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Elkins, West Virginia
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Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins (1841-1911), a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County. Elkins is home to the Mountain State Forest Festival, held in early October every year.
ns is located at (38.921478, -79.850846), along the Tygart Valley River.
The average elevation is above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
Elkins is headquarters for the Monongahela National Forest, a 910,155 acre (3,683 km²) reserve encompassing the "High Alleghenies" area to the east of the city.
f the census of 2000, there were 7,032 people, 2,988 households, and 1,756 families residing in the city.
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Encyclopedia
Elkins is a city in Randolph County, West Virginia, United States. The community was incorporated in 1890 and named in honor of Stephen Benton Elkins (1841-1911), a U.S. Senator from West Virginia. The population was 7,032 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Randolph County. Elkins is home to the Mountain State Forest Festival, held in early October every year.
Geography and climate
Elkins is located at (38.921478, -79.850846), along the Tygart Valley River.
The average elevation is above sea level.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.2 square miles (8.3 km²), all of it land.
Elkins is headquarters for the Monongahela National Forest, a 910,155 acre (3,683 km²) reserve encompassing the "High Alleghenies" area to the east of the city.
| Monthly Normal and Record High and Low Temperatures | | Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
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| Rec High °F | 76 | 75 | 84 | 89 | 93 | 96 | 99 | 95 | 97 | 87 | 82 | 76 |
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| Norm High °F | 39.3 | 43.5 | 53.2 | 63.2 | 71.7 | 78.5 | 81.7 | 80.4 | 74.1 | 64.1 | 52.8 | 43.5 |
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| Norm Low °F | 18 | 19.7 | 26.9 | 34.6 | 44.1 | 52.7 | 57.6 | 56.7 | 50.1 | 37 | 29.3 | 21.9 |
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| Rec Low °F | -24 | -22 | -15 | 3 | 20 | 25 | 32 | 34 | 27 | 11 | 0 | -24 |
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| Precip (in) | 3.43 | 3.2 | 3.92 | 3.53 | 4.77 | 4.61 | 4.84 | 4.26 | 3.83 | 2.86 | 3.42 | 3.44 |
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| Source: USTravelWeather.com |
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 7,032 people, 2,988 households, and 1,756 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,207.7 people per square mile (851.1/km²). There were 3,362 housing units at an average density of 1,055.5/sq mi (406.9/km²). The racial makeup of the city was 96.94% White, 0.90% African American, 0.30% Native American, 0.95% Asian, 0.31% from other races, and 0.60% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.77% of the population.
There were 2,988 households out of which 25.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.4% were married couples living together, 11.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 41.2% were non-families. 35.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 15.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.19 and the average family size was 2.83.
In the city the population was spread out with 21.2% under the age of 18, 11.7% from 18 to 24, 25.4% from 25 to 44, 24.0% from 45 to 64, and 17.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females there were 92.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 86.9 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $26,906, and the median income for a family was $34,291. Males had a median income of $27,012 versus $19,154 for females. The per capita income for the city was $17,916. About 14.4% of families and 19.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.4% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those age 65 or over.
History
The City of Elkins, situated on a bend in the Tygart Valley River, was developed by Senators Henry Gassaway Davis and Stephen B. Elkins and named for Senator Stephen B. Elkins, in 1890. Elkins became the county seat in 1899. They developed railroad lines, coal mines, and timbering. Together, they built the WV Central and Pittsburgh Railway into Elkins and opened a vast territory to industrial development in the late 1899's. As the railroad expanded, Elkins experienced the luxury of train passenger service. In 1930, 18 passenger trains were arriving and leaving Elkins daily. All passenger service was discontinued in 1958.
Both men built permanent places of residence known as Halliehurst and Graceland, where the view of the town was delightful and picturesque.
Today, Elkins has an active economic development authority, chamber of commerce, downtown business organization and numerous social, fraternal and service organizations that sponsor annual events like the Mountain State Forest Festival, which brings thousands of people into Elkins every year.
Events
- Augusta Heritage Festival -- A music and heritage festival, with 10+ themes ranging from Old Time, Blue Grass, Cajun, Irish, dance, wood and metal working and more. Attracting musicians and students from around the world, it is held on the Davis and Elkins College campus and in town over 5 consecutive weeks every summer, typically in July and August. There is also a week long Old Time event in October, and a dulcimer week in the spring.
- Mountain State Forest Festival -- An annual, early fall festival and fair held on the streets of Elkins and on the Davis and Elkins College Campus. Lasts several days in early fall; the 70th annual event was held in 2006.
- Pickin' in the Park -- A Wednesday afternoon Old Time fiddling get-together in the park. Every Wednesday, all year long; indoors in the winter, nearby.
- Randolph County International Ramp Cookoff and Festival -- An annual festival at city park and on the Davis & Elkins College campus at the end of April. The focus of this celebration is the ramp, an indigenous herb which is prevalent in the Elkins region. Featuring a cooking competition of ramp inclusive recipes, other activities include concerts, craft vendors and more.
Transportation
- Highways - Elkins is about a five hour drive from Washington, D.C. and about a 90-minute drive from Morgantown, West Virginia. To the rest, Elkins is connected to Interstate 79 by Corridor H, a major four-lane divided highway. Ongoing construction will eventually link Corridor H to Interstate 81 in Virginia, opening up easy travel to the Elkins area from metropolitan Washington, D.C..
- Airport - Elkins airport (KEKN) is a Randolph County regional airport with two large runways, each over 4,000 ft long with plans for lengthening the runways by at least . The community leaders are planning to expand the facilities at the airport in order to serve the growing need for a regional air service and the increase in federal usage and General Aviation activity.
Notable natives
External links
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