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Coeburn, Virginia facts for kids

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Coeburn, Virginia
Front Street
Front Street
Official seal of Coeburn, Virginia
Seal
Location of Coeburn, Virginia
Location of Coeburn, Virginia
Country United States
State Virginia
County Wise
Area
 • Total 1.95 sq mi (5.06 km2)
 • Land 1.95 sq mi (5.05 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.01 km2)
Elevation
1,995 ft (608 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 2,139
 • Estimate 
(2019)
1,845
 • Density 946.15/sq mi (365.35/km2)
Time zone UTC−5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC−4 (EDT)
ZIP code
24230
Area code(s) 276
FIPS code 51-17952
GNIS feature ID 1482614
Website Official website: http://www.townofcoeburn.com/

Coeburn is a small town in Wise County, Virginia, United States. It is located along the Guest River. In 2010, about 2,139 people lived there. Coeburn was once a town known for its coal mining.

History of Coeburn

Coeburn-virginia-1963-flood-tva1
Flood in Coeburn in 1963

Coeburn was first called Guest Station. It was named after Christopher Gist, an explorer and surveyor. Gist wrote about camping in this area with his son, Tom.

The town officially became a town in 1894. Its name changed from Guest Station to Coeburn. This new name honored W. W. Coe and Judge W. E. Burns. Coe was the Chief Engineer for the N&W Railroad.

The Tacoma School is an important building in Coeburn. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997. This means it is a special historical site.

Geography of Coeburn

Coeburn is located at 36°56′38″N 82°27′58″W / 36.943872°N 82.466069°W / 36.943872; -82.466069. It sits along U.S. Route 58 Alternate. This road is east of Norton and west of St. Paul. Virginia State Route 72 also goes through the center of town.

The town covers about 2.0 square miles (5.3 km2) of land. Coeburn is known for its many mountains and hills. The community of Riverview is just across the Guest River to the south.

Coeburn's Population Over Time

Historical population
Census Pop.
1900 295
1910 645 118.6%
1920 884 37.1%
1930 784 −11.3%
1940 764 −2.6%
1950 760 −0.5%
1960 2,471 225.1%
1970 2,362 −4.4%
1980 2,625 11.1%
1990 2,165 −17.5%
2000 1,996 −7.8%
2010 2,139 7.2%
2019 (est.) 1,845 −13.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

In 2000, there were 1,996 people living in Coeburn. The town had 810 households. About 29.6% of these households had children under 18. The population density was about 973.8 people per square mile.

The average age of people in Coeburn in 2000 was 39 years old. About 22.5% of the population was under 18.

Education in Coeburn

Coeburn has three public schools for students:

  • Coeburn Primary School
  • Coeburn Middle School
  • Eastside High School

These schools are part of the Wise County Public Schools system.

Famous People from Coeburn

Many talented people have come from Coeburn:

  • Holly Kiser – She was the first winner of the TV show Make Me a Supermodel.
  • Jesse McReynolds – A well-known bluegrass musician.
  • Danny O'Quinn Jr. – A professional stock car racer.
  • Tracy Stallard – A professional baseball player.
  • Ralph Stanley – Another famous bluegrass musician.

Fun Things to Do in Coeburn

There are many outdoor activities to enjoy near Coeburn:

  • Camping: You can go camping at Bark Camp Lake. This lake is in the Jefferson National Forest.
  • Boating and Fishing: Bark Camp Lake is also a great spot for boating and fishing.
  • Guest River Gorge Trail: This trail is perfect for walking or biking. It follows the Guest River and used to be a railroad track. It's also in the Jefferson National Forest.
  • Mountain View Trail System: Coeburn has joined with nearby St. Paul to create this trail system. It's a popular place for ATV riders.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Coeburn para niños

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