Alderson, West Virginia Explained

Alderson, West Virginia
Settlement Type:Town
Image Blank Emblem:Logo of Alderson, West Virginia.png
Blank Emblem Type:Logo
Mapsize:250px
Pushpin Map:West Virginia#USA#North America
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:United States
Subdivision Type1:State
Subdivision Name1:West Virginia
Subdivision Type2:Counties
Subdivision Name2:Greenbrier, Monroe
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Travis Copenhaver
Area Footnotes:[1]
Area Total Km2:2.47
Area Land Km2:2.31
Area Water Km2:0.16
Area Total Sq Mi:0.95
Area Land Sq Mi:0.89
Area Water Sq Mi:0.06
Unit Pref:Imperial
Population As Of:2020
Population Est:966
Pop Est As Of:2021
Population Footnotes:[2]
Population Total:975
Population Density Km2:485.96
Population Density Sq Mi:1258.39
Timezone:Eastern (EST)
Utc Offset:-5
Timezone Dst:EDT
Utc Offset Dst:-4
Elevation Ft:1549
Coordinates:37.7278°N -80.6436°W
Postal Code Type:ZIP code
Postal Code:24910
Area Code:304
Blank Name:FIPS code
Blank Info:54-00772[3]
Blank1 Name:GNIS feature ID
Blank1 Info:2390700

Alderson is a town in Greenbrier and Monroe counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia, on both sides of the Greenbrier River. The population was 975 at the 2020 census.[2]

History

Alderson is a community located along the Greenbrier River in Greenbrier County and Monroe County, incorporated in 1881. Alderson was originally settled in 1777 by "Elder" John Alderson, a frontier missionary for whom the town is named, who organized the first Baptist church in the Greenbrier Valley. In 1763, the nearby Muddy Creek settlements were destroyed by Shawnee Indians under Chief Cornstalk. Alderson is the location of the Federal Reformatory for Women, opened in 1927, the first federal prison for women. During the early 1900s, Alderson became a hub of higher education in the state. It was home to three separate institutions of higher education, including the Alderson Academy and Junior College, which eventually was integrated into Alderson-Broaddus College in 1932.

The Alexander McVeigh Miller House in Greenbrier County is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as is Sunset Hill in Monroe County. The Alderson Bridge and Alderson Historic District are located in both counties.

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 0.95sqmi, of which 0.89sqmi is land and 0.06sqmi is water.[4]

Demographics

2010 census

As of the census[5] of 2010, there were 1,184 people, 518 households, and 315 families living in the town. The population density was 1330.3PD/sqmi. There were 602 housing units at an average density of 676.4/sqmi. The racial makeup of the town was 91.0% White, 5.0% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.3% Asian, and 3.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.9% of the population.

There were 518 households, of which 26.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 39.2% were married couples living together, 14.9% had a female householder with no husband present, 6.8% had a male householder with no wife present, and 39.2% were non-families. 31.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.2% 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 2.83.

The median age in the town was 42.8 years. 20.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 9.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 22.8% were from 25 to 44; 27.5% were from 45 to 64; and 19.7% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 48.9% male and 51.1% female.

2000 census

As of the census of 2000, there were 1,091 people, 481 households, and 305 families living in the town. The population density was 1,214.5 inhabitants per square mile (468.0/km2). There were 586 housing units at an average density of 652.3 per square mile (251.4/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 90.83% White, 6.60% African American, 0.27% Native American, 0.18% Asian, and 2.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.10% of the population.

There were 481 households, out of which 25.8% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 43.0% were married couples living together, 16.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.4% were non-families. 34.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 17.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.27 and the average family size was 2.87.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 23.8% under the age of 18, 8.0% from 18 to 24, 22.9% from 25 to 44, 23.6% from 45 to 64, and 21.7% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 41 years. For every 100 females, there were 90.4 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 83.4 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $23,043, and the median income for a family was $29,028. Males had a median income of $31,000 versus $20,938 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,474. About 17.8% of families and 22.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 35.7% of those under age 18 and 9.6% of those aged 65 or over.

Transportation

See also: Alderson (Amtrak station). Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, provides request stop service to Alderson under the Cardinal route.

