Weston, West Virginia

Weston, West Virginia
City
Main Avenue
Location of Weston in Lewis County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°2′31″N80°28′12″W / 39.04194°N 80.47000°W / 39.04194; -80.47000
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Lewis
Incorporated	1818 (town) 1913 (city)
Government
• Mayor	Kim Harrison
Area [1]
• Total	1.99 sq mi (5.16 km2)
• Land	1.94 sq mi (5.03 km2)
• Water	0.05 sq mi (0.13 km2)
Elevation	1,020 ft (311 m)
Population  (2020) [2]
• Total	3,952
• Estimate  (2021) [2]	3,890
• Density	1,984.05/sq mi (766.11/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	26452
Area code	304
FIPS code	54-85972 [3]
GNIS feature ID	1548967 [4]
Website	www.cityofwestonwv.com

Weston is a city in and the county seat of Lewis County, West Virginia, United States. ^[5] The population was 3,943 at the 2020 census. ^[2] It is home to the Museum of American Glass in West Virginia and the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum.

History

Weston was founded in 1818 as Preston; the name was changed to Fleshersville soon after, and then to Weston in 1819. ^[6] The city was incorporated in 1846. ^[7]

Weston is the site of the former Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum, a psychiatric hospital and National Historic Landmark which has been mostly vacant since its closure in 1994 upon its replacement by the nearby William R. Sharpe Jr. Hospital. Jackson's Mill, a childhood home of Stonewall Jackson, is approximately four miles (6 km) north of Weston; it has been operated as a 4-H facility since the 1920s and is also the site of conference center operated by the West Virginia University Extension Service. ^[8] It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Jackson's Mill State 4-H Camp Historic District. ^[9]

Weston has two national historic districts: the Weston Downtown Historic District and Weston Downtown Residential Historic District. Other buildings on the National Register of Historic Places are the Jonathan M. Bennett House and the former Weston Colored School. ^[9]

• 
  Main Avenue c. 1912
• 
  Weston State Hospital
• 
  Lewis County Courthouse

Geography

Weston is located 15 miles (24 km) west of Buckhannon and 20 miles (32 km) south of Clarksburg at 39°2′31″N80°28′12″W / 39.04194°N 80.47000°W / 39.04194; -80.47000 (39.041857, -80.469929), ^[10] along the West Fork River at its confluence with Stonecoal Creek in North Central West Virginia. ^[11]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 2.00 square miles (5.18 km²), of which 1.95 square miles (5.05 km²) are land and 0.05 square miles (0.13 km²) are water. ^[12]

The city is crossed by Interstate 79, U.S. Route 19, U.S. Route 33 and U.S. Route 119.

Climate

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Weston has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps. ^[13]

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
1860	820		—
1870	1,111		35.5%
1880	1,516		36.5%
1890	2,143		41.4%
1900	2,560		19.5%
1910	2,213		−13.6%
1920	5,701		157.6%
1930	8,646		51.7%
1940	8,268		−4.4%
1950	8,945		8.2%
1960	8,754		−2.1%
1970	7,323		−16.3%
1980	6,250		−14.7%
1990	4,994		−20.1%
2000	4,317		−13.6%
2010	4,110		−4.8%
2020	3,952		−3.8%
2021 (est.)	3,890	[2]	−1.6%
U.S. Decennial Census [14]

2020 census

As of the 2020 census, there were 3,952 people and 1,561 households residing in the city. There were 2,106 housing units in Weston. The racial makeup of the city was 93% White, 0.9% African American, 0.9% Asian, 0.1% Native American, 0.8% from other races, and 4.2% from two or more races. Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.8% of the population.

There were 1,561 households, of which 34.2% were married couples living together, 32.2% had a female householder with no spouse present, 23.7% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.33. The median age in the city was 39.7 years. ^[15]

2010 census

As of the census ^[16] of 2010, there were 4,110 people, 1,811 households, and 1,082 families living in the city. The population density was 2,107.7 inhabitants per square mile (813.8/km²). There were 2,135 housing units at an average density of 1,094.9 per square mile (422.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 97.0% White, 0.8% African American, 0.7% Asian, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.3% of the population.

There were 1,811 households, of which 27.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.9% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.5% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.3% were non-families. 33.7% 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 2.27 and the average family size was 2.86.

The median age in the city was 41.4 years. 22% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 26.2% were from 45 to 64; and 18.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.7% male and 51.3% female.

2000 census

As of the census ^[3] of 2000, there were 4,317 people, 1,942 households, and 1,172 families living in the city. The population density was 2,533.5 inhabitants per square mile (980.5/km²). There were 2,222 housing units at an average density of 1,304.0 per square mile (504.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.24% White, 0.19% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.72% Asian, 0.19% from other races, and 0.58% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

There were 1,942 households, out of which 24.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.6% were non-families. 34.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.84.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 20.3% under the age of 18, 7.9% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 19.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 80.4 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $26,690, and the median income for a family was $33,783. Males had a median income of $27,988 versus $17,335 for females. The per capita income for the city was $14,089. About 15.1% of families and 18.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.8% of those under age 18 and 9.3% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

West Fork River - former state hospital in background

• Louis Bennett Jr., World War I flying ace
• William Thomas Bland, congressman
• Charlie Brown, World War II USAAF pilot
• Andrew Edmiston, Jr., congressman
• John William Hamilton, bishop
• Buddy Hayes, musician
• Rush D. Holt, Sr., senator
• Rush D. Holt, Jr., congressman
• Jason Koon, poker player
• Lewis Maxwell, congressman
• Alexander Scott Withers, author
• Fred Wyant, football player

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 3, 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. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
6. Swick, Gerald D. (2006). "Weston State Hospital". In Ken Sullivan (ed.). The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Charleston, W.Va.: West Virginia Humanities Council. p. 779. ISBN   0-9778498-0-5.
7. West Virginia Blue Book. Published annually by the Clerk's Office of the West Virginia Senate.
8. Meador, Michael M. (2006). "Jackson's Mill". In Ken Sullivan (ed.). The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Charleston, WV: West Virginia Humanities Council. pp. 375–376. ISBN   0-9778498-0-5..
9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
10. "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
11. DeLorme (1997). West Virginia Atlas & Gazetteer. Yarmouth, Maine: DeLorme. p.36. ISBN   0-89933-246-3.
12. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2013.
13. Climate Summary for Weston, West Virginia
14. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
15. "Explore Census Data". data.census.gov. Retrieved February 23, 2023.
16. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau . Retrieved January 24, 2013.

External links

• Official website
• Louis Bennett Public Library
• West Virginia Museum of American Glass
• The Weston Democrat, local newspaper