Terra Alta, West Virginia
Terra Alta is a town in eastern Preston County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,415 at the 2020 census.[6] It is part of the Morgantown metropolitan area.
Terra Alta, West Virginia | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Location of Terra Alta in Preston County, West Virginia. | |
| Coordinates: 39°26′40″N 79°32′38″W | |
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Preston |
| Government | |
| • Mayor | Robert DeLauder [1] |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2) |
| • Land | 1.19 sq mi (3.07 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 2,582 ft (787 m) |
| Population | |
| • Total | 1,415 |
| • Estimate (2021)[4] | 1,498 |
| • Density | 1,265.82/sq mi (488.64/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code | 26764 |
| Area code | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-79708[5] |
| GNIS feature ID | 1547983[3] |
| Website | https://terraalta.wv.gov/Pages/default.aspx |
History
Terra Alta was originally called Portland, and under the latter name had its start in the 1850s.[7] The present name Terra Alta is derived from Latin meaning "high land".[8] According to the 1876 Baltimore and Ohio Railroad map, Terra Alta had a railroad station called Cranberry Station.
The town is home to the James S. Lakin House and Terra Alta Bank, each listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[9]
Geography
Terra Alta is located at 39°26′40″N 79°32′38″W (39.444343, -79.544002).[10]
According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 1.19 square miles (3.08 km2), all land.[11]
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, Terra Alta has a humid continental climate, abbreviated "Dfb" on climate maps.[12]
| Climate data for Terra Alta, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1948–2020) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 72 (22) |
74 (23) |
81 (27) |
88 (31) |
89 (32) |
91 (33) |
95 (35) |
94 (34) |
93 (34) |
84 (29) |
78 (26) |
74 (23) |
95 (35) |
| Mean maximum °F (°C) | 59.0 (15.0) |
60.7 (15.9) |
69.3 (20.7) |
78.4 (25.8) |
81.7 (27.6) |
83.3 (28.5) |
85.2 (29.6) |
84.4 (29.1) |
82.8 (28.2) |
76.8 (24.9) |
70.4 (21.3) |
60.6 (15.9) |
86.3 (30.2) |
| Average high °F (°C) | 34.0 (1.1) |
37.5 (3.1) |
46.2 (7.9) |
58.9 (14.9) |
66.5 (19.2) |
73.2 (22.9) |
76.7 (24.8) |
75.7 (24.3) |
70.2 (21.2) |
59.8 (15.4) |
48.6 (9.2) |
38.5 (3.6) |
57.1 (13.9) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 25.8 (−3.4) |
28.5 (−1.9) |
36.2 (2.3) |
47.7 (8.7) |
56.3 (13.5) |
63.5 (17.5) |
67.4 (19.7) |
66.3 (19.1) |
60.5 (15.8) |
49.9 (9.9) |
39.4 (4.1) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
47.7 (8.7) |
| Average low °F (°C) | 17.7 (−7.9) |
19.5 (−6.9) |
26.2 (−3.2) |
36.5 (2.5) |
46.1 (7.8) |
53.9 (12.2) |
58.1 (14.5) |
56.8 (13.8) |
50.7 (10.4) |
39.9 (4.4) |
30.3 (−0.9) |
22.7 (−5.2) |
38.2 (3.4) |
| Mean minimum °F (°C) | −1.7 (−18.7) |
1.0 (−17.2) |
7.6 (−13.6) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
33.2 (0.7) |
42.6 (5.9) |
48.6 (9.2) |
48.3 (9.1) |
38.7 (3.7) |
27.3 (−2.6) |
15.5 (−9.2) |
5.7 (−14.6) |
−4.9 (−20.5) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −31 (−35) |
−26 (−32) |
−9 (−23) |
8 (−13) |
17 (−8) |
27 (−3) |
35 (2) |
34 (1) |
18 (−8) |
8 (−13) |
−8 (−22) |
−22 (−30) |
−31 (−35) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 4.70 (119) |
4.28 (109) |
5.01 (127) |
5.00 (127) |
5.36 (136) |
5.55 (141) |
5.81 (148) |
4.85 (123) |
4.13 (105) |
3.83 (97) |
3.85 (98) |
4.64 (118) |
57.01 (1,448) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 44.1 (112) |
36.3 (92) |
28.2 (72) |
12.1 (31) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
3.7 (9.4) |
15.7 (40) |
30.9 (78) |
171.1 (435) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 21.5 | 18.2 | 17.8 | 16.6 | 16.5 | 14.9 | 14.0 | 13.4 | 11.6 | 12.5 | 15.3 | 19.9 | 192.2 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 15.9 | 13.3 | 9.8 | 4.3 | 0.2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 5.5 | 12.2 | 62.4 |
| Source: NOAA[13][14] | |||||||||||||
Demographics
| Census | Pop. | Note | %± |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1890 | 443 | — | |
| 1900 | 616 | 39.1% | |
| 1910 | 1,126 | 82.8% | |
| 1920 | 1,261 | 12.0% | |
| 1930 | 1,474 | 16.9% | |
| 1940 | 1,471 | −0.2% | |
| 1950 | 1,649 | 12.1% | |
| 1960 | 1,504 | −8.8% | |
| 1970 | 1,474 | −2.0% | |
| 1980 | 1,946 | 32.0% | |
| 1990 | 1,713 | −12.0% | |
| 2000 | 1,456 | −15.0% | |
| 2010 | 1,477 | 1.4% | |
| 2020 | 1,415 | −4.2% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,498 | [4] | 5.9% |