Economy

The Federal Bureau of Prisons facility Federal Prison Camp, Alderson, where media mogul Martha Stewart was imprisoned,[6] is the largest employer in Alderson.[7] A portion of FPC Alderson is located in unincorporated Monroe County, while the other portion of the prison lies in unincorporated Summers County.[8] [9]

The Alderson Federal Prison Camp is located on the spot on which the earliest settlers of the area chose to settle and called their settlement Baughman's Fort. Baughman's Fort was built in the 1750s and the settlement was supposedly destroyed by Native Americans shortly thereafter, though no factual evidence exists to support this theory. Few archaeological remains of the early fort remain after the building of the Federal Prison Camp in the early 20th century. Only notations in early journals refer to the location of the fort.[10]

Betty Alderson, who is married to a descendant of the original founders of Alderson, stated "every business profited" when Martha Stewart was incarcerated at Alderson and media attention was focused on the community. Residents planted bulbs into a garden that was to be named "Martha's Garden."[11]

Local events

"Alderson has gained fame for its elaborate Fourth of July festivities, as much a fitting celebration of small-town America as it is an observance of the nation's holiday."[12] It is also one of the oldest celebrations in the state.[13] It currently has one of the largest Fourth of July celebrations in West Virginia, attracting approximately 15,000 people during the parade.[14] It is unique by offering many family activities.[15] Over six days, events include a fireman's rodeo, band shows, a car show, a parade, various races on the Greenbrier River, as well as a parade and fireworks.[16]

The Alderson Strawberry Festival began in 2016, and occurs during Memorial Day weekend every year. This festival celebrates strawberries, and the local farmers provide the strawberries for the event.[17]

Notable people

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files. United States Census Bureau . August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021 . Census.gov . US Census Bureau . July 3, 2022.
  3. Web site: U.S. Census website . . January 31, 2008 .
  4. Web site: US Gazetteer files 2010 . . January 24, 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120112090031/http://www.census.gov/geo/www/gazetteer/files/Gaz_places_national.txt . January 12, 2012 .
  5. Web site: U.S. Census website. United States Census Bureau. January 24, 2013.
  6. Web site: de Vries . Lloyd . How Martha Coped At 'Yale' . CBS News . September 20, 2005 . September 29, 2012 .
  7. News: Welcome to Alderson; Stewart began her 5 months before dawn at W.Va. prison . https://web.archive.org/web/20121020201951/http://business.highbeam.com/409663/article-1G1-123059858/welcome-alderson-stewart-began-her-5-months-before . dead . October 20, 2012 . The Washington Times . October 9, 2004 . September 29, 2012 .
  8. News: Martha's Prison Thanksgiving . https://web.archive.org/web/20121102203613/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-125332430.html . dead . November 2, 2012 . The Cincinnati Post . November 24, 2004 . Mullins said the prison dormitories are in Summers County. . September 29, 2012 .
  9. Web site: FPC Alderson Contact Information . Federal Bureau of Prisons . September 29, 2012 . January 10, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110110070345/http://www.bop.gov/DataSource/execute/dsFacilityAddressLoc?start=y&facilityCode=ald . dead .
  10. Journal of the Greenbrier Historical Society . The History of Greenbrier County . Otis . Rice . 1983 .
  11. Web site: Hancock . David . Martha: There's No Place Like Home . CBS News . March 4, 2005 . September 29, 2012 .
  12. Book: Chambers, S. Allen . Buildings of West Virginia . 2004 . Oxford University Press . 9780195165487 . 160 . January 13, 2018.
  13. Book: Casto, James E. . The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway . 2006 . Arcadia Publishing . 9781439617465 . January 13, 2018. A holiday parade can be seen crossing the tracks in the background. (Photograph taken on Fourth July 1917).
  14. Web site: Swartz . Mattison . Alderson Set to Kick off 56th Annual Fourth of July Celebration . WVNS . June 13, 2017 . January 13, 2018.
  15. Web site: Alderson 4th of July Celebration . Blue Ridge Outdoors Magazine . July 1, 2017 . January 13, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180114074138/http://www.blueridgeoutdoors.com/events/alderson-4th-of-july-celebration/ . January 14, 2018 . dead .
  16. Web site: Alderson 4th of July Celebration, 2018 . Greenbrier County Convention & Visitors Bureau . January 13, 2018.
  17. News: Alderson Strawberry Festival has been scheduled for May 26 . Alvey . Tina . Beckley Register-Herald . June 28, 2018.
  18. Web site: Kennedy. Kathleen. Mrs. Alex. McVeigh Miller. wvencyclopedia.org. July 4, 2017. December 7, 2015.
  19. Web site: Cabaret Queen, Bricktop Is Dead . wvculture.org courtesy of Huntington Herald-Dispatch . February 2, 1984 . August 14, 2017.