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Petersburg, West Virginia
Virginia Avenue in Petersburg
Virginia Avenue in Petersburg
Flag of Petersburg, West Virginia
Flag
Official logo of Petersburg, West Virginia
Logo
Location of Petersburg in Grant County, West Virginia.
Location of Petersburg in Grant County, West Virginia.
Country United States
State West Virginia
County Grant
Area
 • Total 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Land 1.62 sq mi (4.19 km2)
 • Water 0.00 sq mi (0.00 km2)
Elevation
948 ft (289 m)
Population
 (2020)
 • Total 2,251
 • Estimate 
(2021)
2,253
 • Density 1,641.93/sq mi (633.85/km2)
Time zone UTC-5 (Eastern (EST))
 • Summer (DST) UTC-4 (EDT)
ZIP code
26847
Area code(s) 304
FIPS code 54-62956
GNIS feature ID 2390635

Petersburg is a city in Grant County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,251 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Grant County.

History

Petersburg was founded circa 1745 by Jacob Peterson, who owned the area's first merchandising store.

In the 1830 United States Census, the population center of the United States was recorded as being about 9 miles southwest of the town.

The settlement was incorporated in 1910.

Registered Historic Places

  • The Manor (ca. 1830)
  • Hermitage Motor Inn (ca. 1840)
  • Grant County Courthouse (1878–79)
  • Rohrbaugh Cabin (ca. 1880)

Located near Petersburg (but in Pendleton County) is the Old Judy Church (1836), listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976.

Geography

Grant County Bank Petersburg 2020
Former Grant County Bank, North Main Street
Petersburg City Hall 2020
Petersburg City Hall
New Grant County Courthouse 2020a
New Grant County Courthouse in 2020

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 1.62 square miles (4.20 km2), all of it land.

Climate

The climate in this area has mild differences between highs and lows, and there is adequate rainfall year-round. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Petersburg has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.

Climate data for Petersburg, West Virginia (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1994–present)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °F (°C) 75
(24)
78
(26)
88
(31)
103
(39)
98
(37)
100
(38)
104
(40)
100
(38)
101
(38)
89
(32)
90
(32)
80
(27)
104
(40)
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) 44.2
(6.8)
47.2
(8.4)
55.6
(13.1)
67.7
(19.8)
75.7
(24.3)
84.4
(29.1)
88.5
(31.4)
86.3
(30.2)
80.6
(27.0)
68.6
(20.3)
56.6
(13.7)
47.4
(8.6)
66.9
(19.4)
Daily mean °F (°C) 33.7
(0.9)
36.2
(2.3)
43.5
(6.4)
54.0
(12.2)
62.8
(17.1)
71.5
(21.9)
75.7
(24.3)
73.9
(23.3)
67.3
(19.6)
55.4
(13.0)
44.8
(7.1)
37.1
(2.8)
54.7
(12.6)
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) 23.3
(−4.8)
25.3
(−3.7)
31.4
(−0.3)
40.2
(4.6)
49.8
(9.9)
58.6
(14.8)
63.0
(17.2)
61.5
(16.4)
54.0
(12.2)
42.2
(5.7)
33.0
(0.6)
26.9
(−2.8)
42.4
(5.8)
Record low °F (°C) −5
(−21)
−11
(−24)
−5
(−21)
19
(−7)
28
(−2)
39
(4)
46
(8)
43
(6)
33
(1)
18
(−8)
11
(−12)
−3
(−19)
−11
(−24)
Average precipitation inches (mm) 2.56
(65)
2.61
(66)
3.50
(89)
3.46
(88)
4.48
(114)
4.15
(105)
4.50
(114)
3.61
(92)
3.34
(85)
2.72
(69)
2.46
(62)
2.93
(74)
40.32
(1,024)
Source: NOAA

Transportation

2019-05-14 10 06 51 View north along U.S. Route 220 and West Virginia State Route 28 and east along West Virginia State Route 55 (Virginia Avenue) just east of Main Street in Petersburg, Grant County, West Virginia
US 220, WV 28 and WV 55 heading northeast towards Moorefield from the center of Petersburg

Petersburg is served by several surface highways. The most prominent of these is U.S. Route 220, which enters Petersburg from the direction of Franklin and exits eastward towards Moorefield. West Virginia Route 28 and West Virginia Route 55 run concurrently through Petersburg, entering from the direction of Seneca Rocks and joining U.S. Route 220 on its journey towards Moorefield. Finally, West Virginia Route 42 begins at Route 28 and Route 55 in Moorefield, heading northward towards Elk Garden.

Grant County Airport is located 1.2 miles southwest of the city center.

Medical care

Grant Memorial Hospital serves three counties in the West Virginia Panhandle.

Demographics

Historical population
Census Pop.
1880 268
1920 834
1930 1,410 69.1%
1940 1,751 24.2%
1950 1,898 8.4%
1960 2,079 9.5%
1970 2,177 4.7%
1980 2,084 −4.3%
1990 2,360 13.2%
2000 2,423 2.7%
2010 2,467 1.8%
2020 2,251 −8.8%
2021 (est.) 2,253 −8.7%
U.S. Decennial Census

2010 census

As of the census of 2010, there were 2,467 people, 1,113 households, and 614 families living in the city. The population density was 1,522.8 inhabitants per square mile (588.0/km2). There were 1,310 housing units at an average density of 808.6 per square mile (312.2/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 94.3% White, 2.0% African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 2.0% from other races, and 1.3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.4% of the population.

There were 1,113 households, of which 24.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 38.6% were married couples living together, 12.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 4.4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 44.8% were non-families. 38.5% of all households were made up of individuals, and 19.7% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.11 and the average family size was 2.77.

The median age in the city was 47.1 years. 19.3% of residents were under the age of 18; 8% were between the ages of 18 and 24; 20.5% were from 25 to 44; 27% were from 45 to 64; and 25.4% were 65 years of age or older. The gender makeup of the city was 46.2% male and 53.8% female.

Notable people

  • Joan Banks (1918-1998), prolific radio actress
  • Jason Kitzmiller, NASCAR driver
  • M. Blane Michael (1943-2011), Circuit Judge, United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit
  • Codie Rohrbaugh, NASCAR driver

See also

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

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