Chester, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Chester is a city in Hancock County
, West Virginia
, United States
, along the Ohio River
. It is part of the Weirton
–Steubenville
, WV-OH
Metropolitan Statistical Area
. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. Chester was established in 1896, but not incorporated until 1907. The city is named for J.C. McDonald, one of the city's original planners.
Chester is home to the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, a popular regional attraction, and the Chester teapot
, the World's Largest Teapot.
in April, 1861, this location was the northernmost point in any slave state (at the time, Virginia
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
of 2000, there were 2,592 people, 1,160 households, and 725 families residing in the city. The population density
was 2,705.1 people per square mile (1,042.5/km²). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 1,345.2 per square mile (518.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% White, 0.15% African American, 0.23% Asian, 0.31% from other races
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.
There were 1,160 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.
The age distribution is 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,550, and the median income for a family was $37,672. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $18,724 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $17,137. About 8.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Hancock County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 32,667 people, 13,678 households, and 9,506 families residing in the county. The population density was 394 people per square mile . There were 14,728 housing units at an average density of 178 per square mile...
, West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, along the Ohio River
Ohio River
The Ohio River is the largest tributary, by volume, of the Mississippi River. At the confluence, the Ohio is even bigger than the Mississippi and, thus, is hydrologically the main stream of the whole river system, including the Allegheny River further upstream...
. It is part of the Weirton
Weirton, West Virginia
Weirton is a city located in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia, United States. Most of the city is in Hancock County, with the remainder in Brooke County. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 20,411...
–Steubenville
Steubenville, Ohio
Steubenville is a city located along the Ohio River in Jefferson County, Ohio on the Ohio-West Virginia border in the United States. It is the political county seat of Jefferson County. It is also a principal city of the Weirton–Steubenville, WV-OH Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, WV-OH
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Weirton-Steubenville metropolitan area
The Weirton-Steubenville Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in the Northern Panhandle of West Virginia and one in Ohio, anchored by the cities of Weirton, West Virginia, and Steubenville, Ohio...
. The population was 2,592 at the 2000 census. Chester was established in 1896, but not incorporated until 1907. The city is named for J.C. McDonald, one of the city's original planners.
Chester is home to the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort, a popular regional attraction, and the Chester teapot
Chester teapot
The Chester teapot is the World's Largest Teapot, which measures 14 feet in height and 14 feet in diameter. Its current location is on the former site of a popular amusement park, Rock Springs Park , off an onramp along U.S...
, the World's Largest Teapot.
Geography
Chester is located at 40°36′46"N 80°33′46"W (40.612792, -80.562771). At the outbreak of hostilities of the American Civil WarAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
in April, 1861, this location was the northernmost point in any slave state (at the time, Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
).
According to the United States Census Bureau
United States Census Bureau
The United States Census Bureau is the government agency that is responsible for the United States Census. It also gathers other national demographic and economic data...
, the city has a total area of 1.0 square miles (2.5 km²), all of it land.
Demographics
As of the censusCensus
A census is the procedure of systematically acquiring and recording information about the members of a given population. It is a regularly occurring and official count of a particular population. The term is used mostly in connection with national population and housing censuses; other common...
of 2000, there were 2,592 people, 1,160 households, and 725 families residing in the city. The population density
Population density
Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. It is frequently applied to living organisms, and particularly to humans...
was 2,705.1 people per square mile (1,042.5/km²). There were 1,289 housing units at an average density of 1,345.2 per square mile (518.4/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 98.77% White, 0.15% African American, 0.23% Asian, 0.31% from other races
Race (United States Census)
Race and ethnicity in the United States Census, as defined by the Federal Office of Management and Budget and the United States Census Bureau, are self-identification data items in which residents choose the race or races with which they most closely identify, and indicate whether or not they are...
, and 0.54% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.12% of the population.
There were 1,160 households out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples
Marriage
Marriage is a social union or legal contract between people that creates kinship. It is an institution in which interpersonal relationships, usually intimate and sexual, are acknowledged in a variety of ways, depending on the culture or subculture in which it is found...
living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 37.5% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.23 and the average family size was 2.85.
The age distribution is 22.0% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 27.2% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 19.8% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 88.0 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 87.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $28,550, and the median income for a family was $37,672. Males had a median income of $30,625 versus $18,724 for females. The per capita income
Per capita income
Per capita income or income per person is a measure of mean income within an economic aggregate, such as a country or city. It is calculated by taking a measure of all sources of income in the aggregate and dividing it by the total population...
for the city was $17,137. About 8.1% of families and 10.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.3% of those under age 18 and 11.6% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Win MercerWin MercerGeorge Barclay "Win" Mercer was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1894 to 1902. Born in Chester, West Virginia, he played primarily with the National League Washington Senators , winning 20 games twice with the club...
, born in Chester, major league baseballMajor League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
player - Daniel JohnstonDaniel JohnstonDaniel Dale Johnston is an American singer, songwriter, musician, and artist. Johnston was the subject of the 2006 documentary The Devil and Daniel Johnston. He currently lives in Waller, Texas....
, artist, singer and songwriter.