Gauley Bridge, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gauley Bridge, West Virginia
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Location of Gauley Bridge in Fayette County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Fayette |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.63 sq mi (4.22 km2) |
| • Land | 1.58 sq mi (4.10 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.12 km2) |
| Elevation | 810 ft (247 m) |
| Population
(2010)
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| • Total | 614 |
| • Estimate
(2019)
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553 |
| • Density | 349.56/sq mi (134.93/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25085
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-30364 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1554543 |
| Website | https://local.wv.gov/gauleybridge/Pages/default.aspx |
Gauley Bridge is a small town in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. In 2010, about 614 people lived there. It's a special place because two important rivers meet here. The Kanawha River is formed when the New River and the Gauley River join together right at Gauley Bridge.
A few miles southwest of the town, you'll find Kanawha Falls. This beautiful waterfall is a popular spot along the Midland Trail Scenic Highway. The town itself was named after a bridge that crossed the Gauley River near where the town first started. Gauley Bridge is also known for being close to the site of the Hawk's Nest incident, a sad event in the 1920s and 1930s where many workers became very ill and died.
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Town Geography
Gauley Bridge is located in a scenic area of West Virginia. Its exact coordinates are 38.167815 degrees North and 81.197079 degrees West.
The United States Census Bureau says the town covers a total area of about 1.63 square miles (4.22 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.58 square miles (4.10 square kilometers), is land. The rest, about 0.05 square miles (0.12 square kilometers), is water, mainly from the rivers.
Population History
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1980 | 1,177 | — | |
| 1990 | 691 | −41.3% | |
| 2000 | 738 | 6.8% | |
| 2010 | 614 | −16.8% | |
| 2019 (est.) | 553 | −9.9% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
The population of Gauley Bridge has changed over the years. In 1980, there were 1,177 people living in the town. By 2010, the population was 614. The most recent estimate from 2019 suggests about 553 people live there.
Life in Gauley Bridge (2010)
In 2010, the town had 614 people living in 279 households. Most of the people living in Gauley Bridge were White (98.9%). A small number were Native American (0.3%) or from two or more races (0.8%). About 0.5% of the population identified as Hispanic or Latino.
The average age of people in Gauley Bridge was 43.5 years. About 19.4% of the residents were under 18 years old. About 17.3% were 65 years or older. The town had slightly more females (51.6%) than males (48.4%).
Transportation Routes
Several important roads meet in Downtown Gauley Bridge. These include U.S. Route 60, WV 16, and WV 39. These roads help connect Gauley Bridge to other towns and cities in West Virginia.
Notable People
- MacGillivray Milne: He was the 27th Governor of American Samoa. This means he was in charge of the government for the American territory of Samoa for a period of time.
Images for kids
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A mural in Gauley Bridge showing a railroad theme.
