Sistersville, West Virginia

Last updated

Sistersville, West Virginia
Sistersville West Virginia.jpg
Wells Street in downtown Sistersville in 2006
Flag of Sistersville, West Virginia.svg
Tyler County West Virginia Incorporated and Unincorporated areas Sistersville Highlighted.svg
Location of Sistersville in Tyler County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°33′42″N80°59′52″W / 39.56167°N 80.99778°W / 39.56167; -80.99778
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Tyler
Area
[1]
  Total0.53 sq mi (1.36 km2)
  Land0.53 sq mi (1.36 km2)
  Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
646 ft (197 m)
Population
 (2020) [3]
  Total1,413
  Estimate 
(2021) [3]
1,381
  Density2,441.90/sq mi (942.21/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
  Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26175
Area code 304
FIPS code 54-74380 [4]
GNIS feature ID1552903 [2]
Website www.cityofsistersville.com

Sistersville is a city in Tyler County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,413 at the 2020 census. [3] The Sistersville Ferry crosses the Ohio River to the unincorporated community of Fly in Monroe County, Ohio. [5]

Contents

History

Sistersville was named because two sisters, Sarah Wells McCoy and Delilah Wells Grier, inherited the land underlying the town from their father, pioneer Charles Wells, in 1815 and laid out the town. [6] Wells had settled on the sandy bottomland with his second wife, Elizabeth Prather and many of his 22 children (Sarah and Delilah were the 12th and 17th; his first wife Michal Owings had died in 1783 after giving birth to 10 children). The site was called Wells Landing, Wella having previously founded Wellsville and Wellsburg along the Ohio River and having served in the Virginia legislature from Brooke County in 1793. [7] The Virginia General Assembly created Tyler County in 1814, weeks before Wells' death, and a court session was held at Wells' house in Sistersville ("Welkin") in 1815 (the plat having included lots for a courthouse and lawyers' offices), but in 1816 voters selected Middlebourne, on Middle Island Creek about halfway between Pennsylvania and the Kanawha salt springs (and which incorporated in 1813) as the county seat. The Virginia General Assembly chartered Sistersville in 1839. [8] By 1850, Sistersville had grain and wool carding mills. The ferry across the Ohio River which James Jolly had started decades earlier would still be operating in the 21st century. The Russell Building (built in 1840 as a ferry house) would survive many floods and later serve as a market and the offices of the Oil Review edited by J. Hanford McCoy. [9]

Following the Virginia Secession Convention of 1861, Sistersville and Tyler County were divided, but leaned toward the Union (s did their militia group, the "Sistersville Blues"). Nonetheless, Confederate sympathizers seized militia equipment at Sistersville, including dozens of rifles and two small cannons, and the Ohio militiamen sent to protect Parkersburg took more than a month to recover them. [10] Judge Abraham Soper, a New York lawyer and New Jersey judge who had moved to Sisterville in 1847, became Tyler County's representative to the Wheeling Convention and the West Virginia Constitutional Convention of 1862–1863. Fellow delegates elected him their president for the reconvened session of February 1863 (because Congress required the new state's constitution to contain an antislavery provision, which President Abraham Lincoln approved in December 1862). On March 26, voters overwhelmingly ratified the new Constitution (28,321 to 572), so President Lincoln soon acknowledged the revision as adequate thus creating the state of West Virginia. [11] When West Virginia's first legislature divided Tyler County in to districts in 1863, Sistersville was in the Lincoln District.

For years, many believed that oil and natural gas was under Sistersville, because natural gas and salt water had been bubbling up in Burning Springs since before 1836 (in what became Wirt County and development there became an oil boom beginning in 1860). However, the drill Philo Stocking used in 1865 became stuck before it reached oil, but he made sure to retain oil and gas rights to land he sold, which later made him rich. [9] The large Sistersville Oil Field was only confirmed in 1891, with the "Joshua Russell Pole Cat No. 1", successfully drilled by Russell and Edward Paden near Pole Cat creek after they drained salt water for a year. [12] The find proved one of the more productive wells in the field, still producing oil (some refined as gasoline) in 1925. The find occurred as the oil fields in Oil City, Pennsylvania (developed beginning 1861) were running dry and technology had progressed to drain the initial water cap above the oil. Within a few years, Sistersville had ballooned into a city of 15,000 people. [13] In 1893, Sisterville (briefly) was the "oil capital of the world". [14] Unlike some of the Pennsylvania boom towns which became ghost towns, Sistersville invested in infrastructure, and the railroad had arrived in 1884. A spur connected Sistersville to the county seat at Middlebourne.

