Romney, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 National Building in downtown Romney | |
| Motto: "First in West Virginia – Est. 1762" | |
 Location of Romney in Hampshire County, West Virginia | |
  Romney, West Virginia  Romney, West Virginia  Romney, West Virginia  Romney, West Virginia | |
| Coordinates:39°20′32″N78°45′12″W / 39.34222°N 78.75333°W /39.34222; -78.75333[1] | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Hampshire |
| Incorporation | December 23, 1762 |
| Government | |
| • Type | Mayor–council |
| • Body | Romney Town Council |
| • Mayor | Beverly C. Keadle (D)[2] |
| Area | |
• Total | 0.96 sq mi (2.49 km2) |
| • Land | 0.96 sq mi (2.49 km2) |
| • Water | 0 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 804 ft (245 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 1,722 |
• Estimate (2021[4]) | 1,717 |
| • Density | 1,764.6/sq mi (681.32/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (EST) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 26757 |
| Area code | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-70084 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2390646[1] |
| Website | townofromney |
Romney is a town inHampshire County, West Virginia, United States, and itscounty seat.[5] The population was 1,722 at the2020 census.[4] It is part of theWinchester, Virginia metropolitan area. The town was established in 1762 along withShepherdstown; together, they are the two oldest towns inWest Virginia.
Established by consecutive acts of theVirginia House of Burgesses and approved by the governor on December 23, 1762, Romney and Mecklenburg (later renamedShepherdstown), inJefferson County, are the oldest towns inWest Virginia.[6] The bill containing theAct for establishing the town of Romney, in the county of Hampshire, and for other purposes therein-mentioned, is listed 20th on a list of approved "publick and private bills" and is immediately followed byAn Act for establishing the town of Mecklenburg, in the county of Frederick.[7]
Originally settled in 1725 by hunters and traders, Romney was known asPearsall's Flats and was the site of theFrench and Indian War stockadeFort Pearsall. Named for theCinque Ports town ofRomney,Kent, England, byThomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron, the town still bears place names and symbols from its colonial past such as its Marsham Street, named forRobert Marsham, 2nd Baron Romney. It is also home to theWest Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind and the nation'sFirst Confederate Memorial inIndian Mound Cemetery.
Romney Academy was first incorporated by theVirginia General Assembly on January 11, 1814, and was active until 1846 when it was reorganized as theRomney Classical Institute.[8][9] Romney Academy was one of the earliest institutions for higher learning within the present boundaries of the state of West Virginia. The Romney Classical Institute, a coeducational collegiate preparatory school, survived until 1866. The loss of members due to the American Civil War forced its closure.[10]
TheRomney Expedition of theConfederate States Army occurred in the earlyAmerican Civil War. It was part of the preliminary actions ofStonewall Jackson'sValley Campaign as Jackson clearedUnion Army troops led by Major GeneralNathaniel Banks andBrigadier GeneralWilliam S. Rosecrans from the lowerShenandoah Valley and surroundingAllegheny ranges, and then successfully severed theBaltimore and Ohio Railroad and theChesapeake and Ohio Canal. His army advanced fromWinchester towardsCumberland, Maryland, but withdrew after reaching Romney due to harsh winter conditions.[11] Romney was occupied by both Union and Confederate soldiers multiple times throughout the war.
