East Bank, West Virginia facts for kids

Quick facts for kids East Bank, West Virginia
Town
WV 61 in East Bank
Location of East Bank in Kanawha County, West Virginia.
Country	United States
State	West Virginia
County	Kanawha
Area
• Total	0.48 sq mi (1.25 km2)
• Land	0.48 sq mi (1.25 km2)
• Water	0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation	620 ft (189 m)
Population  (2020)
• Total	820
• Estimate  (2021)	806
• Density	1,802.90/sq mi (696.67/km2)
Time zone	UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
• Summer (DST)	UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code	25067
Area code(s)	304
FIPS code	54-23092
GNIS feature ID	1554348
Website	https://alpha.townofeastbank.com/

East Bank is a town in Kanawha County, West Virginia. It is located along the Kanawha River. In 2020, about 820 people lived there.

East Bank became an official town in 1889. The West Virginia Legislature helped make this happen. It is called East Bank because it sits on the east side of the Kanawha River.

History of East Bank Schools

East Bank is known for its schools and famous athletes.

Early School Days

In 1912, Cabin Creek District High School was built in East Bank. The first class had only three graduates. This school later changed its name to East Bank High School. Its sports teams were called the Pioneers. Their school colors were blue and white.

Famous Athletes from East Bank

East Bank High School had some very talented students.

Hercules Renda

One famous graduate was Hercules Renda. He played football at the University of Michigan. After college, he had a long career as a high school coach.

Jerry West

Another well-known alumnus was Jerry West. People nicknamed him "Zeke from Cabin Creek." He was a basketball star at East Bank High. In 1956, he led the Pioneers to a state championship. West then played for West Virginia University. Later, he became a legendary player for the Los Angeles Lakers.

Changes to the Schools

In 1969, a new East Bank High School building opened. It was located along the Kanawha River. The old 1912 building became East Bank Junior High School. It served students until 1999.

In 1999, East Bank High School joined with DuPont High School. They formed a new school called Riverside High School. Around this time, junior high schools changed to middle schools. The 1969 building now houses East Bank Middle School.

The original 1912 school building was torn down in 2003. However, a special stone piece from its main entrance was saved. East Bank's town hall is now in a different building. This building used to be the high school's music and art classrooms. A Dollar General store is next to it.

Fun in East Bank

Pioneer Park is a great place for fun in East Bank. It is next to East Bank Middle School. The park has an outdoor swimming pool. You can also play miniature golf there. It has a snack bar and places for picnics.

Historic Places

The John Harriman House is an important old building in East Bank. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is a special place with historical value.

Geography of East Bank

East Bank is located at 38°13′1″N 81°26′39″W / 38.21694°N 81.44417°W / 38.21694; -81.44417. The town covers about 0.48 square miles (1.25 square kilometers) of land.

Population Over Time

The population of East Bank has changed over the years. In 1900, there were 468 people. The population grew to over 1,000 in the 1960s and 1970s. By 2020, about 820 people lived in the town.

East Bank in 2010

In 2010, there were 959 people living in East Bank. There were 392 households. Most people living there were White. About 20.9% of the residents were under 18 years old. The average age in the town was about 45 years.

Notable People

• Hercules Renda (1917-2005), a football player and coach.
• Jerry West (born 1938-2024), a famous NBA executive and former player.