Atenville, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Atenville, West Virginia
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 Atenville, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Atenville, West Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Lincoln |
| Elevation | 617 ft (188 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| GNIS feature ID | 1535068 |
Atenville is a small community in Lincoln County, West Virginia, United States. It is not a city or town with its own government. Instead, it is a residential area. Atenville is part of a larger area called Harts. This larger area is a "census-designated place." This means it is a special area defined by the government for counting people.
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Where is Atenville Located?
Atenville is found where Little Harts Creek meets the Guyandotte River. Some parts of Atenville are even on the other side of the river. Another area called Dry Branch is also part of Atenville. This community is located in the Harts Creek District.
Exploring Atenville's Past
Atenville has an interesting history. It includes stories of early explorers and how the community got its name. Learning about its past helps us understand how it grew over time.
Early Visitors to Atenville
Captain Henry Farley was one of the first known European-American visitors to the Atenville area. He was a soldier from the Revolutionary War. In June 1792, Captain Farley traveled through this region. He was following a group of Native Americans who had raided settlements in Virginia.
Farley and his group had already met the Native Americans in other areas. They followed them all the way to the mouth of the Guyandotte River. After that, Captain Farley and his group returned home.
There is also a local story about Stephen Hart's family. According to old papers, Stephen Hart's father was killed by Native Americans. This happened at the mouth of Little Harts Creek. The two creeks, Big and Little Harts creeks, are named after Hart's family. This event would have happened before the year 1795.
How Atenville Got Its Name
Atenville was named after a man named Mr. Aten. He worked for the C&O Railroad company. The community had its own post office for several years. It was open from 1906 to 1918 and again from 1922 to 1926.
Many different people served as postmaster during these years. These included George W. Dillon, William M. Workman, Nancy Payne, Arnold Perry, Kile Topping, and Wilson B. Lambert. The post office officially closed on February 27, 1926.
Learning in Atenville
For many years, Atenville had its own school called Atenville Grade School. The first school building was located on the east side of the Guyandotte River. This school helped educate the children of the community.
Places of Worship
Today, Atenville is home to two churches. These are the Mt. Calvary Freewill Baptist Church and the Little Harts Freewill Baptist Church. They serve as important community centers.
Getting Around Atenville
Atenville can be reached by using Route 10. This road helps people travel to and from the community. The CSX Railroad tracks are located across the river.
Local Businesses
In the past, there was a small store in Atenville. Fern Pack operated this store at Dry Branch. It provided goods and services to the local residents.
See also
In Spanish: Atenville (Virginia Occidental) para niños
