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Ghent, West Virginia facts for kids

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Ghent, West Virginia
A dusting of snow in Ghent
A dusting of snow in Ghent
Ghent, West Virginia is located in West Virginia
Ghent, West Virginia
Ghent, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Raleigh
Named for Treaty of Ghent
Area
 • Total 1.612 sq mi (4.18 km2)
 • Land 1.281 sq mi (3.32 km2)
 • Water 0.331 sq mi (0.86 km2)
Elevation
2,897 ft (883 m)
Population
 (2010)
 • Total 457
 • Density 283.5/sq mi (109.46/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
GNIS feature ID 2586809

Ghent /ˈɛnt/ is a small community in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States. It's known as a census-designated place, which means it's a specific area identified by the government for gathering population data. In 2010, about 457 people lived there.

History of Ghent

The name "Ghent" comes from the Treaty of Ghent. This important treaty officially ended the War of 1812 between the United States and Great Britain.

Building Flat Top Lake

In 1949, people started planning to build an artificial lake near the town of Beckley, West Virginia. Construction began in Ghent in the summer of 1950. Workers built an earthen dam across Glade Creek. The new lake was completely filled with water by April 1951.

A group called the Flat Top Lake Association also planned to build a large neighborhood around the lake. They sold many land lots to members. However, the project still needed a lot of money. In 1961, 144 members decided to buy a second lot each, which helped save the project. The Flat Top Lake community grew steadily over the years. The dam was also updated in 2017 to meet modern safety rules.

Ski Resorts in Ghent

In 1958, the Bald Knob Ski Resort opened near Ghent. This resort didn't do very well and closed in 1961.

Fifteen years later, a new ski resort opened on a nearby mountain called Huff Knob. This new resort was much more successful and is still open today. It is now known as Winterplace Ski Resort. Many people consider Winterplace to be the main attraction in Ghent. You can still see the old ski park on the opposite slopes, and locals call it "Old Winterplace."

Learning from the 2007 Propane Incident

On January 30, 2007, a serious incident happened at a convenience store in Ghent. A large propane tank began to leak while it was being worked on. Propane is a gas used for fuel. A high-pressure stream of propane escaped from the tank. The gas spread into the store and quickly found something to ignite it. This caused a powerful explosion that destroyed the tank and the store. Sadly, two propane workers and two first responders (like police or firefighters) died. Six other people were also hurt.

After the incident, the Chemical Safety Board investigated what happened. They found several important things that could help prevent similar accidents in the future:

  • Evacuation: The area around the store was not cleared of people, even after first responders arrived. This meant people were still too close when the explosion happened.
  • Training: Local emergency workers, like EMTs and police officers, had not received enough training on how to handle propane leaks or other HAZMAT situations. Firefighters had some training, but it hadn't been updated in a long time and didn't specifically cover propane. The propane technician working on the tank also had not received proper safety training.
  • Tank Placement: The propane tank was built too close to the building. Safety rules require large industrial tanks to be at least 10 feet (about 3 meters) away from other structures. Because the tank was so close, the propane gas could easily enter the building through vents.
  • Equipment Issues: The valve that failed and caused the leak had a manufacturing problem. This problem made it stick in the "open" position. There are safety features on these valves to warn technicians, but the worker involved was not properly trained to recognize them.

The investigation showed that this was a preventable tragedy. It highlighted how important it is for everyone involved with hazardous materials, including first responders, to have up-to-date and thorough safety training. It also showed why following safety rules for equipment and building placement is so important.

Climate

Ghent has a climate where the temperatures don't change too much between the highest and lowest points. It also gets enough rain throughout the year. This type of weather is called a marine west coast climate by the Köppen Climate Classification system. On climate maps, it's often shown as "Cfb."

Media

Ghent is where the TV station WVNS-TV has its studios.

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Ghent (Virginia Occidental) para niños

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