Oak Hill, West Virginia facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Oak Hill, West Virginia
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Main Street (West Virginia Route 16) in downtown Oak Hill in 2007
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| Motto(s):
The Pride of the Plateau
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Location of Oak Hill in Fayette County, West Virginia.
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| Country | United States | |
| State | West Virginia | |
| County | Fayette | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 9.63 sq mi (24.94 km2) | |
| • Land | 9.61 sq mi (24.90 km2) | |
| • Water | 0.02 sq mi (0.04 km2) | |
| Elevation | 2,014 ft (614 m) | |
| Population
(2020)
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| • Total | 8,179 | |
| • Density | 849.3/sq mi (327.95/km2) | |
| Time zone | UTC-5 (Eastern (EST)) | |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC-4 (EDT) | |
| ZIP code |
25901
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| Area code(s) | 304 | |
| FIPS code | 54-60028 | |
| GNIS feature ID | 1544297 | |
| Website | https://oakhillwv.gov | |
Oak Hill is a city in Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. In 2020, about 8,179 people lived there. It is part of the Beckley area.
A famous country singer named Hank Williams passed away in Oak Hill on January 1, 1953. He was on his way to a concert. The city also has the old Oak Hill Railroad Depot, which is now a shop for artists. Lately, outdoor fun has become very popular because the city is close to the amazing New River Gorge National Park and Preserve.
Contents
History of Oak Hill
Oak Hill was first settled in 1820. The community got its name from a large oak tree that stood on a hill where the town was built. It officially became a town in 1905.
Oak Hill is known as the place where country music legend Hank Williams died. His driver, Charles Carr, said they had stopped at a gas station in Oak Hill and found Williams had passed away in the car. To remember him, a special historical marker was placed in the city on March 26, 2016.
Geography and Location
Oak Hill is located at 37°58′58″N 81°8′43″W / 37.98278°N 81.14528°W.
The city covers a total area of about 4.89 square miles (12.67 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with only a small part being water.
Population and People
| Historical population | |||
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| Census | Pop. | %± | |
| 1910 | 764 | — | |
| 1920 | 1,037 | 35.7% | |
| 1930 | 2,076 | 100.2% | |
| 1940 | 3,213 | 54.8% | |
| 1950 | 4,518 | 40.6% | |
| 1960 | 4,711 | 4.3% | |
| 1970 | 4,738 | 0.6% | |
| 1980 | 7,120 | 50.3% | |
| 1990 | 6,812 | −4.3% | |
| 2000 | 7,589 | 11.4% | |
| 2010 | 7,730 | 1.9% | |
| 2020 | 8,179 | 5.8% | |
| U.S. Decennial Census | |||
How People Live in Oak Hill
Based on the 2010 census, there were 7,730 people living in Oak Hill. These people lived in 3,398 households, and 2,085 of these were families.
Most of the people living in Oak Hill were White (93.3%). About 4.3% were African American, and smaller groups included Native American, Asian, and people of two or more races. About 1.2% of the population was Hispanic or Latino.
In terms of households, about 27.9% had children under 18 living with them. Many households (42.1%) were married couples. About 13.8% had a female head of household without a husband, and 5.4% had a male head of household. A good number (34.8%) of households were individuals living alone. About 16.4% of households had someone aged 65 or older living by themselves.
The average age of people in Oak Hill was 43.3 years. About 21.2% of residents were under 18, and 19% were 65 or older. The city had slightly more females (53.2%) than males (46.8%).
Economy and Jobs
Oak Hill is located in the southern coalfields of West Virginia. This means that coal mining has been a very important job for many people in the area. Oak Hill also has some smaller factories that make different products.
Parks and Outdoor Adventures
Oak Hill is a great place for outdoor activities! It has many companies that offer rafting trips and adventure resorts. The city is only a ten-minute drive from the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, which offers tons of outdoor fun. In June 2022, a new route for the WV Rides program was opened, and it goes right through Route 16 in Oak Hill.
Here are some parks and fun places in Oak Hill:
- Needles Eye Park
- Oak Hill City Park
- Collins Park and Disc Golf course
- Russel E. Matthews Park at Harlem Heights
- Doc Hamilton Dog Park
- The Lively Family Amphitheater
Schools in Oak Hill
Oak Hill has several schools for students of all ages.
Public Schools:
- New River Intermediate School
- New River Primary School
- Oak Hill Middle School
- Oak Hill High School
- Fayette Institute of Technology
Private Schools:
- St. Peter & Paul Catholic School
- Mountain View Christian School
Famous People from Oak Hill
- Randy Gilkey: An American singer, songwriter, and music producer who was born in Oak Hill.
- Hannah Jiles: She appeared on season 7 of the TV show Love Is Blind and was born and grew up in Oak Hill.
See also
In Spanish: Oak Hill (Virginia Occidental) para niños
