Appalachia, Virginia
Appalachia | |
---|---|
Town of Appalachia, Virginia | |
![]() Main Street looking southwest | |
![]() Location in the Commonwealth of Virginia | |
Coordinates: 36°54′23″N 82°47′8″W / 36.90639°N 82.78556°W | |
Country | United States |
State | Virginia |
County | Wise |
Government | |
• Mayor | Ted Collins |
• Vice Mayor | Chase Christian |
• Town Manager | Fred Luntsford |
• Town Clerk & Treasurer | Yvonne Isom |
• Town Council | List |
Area | |
• Total | 2.31 sq mi (5.97 km2) |
• Land | 2.28 sq mi (5.92 km2) |
• Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.06 km2) |
Elevation | 1,647 ft (502 m) |
Population (2010) | |
• Total | 1,754 |
• Estimate (2018)[2] | 1,566 |
• Density | 685.64/sq mi (264.67/km2) |
Time zone | UTC−5 (EST) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
ZIP code | 24216 |
Area code | 276 |
FIPS code | 51-02040[3] |
GNIS feature ID | 1481331[4] |
Website | townofappalachiava.us |
Appalachia is a town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. The population was 1,754 at the 2010 census.
History
The Appalachia post office was established in 1898.[5] The community was named for the surrounding Appalachian Mountains.[6]
The Derby Historic District, Kelly View School, and Stonega Historic District are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]
In 2006, fourteen Appalachia residents, including mayor Ben Cooper and the police chief, were indicted on charges relating to an electoral fraud conspiracy. Cooper was convicted of intercepting absentee ballots and changing the votes on them; buying votes with beer, cigarettes, and pork rinds; and conspiring with his appointee, the police chief, to steal money and other items from residents, among 243 felony charges. Ten other conspirators pleaded guilty and received fines or short jail sentences.[8][9][10]
Geography
Appalachia is located at 36°54′23″N 82°47′8″W / 36.90639°N 82.78556°W (36.906505, −82.785560).[11]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.3 square miles (6.0 km²), all of it land.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/58/Appalachia_downtown.jpg/250px-Appalachia_downtown.jpg)
Appalachia is surrounded by numerous coal camp communities, including Andover, Arno, Derby, Imboden, Exeter, Dunbar, Pardee, Osaka, Roda, and Stonega. Many of these communities formed at the beginning of the twentieth century with the arrival of the mining and railroad industry.
Demographics
Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
---|---|---|---|
1910 | 1,090 | — | |
1920 | 2,036 | 86.8% | |
1930 | 3,595 | 76.6% | |
1940 | 3,010 | −16.3% | |
1950 | 2,915 | −3.2% | |
1960 | 2,456 | −15.7% | |
1970 | 2,161 | −12.0% | |
1980 | 2,418 | 11.9% | |
1990 | 1,994 | −17.5% | |
2000 | 1,839 | −7.8% | |
2010 | 1,754 | −4.6% | |
2018 (est.) | 1,566 | [2] | −10.7% |
U.S. Decennial Census[12] |
At the 2000 census there were 1,839 people, 790 households, and 515 families living in the town. The population density was 797.3 people per square mile (307.4/km²). There were 891 housing units at an average density of 386.3 per square mile (148.9/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 94.18% White, 4.57% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.16% Asian, 0.38% from other races, and 0.44% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.20%.[3]
Of the 790 households 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 17.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.8% were non-families. 33.4% of households were one person and 16.7% were one person aged 65 or older. The average household size was 2.33 and the average family size was 2.95.
The age distribution was 25.3% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.9% 65 or older. The median age was 37 years. For every 100 females, there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.5 males.
The median household income was $20,405 and the median family income was $25,221. Males had a median income of $26,842 versus $18,864 for females. The per capita income for the town was $11,782. About 28.0% of families and 29.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 41.0% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.
Education
Prior to the 2011 school year the Appalachia High School Bulldogs was merged with the Powell Valley High School Vikings in neighboring Big Stone Gap to become the Union High School Bears. In May 2017, Appalachia Elementary School was formally closed.
Special events
Each year, usually in the first week of August, the residents of Appalachia and the surrounding area celebrate their heritage in a week-long celebration known as Coal/Railroad Days. The festival includes a 5K road race, music concerts at the town's amphitheater, amusement rides, street vendors, a parade, and numerous other festival type events. Twice, Coal/Railroad days has coincided with other celebrations in Appalachia. In 2000 the town took part in a mass high school reunion, known as Appy 2000. In 2006, the festival was part of the Appalachia 100 celebration that marked the 100th birthday of the Town of Appalachia.
World records
The town of Appalachia holds two world records.
- Bee Rock Tunnel, the world's second-shortest railroad tunnel.
- The Peake Building, an apartment house with street-level access on all four floors.
References
- ^ "2018 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved Feb 16, 2020.
- ^ a b "Population and Housing Unit Estimates". Retrieved June 4, 2019.
- ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. 2007-10-25. Retrieved 2008-01-31.
- ^ "Wise County". Jim Forte Postal History. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
- ^ Tennis, Joe (2004). Southwest Virginia Crossroads: An Almanac of Place Names and Places to See. The Overmountain Press. p. 21. ISBN 978-1-57072-256-1.
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ Lester, Jeff (2006-03-21). "Thirteen of 14 defendants pleaded not guilty Tuesday in the massive investigation of alleged election fraud and corruption in the town of Appalachia". Coalfield Progress. Coalfield.com. Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2006-11-20.
- ^ The Roanoke Times (2007-02-01). "Ex-mayor sentenced in election fraud case". roanoke.com. Archived from the original on 2013-02-01. Retrieved 2007-02-10.
- ^ "UPDATE: Ex-Mayor Pleads Guilty to Buying Votes With Pork Rinds - Lowering the Bar".
- ^ "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. 2011-02-12. Retrieved 2011-04-23.
- ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.