Covington, Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Covington, Virginia
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Main Street in Covington, Virginia
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 Covington, Virginia
Location in Shenandoah Valley
Covington, Virginia
Location in Virginia
Covington, Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Country | United States | |
| State | Virginia | |
| County | None (Independent city) | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 5.67 sq mi (14.69 km2) | |
| • Land | 5.47 sq mi (14.16 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.20 sq mi (0.52 km2) | |
| Elevation | 1,250 ft (381 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 5,737 | |
| • Density | 1,011.8/sq mi (390.54/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
24426
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| Area code(s) | 540 | |
| FIPS code | 51-19728 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1498470 | |
Covington is an independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 5,737, making it the second-least populous city in Virginia. It is surrounded by Alleghany County, of which it is also the county seat. Located at the confluence of Jackson River and Dunlap Creek, Covington is one of three cities (with Roanoke and Salem) in the Roanoke Regional Partnership. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Covington with Alleghany county for statistical purposes.
Contents
Economy
Covington's economy is dominated by Westrock, which has been operating in the city since 1899. The facility employs about 1300 workers, mostly from Covington and Alleghany County. Its production includes bleached paper and paperboard for packaging, and is the second largest on the East Coast.
Both Alleghany County, VA and Covington City are known for the low cost of their housing markets and close proximity to The Homestead in Bath County (VA), Lexington (VA), The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs (WV), Lewisburg (WV), and Roanoke (VA), each of which is within about a 45-minute drive.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 5.7 square miles (14.8 km2), of which 5.5 square miles (14.2 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.5 km2) (3.6%) is water. The city lies along both sides of the Jackson River.
Demographics
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1880 | 436 | — | |
| 1890 | 704 | 61.5% | |
| 1900 | 2,950 | 319.0% | |
| 1910 | 4,234 | 43.5% | |
| 1920 | 5,623 | 32.8% | |
| 1930 | 6,538 | 16.3% | |
| 1940 | 6,300 | −3.6% | |
| 1950 | 5,860 | −7.0% | |
| 1960 | 11,062 | 88.8% | |
| 1970 | 10,060 | −9.1% | |
| 1980 | 9,063 | −9.9% | |
| 1990 | 6,991 | −22.9% | |
| 2000 | 6,303 | −9.8% | |
| 2010 | 5,961 | −5.4% | |
| 2020 | 5,737 | −3.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census 1790-1960 1900-1990 1990-2000 2010-2020 |
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2020 census
| Race / Ethnicity | Pop 2010 | Pop 2020 | % 2010 | % 2020 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| White alone (NH) | 4,955 | 4,541 | 83.12% | 79.15% |
| Black or African American alone (NH) | 741 | 716 | 12.43% | 12.48% |
| Native American or Alaska Native alone (NH) | 18 | 12 | 0.30% | 0.21% |
| Asian alone (NH) | 33 | 32 | 0.55% | 0.56% |
| Pacific Islander alone (NH) | 0 | 5 | 0.00% | 0.09% |
| Some Other Race alone (NH) | 8 | 11 | 0.13% | 0.19% |
| Mixed Race/Multi-Racial (NH) | 114 | 241 | 1.91% | 4.20% |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 92 | 179 | 1.54% | 3.12% |
| Total | 5,961 | 5,737 | 100.00% | 100.00% |
Note: the US Census treats Hispanic/Latino as an ethnic category. This table excludes Latinos from the racial categories and assigns them to a separate category. Hispanics/Latinos can be of any race.
Climate
The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Covington has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.
Gallery
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Alleghany General District Court in Covington, Va.
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War memorials for soldiers from Alleghany County who died in World War I, World War II, Korean War and Vietnam Conflict.
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Civil War Memorial in Covington, Va
Sports
Covington has a team in the Valley Baseball League called the Lumberjacks.
Education
Covington has one 8–12 high school (Covington High School), one 4–7 middle school called (Jeter-Watson), one pre-kindergarten through third grade elementary school (Edgemont Primary), one State Governors School (Jackson River Governor's School), one technical center for high-school students (Jackson River Technical Center), and one community college (Dabney S. Lancaster).
Infrastructure
Transportation
The area is serviced by Interstate 64 (east-west) and Route 220 (north-south) offering rail, truck and interstate access to the area. Rail passenger service is provided at the Amtrak station in Clifton Forge, VA 12 miles away.
Fire protection
Fire protection is provided by the Covington Fire Department, which was chartered on March 4, 1902. The Covington Rescue Squad provides emergency medical services to the city of Covington. Both the fire department and rescue squad are volunteer organizations. The rescue squad was organized in 1933 and is the third oldest volunteer rescue squad in Virginia.
Notable people
- Bimbo Coles, born in Covington. In the National Basketball Association, he played for the Miami Heat, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Boston Celtics.
- Addie Elizabeth Davis, first woman ordained as a Southern Baptist pastor.
- Bob Humphreys, baseball pitcher
- Jim Lemon, born in Covington, who was an American right and left fielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball.
- Edgar P. Rucker, lawyer and politician
- William R. Terrill, a United States Army soldier and general who was killed in action at the Battle of Perryville during the American Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Covington (Virginia) para niños
