Williamson, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Williamson, West Virginia
settlement_type = City
nickname =
motto =

imagesize = 250px
image_caption = Williamson, West Virginia; view looking down East 2nd Ave.


image_

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


mapsize1 =
map_caption1 =

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

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 = 8.6
area_land_km2 = 8.6
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 3.3
area_land_sq_mi = 3.3
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 3414
population_density_km2 = 394.8
population_density_sq_mi = 1022.6

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 199
elevation_ft = 653
latd = 37 |latm = 40 |lats = 26 |latNS = N
longd = 82 |longm = 16 |longs = 47 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 25661
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-87508GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1549185GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Williamson is a city in Mingo County, West Virginia, USA, along the Tug Fork River. The population was 3,414 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Mingo CountyGR|6, and is the county's largest and most populous city. Williamson is home to Southern West Virginia Community College. The Tug Fork River separates Williamson from South Williamson, Kentucky.

Williamson is the site of a large rail yard built by the former Norfolk and Western Railroad (now Norfolk Southern Railway), which was built to service the many coal mines of the region. The city is protected by a floodwall, completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1991 [cite book|editor= Ken Sullivan (ed.) | title= The West Virginia Encyclopedia |year= 2006 |publisher= West Virginia Humanities Council |location=Charleston, W.Va. |isbn= 0-9778498-0-5 |pages= p. 798 |chapter=Williamson] in response to a devastating flood along the Tug Fork River in 1977. Floodgates were also built on the river's main entrance to Williamson, to completely close the city from floodwaters. There have only been two uses of the gates thus far, the first occurred in 2002 during a major flood in the region. And the second occurred in 2003, only two lower lying gates were closed, due to anticipation of the rising river getting higher.

The local economy is largely fueled by coal mining, transportation, health care and retail.

History

Williamson, was incorporated in 1892. Most historians believe that Williamson was named in honor of Wallace J. Williamson. He owned the land where Williamson now stands, had earned a fortune in real estate investments in the area, and founded the city's first bank and its first hotel. Others claim that the city was named for Wallace's father, Benjamin F. Williamson. He owned most of the land in the region before dividing it among his sons.

Williamson grew rapidly once the railroad connected into the town. Its population, just 688 in 1900, jumped to 6,819 in 1920 and 9,410 in 1930.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 3,414 people, 1,566 households, and 903 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,022.6 people per square mile (394.7/km²). There were 1,892 housing units at an average density of 566.7/sq mi (218.7/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 83.51% White, 13.65% African American, 0.38% Native American, 1.00% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 1.17% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.91% of the population.

There were 1,566 households out of which 24.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.0% were married couples living together, 15.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.3% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 18.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.85.

In the city the population was spread out with 20.0% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 24.0% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 21.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females there were 82.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 75.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $19,635, and the median income for a family was $35,893. Males had a median income of $36,250 versus $20,291 for females. The per capita income for the city was $15,303. About 22.1% of families and 28.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 39.5% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.

Geography & climate

Geography

Williamson is located at coor dms|37|40|26|N|82|16|47|W|city (37.673936, -82.279613)GR|1.According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.3 square miles (8.7 km²), all of it land.

Climate

Williamson's annual climate is one of the warmest in the entire state, classified with a humid subtropical climate, common with most of the Upland South. The city experiences hot, humid summers and mild, cool winters. January is the coldest month and July is the warmest. Seasonal Temperature and Precipitation Information from [http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWV0811?from=search The Weather Channel] ." Retrieved on July 23, 2008.]

Infobox Weather
single_line= Y
location = Williamson
Jan_Hi_°F = 44 |Jan_REC_Hi_°F = 82
Feb_Hi_°F = 50 |Feb_REC_Hi_°F = 93
Mar_Hi_°F = 60 |Mar_REC_Hi_°F = 90
Apr_Hi_°F = 71 |Apr_REC_Hi_°F = 96
May_Hi_°F = 79 |May_REC_Hi_°F = 99
Jun_Hi_°F = 86 |Jun_REC_Hi_°F = 104
Jul_Hi_°F = 89 |Jul_REC_Hi_°F = 105
Aug_Hi_°F = 89 |Aug_REC_Hi_°F = 107
Sep_Hi_°F = 82 |Sep_REC_Hi_°F = 104
Oct_Hi_°F = 71 |Oct_REC_Hi_°F = 98
Nov_Hi_°F = 59 |Nov_REC_Hi_°F = 88
Dec_Hi_°F = 49 |Dec_REC_Hi_°F = 82
Year_Hi_°F = 69 |Year_REC_Hi_°F = 107

Jan_Lo_°F = 24 |Jan_REC_Lo_°F = -18
Feb_Lo_°F = 25 |Feb_REC_Lo_°F = -7
Mar_Lo_°F = 33 |Mar_REC_Lo_°F = -4
Apr_Lo_°F = 40 |Apr_REC_Lo_°F = 21
May_Lo_°F = 50 |May_REC_Lo_°F = 30
Jun_Lo_°F = 60 |Jun_REC_Lo_°F = 37
Jul_Lo_°F = 65 |Jul_REC_Lo_°F = 45
Aug_Lo_°F = 63 |Aug_REC_Lo_°F = 42
Sep_Lo_°F = 57 |Sep_REC_Lo_°F = 33
Oct_Lo_°F = 43 |Oct_REC_Lo_°F = 17
Nov_Lo_°F = 34 |Nov_REC_Lo_°F = 6
Dec_Lo_°F = 28 |Dec_REC_Lo_°F = -10
Year_Lo_°F = 44 |Year_REC_Lo_°F = -18

Jan_Precip_inch = 3.72
Feb_Precip_inch = 3.25
Mar_Precip_inch = 3.85
Apr_Precip_inch = 3.66
May_Precip_inch = 3.96
Jun_Precip_inch = 4.09
Jul_Precip_inch = 4.20
Aug_Precip_inch = 4.20
Sep_Precip_inch = 3.27
Oct_Precip_inch = 2.89
Nov_Precip_inch = 3.10
Dec_Precip_inch = 3.58
Year_Precip_inch = 3.65

source = The Weather Channelcite web
url = http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/USWV0811 | title = Average Weather for Williamson, WV - Temperateure and Precipitation | accessmonthday = July 29 | accessyear = 2008
publisher = | language = ]
accessdate = 2008-07-29

Attractions

The Coal House, whose walls are constructed from 65 tons of bituminous coal from the nearby Winifrede Seam, serves as the headquarters of the Tug Valley Chamber of Commerce. It was built in 1933 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Popular bars and restaurants include Starter's and Dandy's.

People From Williamson, West Virginia

*Don Blankenship, Chairman/CEO/President of Massey Energy
*H. Truman Chafin, Democratic State Senator (Majority Leader), attorney
*Mary Conley, "The Amazing Race 10", "The Amazing Race 11" (All-Stars)
*Robert H. "Doc" Foglesong, former President of Mississippi State Univ./ Retired Air Force Four Star General.
*Ulvert M. Moore, decorated Naval aviator, deceased
*S.U.G. Rhodes, attorney, politician, deceased

Media

*WXCC-FM

Major Highways

*U.S. Route 119
*U.S. Route 52

References

External links

Mingo County History * [http://www.polsci.wvu.edu/wv/Mingo/minghistory.html]
* [http://www.williamsondailynews.com/ Williamson Daily News]
* [http://boe.ming.k12.wv.us/riverside Riverside Elementary School]