Marlinton, West Virginia

Marlinton is a town in and the county seat of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 998 at the 2020 census. Located along the Greenbrier River, it is known for its scenic beauty.[6][7]

Marlinton, West Virginia
Town
Historic Depot and the Greenbrier River Trail in Marlinton.
Historic Depot and the Greenbrier River Trail in Marlinton.
Flag of Marlinton, West Virginia
Flag
Official seal of Marlinton, West Virginia
Seal
Location of Marlinton in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
Location of Marlinton in Pocahontas County, West Virginia.
Coordinates: 38°13′29″N 80°5′41″W
CountryUnited States
StateWest Virginia
CountyPocahontas
Area
[1]
 • Total2.44 sq mi (6.33 km2)
 • Land2.35 sq mi (6.09 km2)
 • Water0.09 sq mi (0.24 km2)
Elevation
2,126 ft (648 m)
Population
 (2020)[2]
 • Total998
 • Estimate 
(2021)[3]
982
 • Density408.76/sq mi (157.80/km2)
Time zoneUTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24954
Area code304
FIPS code54-51676[4]
GNIS feature ID1552003[5]
Websitehttps://townofmarlintonwv.com/

History

Marlinton is named for Jacob Marlin, who, along with Stephen Sewell, became the first non-native settlers west of the Allegheny Mountains, in the Greenbrier Valley in 1749. New Englanders Marlin and Sewell built a cabin in what would become Marlinton, but after various religious disputes, Sewell moved into a nearby hollowed-out sycamore tree. In 1751, surveyor John Lewis discovered the pair. Sewell eventually settled on the eastern side of Sewell Mountain, near present-day Rainelle.[8]

Located at Marlinton and listed on the National Register of Historic Places are the Frank and Anna Hunter House, IOOF Lodge Building, Marlinton Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad Station, Marlinton Opera House, Pocahontas County Courthouse and Jail, and Pocahontas Times Print Shop.[9] Located near Marlinton are Droop Mountain Battlefield and New Deal Resources in Watoga State Park Historic District.[9]

As a result of its rural location and proximity to the facilities of the United States National Radio Quiet Zone, the town has been a late adopter of broadband Internet. A 2018 article in Motherboard explains that the nearby Snowshoe Mountain ski resort has been able to provide fast internet, WiFi, and cell phone coverage by having a custom system built which is specially designed so as not to interfere with radio telescopes.[7]

Geography

According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 2.53 square miles (6.55 km2), of which 2.44 square miles (6.32 km2) is land and 0.09 square miles (0.23 km2) is water.[10] It is located in the southwest part of the United States National Radio Quiet Zone.

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, Marlinton has a marine west coast climate, abbreviated "Cfb" on climate maps.[11]

Demographics
Historical population
CensusPop.Note%±
18905—
19001713,320.0%
19101,045511.1%
19201,17712.6%
19301,58634.7%
19401,6443.7%
19501,6450.1%
19601,586−3.6%
19701,286−18.9%
19801,3525.1%
19901,148−15.1%
20001,2044.9%
20101,054−12.5%
2020998−5.3%
U.S. Decennial Census[12]

2010 census

As of the census[2] of 2010, there were 1,054 people, 467 households, and 247 families living in the town. The population density was 432.0 inhabitants per square mile (166.8/km2). There were 658 housing units at an average density of 269.7 per square mile (104.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.8% White, 1.4% African American, 0.3% Native American, 0.1% from other races, and 0.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.5% of the population.

There were 467 households, of which 24.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 31.7% were married couples living together, 16.5% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 47.1% were non-families. 40.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.12 and the average family size was 2.80.

The median age in the town was 47.4 years. 18.2% of residents were under the age of 18; 7.7% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.9% were from 25 to 44; 32% were from 45 to 64; and 21.2% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 45.6% male and 54.4% female.

2000 census

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 1,204 people, 552 households, and 290 families living in the town. The population density was 539.8 inhabitants per square mile (208.5/km2). There were 653 housing units at an average density of 292.8 per square mile (113.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 97.92% White, 1.16% African American, 0.08% Native American, 0.08% Asian, 0.08% from other races, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.17% of the population.

There were 552 households, out of which 22.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 37.9% were married couples living together, 12.7% had a female householder with no husband present, and 47.3% were non-families. 42.4% of all households were made up of individuals, and 21.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.04 and the average family size was 2.80.

In the town, the population was spread out, with 19.6% under the age of 18, 7.5% from 18 to 24, 22.8% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 25.2% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45 years. For every 100 females, there were 83.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 76.6 males.

The median income for a household in the town was $21,293, and the median income for a family was $33,125. Males had a median income of $26,500 versus $16,477 for females. The per capita income for the town was $14,957. About 17.5% of families and 24.0% of the population were below the poverty line, including 29.0% of those under age 18 and 16.2% of those age 65 or over.

Events

Marlinton is home to the Roadkill Cook-off and Hudson Cream West Virginia Biscuit Bake Off during the Autumn Harvest Festival. The first cook-off was in 1991, and has become nationally known through television shows about food and travel.[13][14] The Roadkill Cook-off was cancelled in both 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic but organizers have restarted the tradition in 2022 and continued to 2023.[15]

References
  1. "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
  2. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  3. Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
  4. "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  5. "US Board on Geographic Names". United States Geological Survey. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on February 12, 2012. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
  6. "Find a County". National Association of Counties. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved June 7, 2011.
  7. Rogers, Kaleigh (April 16, 2018). "What It's Like to Live in America Without Broadband Internet". Motherboard. Archived from the original on April 18, 2018. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  8. "Marlin and Sewell". The West Virginia Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on October 6, 2017. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  9. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  10. "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
  11. "Marlinton, West Virginia Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase)". Weatherbase. Archived from the original on February 2, 2017. Retrieved April 18, 2018.
  12. "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
  13. Eating roadkill in West Virginia. BBC News, 3 October 2016, retrieved 9 September 2021.
  14. Kelly, John (September 27, 2011). "W.Va. roadkill festival: It's very tongue-in-cheek". Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Archived from the original on June 28, 2018. Retrieved June 28, 2018.
  15. "Autumn Harvest and RoadKill Cook-off cancelled". Pocahontas Times. September 2, 2021. p. 3.
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