Chester, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Chester, West Virginia
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Location of Chester in Hancock County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Hancock |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2) |
| • Land | 1.00 sq mi (2.59 km2) |
| • Water | 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2) |
| Elevation | 705 ft (215 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,214 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,173 |
| • Density | 2,371.37/sq mi (915.53/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
26034
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| Area code(s) | 304, 681 |
| FIPS code | 54-15076 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1537260 |
| Website | http://chesterwv.org/ |
Chester is a city located in Hancock County, West Virginia, United States. In 2020, about 2,214 people lived there. Chester is found along the Ohio River in the northern part of West Virginia. It is the northernmost city in the state. Chester is also famous for being home to the World's Largest Teapot attraction.
Contents
History of Chester
Chester was started in 1896. It officially became a city in 1907. A lawyer named J.E. McDonald from East Liverpool, Ohio helped create the town. The name "Chester" might have come from Chester County, Pennsylvania or Chester, England. We don't know for sure!
Chester was once home to Rock Springs Park. This was a small amusement park that opened in 1897. It had rides, a swimming pool, a lake, a small zoo, and live shows. The park closed in 1970 to make way for the expansion of U.S. Route 30.
The town grew a lot in the early 1900s. This was mainly because of the pottery industry in nearby East Liverpool. The Taylor, Smith & Taylor Company was a big pottery maker in Chester. It once employed over 800 people! Another large employer was the Chester Rolling Mill Company, which made steel.
The Chester teapot is the town's main attraction. It was bought by Wilford Devon in 1938. He moved it to Chester from Carnegie, Pennsylvania. The teapot used to be a food stand. It sold ice cream, hot dogs, and drinks. In 1990, it was moved and fixed up to its current spot. You might have seen it in video games like Fallout 76!
Chester's Location and Geography
Chester is located at 40°36′46″N 80°33′46″W / 40.61278°N 80.56278°W. When the American Civil War began in April 1861, this area was part of Virginia. It was the northernmost point in any state where slavery was allowed. Today, Chester is still the northernmost point in the Southern United States. This is how the United States Census Bureau defines the region.
The city covers an area of about 1.00 square mile (2.59 square kilometers). All of this area is land.
People Living in Chester
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 3,184 | — | |
| 1920 | 3,283 | 3.1% | |
| 1930 | 3,701 | 12.7% | |
| 1940 | 3,805 | 2.8% | |
| 1950 | 3,758 | −1.2% | |
| 1960 | 3,787 | 0.8% | |
| 1970 | 3,614 | −4.6% | |
| 1980 | 3,297 | −8.8% | |
| 1990 | 2,905 | −11.9% | |
| 2000 | 2,592 | −10.8% | |
| 2010 | 2,585 | −0.3% | |
| 2020 | 2,214 | −14.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 2,173 | −15.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 2012 Estimate |
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In 2010, there were 2,585 people living in Chester. There were 1,209 households, which are groups of people living together. About 26.5% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in the city was 43.2 years. About 21.9% of residents were under 18 years old.
Schools in Chester
Children in Chester go to schools run by the Hancock County School District. The schools that serve Chester are:
- Allen T. Allison Elementary School – for students in grades K-4
- Oak Glen Middle School – for students in grades 5-8
- Oak Glen High School – for students in grades 9-12
Getting Around Chester
Several main roads pass through Chester:
U.S. Route 30
West Virginia Route 2
The Jennings Randolph Bridge is a special bridge. It carries U.S. Route 30 across the Ohio River. This bridge connects Chester to East Liverpool, Ohio.
Famous People from Chester
Many interesting people have come from Chester, West Virginia:
- Dale Baird – A very successful horse racing trainer. He won many awards!
- Herb Coleman – An American football player who played as a center.
- Daniel Johnston – A unique singer, songwriter, and artist.
- Jim Jordan – A talented basketball player.
- Win Mercer – A Major League Baseball pitcher.
- Michael Paris – A professional wrestler for WWE.
- Scott Paulsen – A radio personality and writer.
- Randy Swartzmiller – A member of the West Virginia House of Delegates.
See also
In Spanish: Chester (Virginia Occidental) para niños
