Star City, West Virginia
Encyclopedia
Star City is a small town in Monongalia County
, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,366 at the 2000 census
. It is included in the Morgantown, West Virginia
Metropolitan Statistical Area
.
According to the United States Census Bureau
, the town has a total area of 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (14.04%) is water.
was 2,785.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,076.4/km²). There were 753 housing units at an average density of 1,535.4 per square mile (593.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.56% White, 2.64% African American, 2.34% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.37% from other races
, and 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population.
There were 697 households out of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.1% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.0% under the age of 18, 17.1% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,771, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $21,838 for females. The per capita income
for the town was $17,003. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
had organized a branch in the town and within a year had won four out of five seats in the city council, as part of a wider national political movement of the time.
The Socialist Party would continue to be the dominant party in Star City politics through 1917, when its rival the Citizens' Party took over municipal government. To avoid un-American connotations that became associated with the name after World War I
, the Socialist Party of Star City in 1918 renamed itself the Independent Citizens' party and won back local government, partly due to its opposition to the regressive
"capitation tax" the Citizens' Party had imposed. However, in 1924, the People's party, formed two years earlier and composed largely of former Citizens' party supporters, took over. Until that time, the Socialists were a mainstay of this working-class town, organizing the Workingmen's Co-operative Store and creating community pillars with Local Twenty-six of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union and the Young People's Socialist League
.
was demolished in 2002 and rebuilt. The new bridge is named the Edith Barill Bridge, but many still call it by its original name. The five-lane bridge crosses the Monongahela River
and connects Star City to the nearby towns of Granville, Osage, and Westover
.
The bridge is equipped with over 700 sensors that measure the weight, speed, and number of the vehicles that cross it. This data will be studied at West Virginia University
, and used to study the effect of everyday traffic on the bridge, but especially large, commercial trucks. The sensors will also measure how the bridge expands and contracts in the different temperatures of each season. The data will be used for the Department of Highways to find and correct weak points in the bridge.
Monongalia County, West Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 81,866 people, 33,446 households, and 18,495 families residing in the county. The population density was 227 people per square mile . There were 36,695 housing units at an average density of 102 per square mile...
, West Virginia, in the United States. The population was 1,366 at the 2000 census
United States Census, 2000
The Twenty-second United States Census, known as Census 2000 and conducted by the Census Bureau, determined the resident population of the United States on April 1, 2000, to be 281,421,906, an increase of 13.2% over the 248,709,873 persons enumerated during the 1990 Census...
. It is included in the Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown, West Virginia
Morgantown is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia. It is the county seat of Monongalia County. Placed along the banks of the Monongahela River, Morgantown is the largest city in North-Central West Virginia, and the base of the Morgantown metropolitan area...
Metropolitan Statistical Area
Morgantown metropolitan area
The Morgantown Metropolitan Statistical Area, as defined by the United States Census Bureau, is an area consisting of two counties in north-central West Virginia, anchored by the city of Morgantown...
.
Geography
Star City is located at 39°39′29"N 79°59′10"W (39.657966, -79.986046).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 0.6 square miles (1.5 km²). 0.5 square miles (1.3 km²) of it is land and 0.1 square miles (0.2 km²) of it (14.04%) is water.
Demographics
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,366 people, 697 households, and 333 families residing in the town. The population densityPopulation 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 2,785.4 inhabitants per square mile (1,076.4/km²). There were 753 housing units at an average density of 1,535.4 per square mile (593.3/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 93.56% White, 2.64% African American, 2.34% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.37% 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 1.02% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.15% of the population.
There were 697 households out of which 17.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 35.6% were married couples living together, 8.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 52.1% were non-families. 41.3% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.96 and the average family size was 2.71.
In the town the population was spread out with 15.0% under the age of 18, 17.1% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 20.9% from 45 to 64, and 18.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 92.7 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 90.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $26,771, and the median income for a family was $37,500. Males had a median income of $27,188 versus $21,838 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 $17,003. About 12.1% of families and 15.7% of the population were below the poverty line, including 11.2% of those under age 18 and 5.9% of those age 65 or over.
History
Star City was founded in 1907 and its early population was made up primarily of workers at the Star Glass Company and Seneca Glass.Socialist Party government
By 1910 the Socialist Party of AmericaSocialist Party of America
The Socialist Party of America was a multi-tendency democratic-socialist political party in the United States, formed in 1901 by a merger between the three-year-old Social Democratic Party of America and disaffected elements of the Socialist Labor Party which had split from the main organization...
had organized a branch in the town and within a year had won four out of five seats in the city council, as part of a wider national political movement of the time.
The Socialist Party would continue to be the dominant party in Star City politics through 1917, when its rival the Citizens' Party took over municipal government. To avoid un-American connotations that became associated with the name after World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, the Socialist Party of Star City in 1918 renamed itself the Independent Citizens' party and won back local government, partly due to its opposition to the regressive
Regressive tax
A regressive tax is a tax imposed in such a manner that the tax rate decreases as the amount subject to taxation increases. "Regressive" describes a distribution effect on income or expenditure, referring to the way the rate progresses from high to low, where the average tax rate exceeds the...
"capitation tax" the Citizens' Party had imposed. However, in 1924, the People's party, formed two years earlier and composed largely of former Citizens' party supporters, took over. Until that time, the Socialists were a mainstay of this working-class town, organizing the Workingmen's Co-operative Store and creating community pillars with Local Twenty-six of the American Flint Glass Workers' Union and the Young People's Socialist League
Young People's Socialist League
The Young People's Socialist League , founded in 1989, is the official youth arm of the Socialist Party USA. The group's membership consists of those democratic socialists under the age of 30, and its political activities tend to concentrate on increasing the voter turnout of young democratic...
.
Star City Bridge
The Star City BridgeStar City Bridge
The Edith B. Barill Bridge, more commonly known as the Star City Bridge, was completed in 2004 and connects Star City, West Virginia with Interstate 79 and western Monongalia County. The bridge serves as a primary means of access to the north side of Morgantown.The former Star City Bridge was...
was demolished in 2002 and rebuilt. The new bridge is named the Edith Barill Bridge, but many still call it by its original name. The five-lane bridge crosses the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
and connects Star City to the nearby towns of Granville, Osage, and Westover
Westover, West Virginia
Westover is a city in Monongalia County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,941 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Morgantown, West Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Westover was incorporated on October 12, 1911...
.
The bridge is equipped with over 700 sensors that measure the weight, speed, and number of the vehicles that cross it. This data will be studied at West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
, and used to study the effect of everyday traffic on the bridge, but especially large, commercial trucks. The sensors will also measure how the bridge expands and contracts in the different temperatures of each season. The data will be used for the Department of Highways to find and correct weak points in the bridge.