Petersburg, West Virginia

Not to be confused with Petersburg, Virginia.
Petersburg, West Virginia
City
Virginia Avenue in Petersburg
Virginia Avenue in Petersburg
Flag of Petersburg, West Virginia
Flag
Official logo of Petersburg, West Virginia
Logo
Location of Petersburg in Grant County, West Virginia.
Location of Petersburg in Grant County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 39°00′04″N 79°07′40″W / 39.00111°N 79.12778°W / 39.00111; -79.12778
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyGrant
Area
[1]
 • Total1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Land1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Water0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
[2]
948 ft (289 m)
Population
 (2020)[3]
 • Total2,251
 • Estimate 
(2021)
2,253
 • Density1,641.93/sq mi (633.85/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26847
Area code304
FIPS code54-62956[4]
GNIS feature ID2390635[2]
Websitecityofpetersburgwv.gov

Petersburg is a city in Grant County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,251 at the 2020 census.[3] It is the county seat of Grant County.[5]

History

Petersburg was founded circa 1745 by Jacob Peterson, who owned the area's first merchandising store.[6]

In the 1830 United States Census, the population center of the United States was recorded as being about 9 miles southwest of the town.[7]

The settlement was incorporated in 1910.

Registered Historic Places

Main article: National Register of Historic Places listings in Grant County, West Virginia

Located near Petersburg (but in Pendleton County) is the Old Judy Church (1836), listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.[8]

Geography

Former Grant County Bank, North Main Street
Petersburg City Hall
New Grant County Courthouse in 2020

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.20 km2), all of it land.[9]

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Petersburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Petersburg, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1994–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24) 		78
(26) 		88
(31) 		103
(39) 		98
(37) 		100
(38) 		104
(40) 		100
(38) 		101
(38) 		89
(32) 		90
(32) 		80
(27) 		104
(40)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 44.2
(6.8) 		47.2
(8.4) 		55.6
(13.1) 		67.7
(19.8) 		75.7
(24.3) 		84.4
(29.1) 		88.5
(31.4) 		86.3
(30.2) 		80.6
(27.0) 		68.6
(20.3) 		56.6
(13.7) 		47.4
(8.6) 		66.9
(19.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9) 		36.2
(2.3) 		43.5
(6.4) 		54.0
(12.2) 		62.8
(17.1) 		71.5
(21.9) 		75.7
(24.3) 		73.9
(23.3) 		67.3
(19.6) 		55.4
(13.0) 		44.8
(7.1) 		37.1
(2.8) 		54.7
(12.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 23.3
(−4.8) 		25.3
(−3.7) 		31.4
(−0.3) 		40.2
(4.6) 		49.8
(9.9) 		58.6
(14.8) 		63.0
(17.2) 		61.5
(16.4) 		54.0
(12.2) 		42.2
(5.7) 		33.0
(0.6) 		26.9
(−2.8) 		42.4
(5.8)
Record low °F (°C) −5
(−21) 		−11
(−24) 		−5
(−21) 		19
(−7) 		28
(−2) 		39
(4) 		46
(8) 		43
(6) 		33
(1) 		18
(−8) 		11
(−12) 		−3
(−19) 		−11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.56
(65) 		2.61
(66) 		3.50
(89) 		3.46
(88) 		4.48
(114) 		4.15
(105) 		4.50
(114) 		3.61
(92) 		3.34
(85) 		2.72
(69) 		2.46
(62) 		2.93
(74) 		40.32
(1,024)
Source: NOAA[10]

Transportation

US 220, WV 28 and WV 55 heading northeast towards Moorefield from the center of Petersburg

Petersburg is served by several surface highways. The most prominent of these is U.S. Route 220, which enters Petersburg from the direction of Franklin and exits eastward towards Moorefield. West Virginia Route 28 and West Virginia Route 55 run concurrently through Petersburg, entering from the direction of Seneca Rocks and joining U.S. Route 220 on its journey towards Moorefield. Finally, West Virginia Route 42 begins at Route 28 and Route 55 in Moorefield, heading northward towards Elk Garden.

Grant County Airport is located 1.2 miles southwest of the city center.

Medical care

Grant Memorial Hospital serves three counties in the West Virginia Panhandle.[11]

Demographics

Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
1880268—
1920834—
19301,41069.1%
19401,75124.2%
19501,8988.4%
19602,0799.5%
19702,1774.7%
19802,084−4.3%
19902,36013.2%
20002,4232.7%
20102,4671.8%
20202,251−8.8%
2021 (est.)2,253[3]0.1%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[13] of 2010, there were 2,467 people, 1,113 households, and 614 families living in the city. The population density was 1,522.8 inhabitants per square mile (588.0/km2). There were 1,310 housing units at an average density of 808.6 per square mile (312.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 1,113 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.8% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 47.1 years. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 2,423 people, 1,086 households, and 620 families living in the city. The population density was 1,482.6 people per square mile (573.9/km2). There were 1,222 housing units at an average density of 747.7 per square mile (289.5/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 97.44% White, 1.57% African American, 0.12% Native American, 0.17% Asian, 0.29% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.78% of the population.

There were 1,086 households, out of which 23.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 44.3% were married couples living together, 10.4% had a female householder with no husband present, and 42.9% were non-families. 38.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.10 and the average family size was 2.75.

In the city, the population was spread out, with 19.0% under the age of 18, 8.8% from 18 to 24, 23.8% from 25 to 44, 24.1% from 45 to 64, and 24.3% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 44 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 78.5 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $24,867, and the median income for a family was $32,941. Males had a median income of $23,654 versus $20,250 for females. The per capita income for the city was $19,642. About 11.9% of families and 17.5% of the population were below the poverty line, including 25.3% of those under age 18 and 11.2% of those age 65 or over.

Notable people

References

  1. ^ "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Petersburg, West Virginia
  3. ^ a b c "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. ^ "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  6. ^ Kenny, Hamill (1945). West Virginia Place Names: Their Origin and Meaning, Including the Nomenclature of the Streams and Mountains. Piedmont, WV: The Place Name Press. p. 481.
  7. ^ "2000 U.S. Population Centered in Missouri". National Atlas of the United States. April 2, 2001. Retrieved September 27, 2014.
  8. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  9. ^ "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  10. ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". March 2021. Retrieved October 13, 2023.
  11. ^ Frankel, Todd C. (March 22, 2020). "In pro-Trump West Virginia, a fight to convince residents a pandemic is coming". Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 22, 2020. Retrieved March 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. ^ "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
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