Alderson, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alderson, West Virginia
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Town
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Historic section on the Monroe County side
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Location within Greenbrier and Monroe Counties and West Virginia
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 Alderson, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Alderson, West Virginia
Location in the United States
Alderson, West Virginia
Location in North America
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| Country | United States | ||||
| State | West Virginia | ||||
| Counties | Greenbrier, Monroe | ||||
| Area | |||||
| • Total | 0.95 sq mi (2.47 km2) | ||||
| • Land | 0.89 sq mi (2.31 km2) | ||||
| • Water | 0.06 sq mi (0.16 km2) | ||||
| Elevation | 1,549 ft (472 m) | ||||
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 975 | ||||
| • Estimate
(2021)
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966 | ||||
| • Density | 1,258.39/sq mi (485.96/km2) | ||||
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | ||||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | ||||
| ZIP code |
24910
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| Area code(s) | 304 | ||||
| FIPS code | 54-00772 | ||||
| GNIS feature ID | 2390700 | ||||
Alderson is a small town in West Virginia, USA. It is special because it sits on both sides of the Greenbrier River. The town is located in two different counties: Greenbrier and Monroe. In 2020, about 975 people lived there.
Contents
History of Alderson
Alderson was first settled in 1777 by a missionary named "Elder" John Alderson. The town is named after him. He started the first Baptist church in the Greenbrier Valley.
Before Alderson was founded, in 1763, nearby settlements were destroyed by Shawnee Native Americans. This happened under the leadership of Chief Cornstalk.
A very important place in Alderson is the Federal Prison Camp, Alderson. It opened in 1927 and was the first federal prison just for women.
In the early 1900s, Alderson became a center for higher education. It had three different colleges. One of them, Alderson Academy and Junior College, later became part of Alderson-Broaddus College.
Several historic places in Alderson are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. These include the Alexander McVeigh Miller House and Sunset Hill. The Alderson Bridge and the Alderson Historic District are also important.
Geography and Climate
Alderson covers a total area of about 0.95 square miles (2.47 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
Alderson's Weather
The weather in Alderson changes throughout the year. Summers are warm, and winters are cold. The town gets a good amount of rain and some snow each year.
| Climate data for Alderson, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1944–present) | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °F (°C) | 78 (26) |
79 (26) |
88 (31) |
91 (33) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
102 (39) |
98 (37) |
99 (37) |
94 (34) |
85 (29) |
78 (26) |
102 (39) |
| Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.3 (5.2) |
45.4 (7.4) |
54.0 (12.2) |
66.4 (19.1) |
74.6 (23.7) |
81.0 (27.2) |
84.3 (29.1) |
83.4 (28.6) |
78.2 (25.7) |
67.8 (19.9) |
55.4 (13.0) |
44.7 (7.1) |
64.7 (18.2) |
| Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.4 (−0.3) |
34.6 (1.4) |
41.8 (5.4) |
52.6 (11.4) |
61.7 (16.5) |
69.3 (20.7) |
73.1 (22.8) |
71.9 (22.2) |
65.9 (18.8) |
54.3 (12.4) |
42.9 (6.1) |
34.9 (1.6) |
52.9 (11.6) |
| Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.5 (−5.8) |
23.9 (−4.5) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
38.9 (3.8) |
48.7 (9.3) |
57.5 (14.2) |
61.8 (16.6) |
60.3 (15.7) |
53.5 (11.9) |
40.8 (4.9) |
30.4 (−0.9) |
25.0 (−3.9) |
41.0 (5.0) |
| Record low °F (°C) | −9 (−23) |
−12 (−24) |
0 (−18) |
13 (−11) |
24 (−4) |
37 (3) |
40 (4) |
42 (6) |
31 (−1) |
11 (−12) |
6 (−14) |
−8 (−22) |
−12 (−24) |
| Average precipitation inches (mm) | 3.02 (77) |
2.88 (73) |
3.81 (97) |
3.57 (91) |
4.42 (112) |
3.71 (94) |
4.21 (107) |
3.13 (80) |
3.35 (85) |
2.62 (67) |
2.55 (65) |
3.39 (86) |
40.66 (1,033) |
| Average snowfall inches (cm) | 3.6 (9.1) |
4.2 (11) |
2.0 (5.1) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
0.2 (0.51) |
2.0 (5.1) |
12.2 (31) |
| Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 11.1 | 10.2 | 11.6 | 11.2 | 12.3 | 10.9 | 11.1 | 10.2 | 8.0 | 7.7 | 8.0 | 11.2 | 123.5 |
| Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.2 | 1.3 | 7.1 |
| Source: NOAA | |||||||||||||
People of Alderson
| Historical population | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 478 | — | |
| 1890 | 663 | 38.7% | |
| 1900 | 518 | −21.9% | |
| 1910 | 1,252 | 141.7% | |
| 1920 | 1,401 | 11.9% | |
| 1930 | 1,458 | 4.1% | |
| 1940 | 1,493 | 2.4% | |
| 1950 | 1,489 | −0.3% | |
| 1960 | 1,225 | −17.7% | |
| 1970 | 1,278 | 4.3% | |
| 1980 | 1,375 | 7.6% | |
| 1990 | 1,152 | −16.2% | |
| 2000 | 1,091 | −5.3% | |
| 2010 | 1,184 | 8.5% | |
| 2020 | 975 | −17.7% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 966 | −18.4% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How Many People Live Here?
In 2010, there were 1,184 people living in Alderson. There were 518 households, which are groups of people living together.
Most people in Alderson are White (91%). About 5% are African American. A small number of people are Native American, Asian, or from two or more races. About 3% of the population is Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Alderson was about 42.8 years old. About 20% of residents were under 18. Almost 20% were 65 or older. The town has a nearly equal number of males and females.
Getting Around Alderson
You can travel to Alderson by train! Amtrak is the national passenger train service in the U.S. It offers service to Alderson on its Cardinal route. This means you can ask the train to stop in Alderson.
What Alderson Does for Work
The biggest employer in Alderson is the Federal Prison Camp, Alderson. This is a facility run by the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Part of the prison is in Monroe County, and another part is in Summers County.
The prison is built on a historic spot. This area was once called Baughman's Fort by early settlers in the 1750s.
When famous people were at the prison, it brought a lot of attention to Alderson. Local businesses saw more customers during these times. Residents even planted a special garden called "Martha's Garden."
Fun Things to Do in Alderson
Alderson is famous for its amazing Fourth of July celebrations. It's one of the oldest and largest celebrations in West Virginia. About 15,000 people come to enjoy the parade and other activities.
The Fourth of July celebration lasts for over six days! It includes many family-friendly events. You can see a fireman's rodeo, band shows, and a car show. There are also races on the Greenbrier River, a big parade, and fireworks.
Another fun event is the Alderson Strawberry Festival. It started in 2016 and happens every year during Memorial Day weekend. This festival celebrates delicious strawberries grown by local farmers.
Famous People from Alderson
- Mittie Frances Clarke Point was a writer who wrote many of her novels at a place called "The Cedars" in Alderson.
- Ada Beatrice Queen Victoria Louise Virginia Smith, known as Bricktop, was a famous American dancer, singer, and club owner. She owned popular clubs in Paris, Mexico City, and Rome. She is known as one of the most legendary figures in 20th-century American culture.
See also
In Spanish: Alderson (Virginia Occidental) para niños
