Elkins, West Virginia | |
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 Davis Avenue in downtown Elkins in 2006 | |
 Seal | |
 Location of Elkins in Randolph County, West Virginia. | |
  Elkins Location in West Virginia Show map of West Virginia Elkins Location in the United States Show map of the United States | |
| Coordinates:38°55′17″N79°51′3″W / 38.92139°N 79.85083°W /38.92139; -79.85083 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Randolph |
| Established | 1890 |
| Named after | Stephen B. Elkins |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Jerry A. Marco[1] |
| Area | |
• Total | 3.63 sq mi (9.41 km2) |
| • Land | 3.63 sq mi (9.41 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,926 ft (587 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 6,950 |
• Estimate (2021)[4] | 6,895 |
| • Density | 1,923.5/sq mi (742.65/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC−5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC−4 (EDT) |
| ZIP Code | 26241 |
| Area codes | Area codes 304 and681[5] |
| FIPS code | 54-24580 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1551037[3] |
| Website | cityofelkinswv |
Elkins is a city inRandolph County, West Virginia, United States, and itscounty seat. The population was 6,950 at the2020 census.[4] It lies along theTygart Valley River and was incorporated in 1890, taking its name fromStephen B. Elkins, the city's co-founder and laterU.S. Senator from West Virginia.[6] Elkins is home toDavis and Elkins College and the Mountain State Forest Festival, held in early October every year.[7]
Thomas Skidmore (ca. 1733-1807), born in Maryland, obtained a title to 400 acres of land (“by virtue of a settlement”) in the future Elkins area before 1778. This land, on the east side of theTygart Valley River, was surveyed by John Poage in 1780 and included the land that is now most of downtown Elkins. Thus, Skidmore was probably the first white settler in what became Elkins.[8]
Before its major development, the area that would become Elkins was known as Leadsville, and was the site of a few scattered homesteads – a place where the local farmers' corn crop was loaded onto boats and floated down theTygart Valley River. The City of Elkins was developed byU.S. SenatorsHenry G. Davis (1823–1916) andStephen B. Elkins (1841–1911) – and named for the latter – in 1890. (Elkins was Davis' son-in-law.) The two founders developed railroad lines, coal mines, andtimbering businesses. Together, they built theWest Virginia Central and Pittsburgh Railway into Elkins in 1889, opening a vast territory to industrial development by the late 1890s. After an intensecounty seat war with nearbyBeverly, where the new county courthouse building was burned down in 1897 under suspicious circumstances,[citation needed] Elkins became the county seat in 1899. This was resolved, however, only after multiple referendums, court judgments, and the mobilization of armed bands in both towns. In the end, bloodshed was averted.
In 1904 the newRandolph County Courthouse – designed in theRichardsonian Romanesque style – was completed in Elkins. As the railroad (merged into theWestern Maryland Railway in 1905) expanded, Elkins experienced the luxury ofpassenger train service. In 1930, 18 passenger trains were arriving and leaving Elkins daily. All passenger service was discontinued in 1958.
Where the view of the new town was most delightful and picturesque, Davis and Elkins each built permanent places of residence, known asGraceland (1893) andHalliehurst (1890), respectively.[citation needed]
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 the city every year.
Elkins is located at the confluence of theTygart Valley River andLeading Creek.[9] The average elevation is 2,000 feet (610 m) above sea level. According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 3.43 square miles (8.88 km2), all land.[10] Elkins is headquarters for theMonongahela National Forest, a 910,155-acre (368,327 ha) federal reserve encompassing the "High Alleghenies" area to the east of the city.
