Roosevelt-Wilson High School was a hub for education in Nutter Fort, offering academic programs and extracurricular activities until its closure in 1990.
• Nutter Fort Elementary: Built in 1993, the Nutter Fort Elementary is a primary school in West Virginia.
• Nutter Fort Public Library: Founded in 1983, the Nutter Fort Public Library has served the community for over 40 years.

Transportation

• West Virginia Route 20
• West Virginia Route 98

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. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. "Nutter Fort History". Archived from the original on September 16, 2009. Retrieved December 1, 2008.
6. "WV Blackberry Festival comes to an end". WBOY.com. May 8, 2022. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
7. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
8. DeLorme (1997). West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. p.36. ISBN   0-89933-246-3.
9. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
10. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
11. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2013.

External links

• Town of Nutter Fort official website
• West Virginia Blackberry Festival
• Harrison County Website