A disastrous flood of the Ohio River in 1913 (which crested at 51.5 feet at Wheeling upriver and 69.9 feet downriver at Cincinnati) caused considerable damage in Sistersville, [15] Otherwise, the disasters Sistersville faced usually involved fire, long before a 1970 fire that destroyed a historic downtown block. Sistersville long had several fire brigades or pumping companies. A gasoline plant was built at the oil field and in 1911 the Carter Oil company built the world's largest gasoline print south of SIstersville, which had an explosion in 1913 but rebuilt, such that the American Petroleum Institute cited for its gas development work in 1925. [16] Sistersville took pride in Tyler High School graduate Cecil H. Underwood (1922- 2008) who at age 22 represented the county in the House of Delegates, and became the youngest-ever West Virginia governor in 1956, then in 1996 was elected again and became the state's oldest governor. [17]

Historical sites

The Sistersville City Hall is a historic city hall building listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The City Hall is contributing property of the Sistersville Historic District.

Other listed historic properties in Sistersville include the Wells-Schaff House (a/k/a "Welkin" was built beginning in 1832 by Eli Wells, son of Charles Wells, who wanted a residence outside the flood plain, and expanded in 1896 and renovated circa 1935), the Wells Inn (opened 1895, built by Eli Wells's son Ephraim who fostered local business development), the E. A. Durham House (built circa 1921 for oil executive E.A. Durham), and the Wells-Twyford House (built beginning 1854 by Eli Wells and owned by his heirs until acquired by the Twyford family, descended from Elizabeth Wells Archer, a different family than the Charles Wells descendants).

Geography

Sistersville is located at 39°33′42″N80°59′52″W / 39.56167°N 80.99778°W / 39.56167; -80.99778 (39.561615, -80.997791). [18]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.53 square miles (1.37 km2), all land. [19]

Map of Sistersville 1896 Sistersville 1896.jpg
Map of Sistersville 1896

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note
1860 351
1870 304−13.4%
1880 38627.0%
1890 46921.5%
1900 2,979535.2%
1910 2,684−9.9%
1920 3,23820.6%
1930 3,072−5.1%
1940 2,702−12.0%
1950 2,313−14.4%
1960 2,3310.8%
1970 2,246−3.6%
1980 2,3675.4%
1990 1,797−24.1%
2000 1,588−11.6%
2010 1,396−12.1%
2020 1,4131.2%
2021 (est.)1,381 [3] −2.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [20]

2010 census

As of the census [21] of 2010, there were 1,396 people, 593 households, and 355 families living in the city. The population density was 2,634.0 inhabitants per square mile (1,017.0/km2). There were 726 housing units at an average density of 1,369.8 units per square mile (528.9 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 98.9% White, 0.3% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.6% of the population.

There were 593 households, of which 27.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.2% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.1% were non-families. 35.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.

The median age in the city was 44.5 years. 21.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 21.7% were from 25 to 44; 27.9% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census [4] of 2000, there were 1,588 people, 694 households, and 460 families living in the city. The population density was 3,028.3 people per square mile (1,169.2 people/km2). There were 779 housing units at an average density of 1,485.5 units per square mile (573.6 units/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 99.50% White, 0.06% African American, 0.06% Asian, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.31% of the population. In 2008, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated the town's population at 1,413. [22]

There were 694 households, out of which 29.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.0% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.6% were non-families. 31.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 24.2% under the age of 18, 7.3% from 18 to 24, 25.6% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 19.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 87.9 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 81.9 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,799, and the median income for a family was $33,750. Males had a median income of $34,250 versus $23,875 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,267. About 16.2% of families and 22.4% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.8% of those under age 18 and 9.5% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wellsburg, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Wellsburg is a city in and the county seat of Brooke County, West Virginia, United States. The 2020 census recorded a population of 2,455. It is a part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area. The city's economy includes several telemarketing facilities, and a factory that does metal fabrication and plastics molding.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wetzel County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Wetzel County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,442. Its county seat is New Martinsville. The county, founded in 1846, is named for Lewis Wetzel, a famous frontiersman and Indian fighter. Its northern border aligns with the Mason-Dixon line, but is to the west of the line's western terminus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tyler County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Tyler County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 8,313. Its county seat is Middlebourne. The county was founded in 1814 and is named after John Tyler, Sr., father of President John Tyler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pleasants County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Pleasants County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. At the 2020 census, the population was 7,653. Its county seat is St. Marys.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Mason County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 25,453. Its county seat and largest city is Point Pleasant. The county was founded in 1804 and named for George Mason, delegate to the U.S. Constitutional Convention. Before the Civil War, the county was in the State of Virginia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jackson County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Jackson County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 27,791. Its county seat is Ripley, and its largest municipality is Ravenswood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Doddridge County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Doddridge County is a county in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 7,808. Its county seat is West Union.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brooke County, West Virginia</span> County in West Virginia, United States