In 1995, a second edition ofThe 100 Best Small Towns in America, written by Norman Crampton, featured Elkins among the special places in the United States. Crampton quoted then Editor Emerita ofThe Inter-Mountain,Eldora Marie Bolyard Nuzum, "You can stand on any street in Elkins and turn in all directions and see forest covered mountains rimming the city. It is unbelievable."[11]
Record weather events include:[12]
| Climate data for Elkins, West Virginia (Elkins–Randolph County Airport/KEKN), 1991–2020 normals,[a] extremes 1899–present | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) | 77 (25) | 86 (30) | 90 (32) | 93 (34) | 96 (36) | 99 (37) | 99 (37) | 97 (36) | 90 (32) | 82 (28) | 76 (24) | 99 (37) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 64 (18) | 66 (19) | 75 (24) | 82 (28) | 86 (30) | 88 (31) | 90 (32) | 89 (32) | 87 (31) | 81 (27) | 74 (23) | 65 (18) | 91 (33) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.5 (5.3) | 45.1 (7.3) | 53.5 (11.9) | 65.6 (18.7) | 73.4 (23.0) | 80.2 (26.8) | 83.2 (28.4) | 82.1 (27.8) | 76.6 (24.8) | 66.3 (19.1) | 54.8 (12.7) | 45.2 (7.3) | 64.0 (17.8) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.8 (−0.7) | 33.5 (0.8) | 41.0 (5.0) | 51.5 (10.8) | 60.2 (15.7) | 67.8 (19.9) | 71.4 (21.9) | 70.2 (21.2) | 64.1 (17.8) | 52.7 (11.5) | 42.3 (5.7) | 34.7 (1.5) | 51.7 (10.9) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.0 (−6.7) | 22.0 (−5.6) | 28.5 (−1.9) | 37.3 (2.9) | 47.0 (8.3) | 55.5 (13.1) | 59.6 (15.3) | 58.4 (14.7) | 51.5 (10.8) | 39.1 (3.9) | 29.9 (−1.2) | 24.1 (−4.4) | 39.4 (4.1) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −6 (−21) | −2 (−19) | 8 (−13) | 21 (−6) | 30 (−1) | 42 (6) | 48 (9) | 48 (9) | 37 (3) | 24 (−4) | 14 (−10) | 3 (−16) | −9 (−23) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −24 (−31) | −22 (−30) | −15 (−26) | 3 (−16) | 20 (−7) | 25 (−4) | 32 (0) | 34 (1) | 26 (−3) | 11 (−12) | −8 (−22) | −28 (−33) | −28 (−33) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 3.36 (85) | 3.26 (83) | 3.98 (101) | 4.10 (104) | 5.14 (131) | 4.48 (114) | 5.99 (152) | 3.87 (98) | 3.51 (89) | 3.08 (78) | 2.87 (73) | 3.57 (91) | 47.21 (1,199) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 20.3 (52) | 15.4 (39) | 11.4 (29) | 2.3 (5.8) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.9 (2.3) | 4.1 (10) | 14.5 (37) | 68.9 (175) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 17.3 | 15.5 | 16.6 | 15.1 | 16.0 | 14.6 | 14.9 | 12.7 | 10.6 | 11.4 | 12.2 | 16.3 | 173.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 11.0 | 8.8 | 5.8 | 1.8 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.4 | 2.7 | 7.8 | 38.3 |
| Source: NOAA[12][13] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 737 | — | |
| 1900 | 2,016 | 173.5% | |
| 1910 | 5,260 | 160.9% | |
| 1920 | 6,788 | 29.0% | |
| 1930 | 7,345 | 8.2% | |
| 1940 | 8,133 | 10.7% | |
| 1950 | 9,121 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 8,307 | −8.9% | |
| 1970 | 8,287 | −0.2% | |
| 1980 | 8,536 | 3.0% | |
| 1990 | 7,420 | −13.1% | |
| 2000 | 7,032 | −5.2% | |
| 2010 | 7,094 | 0.9% | |
| 2020 | 6,950 | −2.0% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 6,895 | [4] | −0.8% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[14] 2012 Estimate[15] | |||
As of the2020 census, there were 6,934 people and 2,500 households residing in the city. There were 3,499 housing units in Elkins. The racial makeup of the city was 90.5%White, 2.7%African American, 1%Asian, 0.4%Native American, 0.5% fromother races, and 4.9% fromtwo or more races.Hispanics or Latinos of any race were 1.7% of the population.
There were 2,500 households, of which 30.8% weremarried couples living together, 44.4% had a female householder with no spouse present, 18.1% had a male householder with no spouse present. The average household and family size was 3.6. The median age in the city was 38.1 years.[16]
As of the census[17] of 2010, there were 7,094 people, 3,038 households, and 1,756 families living in the city. The population density was 2,068.2 inhabitants per square mile (798.5/km2). There were 3,421 housing units at an average density of 997.4 per square mile (385.1/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.5%White, 1.2%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.8%Asian, 0.2% fromother races, and 1.2% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.1% of the population.
There were 3,038 households, of which 26.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 40.6% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 42.2% were non-families. Of all households 35.4% 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 2.19 and the average family size was 2.80.
The median age in the city was 39.6 years. 20.9% of residents were under the age of 18; 12.2% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 23.2% were from 25 to 44; 26.1% were from 45 to 64; and 17.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 48.0% male and 52.0% female.
As of the census[18] of 2000, there were 7,032 people, 2,988 households, and 1,756 families living 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 per square mile (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% fromother races, and 0.60% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino 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. Of all households 35.8% 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.
Augusta Heritage Festival is 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.[19]
Elkins sits at the junction ofUS 33,US 219, andUS 250. Heading west of the city, US 33 isCorridor H, a major four-lane highway connecting toBuckhannon andInterstate 79 atWeston. Long-term plans call for Corridor H to be extended further past its current ending at Kerens eventually toInterstate 81 atStrasburg, Virginia.
Elkins–Randolph County Airport (Jennings Randolph Airfield) (code KEKN) is aregional airport with tworunways, each approximately 4,500 feet (1,400 m) long.
The western terminus of theAllegheny Trail is in Elkins.
Municipalities and communities ofRandolph 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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