Rowlesburg, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 The formerBaltimore and Ohio Railroad andAmtrak station in March 2017 | |
 Logo | |
 Location of Rowlesburg in Preston County, West Virginia. | |
| Coordinates:39°21′0″N79°40′22″W / 39.35000°N 79.67278°W /39.35000; -79.67278 | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Preston |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Eric Bautista |
| Area | |
• Total | 1.10 sq mi (2.84 km2) |
| • Land | 1.01 sq mi (2.62 km2) |
| • Water | 0.085 sq mi (0.22 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,385 ft (422 m) |
| Population | |
• Total | 438 |
| • Density | 566.0/sq mi (218.55/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 26425 |
| Area code | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-70588[4] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1552749[2] |
| Website | https://www.townofrowlesburg.com/ |
Rowlesburg is a town in southernPreston County, West Virginia, United States, along theCheat River. The population was 438 at the2020 census.[5] A formerrailroad town, it is home to theDowntown Rowlesburg Historic District, and was the site of action during theAmerican Civil War.
Rowlesburg was incorporated as a town in 1858.[6] It was named for Thomas Rowles, a railroad engineer.[7]
During theAmerican Civil War, its twoBaltimore and Ohio Railroad bridges crossing theCheat River and Tray Run were of great strategic importance. Confederate troops led by GeneralRobert S. Garnett failed to reach Rowlesburg in 1861, but the 1863Jones–Imboden Raid did reach the town. However, Union troops and townsmen called out of their churches on Sunday morning, April 26, 1863, successfully defended the town and "Lincoln's lifeline," so GeneralWilliam E. Jones retreated and later court-martialed a subordinate.
TheDowntown Rowlesburg Historic District was listed on theNational Register of Historic Places in 2005.[8]
Rowlesburg is located at39°21′0″N79°40′22″W / 39.35000°N 79.67278°W /39.35000; -79.67278 (39.350119, -79.672892).[9]
According to theUnited States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.10 square miles (2.85 km2), of which 1.01 square miles (2.62 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) is water.[10]
At Rowlesburg, theCheat River is considered to be at flood stage when the gauge height is 16 feet.[11]
| Date | Gauge Height in feet |
|---|---|
| July 6, 1844 | 24.30 |
| July 18, 1888 | 23.6 |
| October 16, 1954 | 24.05 |
| November 4, 1985 | 36.9 |
| February 9, 1994 | 23.9 |
| May 8, 1994 | 20.94 |
| January 19, 1996 | 25.40 |
| May 17, 1996 | 17.5 |
| July 19, 1996 | 19.5 |
The climate in this area displays significant differences between summer average high temperatures and winter average lows; adequate precipitation falls year round. In winter months, precipitation is often in the form of snow or sleet. According to theKöppen Climate Classification system, Rowlesburg has acontinental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[12]
| Climate data for Rowlesburg, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1942–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 80 (27) | 79 (26) | 85 (29) | 93 (34) | 92 (33) | 98 (37) | 98 (37) | 98 (37) | 101 (38) | 93 (34) | 83 (28) | 80 (27) | 101 (38) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.3 (3.5) | 42.5 (5.8) | 51.4 (10.8) | 64.2 (17.9) | 72.3 (22.4) | 79.1 (26.2) | 82.2 (27.9) | 81.7 (27.6) | 76.2 (24.6) | 65.0 (18.3) | 53.1 (11.7) | 42.5 (5.8) | 62.4 (16.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 29.3 (−1.5) | 32.4 (0.2) | 40.1 (4.5) | 50.8 (10.4) | 60.2 (15.7) | 67.9 (19.9) | 71.8 (22.1) | 71.0 (21.7) | 64.9 (18.3) | 53.2 (11.8) | 42.1 (5.6) | 33.9 (1.1) | 51.5 (10.8) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 20.2 (−6.6) | 22.2 (−5.4) | 28.7 (−1.8) | 37.4 (3.0) | 48.1 (8.9) | 56.7 (13.7) | 61.3 (16.3) | 60.4 (15.8) | 53.6 (12.0) | 41.4 (5.2) | 31.2 (−0.4) | 25.3 (−3.7) | 40.5 (4.7) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −21 (−29) | −19 (−28) | −5 (−21) | 12 (−11) | 22 (−6) | 32 (0) | 40 (4) | 38 (3) | 29 (−2) | 11 (−12) | 0 (−18) | −13 (−25) | −21 (−29) |
| Averageprecipitation inches (mm) | 4.37 (111) | 4.10 (104) | 5.00 (127) | 4.93 (125) | 5.44 (138) | 5.49 (139) | 6.57 (167) | 4.71 (120) | 4.37 (111) | 3.89 (99) | 3.72 (94) | 4.67 (119) | 57.26 (1,454) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 19.7 (50) | 13.3 (34) | 10.2 (26) | 0.8 (2.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.0 (0.0) | 0.1 (0.25) | 2.2 (5.6) | 10.6 (27) | 56.9 (145) |
| Average precipitation days(≥ 0.01 in) | 18.6 | 14.7 | 15.0 | 13.9 | 15.0 | 13.8 | 13.8 | 12.0 | 11.6 | 11.4 | 12.8 | 17.4 | 170.0 |
| Average snowy days(≥ 0.1 in) | 9.0 | 7.2 | 3.8 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.4 | 7.1 | 29.6 |
| Source:NOAA[13][14] | |||||||||||||
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1880 | 402 | — | |
| 1890 | 560 | 39.3% | |
| 1900 | 652 | 16.4% | |
| 1910 | 936 | 43.6% | |
| 1920 | 1,225 | 30.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,573 | 28.4% | |
| 1940 | 1,452 | −7.7% | |
| 1950 | 1,299 | −10.5% | |
| 1960 | 970 | −25.3% | |
| 1970 | 829 | −14.5% | |
| 1980 | 966 | 16.5% | |
| 1990 | 648 | −32.9% | |
| 2000 | 613 | −5.4% | |
| 2010 | 584 | −4.7% | |
| 2020 | 438 | −25.0% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
As of thecensus[16] of 2010, there were 584 people, 255 households, and 163 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 578.2 inhabitants per square mile (223.2/km2). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 301.0 units per square mile (116.2 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.5%White, 0.2% fromother races, and 0.3% from two or more races.
There were 255 households, of which 23.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.4% weremarried couples living together, 8.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 3.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 36.1% were non-families. 32.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.88.
The median age in the town was 48 years. 18.8% of residents were under the age of 18; 5.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.4% were from 25 to 44; 35.1% were from 45 to 64; and 20% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.3% male and 51.7% female.
As of thecensus[4] of 2000, there were 613 people, 260 households, and 164 families living in the town. Thepopulation density was 582.0 inhabitants per square mile (224.7 inhabitants/km2). There were 304 housing units at an average density of 288.6 units per square mile (111.4 units/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.53%White, 0.16%African American, 0.33%Asian, and 0.98% from two or more races.
There were 260 households, out of which 24.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 47.3% weremarried couples living together, 11.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.9% were non-families. 33.8% of all households were made up of individuals, and 20.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.98.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 21.4% under the age of 18, 8.3% from 18 to 24, 26.9% from 25 to 44, 23.8% from 45 to 64, and 19.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 82.6 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $28,125, and the median income for a family was $32,813. Males had a median income of $25,962 versus $12,750 for females. Theper capita income for the town was $14,663. About 7.6% of families and 12.6% of the population were below thepoverty line, including 14.0% of those under age 18 and 10.5% of those age 65 or over.
Municipalities and communities ofPreston 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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| National | |
