Summersville, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 Main Street (West Virginia Route 41) in downtown Summersville in 2007 | |
 Flag  Logo | |
| Nickname: The World's Largest Speed Trap[citation needed] | |
 Interactive map of Summersville, West Virginia | |
  Summersville  Summersville | |
| Coordinates:38°17′0″N80°50′39″W / 38.28333°N 80.84417°W /38.28333; -80.84417 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Nicholas |
| Established | 1824[2] |
| Incorporated | 1897[2] |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Robert Shafer[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 4.53 sq mi (11.73 km2) |
| • Land | 4.49 sq mi (11.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.042 sq mi (0.11 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,880 ft (573 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 3,459 |
• Estimate (2021)[4] | 3,408 |
| • Density | 729.7/sq mi (281.75/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 26651 |
| Area codes | 304,681 |
| FIPS code | 54-77980[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1547739[6] |
| Website | Official website |
Summersville is a city inNicholas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,459 at the 2020 census.[4] It is thecounty seat of Nicholas County.[7]
Summersville was laid out in 1824.[8] The city was named for Lewis Summers, a local judge who had introduced the bill to create Nicholas County.[9]
Summersville was home to both Union and Confederate encampments during the Civil War. The town was mostly burned down by the Confederate spyNancy Hart Douglas during the war. The town was rebuilt by 1884.[10]
In 1914, Nicholas County High School was established, then located downtown in the"Old Main". More buildings were built on the campus to house the growing student body until a new building north of town was finished in 1978.
Construction onSummersville Dam began in 1960 and was finished and dedicated by PresidentLyndon Baines Johnson in 1966.[10]
Since the upgrade ofUS-19 through Summersville from a two lane highway to a four lane highway, the city has become the economic center of Nicholas County. The road is commonly used by northern travelers as a shortcut to thesouth.
Summersville is home to the annual Potato Festival.
On June 23, 2016, flooding impacted Summersville. This resulted in Summersville Middle School being demolished and relocated to a modular setting after flood waters damaged the school. Ground was broken on a new campus for Summersville Middle School, Nicholas County High School, and the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center on June 2, 2020.[11]
Summersville is located at38°17′0″N80°50′39″W / 38.28333°N 80.84417°W /38.28333; -80.84417 (38.283342, -80.844207).[12] It is located just north of theGauley River which is famous for its challenging whitewater. The river is impounded by a large dam which createsSummersville Lake, creating flatwater recreation as well.
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 4.26 square miles (11.03 km2), of which 4.22 square miles (10.93 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2) is water.[13]
The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Summersville has amarine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[14]
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 165 | — | |
| 1900 | 223 | — | |
| 1910 | 204 | −8.5% | |
| 1920 | 279 | 36.8% | |
| 1930 | 536 | 92.1% | |
| 1940 | 643 | 20.0% | |
| 1950 | 1,628 | 153.2% | |
| 1960 | 2,008 | 23.3% | |
| 1970 | 2,429 | 21.0% | |
| 1980 | 2,972 | 22.4% | |
| 1990 | 2,906 | −2.2% | |
| 2000 | 3,294 | 13.4% | |
| 2010 | 3,572 | 8.4% | |
| 2020 | 3,459 | −3.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 3,408 | [4] | −1.5% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
The median income for a household in the town was $29,783, and the median income for a family was $43,314. Males had a median income of $33,633 versus $22,348 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $23,217. About 6.9% of families and 12.7% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 8.1% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.
As of 2018 Summersville has been home to a major economical increase due to a 303 mi 42in. natural gas pipeline running through eastern Nicholas county, bringing in close to 1,000 more people to the county generating more revenue for businesses, Lodging and much more.
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 3,572 people, 1,640 households, and 974 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 846.4 inhabitants per square mile (326.8/km2). There were 1,761 housing units at an average density of 417.3 per square mile (161.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.4%White, 0.4%African American, 0.3%Native American, 0.9%Asian, 0.3% fromother races, and 0.7% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 1,640 households, of which 26.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.1% weremarried couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 40.6% were non-families. 36.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 14.9% 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 2.77.
The median age in the town was 43 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.9% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 24.2% were from 25 to 44; 30.4% were from 45 to 64; and 17.1% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 46.8% male and 53.2% female.
Summersville is served by theNicholas County Board of Education, which operates three schools, Summersville Elementary School, Summersville Middle School (Summersville Junior High School until 2006), andNicholas County High School, in Summersville.
Summersville is also home to New Life Christian Academy, a private school.
New River Community and Technical College maintains a campus in Summersville.
Summersville travel guide from WikivoyageMunicipalities and communities ofNicholas County, West Virginia,United States | ||
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |
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