Institute, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Institute, West Virginia
|
|
|---|---|
 Institute, West Virginia
Location in West Virginia
Institute, West Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Kanawha |
| Elevation | 623 ft (190 m) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
Institute is a small, unincorporated community in Kanawha County, West Virginia, United States. It is located right on the Kanawha River. Major roads like Interstate 64 and West Virginia Route 25 pass nearby. The community has grown to connect with the nearby town of Dunbar. In 2018, about 1,489 people lived here.
The town was started by Mary Barnes, a woman who had been enslaved. Institute is home to West Virginia State University. This university was once called the West Virginia Colored Institute, which is where the town got its name. The West Virginia State Police Academy is also located here. Institute's economy includes several large industrial factories.
Industry in Institute
Institute has several important industrial plants. These plants are a big part of the local economy. In August 2008, there was an incident at a chemical plant. This event caused two deaths and injured eight people.
History of Institute
Ancient Communities
Institute is home to the Shawnee Reservation Mound. This is a very old earthwork mound. It is one of only three remaining mounds from the Adena culture. These mounds and enclosures are found along an eight-mile stretch of the river. The Shawnee Reservation Mound is also known as Fairgrounds Mound. It is now part of Shawnee Regional Park. The mound is about 20 feet high. It was originally even taller.
In the late 1800s, the Smithsonian Institution studied this area. They found more than 50 earthwork mounds. They also found ten enclosures along the Kanawha River. These structures were likely built by Native American people. They were built between about 300 BCE and 200 CE. In 1902, an archaeologist named Gerard Fowke explored the area. He discovered 27 mummies. They were found in very good condition. Most of these ancient mounds are now gone. They were lost as the area, especially Charleston, developed.
How Institute Was Settled
The community of Institute was founded on land owned by Mary Barnes. She was a formerly enslaved woman. She gave her land to her children. This land later became the community of Institute. It also became the site of West Virginia State University.
During World War II, a factory was built here. This factory made synthetic rubber. Two historic buildings are on the university campus. They are East Hall and Canty House. Both were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988. This means they are important historical sites.
