Covington, Virginia
Encyclopedia
Covington is an independent city
in the U.S. state
of Virginia
, located at the confluence of Jackson River
and Dunlap Creek
. It is in Alleghany County
where it is also the county seat
. The population was 5,961 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes. Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership
.
The current mayor of Covington is Robert Bennett
. The city's media and news needs are served by The Virginian Review newspaper, which has been continuously published since August 10, 1914, and by AM radio station WKEY
.
Fire protection is provided by the Covington Fire Department, which was chartered on March 4, 1902. The Covington Rescue Squad provides emergency medical services to the city of Covington. Both the fire department and rescue squad are volunteer organizations. The rescue squad was organized in 1933 and is the third oldest volunteer rescue squad in Virginia.
Covington is named in honor of General Leonard Covington
, hero of the War of 1812
and friend of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. The city has a rich history and heritage and today forms the principal center of population in the region.
, which has been operating in the city since 1890. The facility employs about 1300 workers, mostly from Covington and Alleghany County. Its production includes bleached paper and paperboard for packaging, and is the second largest on the East Coast
. Covington has a team in the Valley Baseball League
called the Lumberjacks. The area is serviced by Interstate 64 (east-west) and Route 220 (north-south) offering rail, truck and interstate access to the area. Also, rail passenger service is provided at the Amtrak station in Clifton Forge, VA
12 miles away. Both Alleghany County, VA and Covington City are known for the low cost of their housing markets and close proximity to The Homestead in Bath County (VA)
, Lexington (VA)
, The Greenbrier
in White Sulphur Springs (WV)
, Lewisburg (WV)
, and Roanoke (VA)
, a 45 minute drive in any direction.
, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), all land. The city lies along both sides of the Jackson River.
of 2000, there were 6,303 people, 2,835 households, and 1,740 families residing in the city. The population density
was 1,111.3 people per square mile (429.2/km²). The population of Covington peaked at around 11,000 in 1960, and declined in the following decades with the loss of manufacturing jobs in the area.
The racial makeup of the city was 84.06% White, 13.14% Black or African American
, 0.35% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races
, and 1.59% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,195 housing units at an average density of 563.3 per square mile (217.6/km²). There were 2,835 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% were married couples
living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,325, and the median income for a family was $36,640. Males had a median income of $30,755 versus $20,316 for females. The per capita income
for the city was $16,758. About 10.7% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
, Dabney S. Lancaster.
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of 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...
, located at the confluence of Jackson River
Jackson River (Virginia)
The Jackson River is a major tributary of the James River in the U.S. state of Virginia, flowing . The James River is formed by the confluence of the Jackson River and the Cowpasture River.-Course:...
and Dunlap Creek
Dunlap Creek
Dunlap Creek is a tributary of the Jackson River in the U.S. state of Virginia. It is part of the James River watershed.The creek forms at Earlehurst in Alleghany County, Virginia, by the confluence of Back Creek and Sweet Springs Creek, both of which rise to the southwest in Monroe County, West...
. It is in Alleghany County
Alleghany County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,926 people, 5,149 households, and 3,866 families residing in the county. The population density was 29 people per square mile . There were 5,812 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...
where it is also the county seat
County seat
A county seat is an administrative center, or seat of government, for a county or civil parish. The term is primarily used in the United States....
. The population was 5,961 in 2010. The Bureau of Economic Analysis
Bureau of Economic Analysis
The Bureau of Economic Analysis is an agency in the United States Department of Commerce that provides important economic statistics including the gross domestic product of the United States. Its stated mission is to "promote a better understanding of the U.S...
combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes. Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership
Roanoke Region of Virginia
The Roanoke Region is the area of the Commonwealth of Virginia surrounding the city of Roanoke. Its usage may refer to the metropolitan statistical area or the Roanoke Valley, but it sometimes includes areas in the Allegheny Mountains and New River Valley which includes Alleghany county, Montgomery...
.
The current mayor of Covington is Robert Bennett
Robert Bennett
Robert Bennett or Bob Bennett may refer to:* Robert Bennett , mayor of Melbourne, 1861–1862* Robert Russell Bennett , composer* Robert Bennett , 1948 Olympic bronze medalist in hammer throw...
. The city's media and news needs are served by The Virginian Review newspaper, which has been continuously published since August 10, 1914, and by AM radio station WKEY
WKEY (AM)
WKEY is a Southern Gospel formatted broadcast radio station licensed to Covington, Virginia, serving the Covington/Clifton Forge area. WKEY is owned and operated by Todd P. Robinson, Inc....
.