| U.S. Decennial Census[15] | |||
2010 census
As of the census[16] of 2010, there were 1,477 people, 610 households, and 394 families living in the town. The population density was 1,241.2 inhabitants per square mile (479.2/km2). There were 700 housing units at an average density of 588.2 per square mile (227.1/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 98.0% White, 0.7% African American, 0.5% Native American, 0.1% Asian, 0.2% from other races, and 0.5% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.9% of the population.
There were 610 households, of which 33.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.1% were married couples living together, 14.6% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.9% had a male householder with no wife present, and 35.4% were non-families. 28.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.41 and the average family size was 2.92.
The median age in the town was 38.8 years. 24.4% of residents were under the age of 18; 8.4% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 26.1% were from 25 to 44; 27.2% were from 45 to 64; and 13.9% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the town was 47.2% male and 52.8% female.
2000 census
As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,456 people, 596 households, and 417 families living in the town. The population density was 1,220.1 inhabitants per square mile (472.4/km2). There were 690 housing units at an average density of 578.2 per square mile (223.9/km2). The racial makeup of the town was 99.18% White, 0.14% African American, 0.07% Asian, 0.07% Pacific Islander, 0.07% from other races, and 0.48% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.34% of the population.
There were 596 households, out of which 32.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.2% were married couples living together, 12.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 30.0% were non-families. 26.2% of all households were made up of individuals, and 12.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 2.90.
In the town, the population was spread out, with 24.5% under the age of 18, 8.2% from 18 to 24, 26.5% from 25 to 44, 26.0% from 45 to 64, and 14.9% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 38 years. For every 100 females, there were 88.6 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 85.2 males.
The median income for a household in the town was $25,388, and the median income for a family was $32,692. Males had a median income of $23,750 versus $17,950 for females. The per capita income for the town was $12,040. About 15.6% of families and 18.9% of the population were below the poverty line, including 31.5% of those under age 18 and 8.9% of those age 65 or over.
References
- Elected officials. (n.d.). Retrieved February 12, 2021, from https://local.wv.gov/TerraAlta/Pages/ElectedOfficials.aspx
- "2019 U.S. Gazetteer Files". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved August 7, 2020.
- U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Terra Alta, West Virginia
- Bureau, US Census. "City and Town Population Totals: 2020-2021". Census.gov. US Census Bureau. Retrieved July 3, 2022.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 31, 2008.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved December 2, 2022.
- 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. 622.
- Capace, Nancy (1999). Encyclopedia of West Virginia. North American Book Dist LLC. p. 193. ISBN 978-0-403-09843-9.
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- "US Gazetteer files: 2010, 2000, and 1990". United States Census Bureau. February 12, 2011. Retrieved April 23, 2011.
- "US Gazetteer files 2010". United States Census Bureau. Archived from the original on January 25, 2012. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
- Climate Summary for Terra Alta, West Virginia
- "NowData – NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- "Station: Terra Alta #1, WV". U.S. Climate Normals 2020: U.S. Monthly Climate Normals (1991–2020). National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved June 13, 2021.
- "Census of Population and Housing". Census.gov. Retrieved June 4, 2015.
- "U.S. Census website". United States Census Bureau. Retrieved January 24, 2013.
Municipalities and communities of Preston County, West Virginia, United States | ||
|---|---|---|
| City |  Map of West Virginia highlighting Preston County | |
| Towns | ||
| CDPs | ||
| Other communities |
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| Footnotes | ‡This populated place also has portions in an adjacent county or counties | |