Brooke County is a county in the Northern Panhandle of the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,559. Its county seat is Wellsburg. The county was created in 1797 from part of Ohio County and named in honor of Robert Brooke, Governor of Virginia from 1794 to 1796. Brooke County is part of the Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is also included in the Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, PA-WV-OH Combined Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Monroe County, Ohio</span> County in Ohio, United States

Monroe County is a county located on the eastern border of the U.S. state of Ohio, across the Ohio River from West Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 13,385, making it the second-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat is Woodsfield. The county was created in 1813 and later organized in 1815.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harrison County, Ohio</span> County in Ohio, United States

Harrison County is a county located in the U.S. state of Ohio. As of the 2020 census, the population was 14,483, making it the fifth-least populous county in Ohio. Its county seat and largest village is Cadiz. The county is named for General William Henry Harrison, who was later President of the United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chester, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Chester is a city in northern Hancock County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 2,214 at the 2020 census. Located south of Ohio and west of Pennsylvania, Chester is the northernmost city in West Virginia. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area, and is home to the World's Largest Teapot attraction.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Cumberland, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

New Cumberland is a city in and the county seat of Hancock County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 1,020 as of the 2020 census. It is part of the Weirton–Steubenville metropolitan area and is located near the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Moundsville, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Moundsville is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 8,122 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Wheeling metropolitan area. The city was named for the nearby ancient Grave Creek Mound, constructed 250 to 100 BC by indigenous people of the Adena culture.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mason, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Mason, also known as Mason City, is a town in Mason County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 865 at the 2020 census. It is part of the Point Pleasant, WV–OH Micropolitan Statistical Area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Friendly, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Friendly is a town in Tyler County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 100 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Middlebourne, West Virginia</span> Town in West Virginia, United States

Middlebourne is a town and the county seat of Tyler County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 715 at the 2020 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parkersburg, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Parkersburg is a city in and the county seat of Wood County, West Virginia, United States. Located at the confluence of the Ohio and Little Kanawha rivers, it is the state's fourth-most populous city and the center of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area. The city's population was 29,749 at the 2020 census, and its metro population was 89,490. The city is about 14 miles (23 km) south of Marietta, Ohio.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Williamstown, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Williamstown is a city in Wood County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. It is part of the Parkersburg–Vienna metropolitan area. The population was 2,997 at the 2020 census. The now closed Fenton Art Glass Company was located in the city.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bellevue, Ohio</span> City in Ohio, United States

Bellevue is a city in Erie, Huron, Seneca, and Sandusky counties in the U.S. state of Ohio, located 61 miles southwest of Cleveland and 45 miles southeast of Toledo. The population was 8,249 at the 2020 census. The National Arbor Day Foundation has designated Bellevue as a Tree City USA.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paden City, West Virginia</span> City in West Virginia, United States

Paden City is a city in Tyler and Wetzel counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, along the Ohio River. It was founded in 1902. The population was 2,550 at the 2020 census.

References

  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. 1 2 U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Sistersville, West Virginia
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
  4. 1 2 "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. Hay, Jerry M. (2008). Ohio River Guidebook. Inland Waterways Books. p. 28. ISBN   9781605852171 . Retrieved November 22, 2013.
  6. 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. 582.
  7. Luke N. Peters, Sistersville and Tyler County (Arcadia Publishing 2007) p. 7
  8. Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of West Virginia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 191. ISBN   978-0-403-09843-9.
  9. 1 2 Peters p. 15
  10. Henry Edmund Matheny, Wood County, West Virginia in Civil War Times, with an account of Guerilla Warfare in the Little Kanawha Valley (Trans-Allegheny Books, Parkersburg 1987) pp. 95, 131
  11. Gooden, Randall S. "Constitutional Convention of 1861–63." e-WV: The West Virginia Encyclopedia. 08 December 2011. available at https://www.wvencyclopedia.org/articles/1566
  12. Peters, p. 11
  13. Peters p. 9
  14. abstract of paper presented to 1996 meeting of American Association of Petroleum Geologists, available at https://www.osti.gov/biblio/411936-sistersville-west-virginia-oil-capital-world
  15. Peters pp. 11825-121
  16. Peters p. 125-126
  17. Peters p. 47
  18. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
  19. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  20. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  21. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  22. 2008 Census Estimate