Pineville, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Pineville is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia
, along the Guyandotte River
. The population was 715 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat
of Wyoming County
.
In 1863, Hiram Clay first settled near the site of present Pineville. The community was once called Castlerock, and the post office there was once named Rock Castle. The town was renamed Pineville for the local pine forest and incorporated as a town under that name in 1907. It was named because it was built on the site of a black or pitch pine forest.
It became county seat in 1907, replacing Oceana
after a series of disputed elections. Castle Rock, the towering sandstone formation for which Rockcastle Creek is named, is located at Pineville and is the major local landmark. The Wyoming County courthouse
is on the National Register of Historic Places
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all land.
Many subdivisions or outer areas are considered part of Pineville, including Key Rock, New Richmond, Skin Fork, Mullensville, Glover, Wolf Pen, Rock View, and others, but the town limits are much smaller than the area considered part of Pineville. Unique in the county school system, Pineville's secondary school had no feeder schools. Only after the county's population declined sharply in the 1990s did consolidation and closure of the Glen Rogers High School cause students who attended elementary school outside of Pineville to attend middle or high school in Pineville. Further consolidation ended the town's high school, which was consolidated with Mullens High School to form Wyoming East High School. Students from the catchement areas of the former Herndon, Glen Rogers, Mullens, and Pineville High Schools attend this high school.
As of the census
of 2000, there were 715 people, 334 households, and 219 families residing in the town. The population density
was 908.7 inhabitants per square mile (349.4/km²). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 479.1 per square mile (184.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.74% White, 0.70% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 334 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% were married couples
living together, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.0% 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 2.14 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,008, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $39,688 versus $29,167 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $25,184. About 5.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Wyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,796. Its county seat is Pineville. Wyoming County was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains."-Geography:According to the U.S...
, along the Guyandotte River
Guyandotte River
The Guyandotte River is a tributary of the Ohio River, approximately 166 mi long, in southwestern West Virginia in the United States. It was named after the French term for the Wendat Native Americans...
. The population was 715 at the 2000 census. It is 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....
of Wyoming County
Wyoming County, West Virginia
Wyoming County is a county located in the U.S. state of West Virginia. As of the 2010 census, the population was 23,796. Its county seat is Pineville. Wyoming County was created in 1850 from Logan County and named for the Delaware Indian word meaning "large plains."-Geography:According to the U.S...
.
History
Pineville was settled by William Short in 1853.In 1863, Hiram Clay first settled near the site of present Pineville. The community was once called Castlerock, and the post office there was once named Rock Castle. The town was renamed Pineville for the local pine forest and incorporated as a town under that name in 1907. It was named because it was built on the site of a black or pitch pine forest.
It became county seat in 1907, replacing Oceana
Oceana, West Virginia
Oceana is a town in Wyoming County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,550 at the 2000 census.-History:Established in 1797 by early settler and Revolutionary War veteran John Cooke, it was county seat of Wyoming County until 1907, Oceana, when Pineville was designated after a series...
after a series of disputed elections. Castle Rock, the towering sandstone formation for which Rockcastle Creek is named, is located at Pineville and is the major local landmark. The Wyoming County courthouse
Wyoming County Courthouse and Jail
The Wyoming County Courthouse and Jail is a historic courthouse and jail located in Pineville, Wyoming County, West Virginia. It consists of the unusually large neoclassical courthouse, with a massive pediment, and an adjoining stone jail. The courthouse was designed by West Virginia state...
is on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
Geography
Pineville is located at 37°34′59"N 81°32′7"W (37.582925, -81.535302).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 town has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.0 km²), all land.
Many subdivisions or outer areas are considered part of Pineville, including Key Rock, New Richmond, Skin Fork, Mullensville, Glover, Wolf Pen, Rock View, and others, but the town limits are much smaller than the area considered part of Pineville. Unique in the county school system, Pineville's secondary school had no feeder schools. Only after the county's population declined sharply in the 1990s did consolidation and closure of the Glen Rogers High School cause students who attended elementary school outside of Pineville to attend middle or high school in Pineville. Further consolidation ended the town's high school, which was consolidated with Mullens High School to form Wyoming East High School. Students from the catchement areas of the former Herndon, Glen Rogers, Mullens, and Pineville High Schools attend this high school.
Demographics
Census
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 715 people, 334 households, and 219 families residing in the town. 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 908.7 inhabitants per square mile (349.4/km²). There were 377 housing units at an average density of 479.1 per square mile (184.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.74% White, 0.70% African American, 0.14% Native American, 0.28% Asian, and 0.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.14% of the population.
There were 334 households out of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.2% 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, 9.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.4% were non-families. 32.0% 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 2.14 and the average family size was 2.64.
In the town the population was spread out with 17.9% under the age of 18, 7.1% from 18 to 24, 21.3% from 25 to 44, 29.8% from 45 to 64, and 23.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 47 years. For every 100 females there were 86.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $31,008, and the median income for a family was $45,000. Males had a median income of $39,688 versus $29,167 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 town was $25,184. About 5.2% of families and 10.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 21.3% of those under age 18 and 7.1% of those age 65 or over.
Notable residents
- Judge Robert D. Bailey, Sr.Robert D. Bailey, Sr.Robert D. Bailey, Sr. , better known as R.D. Bailey or "Judge Bailey," was a Democratic politician in West Virginia....
(1883–1961) - was a Pineville resident - Curt WarnerCurt WarnerCurtis Edward Warner is a former professional American football running back. A two-time All-American at Penn State University, Warner was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round of the 1983 NFL Draft...
- NFL running back in the 1980s for the Seattle SeahawksSeattle SeahawksThe Seattle Seahawks are a professional American football team based in Seattle, Washington. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team joined the NFL in 1976 as an expansion team...
and then the Los Angeles Rams. - Heath Miller - Professional wrestlerProfessional wrestlingProfessional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
competing in WWE as Heath Slater. - Kenneth R. ShadrickKenneth R. ShadrickKenneth R. Shadrick was a private in the United States Army at the onset of the Korean War. He was widely but incorrectly reported as the first American soldier killed in action in the war....
, reported to be the first casualty of the Korean WarKorean WarThe Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
.