Tunnelton, West Virginia

"Tunnelton" redirects here. For the small town in Indiana, see Tunnelton, Indiana.

Tunnelton, West Virginia
Town
Tunnelton station
Location of Tunnelton in Preston County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°23′42″N79°44′47″W / 39.39500°N 79.74639°W / 39.39500; -79.74639
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Preston
Area [1]
• Total	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Land	0.34 sq mi (0.87 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation [2]	1,824 ft (556 m)
Population  (2020) [3]
• Total	307
• Estimate  (2021) [3]	308
• Density	880.60/sq mi (340.17/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	26444
Area code	304
FIPS code	54-81268 [4]
GNIS feature ID	1548320 [2]
Website	local.wv.gov/tunnelton/Pages/default.aspx

Tunnelton is a town in southwestern Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 307 at the 2020 census. ^[3] It is part of the Morgantown metropolitan area.

History

Tunnelton took its name after the nearby Kingwood Tunnel. ^{[5] [6]} The Tunnelton Railroad Depot was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. ^[7]

Geography

Tunnelton is located at 39°23′42″N79°44′47″W / 39.395000°N 79.746438°W / 39.395000; -79.746438 (39.395000, -79.746438). ^[8]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.34 square miles (0.88 km²), all land. ^[9]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1900	479		—
1910	792		65.3%
1920	703		−11.2%
1930	595		−15.4%
1940	552		−7.2%
1950	544		−1.4%
1960	359		−34.0%
1970	369		2.8%
1980	510		38.2%
1990	331		−35.1%
2000	336		1.5%
2010	294		−12.5%
2020	307		4.4%
2021 (est.)	308	[3]	0.3%
U.S. Decennial Census [10]

2010 census

At the 2010 census there were 294 people, 110 households, and 74 families living in the town. The population density was 864.7 inhabitants per square mile (333.9/km²). There were 117 housing units at an average density of 344.1 per square mile (132.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 99.0% White, 0.3% African American, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.7%. ^[11]

Of the 110 households 37.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 50.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.7% were non-families. 21.8% of households were one person and 11.8% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.67 and the average family size was 3.09.

The median age in the town was 38 years. 25.5% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 28.9% were from 25 to 44; 24.7% were from 45 to 64; and 12.9% were 65 or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.

2000 census

At the 2000 census there were 336 people, 130 households, and 86 families living in the town. The population density was 893.5 inhabitants per square mile (341.4/km²). There were 143 housing units at an average density of 380.3 per square mile (145.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 100.00% White. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.60%. ^[4]

Of the 130 households 31.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 57.7% were married couples living together, 6.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.1% were non-families. 25.4% of households were one person and 14.6% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.58 and the average family size was 3.11.

The age distribution was 25.6% under the age of 18, 9.2% from 18 to 24, 30.7% from 25 to 44, 20.5% from 45 to 64, and 14.0% 65 or older. The median age was 35 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.0 males.

The median household income was $18,125 and the median family income was $19,625. Males had a median income of $19,063 versus $13,000 for females. The per capita income for the town was $7,978. About 27.1% of families and 35.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 45.0% of those under age 18 and 10.8% of those age 65 or over.

Notable person

• Jay Bonafield, film producer.

See also

• List of towns in West Virginia

References

1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
2. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Tunnelton, West Virginia
3. Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 31, 2008.
5. Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of West Virginia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 194. ISBN   978-0-403-09843-9.
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. 634.
7. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
8. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
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

Media related to Tunnelton, West Virginia at Wikimedia Commons