Beaver, West Virginia

Infobox Settlement
official_name = Beaver, West Virginia
settlement_type = CDP
nickname =
motto =

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mapsize = 250x200px
map_caption = Location of Beaver, 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 = Raleigh

government_footnotes =
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leader_title =
leader_name =
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unit_pref = Imperial
area_footnotes =
area_magnitude =
area_total_km2 = 11.4
area_land_km2 = 11.4
area_water_km2 = 0.0
area_total_sq_mi = 4.4
area_land_sq_mi = 4.4
area_water_sq_mi = 0.0

population_as_of = 2000
population_footnotes =
population_total = 1378
population_density_km2 = 121.1
population_density_sq_mi = 313.7

timezone = Eastern (EST)
utc_offset = -5
timezone_DST = EDT
utc_offset_DST = -4
elevation_footnotes =
elevation_m = 657
elevation_ft = 2156
latd = 37 |latm = 44 |lats = 51 |latNS = N
longd = 81 |longm = 8 |longs = 31 |longEW = W

postal_code_type = ZIP code
postal_code = 25813
area_code = 304
blank_name = FIPS code
blank_info = 54-05260GR|2
blank1_name = GNIS feature ID
blank1_info = 1553828GR|3
website =
footnotes =

Little is known about the small town of Beaver in southern West Virginia, but much to tell about this majestic wonderland. After defeating General Sean Fitzgerald at the Battle of Old Crow Road in 1863, the great Civil War hero, Franklin Sauchuck, became the first mayor of the great town. The town prospered for many years under Sauchuck's leadership. The town of Beaver became world renowned for its leadership in trout stockings throughout its rivers and streams. As Sauchuck became mayor, he had appointed former brother-in-law, Jordan Bradford, to head of the Division of Natural Resources. The fishing streams prospered and produced enough trout for everyone in the town. The town was known for its violence and traditional 4th of July weddings, but this was no match for the town drunk which slaughtered and consumed a whole family of horses. The town drunk was only known by his alias "Patrick Burnett". The worst crime ever committed in Beaver was soon put to justice by the Sheriff Evan Montgomery in 1877. With his brutal tactics, Montgomery turned the city to its former grace. The town flourished and quickly became a hot spot for traveling ginseng hunters. Fighting through the turn off the century into the Great Depression, the town's citizens got through by trafficking moonshine throughout the eastern United States, which eventually started the wonderous sport of stock car racing. The winner of the Inaugural Raleigh Rally, "Joltin'" Jeremy Wills, was elected to the West Virginia Department of Highways. His work resulted in paved roads throughout the town. As the town recovered from the war, the 60's was a hard time in this small town with all of the drugs and child prostitution. Gov. Joshua Radford sent military aid led, by Admiral Andrew Campbell, to resolve the situation and provided deadly security tactics to calm the citizens. The town has since progressed into a rural metropolis full of small businesses. Local foreigner, Guidon Grundlehner, owns the most popular restaurant in town, House of Chile. This small business is just one of many that is flourishing throughout this small town. There is also a world renowned golf course in Beaver, WV. Beaver Creek Country Club is a great course full of rolling hills and challenging greens. Marc Dotson, owner of the club, takes tremendous care of the club and has built it up to be one of the most profitable businesses throughout Beaver. Beaver is a census-designated place (CDP) in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,378 at the 2000 census.

The West Virginia community got its name around 1860 “from the great numbers of beavers abounding in the creeks during the early days of settlement,” according to “A History of Shady Spring District” compiled by the Shady Spring District Woman’s Club in 1979. When the community was eligible for a post office in the early 1900s, the residents discovered another West Virginia town already had the name.

The community adopted the name “Oxley” for a Huntington, W.Va., man who ran a clothing store. In 1929 or 1930, Grover Hedrick bought Ritter Lumber Co. and had the community name changed to “Glen Hedrick.” The residents petitioned the federal government for another name change and finally, the community was officially named Beaver in 1939.

Geography

Beaver is located at coor dms|37|44|51|N|81|8|31|W|city (37.747601, -81.141843)GR|1.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²), of which, 4.4 square miles (11.4 km²) of it is land and 0.23% is water.

Demographics

As of the censusGR|2 of 2000, there were 1,378 people, 602 households, and 388 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 313.7 people per square mile (121.2/km²). There were 696 housing units at an average density of 158.4/sq mi (61.2/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.77% White, 0.07% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.94% Asian, and 0.07% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.51% of the population.

There were 602 households out of which 25.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.3% were married couples living together, 10.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 35.4% were non-families. 30.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.26 and the average family size was 2.81.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 21.8% under the age of 18, 9.8% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 25.7% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 91.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.9 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $25,863, and the median income for a family was $32,083. Males had a median income of $35,156 versus $16,836 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $16,694. About 9.2% of families and 16.6% of the population were below the poverty line, including 20.6% of those under age 18 and 10.0% of those age 65 or over.

References

External links