Alum Creek, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Alum Creek, West Virginia
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

imagesize =
image_caption =


image_

mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Alum Creek, West Virginia


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = West Virginia
subdivision_type2 = Counties
subdivision_name2 = Lincoln, Kanawha

government_footnotes =
government_type =
leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
leader_name1 =
established_title =
established_date =

unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =

area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 44.5
area_land_km2 = 44.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 17.2
area_land_sq_mi = 17.2
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1839
population_density_km2 = 41.3
population_density_sq_mi = 107.0

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 189
elevation_ft = 620
latd = 38 |latm = 16 |lats = 45 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 49 |longs = 32 |longEW = W

postal_code_type =
postal_code =
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-01396GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1549563GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Alum Creek is a census-designated place which is split between Lincoln County, West Virginia and Kanawha County, West Virginia along the Coal River. The population was 1,839 at the 2000 census.

Geography

Alum Creek is located at coor dms|38|16|45|N|81|49|32|W|city (38.279034, -81.825657)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 17.2 square miles (44.5 km²), all of it land.Also know as the "ALC"

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,839 people, 759 households, and 563 families residing in the community. The population density was 107.0 people per square mile (41.3/km²). There were 837 housing units at an average density of 48.7/sq mi (18.8/km²). The racial makeup of the community was 99.18% White, 0.33% African American, and 0.49% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.16% of the population.

There were 759 households out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 62.3% were married couples living together, 8.2% had a female householder with no husband present, and 25.8% were non-families. 23.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 11.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.42 and the average family size was 2.85.

The age distribution is 20.8% under the age of 18, 9.4% from 18 to 24, 28.9% from 25 to 44, 27.4% from 45 to 64, and 13.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 92.3 males.

The median income for a household in the community was $40,714, and the median income for a family was $47,195. Males had a median income of $43,233 versus $36,875 for females. The per capita income for the community was $24,607. About 13.1% of families and 13.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 10.6% of those age 65 or over.

History

The town of Rome was founded at the junction of the Little and Big Coal rivers in the 1890's by the Childress Family. Soon the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway built a line along the Coal River to transport coal from the coal fields in Boone and Logan counties into the hub in nearby town of St. Albans. Soon the town grew and a town council was formed. The town officially changed its name to Alum Creek in 1910. A constable policed the town, although without a vehicle he relied on the generosity of locals to transport him from place to place. In 1922 a set of bridges were constructed across the Big and Little Coal rivers. It was also at approximately this time Union Carbide built a summer camp called Cliffside on the banks of the Coal River. The town flourished for the next half century with most of its residents working in either the mining industries or in chemicals. Two elementary schools were founded in the town, one being Alum Creek Elementary on the Kanawha County side, and Midway Elementary on the Lincoln County side. A high school was also built in the 1930s known as Washington District High School, after the tax district. WDHS was closed in 1980 due to school consolidation. In the mid-1970's U.S. Route 119 was constructed through Alum Creek, and brought a host of businesses into Alum Creek, however this did not help the town out of poverty due to a decline in the coal mining and chemical industries. The town is now seeing a comeback due to the expansion of business along Rt 119. Median income is on the rise, and the town has grown to encompass an area of over 17 miles.

Landmarks

*Swinging Bridges - First bridges in Alum Creek to span the Coal River, built in 1922, located at the Forks of Coal (confluence of Big Coal and Little Coal Rivers).
*Midway Elementary - Lincoln County elementary school
*Alum Creek Elementary - Kanawha County elementary school
*Washington District High School - Closed school building, standing across the street from Alum Creek Elementary on Brounland Rd.
*Lions Club Park - Community park located on Coal River Road.

References

External links

*Mapit-US-cityscale|38.279034|-81.825657