Mullens, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mullens, West Virginia
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Howard Avenue in downtown Mullens in 2007
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Location of Mullens in Wyoming County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States |
| State | West Virginia |
| County | Wyoming |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.90 sq mi (4.91 km2) |
| • Land | 1.84 sq mi (4.77 km2) |
| • Water | 0.05 sq mi (0.14 km2) |
| Elevation | 1,417 ft (432 m) |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 1,475 |
| • Estimate
(2021)
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1,445 |
| • Density | 719.33/sq mi (277.70/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) |
| ZIP code |
25882
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| Area code(s) | 304 |
| FIPS code | 54-57148 |
| GNIS feature ID | 1543986 |
Mullens is a small city in Wyoming County, West Virginia. In 2020, about 1,475 people lived there. It is located in a valley along the Guyandotte River, surrounded by mountains.
In July 2001, a big flash flood almost destroyed the town. Even with help from the state and federal government, many local businesses and people moved away permanently.
Contents
History of Mullens
Mullens officially became a town on September 17, 1912. It was named after A. J. Mullins, who owned the land where the town was built. The town's original name was spelled "Mullins" with an "i." However, a mistake was made when recording the name, and it was never corrected. In 1929, the West Virginia Legislature gave Mullens a special charter to become a city.
The town grew quickly because of the lumber and coal mining industries. In the early 1900s, a coal manager named William Nelson Page helped start the Winding Gulf Coalfield. He planned to build a new railroad called the Deepwater Railway. When bigger railroads tried to stop his project, Page, with help from a wealthy partner named Henry H. Rogers, secretly expanded the plan. They decided to build a railroad all the way to the port of Hampton Roads.
This new railroad, called the Virginian Railway (VGN), was finished in 1909. It built a large train yard and engine repair facility near Mullens. Hundreds of people worked there during the first half of the 20th century. The VGN later joined with the Norfolk and Western Railway (N&W) in 1959. Both railroads eventually became part of the Norfolk Southern Railway (NS). Today, Mullens has a caboose museum that celebrates the history of railroads in the area.
The Mullens Historic District was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. This means it is a special area recognized for its important history. The nearby Wyco Church was also listed in 2010.
A new section of State Route 121, called the Coalfields Expressway, opened on October 1, 2020. This road connects Beckley to Mullens and was celebrated by the Governor.
Geography
Mullens is located where the Guyandotte River and the Slab Fork meet. Its exact location is 37°35′5″N 81°23′5″W / 37.58472°N 81.38472°W.
The city covers a total area of about 1.85 square miles (4.79 square kilometers). Most of this area, about 1.80 square miles (4.66 square kilometers), is land. Only a small part, about 0.05 square miles (0.13 square kilometers), is water.
Climate
Mullens has a climate where the temperatures do not change too much between hot and cold. There is also enough rain throughout the year. This type of weather is known as a marine west coast climate.
Population Information
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1920 | 1,425 | — | |
| 1930 | 2,356 | 65.3% | |
| 1940 | 3,026 | 28.4% | |
| 1950 | 3,470 | 14.7% | |
| 1960 | 3,544 | 2.1% | |
| 1970 | 2,967 | −16.3% | |
| 1980 | 2,919 | −1.6% | |
| 1990 | 2,006 | −31.3% | |
| 2000 | 1,769 | −11.8% | |
| 2010 | 1,559 | −11.9% | |
| 2020 | 1,475 | −5.4% | |
| 2021 (est.) | 1,445 | −7.3% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
In 2010, there were 1,559 people living in Mullens. These people lived in 682 households, and 409 of those were families. The city had about 866 people per square mile.
Most of the people in Mullens (96.5%) were White. About 2.2% were African American, and small numbers were Native American or from other backgrounds. About 22.5% of the residents were under 18 years old. The average age in the city was 41.7 years.
Transportation
Highways
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Notable People
Mullens has been home to several interesting people, including:
- Jerome Anderson, a basketball player and coach.
- Mike D'Antoni, a former basketball player and well-known NBA basketball coach.
- Dan D'Antoni, who is currently the head men's basketball coach at Marshall University.
- Christy Martin, a professional female boxer.
- David Stover, who was a member of the West Virginia Senate.
- Rick Tolley, the head football coach for Marshall University, who sadly died in a plane crash.
See also
In Spanish: Mullens para niños
