Hinton, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hinton, West Virginia
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Temple Street in downtown Hinton in 2007
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| Motto(s):
Where friends and rivers meet
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Location of Hinton in Summers County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Summers |
| Area | |
| • Total | 3.03 sq mi (7.85 km2) |
| • Land | 2.23 sq mi (5.78 km2) |
| • Water | 0.80 sq mi (2.07 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,463 ft (446 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 2,266 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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2,243 |
| • Density | 1,055.53/sq mi (407.60/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25951
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-37636 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1551458 |
| Website | hintonwva.com |
Hinton is a city in West Virginia, United States. It is the main town, or county seat, of Summers County. In 2020, about 2,266 people lived there.
Hinton was started in 1873 and became an official city in 1897. It's named after John "Jack" Hinton, who owned the land first. Many buildings in downtown Hinton are old and special, so they were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Did you know? Part of the movie Lassie was filmed in Hinton in 1994!
In the 1990s, the town faced some challenges. A hospital moved, and a new highway (Interstate 64) went around the town instead of through it. This caused some businesses to struggle. However, in 2007, a local business owner named Ken Allman started MountainPlex Properties. This group has been working hard to protect and bring new life to the historic downtown area.
Contents
Exploring Hinton's Location and Weather
Hinton is located right next to the New River. This is just north of where the New River meets the Greenbrier River. Bluestone Lake is also very close to Hinton. The city is about 28 miles from Beckley and 90 miles from Charleston.
According to the United States Census Bureau, Hinton covers about 3.03 square miles (7.85 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with some water from the rivers and lake.
Hinton's Climate: Mild and Rainy
The weather in Hinton is generally mild. This means there aren't huge differences between the highest and lowest temperatures. It also gets enough rain all year long. This type of weather is called a marine west coast climate.
People and Community in Hinton
Who Lives in Hinton?
In 2010, there were 2,676 people living in Hinton. Most people (92%) were White, and about 5.3% were African American. A small number of people were Native American or Asian. About 0.5% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
There were 1,276 households in the city. A household is a group of people living together. About 21.9% of these households had children under 18. The average age of people in Hinton was 46 years old.
Fun Things to Do and See
Hinton has several interesting museums you can visit:
- The Veterans Memorial Museum
- The Hinton Railroad Museum
- King's Civil War Museum
The City of Hinton Parks and Recreation department also has a water park. It has a water slide and a swimming pool, which is great for hot days!
How Hinton Works: Jobs and Travel
Hinton's economy mainly focuses on transportation, technology, and tourism. Some of the biggest employers in town include:
- CSX Transportation (a large railroad company)
- Summers County Schools
- ManTech International (a technology company)
A company called PracticeLink, which helps doctors find jobs across the U.S., is also based in Hinton.
Getting Around: Trains in Hinton
You can travel to Hinton by train! Amtrak offers passenger train service on its Cardinal route, which stops at Hinton Station. The train tracks through Hinton are owned by CSX, and they were once a very important part of the old Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. Hinton was a major hub for this railway.
Famous People From Hinton
Some well-known people have come from Hinton:
- Sylvia Mathews Burwell: She was a very important person in the U.S. government, serving as the 22nd United States Secretary of Health and Human Services.
- Jack Warhop: A professional baseball player.
- John Davis Chandler: An American actor.
- Dick Leftridge: A professional football player for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
See also
In Spanish: Hinton (Virginia Occidental) para niños