TheWest Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind was established in 1870 upon the campus of the Romney Classical Institute.[12]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 0.96 square miles (2.49 km2), all land.[13]
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally cold winters. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Romney has ahumid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfa" on climate maps.[14]
| Climate data for Romney, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1891–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 79 (26) | 85 (29) | 94 (34) | 101 (38) | 101 (38) | 104 (40) | 107 (42) | 109 (43) | 104 (40) | 98 (37) | 85 (29) | 80 (27) | 109 (43) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 40.2 (4.6) | 44.2 (6.8) | 53.1 (11.7) | 66.1 (18.9) | 74.6 (23.7) | 82.2 (27.9) | 86.3 (30.2) | 84.8 (29.3) | 78.4 (25.8) | 67.0 (19.4) | 54.7 (12.6) | 43.9 (6.6) | 64.6 (18.1) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.5 (−0.8) | 33.6 (0.9) | 41.2 (5.1) | 52.2 (11.2) | 61.6 (16.4) | 69.7 (20.9) | 73.2 (22.9) | 72.4 (22.4) | 65.4 (18.6) | 54.1 (12.3) | 42.8 (6.0) | 34.4 (1.3) | 52.6 (11.4) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.8 (−6.2) | 23.0 (−5.0) | 29.4 (−1.4) | 38.3 (3.5) | 48.6 (9.2) | 57.1 (13.9) | 61.3 (16.3) | 60.0 (15.6) | 52.4 (11.3) | 41.1 (5.1) | 30.9 (−0.6) | 25.0 (−3.9) | 40.7 (4.8) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −20 (−29) | −20 (−29) | −4 (−20) | 7 (−14) | 23 (−5) | 29 (−2) | 38 (3) | 35 (2) | 24 (−4) | 13 (−11) | −1 (−18) | −15 (−26) | −20 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 2.41 (61) | 2.19 (56) | 3.24 (82) | 3.36 (85) | 3.84 (98) | 3.56 (90) | 4.72 (120) | 3.72 (94) | 3.58 (91) | 2.84 (72) | 2.18 (55) | 2.60 (66) | 38.24 (971) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 7.0 (18) | 9.7 (25) | 7.5 (19) | 0.1 (0.25) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 1.0 (2.5) | 3.8 (9.7) | 29.1 (74) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 8.6 | 7.9 | 9.5 | 11.5 | 13.5 | 11.9 | 11.0 | 10.3 | 9.5 | 9.0 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 118.2 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 3.7 | 3.4 | 2.1 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.5 | 1.6 | 11.5 |
| Source:NOAA[15][16] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 | 456 | — | |
| 1860 | 569 | 24.8% | |
| 1870 | 482 | −15.3% | |
| 1880 | 371 | −23.0% | |
| 1890 | 451 | 21.6% | |
| 1900 | 580 | 28.6% | |
| 1910 | 1,112 | 91.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,028 | −7.6% | |
| 1930 | 1,441 | 40.2% | |
| 1940 | 2,013 | 39.7% | |
| 1950 | 2,059 | 2.3% | |
| 1960 | 2,203 | 7.0% | |
| 1970 | 2,364 | 7.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,094 | −11.4% | |
| 1990 | 1,966 | −6.1% | |
| 2000 | 1,940 | −1.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,848 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 1,722 | −6.8% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,717 | [4] | −0.3% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[17] 2013 Estimate[18] | |||
As of thecensus[19] of 2010, there were 1,848 people, 843 households, and 410 families living in the city. Thepopulation density was 1,925.0 inhabitants per square mile (743.2/km2). There were 967 housing units at an average density of 1,007.3 per square mile (388.9/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 95.8%White, 2.7%African American, 0.2%Native American, 0.1%Asian, 0.1% fromother races, and 1.1% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 843 households, of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.2% weremarried couples living together, 13.2% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.3% had a male householder with no wife present, and 51.4% were non-families. 46.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.01 and the average family size was 2.83.
The median age in the city was 41.9 years. 23.6% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.3% were from 25 to 44; 23% were from 45 to 64; and 23.6% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 44.1% male and 55.9% female.
As of thecensus of 2000, there were 1,940 people, 884 households, and 454 families living in the city. The population density was 2,114.3 inhabitants per square mile (816.3/km2). There were 974 housing units at an average density of 1,061.5 per square mile (409.8/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 96.91%White, 1.91%African American, 0.05%Native American, 0.52%Asian, 0.21% fromother races, and 0.41% from two or more races.Hispanic orLatino of any race were 0.67% of the population.
There were 884 households, out of which 21.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 33.7% weremarried couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 48.6% were non-families. 44.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 26.8% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.97 and the average family size was 2.72.
In the city, the population was spread out, with 25.2% under the age of 18, 7.4% from 18 to 24, 20.1% from 25 to 44, 21.3% from 45 to 64, and 26.1% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 76.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 68.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $22,261, and the median income for a family was $34,271. Males had a median income of $28,667 versus $20,000 for females. Theper capita income for the city was $15,765. About 17.2% of families and 24.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 29.5% of those under age 18 and 18.2% of those age 65 or over.
Romney is governed by aMayor–council government. As of 2022, the mayor was Beverly C. Keadle, and the council members were Duncan Hott, John Duncan III, Paula O’Brien, Robin Pancake, Savanna Morgret and William Taylor.[2]
_at_Bolton_Street_in_Romney%2c_Hampshire_County%2c_West_Virginia.jpg)
Romney is served by two primary highways, the more prominent of them beingU.S. Route 50. US 50 heads eastward from Romney towardsWinchester andInterstate 81. To the west, US 50 intersectsU.S. Route 220, climbs theAllegheny Front, briefly entersGarrett County,Maryland, and then returns to West Virginia, eventually reachingGrafton. The other primary highway serving Romney isWest Virginia Route 28, which heads southward towardsMoorefield and north towardsCumberland,Maryland andInterstate 68. Although not usually used for daily transport, thePotomac Eagle Scenic Railroad has its terminal here.
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