Bramwell, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Bramwell, West Virginia
settlement_type = Town
nickname =
motto =

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imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Main Street in Bramwell


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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Bramwell, West Virginia


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subdivision_type = Country
subdivision_name = United States
subdivision_type1 = State
subdivision_name1 = West Virginia
subdivision_type2 = County
subdivision_name2 = Mercer

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
leader_title1 =
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established_date =

area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 1.5
area_land_km2 = 1.5
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 0.6
area_land_sq_mi = 0.6
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 426
population_density_km2 = 275.1
population_density_sq_mi = 712.5

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 686
elevation_ft = 2251
latd = 37 |latm = 19 |lats = 32 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 18 |longs = 45 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 24715
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-09796GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1536303GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Bramwell is a town in Mercer County, West Virginia, United States, along the Bluestone River. The population was 426 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Bluefield, WV-VA micropolitan area which has a population of 107,578. This small town was at one time, the richest town in America, as depending upon your source of information, was the home to 14 to 19 millionaires at one time. The majority of these millionaires were wealthy, coal mine owners in Pocahontas #3 coalfields. In addition, the Bank of Bramwell at one time was one, if not the richest banks in America. When the 1930's came and the Great Depression hit, it took a massive toll on the millionaires that lived in Bramwell.

Geography

Bramwell is located at coor dms|37|19|32|N|81|18|45|W|city (37.325425, -81.312474)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.6 km² (0.6 mi²), all land.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 426 people, 189 households, and 120 families residing in the town. The population density was 274.1/km² (712.5/mi²). There were 237 housing units at an average density of 152.5/km² (396.4/mi²). The racial makeup of the town was 89.67% White, 9.86% African American, and 0.47% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.47% of the population.

There were 189 households out of which 16.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.4% were married couples living together, 14.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.0% were non-families. 33.9% of all households were made up of individuals and 19.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.25 and the average family size was 2.88.

In the town the population was spread out with 17.1% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 21.6% from 25 to 44, 29.1% from 45 to 64, and 23.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.0 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,979, and the median income for a family was $32,396. Males had a median income of $22,159 versus $15,250 for females. The per capita income for the town was $13,410. About 9.9% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 26.8% of those under age 18 and 16.5% of those age 65 or over.

References

August 24, 2008- In W. Va, Unexpected Riches, Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082201647.html

External links

* [http://www.bramwellwv.com/history.html Millionaire Coal Town-Historic Bramwell] August 24, 2008- In W. Va, Unexpected Riches, Washington Post, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/22/AR2008082201647.html