Grafton, West Virginia

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Grafton, West Virginia
City
Location of Grafton, West Virginia
Location of Grafton, West Virginia
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyTaylor
Government
 • MayorG. Thomas Bartlett III
Area
[1]
 • Total3.80 sq mi (9.84 km2)
 • Land3.67 sq mi (9.51 km2)
 • Water0.13 sq mi (0.34 km2)
Elevation
1,024 ft (312 m)
Population
 (2010)[2]
 • Total5,164
 • Estimate 
(2012[3])
5,177
 • Density1,407.1/sq mi (543.3/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26354
Area code304
FIPS code54-32716Template:GR
GNIS feature ID1554590Template:GR

Grafton is a city in, and county seatTemplate:GR of, Taylor County, West Virginia, USA. The population was 5,164 at the 2010 census. The only two national cemeteries in West Virginia are located in Grafton. Mother's Day was founded in Grafton on May 10, 1908; the city is the home to the International Mother's Day Shrine. Grafton was one of the first places to observe Memorial Day in the United States.[citation needed]

History

Remarks by FDR on 1936 visit to Grafton

The City of Grafton was chartered in 1856. It may have been named for John Grafton, a civil engineer of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Alternatively, it may be that railroad crews referred to the town as "Graftin" because it was the point at which a number of branch railroad lines met (grafted to) the railroad's mainline.[4]

The Grafton Downtown Commercial Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1984 and the Grafton National Cemetery was listed in 1982.[5]

Geography

Grafton is located at 39°20′30″N 80°1′11″W / 39.34167°N 80.01972°W / 39.34167; -80.01972 (39.341757, -80.019817)Template:GR, along the Tygart Valley River.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.80 square miles (9.84 km2), of which, 3.67 square miles (9.51 km2) is land and 0.13 square miles (0.34 km2) is water.[1]

Tygart Lake State Park is a major nearby tourist attractions.

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 5,164 people, 2,192 households, and 1,357 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,407.1 inhabitants per square mile (543.3/km2). There were 2,512 housing units at an average density of 684.5 per square mile (264.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.1% White, 0.7% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.1% from other races, and 1.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.

There were 2,192 households of which 29.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 41.3% were married couples living together, 15.0% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.6% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.1% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.3% 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 2.92.

The median age in the city was 41.7 years. 21.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.9% were from 25 to 44; 26.9% were from 45 to 64; and 19% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 47.6% male and 52.4% female.

2000 census

As of the censusTemplate:GR of 2000, there were 5,489 people, 2,277 households, and 1,448 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,491.1 people per square mile (575.9/km²). There were 2,575 housing units at an average density of 699.5 per square mile (270.2/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.07% White, 0.84% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.05% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino people of any race comprised 0.67% of the population.

There were 2,277 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.4% were married couples living together, 14.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 33.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.

In the city the population was spread out with 23.6% under the age of 18, 7.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 22.0% from 45 to 64, and 21.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 87.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.2 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $18,981, and the median income for a family was $25,161. Males had a median income of $22,765 versus $16,629 for females. The per capita income for the city was $9,616. About 26.6% of families and 35.1% of the population were below the poverty line, including 51.2% of those under age 18 and 15.7% of those age 65 or over.

Notable natives

Gallery

  • Grafton B&O Depot
    Grafton B&O Depot
  • Grafton National Cemerery
    Grafton National Cemerery
  • International Mothers Day Shrine
    International Mothers Day Shrine
  • Valley Falls, near Grafton
    Valley Falls, near Grafton
  • Sunset over Grafton
    Sunset over Grafton

References

Citations

  1. ^ a b "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  2. ^ a b "American FactFinder". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-01-24.
  3. ^ "Population Estimates". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2013-06-26.
  4. ^ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. Govt. Print. Off. p. 140.
  5. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  6. ^ Higgins,Cara, "WVPA Inducts Nuzum Into Hall of Fame", The Inter-Mountain, August 6, 2009.

Other sources

  • Eldora Marie Bolyard Nuzum, The West Virginia Encyclopedia, The WV Humanities Council, Charleston, WV, 2006.
  • Wooley, J.T, and Peters, Gerhard, "The American Presidency", December 1, 1978 Invitational White House Interview of President Jimmy Carter by Eldora Nuzum about the Appalachian Regional Commission, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 1999–2009.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Grafton, West Virginia.
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