Fire protection is provided by the Covington Fire Department, which was chartered on March 4, 1902. The Covington Rescue Squad provides emergency medical services to the city of Covington. Both the fire department and rescue squad are volunteer organizations. The rescue squad was organized in 1933 and is the third oldest volunteer rescue squad in Virginia.
Covington is named in honor of General Leonard Covington
Leonard Covington
Leonard Wailes Covington was a United States Army Brigadier General and a member of the United States House of Representatives.-Biography:...
, hero of the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
and friend of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson. The city has a rich history and heritage and today forms the principal center of population in the region.
Economy and transportation
Covington's economy is dominated by MeadWestvacoMeadWestvaco
MeadWestvaco Corp. is an American packaging solutions company based in Richmond, Virginia. It has approximately 23,000 employees. In February 2006, it moved its corporate headquarters to Richmond, Virginia...
, which has been operating in the city since 1890. The facility employs about 1300 workers, mostly from Covington and Alleghany County. Its production includes bleached paper and paperboard for packaging, and is the second largest on the East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
. Covington has a team in the Valley Baseball League
Valley Baseball League
The Valley Baseball League is an NCAA-sanctioned collegiate summer baseball league in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Each Valley Baseball League season consists of 44 games played during summer. Many Valley Baseball League players have continued on to play in Major League Baseball.The...
called the Lumberjacks. The area is serviced by Interstate 64 (east-west) and Route 220 (north-south) offering rail, truck and interstate access to the area. Also, rail passenger service is provided at the Amtrak station in Clifton Forge, VA
Clifton Forge, Virginia
Clifton Forge is a town in Alleghany County, Virginia, United States which is part of the Roanoke Region. The population was 3,884 at the 2010 census. The Jackson River flows through the town, which as a result was once known as Jackson's River Station....
12 miles away. Both Alleghany County, VA and Covington City are known for the low cost of their housing markets and close proximity to The Homestead in Bath County (VA)
Bath County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 5,048 people, 2,053 households, and 1,451 families residing in the county. The population density was 10 people per square mile . There were 2,896 housing units at an average density of 5 per square mile...
, Lexington (VA)
Lexington, Virginia
Lexington is an independent city within the confines of Rockbridge County in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The population was 7,042 in 2010. Lexington is about 55 minutes east of the West Virginia border and is about 50 miles north of Roanoke, Virginia. It was first settled in 1777.It is home to...
, The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier
The Greenbrier is a Forbes four-star and AAA Five Diamond Award winning luxury resort located just outside the town of White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States....
in White Sulphur Springs (WV)
White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia
White Sulphur Springs is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,444 at the 2010 census.-Geography:White Sulphur Springs is located at ....
, Lewisburg (WV)
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
, and Roanoke (VA)
Roanoke, Virginia
Roanoke is an independent city in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. state of Virginia and is the tenth-largest city in the Commonwealth. It is located in the Roanoke Valley of the Roanoke Region of Virginia. The population within the city limits was 97,032 as of 2010...
, a 45 minute drive in any direction.
Geography
According to the United States Census BureauUnited 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 5.7 square miles (14.8 km²), all land. The city lies along both sides of the Jackson River.
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 6,303 people, 2,835 households, and 1,740 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 1,111.3 people per square mile (429.2/km²). The population of Covington peaked at around 11,000 in 1960, and declined in the following decades with the loss of manufacturing jobs in the area.
The racial makeup of the city was 84.06% White, 13.14% Black or African American
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...
, 0.35% Native American, 0.65% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 0.21% 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 1.59% from two or more races. 0.63% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 3,195 housing units at an average density of 563.3 per square mile (217.6/km²). There were 2,835 households out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.9% 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, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 38.6% were non-families. 34.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.22 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.3% from 25 to 44, 23.9% from 45 to 64, and 20.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 91.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.1 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $30,325, and the median income for a family was $36,640. Males had a median income of $30,755 versus $20,316 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 $16,758. About 10.7% of families and 12.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.1% of those under age 18 and 9.1% of those age 65 or over.
Schools
Covington is serviced by one 8-12 high school, Covington High School, one 4-7 middle school, Jeter Watson, one pre-kindergarten - 3 elementary school, Edgemont Primary, one State Governors School (Jackson River Governor's School), one technical center (Jackson River Technical Center), and one community collegeCommunity college
A community college is a type of educational institution. The term can have different meanings in different countries.-Australia:Community colleges carry on the tradition of adult education, which was established in Australia around mid 19th century when evening classes were held to help adults...
, Dabney S. Lancaster.
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Covington, Virginia